Google Search Tricks Every Shop Owner Should Know

When you run an art shop or planner shop, SEO can feel overwhelming, but you actually don’t need expensive tools to start understanding how people find shops like yours. You can just use Google as your best research tool, and I'm going to show you how.

If you aren't a shop owner, then these concepts are still very helpful for you becuase they can help you learn how to find what you're looking for more quickly too.  So, this article is really for anyone who wants to learn how to search better for the products they are looking for online.

You might be wondering, girl...How, do you know?  Well, IHPFY is actually a passion project of mine.  Professionally, I actually bounce between the roles of Software Developer and Data Scientist depending on what companies need for me.  I have actually held the role as Software Development Subject Matter Expert (SME) for an entire Data Science department.  Plus, one of my special interests is ethical hacking.  So, I'm quite familiar with how data works and how to get the information that I desire.

Find the Right Keywords for Your Products

Think like a customer, not a shop owner.  What words and phrases do actual customers use to describe your products.  You can actually check your social media comments to get verbiage for this, and test different variations.  

Examples:

• "planner stickers" OR "journal stickers"
  Why: See which term is more popular and how people are describing them.
• "cute planner" + ideas
  Why: Discover phrases customers might use that you can work into your product descriptions or blog posts.

For instance, if you sell dot grid notebooks, try searching variations like “bullet journal dot grid” vs. “planner notebook” vs. "bullet journal planner" to see what buyers type more often.

Research Your Competitors

Use Google to look directly at other shops in your niche to see what's trending or to make sure that you're thinking about a product like a consumer and not a creator.

Examples:

• site:etsy.com "planner stickers" -site:ihaveplansforyou.etsy.com
  Why: See what other Etsy shops are offering without your own shop clogging results.
• intitle:"planner" site:shopify.com
  Why: Find planner-related Shopify stores and see how they describe their products.

For instance, if you’re about to launch a new collection, you can see what kinds of photos, titles, and words other shops are using.  This relates back to naming your products based on what resonates with custmers vs what resonates with you, as the shop owner.

Check for Mentions of Your Shop

You may already be mentioned in blog posts or roundups without knowing it.  My shop has been mentioned in blogs or even as people mentioned me in their videos when sharing hauls on YouTube or social media. 

Examples:

• "Ashley Kelly Art" - site:youtube.com
  Why: See if customers or creators have mentioned your shop.  Change the site name to check other sites.
• Reverse image search one of your product photos on images.google.com
  Why: If someone has shared your image, you’ll see where it’s been posted.

For instance, you may discover a blog or vlog roundup that included your stickers without you even knowing.  This can help you get a better idea of where you really rank in the bigger scheme of things, especially while some social media sites are failing us right now with reach.

Find Content Ideas for Blogs or Socials

Google can also help you brainstorm content ideas that will connect with your audience.

Examples:

• "planner tips" after:2025-01-01
  Why: Find fresh ideas that are trending this year.  Try changing the date if you want to narrow or broaden your search.
• related:ihaveplansforyou.com
  Why: Explore sites similar to popular planner brands for inspiration.

For instance, if you blog about journaling, searching “self-care journaling prompts” can spark post ideas your audience will love.

SEO-Specific Tricks

These searches help you get a sense of how competitive keywords are and what’s ranking.

Examples:

• allintitle:planner stickers
  Why: See how many sites are competing for that exact keyword in titles.  Consider if that competition is too steep, and maybe you should be focusing on more niche words to stand out.
• filetype:pdf planner 2025
  Why: Spot free downloads or templates that are ranking well.  You may want to create one yourself.

For instance, knowing how saturated a keyword is helps you pick better, less crowded phrases for your shop.

Quick Search Cheat Sheet

Here’s a fast-reference list you can copy, save, or pin for later:

• "planner stickers" OR "journal stickers"
• "cute planner" + ideas
• site:etsy.com "planner stickers" -site:ihaveplansforyou.etsy.com
• intitle:"planner" site:ihaveplansforyou.com
• "I Have Plans For You" -site:ihaveplansforyou.com
• Reverse image search on images.google.com
• "planner tips" after:2024-01-01
• related:ihaveplansforyou.com
• allintitle:planner stickers
• filetype:pdf planner 2025

Wrapping It Up

Keep in mind that this type of competition is not meant to be negative or malicious.  Do not sabotage or steal from your competitors.  The point is to spark YOUR OWN creativity.  No one makes it to the top if you upset everyone you interacted with along the way.  

SEO doesn’t have to be complicated. By searching smarter, you can see what your customers are looking for, where they’re talking, and what’s trending — all with Google.

These strategies are simple to start, and they can help you shape your shop’s visibility and direction.  Are there any "Google tricks" that you're already using?  Share them in the comments below.