Date

How to Name Your Handmade Product for SEO: A Practical Guide for Marketplace Sellers

Cover Image for How to Name Your Handmade Product for SEO: A Practical Guide for Marketplace Sellers

Table of Contents

Introduction

One of the most underestimated (yet most powerful) drivers of success for handmade and handicraft sellers is understanding how to name handmade products for SEO.

As a marketplace founder working closely with artisans and creative entrepreneurs, I’ve reviewed thousands of handmade listings across global platforms. A clear pattern always emerges:

Beautiful, well-crafted products often struggle simply because they are poorly named.

In the handmade and handicraft sector, your product title determines:

  • Whether your product appears in marketplace search results
  • Whether buyers understand what makes your item is
  • Whether your listing earns trust and clicks

Learning how to name handmade products for SEO is not about keyword stuffing. It’s about combining clarity, structure, and craftsmanship so that both buyers and search engines understand your product instantly.

This guide breaks down:

  • Why product titles matter
  • Marketplace character limits
  • The ideal title structure for artisans
  • How to use AI tools effectively
  • Common mistakes to avoid

Why Learning How to Name Handmade Products for SEO Matters

Your product title is your strongest ranking signal on most marketplaces.

It often functions as:

  • The H1 heading of your product page
  • The primary indexing signal for marketplace search
  • The default title displayed on Google

Search engines and marketplace algorithms use your title to answer one core question:

Is this product relevant to what the buyer is searching for?

If your title is overly poetic, vague, or missing key details, it reduces discoverability, even if the product itself is exceptional.

How Marketplace Product Title Character Limits Impact SEO

Different marketplaces allow different title lengths. However, performance rarely comes from using the maximum allowed.

MarketplaceMax Characters AllowedRecommended SEO Sweet Spot
Etsy14080–120
Amazon200+ (category dependent)60–150
eBay8060–80
Shopify~70
50–60
AFOMA Marketplace12055-70

Key Insight

Longer titles are allowed for flexibility.
Better-performing titles are structured, keyword-aligned, and readable.

Search engines often truncate titles beyond 60–70 characters in results. That means your most important keywords must appear early.

The Best Product Title Format for Handmade SEO Success

If you’re serious about how to name handmade products for SEO, structure matters.

We recommend this proven format:

Primary Keyword + Product Type + Key Attribute | Secondary Descriptor or Use Case

This ensures:

  • Immediate clarity
  • Proper indexing
  • Professional presentation
  • Higher click-through rates

Example 1

Weak Title:
African Beauty

SEO-Optimized Title:
Handwoven Aso Oke Yoruba Cap for Men | Traditional Nigerian Handmade Hat


Example 2

Weak Title:
Crafted with Love Necklace

SEO-Optimized Title:
Handmade Beaded Necklace | Artisan Jewelry Inspired by African Craftsmanship


Notice how the optimized titles:

  • Lead with what the product is
  • Include material, technique, or origin
  • Stay readable and authentic

How to Use AI to Name Handmade Products for SEO Faster

Listing products manually can take time, especially for sellers who are new to online marketplaces or unfamiliar with SEO structure.

That’s why we built an AI Listing Tool designed to:

  • Generate SEO-friendly product titles
  • Generate SEO-friendly meta titles and descriptions
  • Structure product descriptions properly
  • Reduce the time it takes to publish a complete listing

For many sellers, what once took 20–30 minutes can now take just a few minutes, without sacrificing clarity or professionalism.

However, AI performs best when guided properly.

To get strong results, sellers should:

  • Clearly describe what the product is
  • Include materials, technique, size, and intended audience
  • Follow the naming structure outlined earlier in this guide

AI enhances structure, but it does not replace craftsmanship or product knowledge.

Many artisans still ask whether AI truly benefits handmade businesses. For a broader perspective on how technology is shaping the creative economy, you can explore our article on Does AI Positively Impact the Handicraft Sector? This deeper discussion explains how AI can support — not replace — artisan creativity.

