In today’s digital-first shopping world, a product description is your salesperson. Customers can’t touch, try, or test items online. Instead, they rely on words and visuals to decide whether to buy. According to Shopify, up to 87% of shoppers say product content is extremely important in their decision-making.
💡 Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not guarantee specific earnings. Pricing and income examples are based on industry averages and may vary depending on experience, niche, and market demand.
That’s why businesses of all sizes — from Amazon sellers to Etsy creators to national eCommerce brands — need skilled product description copywriters.
👉 A strong product description doesn’t just describe an item. It:
- Builds desire
- Answers objections
- Differentiates a product from competitors
- Optimizes search rankings
For more information, check out these pages below:
- Copywriting: What Jobs, Where to Learn, and Possible Income
- The Niche Finder: Browse Ideas to Start Your Journey
- Smart Hustles & Side Income Strategies Guide to Earning More
- For more ideas, check out our Niche Ideas Category
- Wakewall’s 50-State SEO Guide for Small Businesses
What Product Description Copywriters Actually Do
At its core, a product description writer’s job is to make products irresistible.
Responsibilities include:
- Highlighting benefits over features (“water-resistant” → “keeps your gear dry in the rain”).
- Writing with the brand’s voice (playful, luxurious, professional).
- Structuring copy for scannability (bullets, subheads, bold text).
- Incorporating SEO keywords naturally.
- Adjusting tone for the target customer (Gen Z sneakerhead vs. luxury handbag buyer).
📌 Example:
❌ Bad description:
“This water bottle is 20 oz. and made of stainless steel.”
✅ Good description:
“Stay hydrated all day with this sleek 20 oz. stainless steel bottle — built to keep drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12. Perfect for workouts, travel, or your desk.”
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Industry Pricing Averages
Rates vary depending on platform, product type, and complexity:
| Type of Product Description | Typical Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Short listings (Etsy, eBay) | $5 – $20 each | Simple, 50–150 words |
| Amazon listings (SEO-optimized) | $20 – $75 each | Includes title, bullets, A+ content |
| Shopify/eCommerce stores | $15 – $50 each | Often sold in batches (10–20 at a time) |
| Luxury or technical products | $50 – $200 each | Research-heavy, premium writing |
| Bulk packages | $200 – $1,000+ | 50–100+ listings for one client |
📊 Many freelancers offer bundles (e.g., “20 Amazon listings for $500”), which makes pricing predictable for clients and profitable for writers.
Ethical Pricing Strategies
Instead of guessing, price your services in ways that build trust and sustainability:
- Cost-plus pricing: Cover your research, writing, editing time + profit margin.
- Value-based pricing: Charge more for products with higher ROI potential (luxury goods, best-sellers).
- Tiered packages: Offer basic, SEO-optimized, and premium storytelling levels.
- Batch discounts: Reduce per-description cost for bulk orders (clients love predictability).
✅ Example: A $25 candle description might seem expensive, but if it helps the shop sell $500 worth of candles monthly, the client sees it as a smart investment.
Earning Potential
Product description writing can start small but scale big:
- Beginner: $200–$1,000/month (helping Etsy/eBay sellers).
- Intermediate: $1,000–$3,000/month (Shopify stores, bulk batches).
- Advanced: $3,000–$7,000+/month (Amazon sellers, technical/luxury goods).
👉 Many successful writers expand into full eCommerce copywriting (email campaigns, landing pages, ad copy), multiplying their income.
Step-by-Step Framework: How to Write a Product Description That Sells
- Know the audience
- Who’s buying? A busy mom? A fitness enthusiast? A college student?
- Match tone and benefits to their priorities.
- Lead with benefits, not just features
- Feature: “Bluetooth 5.0 headphones.”
- Benefit: “Crystal-clear sound and no dropouts, even in crowded gyms.”
- Use sensory and emotional language
- Instead of “warm sweater,” write “soft fleece that feels like a hug on a winter morning.”
- Make it scannable
- Use bullet points for specs.
- Add subheadings for long descriptions.
- Keep paragraphs short (2–3 sentences).
- Include SEO keywords naturally
- Don’t keyword-stuff. Write for people first.
- Example: Instead of “cheap water bottle stainless steel,” write:
“An affordable stainless steel water bottle that keeps drinks cold all day.”
- End with a call to action (CTA)
- “Add to Cart today and enjoy free shipping.”
- “Order now — limited stock available.”
Case Study: The Power of Optimized Descriptions
A small Shopify shop selling handmade candles rewrote its product listings with:
- Benefit-focused headlines (“Relax after a long day with our lavender soy candle”).
- SEO keywords (“soy candle gift,” “lavender aromatherapy”).
- Lifestyle imagery paired with copy.
📊 Results in 3 months:
- 40% increase in product page conversion rate.
- 28% increase in average order value (thanks to upsell descriptions).
- Higher Google rankings for “lavender soy candle gift.”
👉 Clear proof that words drive sales.
Common Mistakes in Product Description Copywriting
- ❌ Listing features only — Specs matter, but buyers want benefits.
- ❌ Writing too much fluff — Keep it simple, not overly poetic.
- ❌ Keyword stuffing — Hurts readability and SEO.
- ❌ Copy-pasting manufacturer descriptions — Google penalizes duplicates.
- ❌ Not matching tone — A luxury watch shouldn’t sound like a cheap gadget.
Skills You’ll Need
- Persuasive writing (turn features into benefits).
- Keyword research (SEO for Amazon/Google).
- Adaptability (different voices for different brands).
- Basic eCommerce knowledge (Shopify, Amazon Seller Central).
- Attention to detail (accuracy in specs and compliance).
Where to Find Work
- Freelance marketplaces: Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer.
- eCommerce-focused networks: FreeUp, Storetasker.
- Direct outreach: DM small Shopify/Etsy sellers.
- Agencies: Many marketing agencies need product copywriters.
- Wakewall: Post your services for small businesses in your area.
Extra Income Opportunities
Product description writing can open doors to:
- SEO consulting (help sellers rank).
- Email marketing (write product launch campaigns).
- Content bundles (descriptions + social media captions).
- Cross-selling (offer photography + copy as a package).
How Wakewall Can Help Product Description Writers
Managing multiple clients and hundreds of listings can get overwhelming. Wakewall helps by:
- Reminders: Track deadlines for batches or product launches.
- Notes: Save brand voice guidelines and keyword lists.
- Posts: Showcase writing samples to attract new clients.
- Discovery: Local small businesses can find and message you directly.
👉 With Wakewall, you’re not just writing descriptions — you’re running an organized, scalable business.
Final Thoughts
Product description copywriting is one of the highest-demand niches in freelancing today. Every online store — from Etsy side hustles to Amazon giants — needs words that sell. By learning how to highlight benefits, optimize for SEO, and write in a brand’s voice, you can turn product listings into a profitable, flexible side hustle. With tools like Wakewall to keep you organized and visible, you’ll not only write better descriptions — you’ll also build a reputation that attracts clients again and again.
