Copying somebody else's product descriptions: Does this impact your e-commerce site negatively?

by Banned 8 replies
11
Finally, I found the right place where I should ask this.

Two weeks ago, I acquired a client who wanted me to write product descriptions for some (not all) of his products. I proactively checked the current descriptions of his 3 to 5 products on Copyscape. I am not sure if her product descriptions were copied by her team or someone else copied hers. So I asked if she is aware of that. I was floored by her answer, "Dear, that's fine. I told my team to copy our competitor's product descriptions since we sell the exact same products, anyway."

I was like, "Huh?"

Well, gently I did my best to share with her how I understand it and how, I believe and think, that impacts her e-commerce sites' SEO negatively. I mean, I am not an award-winning SEO expert but based on what I've read, copying somebody else's product descriptions just because you have the exact same products does not give you the protection against Google's checking. Well, I believe she believed what I was saying.

Then, yesterday came another client who had the same belief as the first client I met two weeks ago. I felt the need to ask this either to SEO experts or to owners or enthusiasts of e-commerce sites.

Do you also believe that copying the exact same descriptions of somebody else's products is completely, totally, 100 percent okay? What do you say?

If I have the wrong understanding, I should update the blog I wrote about this. What do you say, e-commerce site owners?

PS: I'm sorry for a lengthy explanation. I can't help but explain the story.
#ecommerce sites, wholesaling & drop shipping #copying #descriptions #ecommerce #impact #negatively #product #product descriptions #site
  • Some suppliers I have spoken to suggest you use the generic product descriptions accompanying the product files; others have given me the option to write my own descriptions. I think it's more original and creative to do the latter than the former. About SEO, I am not SEO savvy enough with that to say how Google looks at it-- I'm sure the experts will be chiming in soon. I've always believed that originality will always prevail in the end, and the truth that someone someday may steal your product copy too.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Banned
      Oftentimes, this is the scenario and same story my clients are telling me the first time we talk about their product description writing needs. At least, I'm happy to know that it's not just me who prefers to have unique product descriptions in every product instead of copying the supplier's or manufacturer's copy.


      True. Too many times have I heard my clients complaining that someone else easily has copied their product descriptions when they've spent thousands of dollars for their product descriptions.
  • Everyone would prefer unique content on their product descriptions but that's time consuming and costly. Yes you will get more SEO value (most likely) if done right but who's to say that someone won't rip you off? Or a bunch of people won't? Then your "unique" content is all over the place.

    I have a site right now where I just scraped mfg supplied descriptions and loaded the products and I'm getting ranked on a bunch of keywords. I think in ecommerce is different because Google can tell you are selling products and like mentioned, everyone is going to have similar product info.
    • [1] reply
    • Banned
      Thanks for the input, wakeforce139.

      But if what I recently read about SEO serves me right, whoever posted the content first gets the 'ownership' to the eyes of any search engine. I believe search engines have this 'time-stamping' facility to check who posted the content first. That way, any similar copies that were posted about that can be regarded as duplicated OR syndicated copies. If we have any SEO expert on board, please correct me if I am wrong (or correct that thread I read shall I say, lol).
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • For a website I created in the past I used generic product descriptions from the manufacturer as the company did not have the budget to pay me to write things that are a bit more unique. When I left that project and went out on my own I created my own product descriptions (same type of products). My conversion rate is 250% higher.
    • [1] reply
    • It's laziness. I don't understand why eCommerce owners wouldn't take the time to invest in writing a unique product description. I can understand if you have 5,000 products uploaded, but start tackling some of your better selling products and keep going. Even if it's only 10 a day.

      Don't look at the product description as a space to just list specs. Yes, you want specs listed for the customer to see, but use that as a place to SELL! It's all about converting traffic right?

      With a retail store a customer walks in and looks at a product and the specs are listed on the spec sheet with the product price. However, the smarter retail stores (depending what is being sold) have knowledgeable sales people who close the customer.

      With an ecommerce store you don't have a live salesperson waiting around to close customers. Use your product description as your chance to sell that customer. They found your product's page, don't bore them with generic specs, CLOSE the customer. Get the customer hooked and price will be a secondary thought.
      • [ 2 ] Thanks
      • [1] reply
  • I'm in agreement with tommycash and YourOnlyWriter.

    Copying your competitors' product descriptions is duplicate content, and it's bad for SEO. You'd also be missing out on a wonderful opportunity to do some unique selling (see tommycash's post). It's fine if other people copy you- it just makes you look better, as far as I can tell.
Join the discussion

Next Topics on Trending Feed

  • 11

    Copying somebody else's product descriptions: Does this impact your e-commerce site negatively?

    Finally, I found the right place where I should ask this. Two weeks ago, I acquired a client who wanted me to write product descriptions for some (not all) of his products. I proactively checked the current descriptions of his 3 to 5 products on Copyscape. I am not sure if her product descriptions were copied by her team or someone else copied hers. So I asked if she is aware of that. I was floored by her answer, "Dear, that's fine. I told my team to copy our competitor's product descriptions since we sell the exact same products, anyway."