Should You Use AI To Write Ecommerce Titles and Descriptions? Do You Need To?
Howto & Style
Introduction
As an increasing number of entrepreneurs manage their online businesses, the debate of whether to employ AI for writing Etsy titles and descriptions remains an ongoing conversation. This article delves into the arguments for and against using AI for this purpose and provides insights from a live video session discussing this, as well as practical examples using ChatGPT.
Introduction
In a recent video, I addressed the question of whether AI is useful for writing Etsy titles and descriptions. This topic arose from inquiries posed by individuals curious about the potential advantages AI might offer.
When Should You Consider AI?
AI certainly has its merits, especially in specific scenarios. For instance, if you find writing particularly challenging or if English is your second language, AI might be beneficial. It can help ensure grammatical accuracy and improve readability.
For those fluent in English, writing e-commerce titles and descriptions isn’t overly complex. By the time you input all the necessary details into an AI system, you might have written the description yourself.
Live Test Using ChatGPT
To illustrate the point, I used ChatGPT to generate titles and descriptions for a variety of products.
Example 1: Edible Butterflies
Prompt: Write a product title for an e-commerce listing for 12 edible butterflies for cake decorating and cupcake toppers.
Result: ChatGPT came up with "Delicate Edible Butterflies: 12 Cake Decorating and Cupcake Topper Set," which incorporated the appropriate keywords but didn't offer a significant advantage over manually writing the title.
Detailed and Specific Prompts
Prompt: Write a product title listing for a set of 12 purple edible butterflies made from wafer paper for cake decorating or cupcake toppers optimized for SEO using the keywords edible butterflies and cupcake toppers.
Result: "Edible Butterflies Purple 12 Pack Wafer Paper Cake Decorating Cupcake Toppers." While incorporating all necessary keywords, it wasn't significantly different from manually writing it.
Google AI and SEO Misconceptions
One common misconception is that using AI for writing titles and descriptions will enhance your Google search rankings. This isn’t necessarily true. Google's AI results have no direct correlation with whether you use AI to write your descriptions.
Writing Descriptions with AI
Providing AI with detailed prompts can yield good results but only with careful verification and editing.
Example 2: Purple Edible Butterflies Description
Vague Prompt: Write a description based on the title.
Result: The outcome was overly flowery and generic, filled with marketing clichés.
Detailed Prompt: Added specifics such as sizes and materials.
Result: The quality improved, but it still required manual editing to remove unnecessary verboseness.
Formatting Issues
Even when AI provides a useful starting point, transferring the content to Etsy can remove formatting such as bullet points, complicating matters.
Conclusion
For titles, you can save more time by writing them manually. For descriptions, AI can offer useful ideas but involves editing and refining to ensure accuracy and suitability.
Keywords
- AI writing
- E-commerce descriptions
- Etsy titles
- SEO optimization
- ChatGPT demonstration
FAQ
Q1: When should I consider using AI for writing e-commerce titles and descriptions?
A1: You should consider using AI if you struggle with writing or if English is your second language to ensure grammatical accuracy and improved readability.
Q2: Does using AI-written titles and descriptions enhance my Google search rankings?
A2: No, Google AI results have no direct correlation with whether you use AI-written descriptions for your e-commerce listings.
Q3: What are the limitations of using AI for writing product descriptions?
A3: AI may produce overly flowery or clichéd content. Manual verification and editing are necessary to ensure the accuracy and appropriateness of the output.
Q4: How effective is AI in handling complex or specific product descriptions?
A4: AI can handle complex or specific product descriptions reasonably well if provided with detailed prompts. However, the results still require manual refinement to remove verbosity and ensure factual correctness.
Q5: Should I manually write titles even if AI can generate them?
A5: Yes, writing titles manually is often more efficient since the time spent inputting data into AI could be used to write the title directly.
Q6: Can AI effectively communicate the emotional and storytelling aspects of a product description?
A6: Yes, AI can be configured to write in various tones, including emotional and nostalgic styles, which can help create an emotional connection with potential buyers. However, the generated content should still be refined to align with your brand voice and avoid sounding overly robotic.