How to write eCommerce product descriptions with AI
In the current eCommerce ecosystem, leveraging AI tools for writing product descriptions increasingly offers a blend of efficiency and creativity. For example, the ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) model developed by OpenAI can assist in generating unique product descriptions. It is a generic tool, and its applications may not be sufficiently high-quality for what you need. Before anything else, let’s take a look at the pros, cons, and steps involved in using AI tools for generating product descriptions.
Using AI tools: Pros
Efficiency and Speed: ChatGPT can generate product descriptions rapidly, significantly reducing the time and effort compared to manually generating each description SKU by SKU.
Scalability: Ideal for businesses with large product catalogues, as it can generate numerous descriptions.
Consistency: Maintains a uniform tone and style across all descriptions, essential for brand consistency.
Customisation: Can be tailored to include specific keywords, phrases, and styles which align with brand voice and SEO strategies.
Using AI tools: Cons
Lack of Creativity: While efficient, AI-generated descriptions might lack the unique creative flair that a human writer can offer.
Possible Inaccuracies: ChatGPT will occasionally generate irrelevant or inaccurate content if not properly guided.
Scalability – time and cost: For large volumes of product descriptions, a high degree of manual input to create Excel-based, detailed prompts is needed.
Requires Oversight: AI-generated descriptions often need human review and editing to ensure they meet quality standards and are contextually accurate and mitigate the risk of generating misleading or unethical content.
Steps to write product descriptions using a generic AI tool like ChatGPT
1. Define your requirements: Clearly outline what you need, including the text’s tone, style, and any specific details to be included in the product descriptions.
2. Gather product information: Compile all relevant information about the products – features, benefits, specifications, and unique selling points.
3. Input product details (create prompts): with all your product information enter the details for each. Make sure you’re detailed so the descriptions generated are accurate.
4. Incorporate keywords: Include any SEO-focused keywords that you want to integrate in your descriptions.
5. Generate descriptions: The AI tool speedily creates an initial draft of the product descriptions.
6. Review, edit, tweak, regenerate, iterate: Review your AI-generated descriptions and make whatever edits needed to enhance clarity, add creativity (and the human touch – generic tools tend to rely on the same vocabulary set!). Check that they align with the desired brand voice.
7. Test and refine: You can test and refine by using A/B testing with different descriptions to see which ones performs better in terms of SEO effectiveness, customer engagement and feedback.
8. Regular updates: Keep updating the product information and keywords you provide in your prompts for the AI tool, so your descriptions stay fresh and align with ongoing SEO trends.
Real-world example of AI-generated product description
As an indicative example, let’s take an outdoor leisure clothing retailer to see what kind of description emerges from AI-generated content (with minimal input).
Original Attributes: Waterproof, breathable fabric, UV protection, lightweight design.
AI-Generated Description: “Discover the ultimate outdoor experience with our waterproof and breathable attire. Designed for maximum comfort, it offers UV protection and a lightweight design, perfect for your adventurous lifestyle.”
Users can generate product descriptions either in paragraph and continuous text format, or as bullet points. Here’s the same product:
AI-Generated Description with bullets:
- Waterproof and breathable fabric for all-weather comfort.
- UV protection to shield against harmful rays.
- Lightweight design for easy movement.
Generating product descriptions in bulk with AI tools
Another advantage of using AI for product descriptions is its capability to generate content in bulk. This feature is especially useful for businesses with extensive product ranges, where it’s simply impractical to create individual descriptions for hundreds of SKUs. I general terms, here’s how AI tools generate bulk content.
Structured Data Input: For bulk generation, product information needs to be organised in a structured format such as a spreadsheet or database. It should include all relevant details for each product, such as name, category, features, and any other highlighted content (such as USP).
Batch Processing: The AI tool can batch process this structured data. When you feed it multiple product details at once, it generates descriptions for many products in a single operation.
Template-Based Generation: Another option is to develop a template for product descriptions which would include placeholders for the unique elements of each product. The tool can then use this template to guarantee consistency in style and format across all descriptions.
Customisation and Variation: When you generate descriptions in bulk, it’s crucial to prompt the tool to remind it to vary the language and structure used, so as to avoid repetitive and monotonous content. This also means each product description feels unique and tailored, rather than being churned out by a machine.
Quality Assurance: After generation, you need to carry out a comprehensive review to make sure each description meets quality standards, avoids inappropriate content, accurately reflects the product, and is suitable in brand tone. This will involve either spot checks or a full review, depending on the volume and complexity of the descriptions.
Integration with eCommerce Platforms: Upload your descriptions to the relevant eCommerce platforms, which can be done through bulk upload features, which accept data in a structured format. The typical (and by far most efficient) way to do this is by using a PIM platform, which is integrated with many marketplaces and eCommerce platforms.
By following these steps, AI tools streamline the process of creating high-quality, diverse, and SEO-optimised product descriptions – up to a point. For larger eCommerce catalogues, you need to save time and resources while maintaining content effectiveness. Generic AI tools work with time-consuming manual oversight, but to produce the most compelling and SEO-optimised product descriptions, you need to be looking at a specialised AI tool like Descriptionwise. It’s a tool which is optimised specifically for product titles, product descriptions and SEO titles.
Descriptionwise enables you to scale your product content with precision. If you’re struggling with content creation for your vast eCommerce inventory, our cutting-edge AI technology integrates smoothly with leading PIM (Product Information Management) platforms and offers high-quality, scalable content for all your products. Take your product content to the next level – Click here for your free trial and join those online businesses at the forefront of eCommerce innovation.