A good e-commerce product description does wonders. When a buyer thinks of purchasing an item, what you say about your product and how you say it can influence their decision. Conversely, product description mistakes can ruin your chances of an online sale.
You need to steer clear of these mistakes by reading this guide.
This way, your product description will catch their attention and makes them feel that they do not just want the product but actually need it. This way, we can say that the description has surely done its job well!
But for that, you need a competent content writing agency lie Textuar by your side.
Why do You Need Content Writers for E-commerce Product Descriptions?
Many e-commerce owners build the Amazon product descriptions themselves. But they must know that DIY doesn’t work in an area that is outside their expertise. Just like you need experts for store development and design, you also need skilled content writers to craft compelling product descriptions.
A poor description of a product can have negative effects. It could lead to a drop in sales or negative reviews for the brand, and no one wants that! With this in mind, we thought it best to share common product description mistakes to keep an eye out for and to avoid.
Let us get into it-
Why is a Good Product Description Important?
Customers want to know everything about a product before they buy it. Adding pictures from different angles will help to give them a better idea of what they will get. However, these may not cover all the details that a customer needs.
For instance, a customer might want to know if the product needs batteries, and if yes, what size and how many they would require. They will also require more details like its size and dimensions to know whether or not it could fit in their space. There are a lot of other features they will need to understand before making the decision to buy.
Not covering these aspects of the product can be an issue. Such Amazon product description mistakes can negatively impact sales. If shoppers can’t find a suitable description, they might walk away from your site and purchase it from a competitor’s site.
For example, if you sell a phone case but do not state that it is for a specific model only, then customers will end up purchasing the item by mistake. Once they understand that the case doesn’t fit the model, they will end up returning it. This action is bound to cause refunds, which makes buyers unhappy and frustrated.
These examples show why a good product description is crucial. Shoppers need and want to know what it is they’re purchasing so they can make better decisions.
Nine Mistakes to Avoid When Writing A Product Description
Here is a list of product description mistakes that should be avoided while writing:
1. Not Highlighting Benefits
When you get too attached to your products, company, or website, your view gets blurred. You should know that listing features and specs never influenced customers to make a purchase.
So, what to do? Well, you can focus on the benefits of using the product (a.k.a. “what’s in it for them?) Customers care more about how the product will help them directly than just its list of features.
Your consumer wants to know how the product will help them solve their problems. Thus, ecommerce product description writers must discuss the qualities and advantages.
Think of addressing how would your product help the customer become happier or more productive? How will it address the issues they are seeking a solution for?
Remember that you are not merely selling a product but selling an experience.
2. Using Manufacturer Provided Copy
When selling third-party items, the description may also come directly from the manufacturers. New online shops often make a mistake by copying these descriptions from the manufacturer and pasting them onto their website. They do this because they think the description already has all the necessary details since it’s the same product.
This is wrong!
In reality, such generic and duplicated content can prove to be a huge Amazon product description mistake. It will do more harm than good to your products. Search engines like Google will penalize you if they see you copying another site’s content. As a result, your page will face tanking in ranking and fewer customers will find your listing.
If you write unique descriptions, it helps a lot in improving your listing. This will also help in ranking the product higher in the search results. Make sure to produce original content instead of simply copying ideas from different sources.
You can even employ ecommerce product description writers to create impressive product copy that is consistent with your brand voice.
3. Not Using the Right Keywords
If you neglect the power of SEO for your online store, then it will be a huge folly. Using keywords in your product descriptions is vital as they direct potential customers to your store.
It’s like trying to locate a store when you do not have an address or driving directions. Search engines serve as maps that help people get to your store.
Make it easy for potential buyers to find your product. Research the keywords that consumers tend to use when searching for similar items. Concentrate on long-tail keywords that are less competitive. Use those keywords wisely to avoid product description mistakes and ensure your listing is optimized for search engines.
Summary: Best Keyword Placement for SEO
| Location | Importance | Best Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Body of the Copy | High | Use naturally, 2-3 times per 500 words. |
| Title Tag | Very High | Place primary keyword near the beginning (≤60 chars). |
| Subheadings (H2, H3) | High | Include keyword variations for structure. |
| Image Alt Tag | Medium | Describe image with keyword (e.g., “red-women-dress”). |
| Meta Description | Medium (CTR) | Include keyword naturally (≤160 chars). |
4. Not Proofreading Your Copy
Yes, shoppers do notice typos and grammar errors. Bad grammar could hurt the brand name, while wrong spelling will make a good product description seem bad.
Read it aloud. Does it sound like something your customer would say? Would it convince you to buy if you were the customer?
Get an editor to check your product description mistakes before publishing. You might overlook some mistakes. Plus, use active verbs that force the reader into action and make a purchase.
