You have 47 items photographed and ready to list. The photos look great. The items will sell. But writing 47 unique, compelling product descriptions? That is the part where your motivation dies. You start strong, then the descriptions get shorter and lazier, until the last few are basically "Vintage sweater. Size medium. Good condition."
This is where most resellers lose money. Not from bad photos or poor sourcing, but from product descriptions that fail to convert browsers into buyers. The good news: AI writing tools have changed the game. You can now generate quality descriptions in seconds rather than minutes, letting you list more items with better copy than you would write yourself when exhausted.
This guide covers how to write product descriptions that actually sell, when and how to use AI to accelerate the process, and how to combine both approaches for maximum efficiency.
Why Product Descriptions Matter
Photos get attention. Descriptions close sales. Here is what happens when buyers click on your listing:
The Buyer Decision Process
Photo hook: They see your photos in search results and click. This took 1-2 seconds.
Scanning phase: They quickly scan title, price, and first line of description. This takes 3-5 seconds. Most buyers decide here whether to read more or leave.
Evaluation phase: Interested buyers read details, check measurements, assess condition. This takes 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
Decision point: They either buy, save for later, or leave. Your description influences all three outcomes.
What Good Descriptions Do
Answer questions before they are asked: Measurements, materials, condition details, care instructions. Every unanswered question is friction that reduces conversion.
Create desire: Beyond facts, good descriptions help buyers imagine owning and using the item. They paint pictures of where, when, and how.
Build confidence: Professional, detailed descriptions signal a trustworthy seller. Sloppy descriptions suggest a seller who might be careless with shipping too.
Support search discovery: Keywords in descriptions help buyers find your listings. Miss relevant terms and you miss potential buyers.
The Anatomy of Descriptions That Sell
Title Optimization
Your title is the most important text in your listing. It determines search visibility and first impressions.
Include essential details:
- Brand name (if recognized)
- Item type (specific, not generic)
- Key attributes (color, size, material)
- Condition indicators (vintage, new with tags, etc.)
Good title example: "Vintage Levi's 501 High Rise Jeans Women's Size 28 Light Wash USA Made"
Bad title example: "Cute Jeans!!!!"
Every word in your title should help buyers find or understand your item. Exclamation points and filler words waste precious character limits.
Opening Hook
Your first sentence needs to capture attention and encourage further reading.
Lead with the most compelling detail: What makes this item special? What would make a buyer excited?
Good opening: "This 1970s Pendleton wool coat has the heavy 24-ounce weight that modern versions no longer offer."
Weak opening: "For sale is a wool coat."
The hook should create enough interest that buyers want to learn more rather than clicking away.
Feature Details
After the hook, provide the concrete information buyers need to evaluate the item:
Materials: What is it made of? 100% cotton, polyester blend, genuine leather, etc.
Construction: Notable details about how it is made. Hand-stitched, made in USA, original hardware, etc.
Condition: Honest, specific condition description. Not just "good condition" but exactly what wear exists and where.
Measurements: Precise measurements in a consistent format. For clothing: pit to pit, length, sleeve, waist, rise, inseam as applicable.
Use Case Suggestions
Help buyers visualize using the item. This creates emotional connection and reduces the abstraction of online shopping.
"Perfect for fall layering or paired with high-waisted jeans for that 70s look."
"The structured shoulder makes this ideal for professional settings, while the fabric drapes enough for comfortable all-day wear."
These suggestions help buyers see how the item fits their life.
Closing and Call to Action
End with useful information and gentle encouragement:
"Feel free to message with any questions about measurements or condition. Ships within 2 business days."
This reduces purchase anxiety by signaling responsiveness and fast shipping.
Common Description Mistakes
Too Short
"Vintage dress. Size M. Good condition."
This tells buyers almost nothing. What era? What style? What material? What makes "good" condition? Buyers facing uncertainty often leave rather than ask questions.
Too Long and Unfocused
Descriptions stuffed with irrelevant details, personal stories, or excessive keywords read as spam. Buyers skip them entirely or lose confidence in the seller.
Missing Key Information
The most common missing elements:
- Measurements (especially for clothing)
- Flaws and condition details
- Material composition
- Size conversions or fit guidance
Every missing detail is a potential question that delays or prevents purchase.
