Amazon.com<\/a>. Amazon is arguably the most successful e-commerce website.<\/p>\nFollow a product description template.<\/strong><\/p>\nIf you have 100 products, you don\u2019t want 100 different written formats. I often follow this product description template:<\/p>\n
\n- Headline and sub-headline: Use the product name as the main headline and page title. Write a descriptive sub-headline that moves the story forward.<\/li>\n
- 1st<\/sup> paragraph: Lead with something strong. Make it historical, catchy, pithy, or funny.<\/li>\n
- 2nd<\/sup> paragraph: Describe features in a way that builds credibility and increases interest. Tell them why they should buy. (More on “the why” next.)<\/li>\n
- 3rd<\/sup> paragraph: Motivate action. Talk about guarantees, specials, sales, unique opportunities, and how to buy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Explain why.<\/strong><\/p>\nOften, people don’t buy online because they don\u2019t know why they should. To avoid apathy, include the critical details (features) as a bullet list, a caption beneath a photo, or as a line of text next to the shopping cart button, and then clearly explain why<\/em> someone should buy within the written description.<\/p>\nLet\u2019s say you are selling gourmet sauces. Instead of listing bottle sizes and ingredients and calling it good, why not write a description like this:<\/p>\n
Every bottle of pesto is made with locally-grown organic basil. We handpick the best and greenest basil leaves for you and have done so every year for the last 25 years. Many love pesto atop an ordinary pasta and chicken dish, but our rich and fragrant pesto sauce does more. Try it as a bread dipping sauce, salad dressing, and a drizzle over fish.<\/em><\/p>\nThe copy is telling the reader to buy because the product is local, organic, quality, hand-picked, time-tested, and great for multiple uses, and that is far more compelling than saying “16 oz. for $25.”<\/p>\n
Get to the point.<\/strong><\/p>\nWrite short sentences and house them in short paragraphs. You need between 100-150 words, sometimes less and never more.<\/p>\n
Hit all the senses.<\/strong><\/p>\nA picture shows you what something looks like, but it can\u2019t tell you what something tastes, smells, or feels like. Take your descriptions to the edge.<\/p>\n
Be accurate or else.<\/strong><\/p>\nWhen you describe a product incorrectly you\u2019ll end up with returns and poor reviews. Fatal inaccuracies could be as small as a color description or size description.<\/p>\n
What do you think makes an effective product description? Would you buy the pesto?<\/span><\/p>\n