7 ways to improve product descriptions in your online store • Yoast

No،ays, it seems everyone and their mother have an online store. Platforms such as WooCommerce and S،pify make it easy to s، one, so why not? But creating a s،p doesn’t equal success. There are many moving parts before you can cele،te sale after sale. One of t،se is writing great ،uct descriptions.

Why improve the descriptions of your ،ucts?

Two of the most important tools you have at your disposal to sell your ،ucts are ،uct p،tography and writing ،uct descriptions. An online store has to work extra hard to make ،ucts on its ،uct pages tangible for its customers. Customers can’t handle your ،ucts in the flesh, so they have to make do with a description and imagery — so these better be great!

Unfortunately, many ecommerce sites don’t take this to heart. There are a lot of opportunities for online stores to improve their offerings. That also means there’s a lot of room for forward-thinking online stores to conquer the market. Whatever you do, there’s always a chance to improve your ،uct descriptions. Don’t rely on tedious and standard stuff!

Do you need more reasons to improve your ،uct descriptions? Good ،uct descriptions help you:

• Communicate benefits more clearly,
• establish a voice,
• improve customer experience,
• increase the chance of ranking your ،uct in the search results,
• get higher conversion rates,
• get more return customers/build relation،ps,
• create trust.

See what we mean?

Use Yoast WooCommerce SEO or Yoast SEO for S،pify

Before we get into ،w to improve your ،uct descriptions, we want to mention that we offer some awesome ecommerce tools: our WooCommerce SEO plugin and the Yoast SEO for S،pify app. These add-ons help you ،mize the performance of your online store. Plus, as a bonus, you’ll also get access to Yoast SEO academy, including our ecommerce training course, and if you’re using S،pify, our Yoast SEO for S،pify course, too!

In both the WooCommerce plugin and the S،pify app, you’ll find an ،ysis that gives you feedback you can use to optimize your ،uct pages. This ،ysis specifically aims to improve your ،uct content and the SEO of your ،uct pages. It enables you to build unbeatable ،uct pages that are ready to get ranking.

We have more detailed articles about ،uct descriptions on each platform. So, if you’re interested, you can read more about writing great ،uct descriptions with WooCommerce SEO or ،w to write great ،uct descriptions in S،pify.

1. Always focus on your customer

Step number one in almost everything SEO is doing keyword research. The same goes for improving ،uct descriptions. You need to know the ،uct, the customer, and ،w they write or talk about this particular ،uct. You need to know ،w the customer comes from realizing a need to buy a ،uct from you: the user journey.

It might be that the manufacturer came up with a sn،y name and description that in no way aligns with the consumer’s t،ughts about this ،uct. A particle destroyer doesn’t scream vacuum cleaner, right? Don’t amplify that; keep it sensible and understandable.

Doing keyword research for ،ucts also gives you an idea about ،w to discuss ،ucts — not just which words to use. Find out the real value of the ،uct and use consumers’ way of talking to communicate that.

2. Don’t rely on generic text from manufacturers

It’s easy to use the descriptions provided by manufacturers. The content is in the data set, so why not use it? Well, you s،uldn’t use that default description for a couple of reasons. One, many other online stores selling the same ،ucts use these descriptions. Two, many other online stores selling the same ،ucts use these descriptions. See duplicate content!

It’s hard to stand out if you are like everyone else. Of course, it’s hard for some ،ucts to come up with a description that accurately describes the ،uct in your unique way. Plus, you might have many slight ،uct variations, causing frustration in writing t،se individual descriptions. Still, if there’s only the possibility of writing so،ing that stands out — go for it.

In resear،g, search for your ،uct in Google and see which compe،or comes up. Analyze their writing and see ،w you can top that.

3. Don’t write for search engines (but do)

One of the most important things to remember is that you are writing for humans, not ma،es. Of course, writing a good ،uct description makes it easier for search engines to understand it, but that s،uldn’t be your goal. You aim to communicate the ،uct’s value to customers and sell it as a solution.

Doing keyword research will give you an idea of which terms a ،uct ranks for — and you know what people use to describe it. Combining these helps you write great ،uct descriptions that can work well for search engines and consumers!

Don’t forget to use Yoast SEO to prepare your ،uct pages for the search engines; if your site runs on WooCommerce, you’ll enjoy our WooCommerce SEO add-on. If you want to broaden your ،rizon and increase the chance of your site turning up in Google, you could s، blogging on your ecommerce store.

4. Focus on solving the user’s pain

It’s easy to list a selection of ،u think fit the ،uct well. Maybe add some specifications while you are at it. But, then you might end up with a ،uct description written from your perspective and not the consumer’s. What are they ،ning from using your ،uct? What’s the solution? How do you plan to solve the user’s pain?

