How to Optimise Product Descriptions at Scale Without Burning Out

Your Customers Aren’t Just Using Google Anymore

Even a few years ago, “optimising for search” meant optimising for Google. But the modern customer journey is far more scattered - and far more complex.

A single buying journey might include:

• Seeing a product on TikTok

• Comparing alternatives using ChatGPT

• Checking YouTube reviews

• Verifying price via Google Shopping

• Clicking through to your PDP to double-check details

• Eventually converting via organic, PPC, or social

Your product descriptions now work across all of these touchpoints - even if you didn’t design them that way!

Where people look for products today

• Google Shopping

• Google’s AI Mode

• ChatGPT, Claude & other LLM search tools

• AI agents comparing products automatically

• TikTok search

• TikTok Shop

• YouTube reviews

• Pinterest shopping features

• Classic Google “blue links”

This wider landscape means your PDPs need to be properly structured, fully descriptive, and consistent enough for all these systems to extract the right information.

What To Optimise First (The High-Impact List)

Rather than trying to fix everything at once, focus on the areas that deliver the biggest return.

These are the essential elements every PDP needs in place to perform well across Google, AI Mode, LLMs, and your wider ecommerce ecosystem. They’re the “non-negotiables” - the pieces of the puzzle that make the biggest difference to visibility, trust and conversions.

1. Product Titles

Clear, descriptive, keyword-led titles that tell search engines and AI tools exactly what the product is.

2. Image Filenames

Descriptive, accurate filenames for all images and videos (no more IMG_2948.jpg).

3. Image Alt Text

Helpful, human alt text that describes the product clearly and accurately.

4. PR Links Back to PDPs

Digital PR and backlinks that strengthen product-level visibility and authority.

5. Product Description Copy

Expanded, customer-focused copy that answers real questions and supports AI Mode.

6. Product Feeds & Schemas

Clean, accurate feeds and structured data that power Google Shopping and AI results.

7. Reviews & Ratings

Visible, trustworthy reviews that heavily influence AI comparisons and conversions.

8. Meta Titles & Descriptions

Optimised metadata for traditional search, click-through rate and shopping visibility.

9. Internal Linking

Smart linking between PDPs, PLPs, guides and relevant content to strengthen context.

10. URL Slugs & Structure

Clean, logical, descriptive URLs that support crawlability and product understanding.

If your PDPs cover these ten areas well, you’re already ahead of most brands.

What Customers Care About Most (And What AI Uses to Compare Products)

AI search tools don’t just present products - they compare them. And the attributes they prioritise are very clear:

• Price

• Reviews

• Shipping options

• Return policies

If your PDPs don’t clearly communicate these, or if the information is buried too deep for AI tools to extract effectively, your product will lose the comparison - even if it’s technically the better option.

And here’s the biggest shift to be aware of:

If the information isn’t on your website somewhere, AI Mode simply won’t include your product.

That covers includes; FAQs, guides, expanded PDP copy, spec sheets, buying advice, comparison content - everything.

How To Optimise PDPs at Scale: The Six-Step Framework

This is the practical part - the structure we use when helping retailers improve their PDP process and scale content production with confidence.

Step 1: Map Your Current Process

Before you can improve your PDP workflow, you need to know what it actually looks like today. Most ecommerce teams think they understand their process - but once everything is mapped out, it becomes clear why things feel messy, slow, or inconsistent.

Mapping the process removes the guesswork. It turns “we think this is where things go wrong” into “this is exactly where we’re losing time, quality or accuracy”.

Why Step 1 is important

• You’ll finally see the bottlenecks causing delays or inconsistency.

• You’ll uncover duplicated work, repeated tasks, and confusing handovers.

• It reveals where product data becomes unclear or incomplete.

• It highlights the real reason PDP quality is inconsistent (it’s rarely the writers).

• It ensures any improvements you make are targeted, not random.

What to map

You want a clear, step-by-step view of how product information moves through your business:

• Where the initial product data comes from (suppliers, PMs, spreadsheets, PIM).

• How it gets to the content or ecommerce team.

• What formatting or rework happens at each stage.

• Who signs off the content (and how long they take).

• Where SEO fits in - and where it currently doesn’t.

• What happens after descriptions are written (QA, uploading, tagging).

• Any tools or systems used (and which ones slow things down).

You cannot improve what you can’t see. This step alone uncovers most of the hidden issues.

Step 2: Identify Missing Optimisation Puzzle Pieces

Once you’ve mapped your current process (Step 1), the next job is to figure out what’s actually missing from your PDPs - the gaps that are quietly holding your visibility, conversions and efficiency back.

Most brands assume their PDPs are “pretty good”, but when you break everything down, you realise huge chunks of the optimisation puzzle are missing or inconsistent. This step gives you clarity on exactly what needs fixing, what needs improving, and what you can ignore for now.

It’s not about perfection, it’s about knowing which pieces will make the biggest difference.

Why Step 2 is important

• You stop guessing where the issues are and start seeing them clearly.

• It helps you spot patterns (e.g., missing alt text, weak titles, inconsistent filenames).

• It shows you where your PDPs fall short for AI Mode and LLMs.

• It prevents wasted effort on areas that don’t move the needle.

