Description Done Right: Honesty, Detail, and What Buyers Really Want to Know
Even with advanced AI-generated descriptions, human oversight and refinement are essential for maximum impact and transparency. The AI provides an excellent starting point, generating "accurate but also engaging" descriptions. However, sellers should always review and refine this output, adding personal touches and ensuring complete accuracy.
Specificity and realism are paramount in a listing description. Sellers should include precise details such as measurements, size, age, brand, and model. Critically, any scratches, tears, or imperfections should be explicitly mentioned, ideally accompanied by a photo to manage buyer expectations. Providing contextual details, such as whether an item comes from a "smoke-free and/or pet-free home," can also be valuable to potential buyers. Sellers should adopt a buyer-centric mindset, anticipating questions and providing answers proactively within the description.
While AI offers efficiency, human honesty and attention to detail in descriptions are crucial for establishing credibility and building trust with buyers. A seller who transparently discloses all aspects of an item, even flaws that the AI might not highlight, establishes a strong foundation of trustworthiness. This approach reduces buyer skepticism and contributes to a positive transaction experience, encouraging repeat business and favorable reviews. Detailed and honest descriptions minimize the need for back-and-forth communication from potential buyers, streamlining the sales process. This efficiency leads to faster purchase decisions and higher conversion rates, as buyers possess all the necessary information to commit to a transaction.