5. Not Playing With Buyer’s Imagination
Online stores lack face-to-face interactions for sales so you should apply copywriting methods to engage likely customers and generate a sense of intrigue in the product.
Your words should establish precise mental images for potential buyers. So, your readers need to feel the experience of owning a specific product. Your high-definition visual content will do some of the work, but basic writing approaches, such as those crafted by product description content writers, hold much more value.
How do you engage the reader’s imagination? Your copy needs to use sensory words that strikes a chord with the shoppers. It needs to conclude by showing what emotions customers would experience from owning the product.
6. Ignoring the Power of Social Proof
A potential buyer considering their product choice tends to look for confirmation through reviews or recommendations. Most customers pick a product which has received the maximum number of favorable reviews. Not showing these stats will prove to be one of the leading product description mistakes.
Presenting them proof that your customers like your products make it more likely for others to purchase from your website. Your product description should contain social proof elements.
An image of the individual with the quote makes it more believable. To verify your product’s popularity, you can showcase press cutting directly in your content.
The display of best-selling products on your website helps new potential customers trust your site more. Consumers tend to purchase products when others have already labeled them as popular.
7. Writing Long, Rambling Copy
Many customers struggle to read Amazon product descriptions whenever writers pack every detail into one single paragraph. One of the common product description mistakes is creating a long description that results in a confusing experience for readers.
Long passages are extremely difficult to scan. Your content becomes harder to understand due to its lengthy appearance. The majority of your customers will stop reading after two to three sentences.
You need to create simple and direct 3-4 sentence paragraphs for better readability. When you write to sell, you create content that helps customers access information without difficulty. Your valuable product details should not get hidden inside big blocks of words.
8. No Call to action
Many brands believe their customers will purchase without direct requests for action after reading positive product descriptions. However, the reality does not always match this assumption. Such product description mistakes can lead to missed sales opportunities.
A good product description is basically a sales pitch, and unless a strong call to action is given, prospective customers might get distracted or postpone their purchase indefinitely.
To avoid this, always incorporate an unmistakable and proper CTA that encourages quick action — whether it’s
- “Shop Now,”
- “Grab Yours Before It’s Gone,” or
- “Limited Stock Available.”
A well-placed call to action combined with a sense of urgency increases customer conversions. This leads to higher sales figures.
9. Not Using Bullet Points
Customers who visit your product page do not wish to encounter an overwhelming textual block. Their eyes will shift rapidly from one area of the page to another, such as:
- Customer reviews
- Product price
- Options for color and size
- Product photos
Customers who plan to purchase a particular item will do a scan to locate essential product information. Your responsibility is to simplify this experience because numerous online stores make the navigation burdensome for clients.
Organize your Amazon product description in short, digestible sections. Product description writers recommend using a combination of bullet points and bold text with an illustrative image to help explain product features. The page becomes simpler to browse, which lets visitors understand the product through simple scanning.
Avoid These Product Description Mistakes and See Your Sales Soar
When you write about your product, it’s very easy to forget about the consumer. Always think of your ideal buyer and how that product solves their problems. The tips mentioned above will guide you toward avoiding standard product description mistakes when writing.
A good idea would be to hire proficient writers from an agency like Textuar. Our way with compelling words will help you close more sales and provide a stellar shopping experience to your customers. Contact us today to know how we can help.
Product Description Mistakes FAQs
Q. Why do we need product descriptions?
The two purposes of product descriptions are to inform and make the customer want to buy your product. Product descriptions tell readers what a product is, how it’s used, and what its value is. At the same time, they convince readers to buy a product by showing its advantages and solutions.
Q. What can I do to make my product descriptions more SEO friendly?
If you want your product descriptions to be more SEO-friendly and avoid common product description mistakes, use keywords naturally in your copy.
But do not stuff keywords. This can damage your SEO efforts. Also, headers and sub-headers can be used to break up the text. This makes it easier to read. Remember to include meta descriptions and alt text for images.
Q. What is a creative product description?
A good product description describes more than just its features and benefits. It tells a story, and sparks emotions. Companies like Textuar excel at engaging the reader’s mind. It uses engaging and descriptive language that highlights the product in a way that will stay fresh in the customer’s mind for a long time.
Q. How to write a good product description?
You should stay away from the mistakes mentioned in this article. Cover the problem, solution, benefits and advantages of your product over the other one. Make sure that your ad speaks to the customer’s pain point.
Q. How long should your product description be?
The best length for a product description depends on your item, how much detail you want to incorporate, your audience, and where it will be shown. Avoid product description mistakes by ensuring clarity and relevance. For a product page on your site, aim for 400 words. You can make it longer by adding bullet points with key highlights and a CTA.
