10 Tips For Writing Better Etsy Item Descriptions

Drops of Blue Copper Cluster Earrings

Along with having killer pictures to draw buyers in, you have to have great descriptions that explain what you are selling.  Waterwaif on Etsy has put together ten great tips to help you write the best item description possible.  We have rewound this post to benefit more Etsy sellers across the Internet!!

waterwaif says:

We all need help sometimes. I wrote this post on my blog a few months ago and then was asked about it recently so I figured I’d post it here in case it will help someone!

Are you new to selling? Have you been wanting to sell for a while but were afraid to try? Do you find the idea of writing item descriptions daunting? Do you already sell but constantly look for ways to improve your descriptions? Maybe this can help!

First of all, the best advice I can ever give to a seller: Describe your item like there are NO pictures at all, and take pictures like there is NO description at all. Then, when you put them together, you’ve got magic.

In this blog post, I’m going to cover most of the things you will need to include in your description, whether you sell on Etsy, eBay, Zibbet, ArtFire, or your own website. And don’t worry; they’re easier than you think!

1. The item itself. This seems obvious to most of us, right? But it goes beyond just the basic shirt, jewelry, card. What kind of shirt is it? What kind of jewelry? Is it a silk tie-dyed tunic? Turquoise wire-wrapped earrings? What else is included with the purchase? Does your photo show the item on a table with a few other things? You should crop the photo, but that’s a blog post for another day. In the meantime, make sure your buyer knows exactly what is being offered for sale and what is not included.

2. Color. Keep in mind that all monitors are different and that everyone can have different settings which can change how color is viewed. I find it’s easiest to be as specific as possible when describing color. Not very color savvy? Grab a big box of crayons and match it up!

3. Size. How big or how small is your item? Be specific here. You can’t list a bracelet and say it’s smaller than a breadbox. Get a cheap tape measure at the dollar store and include measurements. If you’re selling jewelry, make sure you let your buyers know how long the item is. Pictures can’t always convey length properly. If you’re selling clothing, make sure you include bust, waist, shoulders, and hip measurements along with the length. Remember, buyers can’t hold your item or try it on! Let them know if it will fit them by being as specific as possible.

4. Material. What is your item made from? What kind of cloth/stone/metal/paper is it? How is it made? Is it serged/quilted/wire-wrapped/etc?

5. Care instructions. Let your buyers know how they can keep your item clean, if necessary. If this is a clothing item or a purse, they will want to know. Can it be tossed in the washer or is it a dry-clean only item?

6. Weight. This can be helpful, and sometimes necessary. Are you selling gorgeous vintage earrings that weigh a ton and can only be worn by people with strong ears? Are you selling a heavy wool sweater? Let your buyer know.


Read More Here:  Be sure to click on through and read the last few tips…. they are super valuable!


  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/terrifayejewelry Terri Faye Jewelry

    Great post! Something I like to do is send a nicely printed postcard with how to care instructions with each item.

  • http://www.donnamcvicarkazo.com Donna Kazo

    "First of all, the best advice I can ever give to a seller: Describe your item like there are NO pictures at all, and take pictures like there is NO description at all. Then, when you put them together, you’ve got magic." Now that is some terrific advice, the nugget of wisdom in a fine article. Thanks!

  • http://blog.silverdropsdesigns.com/2010/11/the-five-laws-of-selling-handmade-goods-amended-from-ranganathan%e2%80%99s-5-laws-of-library-science/ The Five Laws of Selling Handmade Goods: Amended from Ranganathan’s 5 Laws of Library Science – Silver Drops Blog

    [...] photos will attract shoppers and they will know more about your item more quickly.  Second, your item descriptions should be short and easy to read.  Don’t use big words that could confuse potential customers and lengthy verbose text that looks [...]

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