Dishonest or Misleading
Hiding flaws, using "vintage" for clearly modern items, or exaggerating condition destroys trust and leads to returns. The short-term sale is not worth the long-term damage.
Keyword Stuffing
"Vintage retro Y2K 90s boho cottagecore academia preppy coastal cowgirl dress"
Irrelevant keywords make descriptions hard to read and can actually hurt search performance on some platforms. Use terms that accurately describe your item.
Writing for Different Platforms
Each marketplace has different norms and character limits:
eBay
eBay allows long descriptions and rewards keyword-rich content. Use this space for detailed specifications, condition notes, and relevant search terms. Item specifics matter for eBay search, so fill them out completely.
Poshmark
Poshmark descriptions tend toward conversational and style-focused. The social nature of the platform rewards personality. Include measurements but lead with styling potential.
Mercari
Mercari buyers often seek deals. Lead with value proposition and be direct about condition. Clear, honest descriptions build trust on a platform where buyers are price-sensitive.
Etsy
Etsy rewards storytelling and authenticity. For vintage items, history and provenance matter. For handmade, process and materials interest Etsy buyers. SEO matters significantly on Etsy.
Depop
Depop skews young and visual. Descriptions can be shorter but should include measurements and condition. Vibe and aesthetic matter. Use relevant style keywords that Gen Z buyers search.
How AI Description Tools Work
AI writing tools have transformed what is possible for resellers. Understanding how they work helps you use them effectively.
The Technology
Modern AI writing tools analyze images and context to generate human-like text. They have been trained on millions of product descriptions and understand what sells.
When you provide a photo of a vintage jacket, the AI can identify:
- What type of item it is
- Approximate era and style
- Colors and patterns
- Notable details and features
It then generates descriptions that highlight these elements in selling-focused language.
What AI Does Well
Consistent quality: AI does not get tired or rush through listing number 47. Every description gets the same effort.
Speed: Descriptions that take 5-10 minutes to write manually generate in seconds.
SEO optimization: AI tools understand which keywords help discoverability and naturally incorporate them.
Professional language: No more "idk what this is but its cute" descriptions. AI writes professionally every time.
Overcoming writer's block: Even if you need to edit AI output, having a starting point is faster than blank-page writing.
What AI Needs Help With
Precise measurements: AI cannot measure items. You still need to provide accurate dimensions.
Condition specifics: While AI can describe general condition from photos, specific flaws and wear need your input.
Brand authentication: AI may identify brands but cannot verify authenticity. Your expertise matters.
Platform-specific optimization: You may need to adjust AI output for different marketplace norms.
Using AI Description Generators Effectively
Photo Quality Matters
AI tools analyze your photos to generate descriptions. Better photos yield better descriptions:
- Good lighting that shows true colors
- Multiple angles (front, back, details)
- Clear shots of labels and tags
- Close-ups of notable features
If the AI cannot see the details, it cannot write about them.
Providing Context
Most AI tools allow you to add information beyond photos:
- Item category or type
- Brand (if not visible in photos)
- Size and measurements
- Condition notes
- Era or age
The more context you provide, the more accurate and complete the generated description.
Editing AI Output
AI descriptions are starting points, not final drafts. Review and edit for:
Accuracy: Did the AI correctly identify the item and its features?
Missing details: Add specific measurements, condition notes, or details the AI missed.
Tone adjustment: Match your brand voice and platform norms.
Keyword optimization: Ensure relevant search terms are included.
With practice, editing AI output takes 30-60 seconds per listing rather than the 5-10 minutes of writing from scratch.
Voolist's AI Writing Assistant
Voolist's AI writing assistant generates product descriptions from your listing photos. Upload images and receive ready-to-use descriptions that highlight key features and include selling-focused language.
The tool integrates with cross-listing features, so descriptions can be optimized for each platform as you list across marketplaces. Combined with bulk listing capabilities, you can process dozens of items with quality descriptions in the time it used to take to list a handful.
Building a Description Workflow
Hybrid Approach
Most successful sellers combine AI generation with human expertise:
- Photograph item with consistent lighting and angles
- Take measurements while item is in hand
- Note condition details including any flaws
- Generate AI description from photos
- Edit and add measurements, condition notes, and brand-specific details
- Review and publish
This workflow takes 2-3 minutes per item versus 8-10 minutes for fully manual description writing.