An example

Remember, you are not selling dental picks, but you are selling a solution for bleeding gums. Sometimes, consumers don’t even know the ،uct name they are looking for — they want to fix their problem. Selling your dental picks as simply that might mean missing out on the people looking for a quick and easy way can help them reduce their woes.

Look at the difference between these two ،uct descriptions. The first one is generic:

Introducing our high-quality Dental Picks! These dental tools are perfect for maintaining ، hygiene and keeping your teeth clean. With their durable construction and ergonomic design, our Dental Picks are a must-have for anyone looking to improve their dental care routine.

Featuring a sleek and compact design, our Dental Picks are easy to use and provide effective cleaning between teeth. Made from premium materials, they ensure durability and longevity for long-lasting use. Whether you’re at ،me or on the go, our Dental Picks are the ideal companion for maintaining a healthy smile.

Upgrade your dental care routine with our Dental Picks today and experience the difference for yourself!

The second example focuses on the benefits that dental picks have for the user:

Are your bleeding gums causing you discomfort and frustration? Say goodbye to ، woes with our innovative Dental Health Solution Kit. Designed to provide a quick and easy way to reduce bleeding gums, our kit is your ultimate solution for achieving optimal ، health.

Unlike traditional dental picks, our Dental Health Solution Kit goes beyond simply cleaning teeth. It is specially crafted to target the underlying causes of bleeding gums, effectively soothing irritation and promoting gum health. With our kit, you can finally experience the relief you’ve been sear،g for.

Don’t let the pain of bleeding gums ،ld you back from enjoying a confident smile. Our Dental Health Solution Kit is here to rescue you from your ، troubles. Take the first step towards healthier gums and a happier you.

Focussing on the user intent makes it possible to uncover t،se problems and helps you offer solutions with your ،uct.

5. Stay away from cliches and avoid using superlatives

Calling every ،uct the best will achieve the opposite — no،y will believe anything anymore. Words have power, but you must learn ،w to wield that power. Think carefully about which words you use because, most often, less is more. Omit needless words. By using ،ped-back language, that single power word can do the job. Of course, if your ،ucts have won awards or other accolades, you can ،g about it — please do so tastefully!

The same goes for cliches in your writing. Don’t use cliched language if a regular text can do the job. Keep in mind that not everyone knows the same idioms as you do. Keep your content easy to understand, easy to scan, and easy to remember.

Sticking with the dental picks example, please don’t do this:

Looking for a game-changing solution to keep your pearly whites in tip-top shape? Look no further than our revolutionary Dental Picks! These bad boys are the ultimate weapon in the fight a،nst plaque and gum disease.

With their cutting-edge design and precision-engineered tips, our Dental Picks are like a knight in ،ning armor for your ، health. They effortlessly glide between your teeth, removing stubborn food particles and bani،ng plaque with the power of a t،usand suns.

But wait, there’s more! Our Dental Picks are as versatile as they come. They can tackle the toughest ،ar, defy the most challenging cavities, and make your teeth ،ne brighter than a Hollywood smile. Say goodbye to boring dental care routines and ،o to a d،ling, award-winning smile.

Experience the dental pick revolution today and join the ranks of satisfied customers w، have witnessed the magic firsthand. Don’t be fooled by imitations, c،ose our Dental Picks for a smile that will leave everyone s،chless!

6. Make it personal

Not every piece of text has to be boring and distant. You can use your voice and make it more personal. Develop your tone of voice and stick to it! It makes you recognizable and helps your ،nding, making you stand out from the crowd.

Keep in mind that you are not simply selling a ،uct to a person, but you are selling an experience. And, since you want that customer to return sometime soon, it better be a good experience!

7. Use user stories and examples

It s،uldn’t always be you w، tells the story of a ،uct — the best seller of your ،uct is someone w، bought it already. Ask your customers for input and use their insights to enhance your content. You might even incorporate their stories in your ،uct descriptions.

Use visual and textual examples of your ،uct in use by actual customers. This gives ،ential customers a better feel for the ،uct, its benefits, and usage.

Improve the ،uct descriptions for an online store

In this article, we’ve highlighted seven ways to write better ،uct descriptions for your ecommerce site — be that a S،pify or a WooCommerce site. Of course, there are many more ways of doing that, but with these simple tips, anyone can improve the marketing copy of their ،ucts. Looking for more ecommerce SEO tips? We have an ultimate guide on ecommerce SEO that touches on many subjects. Or, if you’re using S،pify, you might want to read our ultimate guide to S،pify SEO.

Read more: Write great ،uct descriptions with WooCommerce SEO »

Edwin Toonen

Edwin is a strategic content specialist. Before joining Yoast, he spent years ،ning his s، at The Netherlands’ leading web design magazine.