Image of AFOMA's AI Listing Tool
AFOMA’s AI Listing Tool

Ideal Product Title Length for Handmade SEO Rankings

While 120 characters may be allowed on our platform, the optimal range remains:

  • 80–120 characters
  • Most important keywords in the first 40–60 characters
  • No repetition or unnecessary filler

Avoid:

  • ALL CAPS
  • Excessive symbols
  • Overstuffed keyword strings

Clarity consistently outperforms length.

Common Mistakes When Naming Handmade Products for SEO

Even experienced sellers make these errors:

  • Overly poetic titles without describing the product
  • Keyword stuffing
  • Omitting materials or craftsmanship details
  • Using internal SKUs instead of descriptive keywords
  • Inconsistent naming across similar products

If you’re serious about mastering how to name handmade products for SEO, clarity must always come before creativity.

For a more tactical breakdown, read our guide on 10 Important Product Naming Tips to Boost Searchability and SEO on Marketplaces, where we provide a structured checklist you can apply immediately to your listings.

We recommend:

  • A maximum title limit of 160 characters
  • An ideal working range of 80–120 characters
  • Leading with product type and core keyword
  • Highlighting craftsmanship and material
  • Avoiding unnecessary filler words

Our seller guidance is simple:

Start with what the product is. Then explain what makes it special.

This approach aligns with global marketplaces while maintaining authenticity.

Final Thoughts

Understanding how to name handmade products for SEO is one of the highest-impact improvements an artisan can make — without changing the product itself.

A well-structured title:

  • Improves discoverability
  • Increases click-through rates
  • Builds professionalism
  • Strengthens buyer confidence

When combined with thoughtful keyword usage and smart tools, product naming becomes a competitive advantage.

If you’re ready to put these principles into action, you can join AFOMA as a seller and begin creating clear, structured, SEO-friendly listings today.

FAQs

How do I name handmade products for SEO correctly?

To name handmade products for SEO correctly, start with the primary keyword that describes what the product is. Then add key attributes such as material, technique, target audience, or cultural origin.

Use this structure:

Primary Keyword + Product Type + Key Attribute | Secondary Descriptor

Keep the title between 80–120 characters and place the most important keywords in the first 40–60 characters.

What is the ideal character limit for handmade product titles?

While many marketplaces allow up to 140–200 characters, the ideal SEO range is 80–120 characters.

Search engines often truncate titles after 60–70 characters in search results, so your primary keyword should appear early.

On our marketplace, the maximum limit is 120 characters, but clarity and structure matter more than length.

Should I use keywords multiple times in my product title?

No. Repeating the same keyword multiple times can look unnatural and may reduce click-through rates.

Instead:

  • Use one strong primary keyword
  • Add relevant supporting descriptors
  • Keep the title readable and professional

Modern SEO prioritizes clarity over keyword repetition.

Can AI help me name handmade products for SEO?

Yes. AI tools can significantly speed up the listing process and suggest optimized keyword structures.

However, AI performs best when you:

  • Provide clear product details
  • Include materials, size, audience, and use case
  • Follow a structured naming format

AI enhances your listing, but your product knowledge drives accuracy.

What are common mistakes when naming handmade products?

Common mistakes include:

  • Overly creative titles without describing the product
  • Keyword stuffing
  • Omitting materials or craftsmanship details
  • Using internal SKUs instead of descriptive keywords
  • Writing titles that sound robotic

If you’re learning how to name handmade products for SEO, focus on clarity first – creativity second.


Eric Osuorah

Eric Osuorah

Eric Osuorah is a social entrepreneur and founder of the AFOMA Marketplace, a transformative platform that champions fair trade and sustainable income for artisans worldwide.

Join the AFOMA Community Today!

Don't miss out on the opportunity to showcase your crafts to the world. Sign up for our waitlist and be the first to receive exclusive promotions and exciting deals. Become a part of the AFOMA family and let's celebrate the beauty of handmade crafts together.