Templates for Common Categories
Create templates for items you sell frequently. Your template might include:
Jeans template:
- Waist measurement
- Rise measurement
- Inseam measurement
- Leg opening
- Front and back rise
- Fabric composition
- Cut and style name
Templates ensure consistency and prevent missing important details.
Batch Processing
Group similar items for description writing. When your brain is in "jeans mode," describing 10 pairs goes faster than switching between categories constantly.
With AI tools, batch even larger. Generate descriptions for 20-30 items at once, then edit them in sequence.
SEO in Product Descriptions
How Platform Search Works
Each marketplace has algorithms that determine which listings appear for searches. These algorithms consider:
- Title keywords
- Description keywords
- Item specifics or attributes
- Sales history and conversion rate
- Seller metrics
You control the keyword elements. Including relevant search terms helps buyers find your listings.
Keyword Research
Find what buyers actually search for:
Platform search suggestions: Start typing in the search bar and note what autocompletes. These are popular searches.
Sold listing analysis: What titles and descriptions did successful listings for similar items use?
Trend awareness: "Coastal grandmother" was not a search term two years ago but is now popular. Stay current on trending styles.
Natural Keyword Integration
Keywords should flow naturally in your description. Forced keyword stuffing reads poorly and can hurt performance.
Good: "This Y2K-era low rise flared jean has the authentic 2000s wash that's back in style."
Bad: "Y2K jeans vintage jeans low rise jeans flare jeans 2000s jeans retro jeans"
The first reads naturally while including relevant terms. The second is spam.
Descriptions by Category
Clothing
Essential elements:
- Brand and style name
- Size (tagged and measured)
- Fabric composition
- Era or season
- Detailed measurements
- Condition including any wear
- Care instructions if available
Home Decor and Furniture
Essential elements:
- Dimensions (height, width, depth)
- Materials
- Maker or origin if known
- Era and style
- Condition including any repairs
- Weight for shipping considerations
Electronics
Essential elements:
- Brand and model number
- Specifications
- Functionality status (fully tested)
- What is included (cables, manuals)
- Cosmetic condition
- Battery health if applicable
Collectibles
Essential elements:
- Identification (maker, pattern, era)
- Rarity information
- Condition grading
- Provenance if known
- Measurements
- Marks or signatures
Testing and Improving Descriptions
A/B Testing
When you have multiples of similar items, test different description approaches:
- Long detailed versus short punchy
- Feature-focused versus style-focused
- Different opening hooks
Track which versions sell faster or for higher prices.
Learning from Sales Data
Review descriptions on your fastest-selling items. What patterns emerge? Apply successful elements to new listings.
Similarly, analyze items that sat longest. Were descriptions lacking information? Did they fail to convey value?
Relisting with Improved Descriptions
Slow-moving items often benefit from description rewrites. A fresh listing with better copy can find buyers the original missed.
Use delist and relist features to efficiently refresh listings with improved descriptions across platforms.
The AI-Assisted Listing Workflow
Here is how to implement AI description tools in your daily routine:
Daily Listing Routine
- Photograph batched items (spend 30-60 minutes)
- Measure and note condition for each item (1-2 minutes per item)
- Generate AI descriptions for the batch (seconds per item)
- Review, edit, and add measurements (30-60 seconds per item)
- Publish across platforms using cross-listing (seconds per item)
This workflow can process 20-30 items in two hours with quality descriptions on each. Manual description writing of similar quality would take 3-4 hours.
Quality Control
Even with AI assistance, verify every listing before publishing:
- Is the description accurate to the item?
- Are measurements included and correct?
- Is condition honestly represented?
- Does it read naturally?
- Are relevant keywords included?
Five seconds of review prevents customer service issues later.
Your Description Action Plan
Implement better product descriptions starting today:
- Audit current listings: Pick your 10 slowest-moving items and evaluate their descriptions. What is missing? What could improve?
- Create category templates: Document the essential details for your most common item types.
- Try AI tools: Generate descriptions for your next batch of listings and compare to your usual process.
- Establish a workflow: Build a repeatable process that combines AI efficiency with your expertise.
- Track results: Compare sell-through rates and days to sell before and after improving descriptions.
Better descriptions compound over time. Every new listing with quality copy builds a more professional shop that converts better across all your inventory.
For more strategies to improve your listings, explore our guides on product photography for resellers and Etsy SEO optimization.
