Writing Product Descriptions That Sell (With Examples)

A great photo gets the tap; a great description gets the sale. Your listing text does two jobs at once: it helps buyers find your item in search, and it answers their questions so they feel confident enough to buy. Many resellers rush this part, but a clear, complete, keyword-aware description is one of the easiest ways to sell more. Here's how to write descriptions that sell, with examples you can adapt.

What to include

A strong description answers every reasonable question before the buyer has to ask. Cover:

• Brand and item type, clearly stated up front.
• Size, the labelled size, plus flat measurements (chest, length, waist, etc.) since sizing varies between brands.
• Material and care, the fabric composition and anything relevant about washing or feel.
• Colour and style, described accurately, including the true shade.
• Condition, honest and specific, including any flaws.
• Fit and styling notes, whether it runs large or small, and how it might be worn.

The more of these you answer, the fewer messages you'll field and the more confident buyers will feel.

Keywords for search

On Vinted, eBay and Depop, buyers find items by searching and filtering. Your words are how you get discovered.

• Include the terms buyers actually type, brand, item, style, colour, size and material. Think "Levi's 501 straight leg jeans W32" rather than just "jeans".
• Add relevant style and trend words where they're accurate, like "vintage", "Y2K", "oversized" or "workwear", if they genuinely describe the item. If you sell trend-led pieces, these terms matter.
• Write naturally. Work keywords into real sentences rather than dumping a list. Search engines and buyers both prefer readable text, and stuffing looks spammy and puts people off.

The goal is to be findable and readable, never one at the expense of the other.

Structure

A tidy structure makes a description easy to scan, and buyers scan before they read.

1. Open with the key facts, brand, item, size and standout feature in the first line or two.
2. Give the details, measurements, material, colour and condition, ideally in short lines or bullet points.
3. Be clear about flaws, a brief, honest note on any wear or marks.
4. Close with a light nudge, mention bundle discounts, fast dispatch, or that questions are welcome.

Short paragraphs and bullet points beat one dense block of text every time.

Example descriptions

Here are two simple templates you can adapt.

Example 1, a branded jumper:

Genuine [Brand] lambswool jumper in forest green, size M. Soft, mid-weight knit, perfect for autumn layering. Flat measurements: chest 54cm, length 66cm. Excellent used condition, no holes, pulls or bobbling. From a smoke-free home. Fast dispatch, and happy to combine postage on bundles. Any questions, just ask!

Example 2, a used-with-flaws pair of trainers:

[Brand] trainers, UK 8, white/grey colourway. A comfortable everyday pair with plenty of life left. Good used condition: some light creasing on the toe and faint marks on the soles (shown in photos), cleaned and ready to wear. True to size. Posted quickly and packaged with care.

Notice how each one leads with the key facts, uses natural keywords, states condition honestly, and ends warmly. That combination builds trust and gets the sale.

Pair it with the rest of your listing

A description doesn't work in isolation. It should match your photos, if you mention a flaw, show it, and support a sensible price. When your photos, words and price all tell the same honest, appealing story, buyers stop hesitating.

Writing good descriptions gets faster with practice, especially once you have a template or two you trust. Keep them accurate, keyword-aware and honest, and they'll quietly lift your sell-through rate on every listing you post.