Free Keyword Research for Etsy Sellers: How to Check Google Demand Before You List

You sell handmade candles on Etsy. You've nailed the photography, the wax blend is chef's kiss, and your shop name is wonderfully quirky. But somehow the orders aren't rolling in.

Here's the uncomfortable truth: Etsy's internal search is only one half of the traffic puzzle. The other half? Google. And YouTube. And Pinterest. People are typing "soy candles for anxiety" and "best handmade candle gifts UK" into Google every single day — and if your listings aren't optimised for those phrases, you're invisible outside the Etsy bubble.

That's where keyword research comes in. Not the Etsy-tag-shuffling kind. The real kind — checking what actual humans are searching for on Google, and using that intel to write better titles, descriptions, and even plan new products.

Why Etsy Sellers Need Google Keyword Data

Most Etsy advice tells you to optimise for Etsy search. Fair enough — Etsy's algorithm matters. But here's what those guides miss:

How to Check Search Volume for Your Etsy Products (Free)

You don't need Ahrefs. You don't need SEMrush. You definitely don't need to spend credits on Keywords Everywhere.

Here's the free approach using KeywordNumbers:

1. Check Volume for Your Main Product Keywords

Head to KeywordNumbers.com and type in your core product term — say, "soy candle gift set." You'll see:

No sign-up. No credits. Just paste your keyword and go.

2. Use the Chrome Extension for Live Research

Install the free KeywordNumbers Chrome extension and search volume appears right on Google and YouTube results as you browse. Researching competitors? Browsing for product ideas? The volume data is just there.

This is especially handy for YouTube sellers — if you make product videos, you can instantly see which video titles have real search demand.

3. Find Related Keywords You're Missing

The Keyword Research tool generates dozens of related terms. Type "beeswax candle" and you might discover that "beeswax candle benefits" or "beeswax vs soy candle" have solid volume — perfect for your product description or a blog post.

4. Check the Competition

Use the Keyword Difficulty tool to see how hard it would be to rank on Google for a term. Low difficulty + decent volume = your sweet spot for driving external traffic to your Etsy shop.

Practical Examples: Keywords Etsy Sellers Should Check

Here are a few starting points depending on your niche:

For each of these, check the monthly volume and trend on KeywordNumbers. If a keyword gets 1,000+ searches a month and your Etsy listing doesn't mention it — that's traffic you're leaving on the table.

Where to Use These Keywords

Once you've found high-volume terms, put them to work:

The Bottom Line

Etsy's internal SEO tools are fine for the basics, but they can't tell you what the rest of the internet is searching for. Google keyword data fills that gap — and it's the difference between hoping people find your shop and knowing they will.

KeywordNumbers gives you that data for free. No sign-up, no credit card, no daily limits. Just real numbers to make smarter product and listing decisions.

Check your first keyword now →