# Etsy keyword research, clearing the confusion: copyright, keyword hats, pricing and a strong product (/docs/quick-skills/etsy/keyword-research/etsy-keyword-research-clear-all-confusion)

---
type: Document
title: "Etsy keyword research, clearing the confusion: copyright, keyword hats, pricing and a strong product"
description: Why copyright keywords get an Etsy account removed, black, grey and white hat keywords, orders without search volume, telling physical from digital, pricing, the strong product formula, and the Niche Deck tool.
status: stable
order: 52.7
added: 2026-10-05T18:09:27Z
generated: { by: human:ahmedraza, at: 2026-10-16T11:46:00Z }
ksor:
  audience: [public]
  owner: human:ahmedraza
  approval: { by: human:ahmedraza, at: 2026-10-16T11:46:00Z }
sources:
  - id: zakria-afzal-keyword-research-confusion
    title: "Etsy course on YouTube: Keyword Research Clear All Confusion, by Sir Zakria Afzal"
    resource: "Keyword Research Clear All Confusion class of Sir Zakria Afzal's Etsy course on YouTube, notes taken by human:ahmedraza"
  - id: owner-niche-deck-link
    title: "Owner's correction: the tool's name and link"
    resource: "Correction from human:ahmedraza (owner), 2026-10-07: the tool is named Niche Deck, at https://nichedeck.com/"
verified: [{ by: human:ahmedraza, at: 2026-10-16T11:46:00Z }]
trust_tier: human-reviewed
build_id: sha256:401a1d4b5eead93b53bbfcc53b1ee4048e592b4be6f6059d848ed6ffaa614755
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ksor_version: 0.0.60
---

*This whole document is from the Keyword Research Clear All Confusion class
of Sir Zakria Afzal's Etsy course on YouTube, a separate course from the
iSkills Etsy module.*

## Never work on copyright keywords

- **Copyright keywords** are keywords that someone **owns**. Do not work
  on them.
- Etsy sends a **strike**. On a **new** account, the account is removed
  directly. On an **old** account, the listing is removed **3 times**, and
  then the account goes.
- Copyright keywords are often **low competition**. Work on that low
  competition and the account will be removed directly.
- Sometimes ChatGPT says a keyword is not copyright, it is a **trademark**.
  Trademarks are copyright too.[^zakria-afzal-keyword-research-confusion]

## Three kinds of keyword

| Kind | What it is |
| --- | --- |
| **Black hat** | Illegal keywords |
| **Grey hat** | Copyright keywords on which the account may be removed, or may not |
| **White hat** | Keywords that are not copyright, completely fine. The account cannot be removed over them |

To work on a **grey hat** keyword, first make **white hat** listings. Once
the account has run for a while, then move on to grey
hat.[^zakria-afzal-keyword-research-confusion]

## A listing gets orders but shows no search volume

That means the keyword shows no search volume, yet people are buying from
it. One reason can be that the keyword is in **another language**, so its
volume is not showing to you.[^zakria-afzal-keyword-research-confusion]

## Is the keyword physical or digital?

Search it on **EHunt** and open a few of the top products. If they talk
about **shipping**, it is simply **physical**. Looking at the products
gives you the idea of whether it is physical or
digital.[^zakria-afzal-keyword-research-confusion]

## Setting the price

- Look at the **existing listings** and get an idea of the **average**.
- If someone has **spoiled the market** by selling at a very low price,
  try to **leave that keyword**.[^zakria-afzal-keyword-research-confusion]

## Make something the buyer would choose

- If your design is like everyone else's, why would a buyer buy from you?
  Think the way the **buyer** thinks, and make something **unique**.
- Found the keyword but do not know how to make the product? Find someone
  who can make it. Do not **waste money**.
- Make what your **competitors' products are missing**. Analyse your
  competitors and read their **reviews**: improve on what the bad ones
  say, and make sure you use what the good ones
  say.[^zakria-afzal-keyword-research-confusion]

## The strong Etsy product formula

> **Existing demand + missing value + better presentation = strong Etsy
> product**

**Demand** means search volume: people are searching for it. Whatever gap
the competitor has left in it, fill that gap, and present it in a better
way.[^zakria-afzal-keyword-research-confusion]

## Niche Deck, for organising keywords

- **Niche Deck** is a tool by Sir Zakria Afzal that helps you **organise
  keywords**. It is at
  [nichedeck.com](https://nichedeck.com/).[^owner-niche-deck-link]
- In it you can **parse** a sheet and manage keywords your own way.
- Once you upload a keyword, you **cannot upload it
  again**.[^zakria-afzal-keyword-research-confusion]

## The direction to move in

Go from **low competition** to **high
volume**.[^zakria-afzal-keyword-research-confusion]

[^zakria-afzal-keyword-research-confusion]: Keyword Research Clear All
    Confusion class of Sir Zakria Afzal's Etsy course on YouTube, notes
    taken by the record's owner.

[^owner-niche-deck-link]: Correction from the record's owner, 2026-10-07:
    the tool is named Niche Deck, at https://nichedeck.com/.

## Class infographic

![Infographic: Etsy keyword research, clearing the confusion: copyright, keyword hats, pricing and a strong product](etsy-keyword-research-clear-all-confusion-infographic.webp)