• It turns your “big messy PDP problem” into clear action points.

What to look for

Review a representative set of PDPs - across different categories, product types and complexity levels. For each one, check whether you have:

• Optimised product titles

• Clear feature → benefit copy

• Enough descriptive detail for AI Mode

• Structured specs (materials, size, key features)

Step 3: Conduct Keyword Research for Individual Products

This is the step most teams skip - and it’s a big reason PDPs underperform. For years, keyword research focused mainly on category pages. But AI search has completely changed that.

Customers are now searching for far more specific product attributes, and LLMs respond to those details. If your PDPs don’t reflect how people search at product level, AI Mode simply won’t surface your products.

Why Step 3 is important

• AI search wants product-level detail, not just category-level.

• Customers now search by feature, material, colour, size and “best for…” terms.

• Better keyword research = better product titles, copy, filenames and metadata.

• It reduces duplicate content across similar products.

• It increases visibility in AI Mode, Google Shopping, and LLM comparisons.

What to research

You’re looking for the product-specific attributes people search for, such as:

• Product type keywords

• Material (e.g., “stainless steel”, “100% cotton”)

• Colour and size variations

• Fit, shape, purpose

• Use cases (“best for camping”, “ideal for small kitchens”)

• Pain points solved

• Benefit-led terms (“waterproof”, “noise reducing”, “quick drying”)

• Long-tail modifiers (“for beginners”, “under £50”, “lightweight”)

Step 4: Choose the Right AI Tool for You

Now that you know what’s missing and what needs improving, it’s time to find the tooling that actually helps you scale. The biggest mistake we see retailers make is choosing a tool before they understand their real needs.

By this point, you’ll have:

• Clarity on your current process

• A list of optimisation gaps

• Insight into which tasks take the most time

• Knowledge of which fields matter most for AI Mode and SEO

This makes choosing the right tool far easier. You’re no longer shopping blind, you’re matching features to real problems.

Why Step 4 is important

• The wrong tool creates more work, not less.

• The right tool gives you consistency, speed and structure.

• Your PDP framework is only useful if the tool can follow it.

• AI tooling can remove the repetitive tasks humans hate.

• It future-proofs your workflow as product ranges grow.

What to look for in a tool

• Does it support your actual PDP structure?

• Can it handle your level of complexity (tech specs, variants, categories)?

• Does it integrate with your current systems (Shopify, PIM, spreadsheets)?

• Can it follow your tone of voice and naming rules?

• Does it allow different templates per product category?

• Can non-technical teams use it easily?

• Is the pricing sensible for your volume?

Picking The Right AI PDP Tool

There are a lot of AI tools out there, but only a handful are genuinely useful for PDPs. Here’s a breakdown of the most common options, plus the strengths and limitations of each.

Ahrefs Product Description Generator

A lightweight, free and very simple tool that’s perfect for teams who are just starting to experiment with AI for PDPs. It’s not built for scale or complex catalogues, but it’s a great entry point if you need quick drafts, are dealing with low product volumes, or simply want to turn a blank page into something you can edit. Think of it as a “starter tool” for brands who want speed over structure.

Best for:

• Small stores or early-stage brands

• Quick drafting

• Teams with low product volume

• Marketers who already use Ahrefs

Strengths:

• Free

• Easy to try

• Good for generating first drafts

• Fast when you need “something over nothing”

Limitations:

• Not suitable for large catalogues

• Can’t handle structured data or complex product rules

• No integration with PIMs or ecommerce systems

• Requires manual editing for SEO consistency

Shopify AI Product Descriptions

Shopify’s built-in generator is a handy option for brands working entirely within Shopify’s ecosystem. It sits directly inside your product workflow, meaning you can generate descriptions “in the flow” without switching tools. It’s best for smaller catalogues or growing brands who want to move fast, keep things simple, and avoid juggling extra software. It won’t replace a robust SEO workflow, but it’s brilliant for quick, tidy drafts.

Best for:

• Shopify users

• Brands producing small to mid-sized catalogues

• Merchandising teams generating content within their workflow

Strengths:

• Seamlessly integrated

• Fast and easy to use

• Good for “version 1” descriptions

• Helpful for teams with limited resources
  

Limitations:

• Not designed for SEO-heavy optimisation

• Minimal control over structure and style

• Output consistency varies

• Not built for enterprise-level volume

Description Lab

A solid, mid-level tool built for brands producing product descriptions on a regular basis but who don’t need enterprise-level complexity. Description Lab works best when your catalogue is predictable - similar product categories, repeatable formats, clear feature/benefit structures. It gives you structure without overwhelming you, making it ideal for retailers who want a step up from basic generators but don’t need deep system integrations.

Best for:

• Teams producing 100–500 PDPs a month

• Brands needing repeatable layouts

• Mid-sized ecommerce retailers
  

Strengths:

• Clear templates

• Faster than writing manually

• Handles benefits + features formats well

• Ideal for simple-to-medium complexity products

Limitations:

• Not designed for deep technical specs

• Access to custom rules can be limited

• Requires manual oversight for accuracy

• Less suitable for multi-category retailers with lots of variation

PDPClicks.ai (Built by Monday Clicks)

A flexible, enterprise-ready tool designed specifically for retailers with large catalogues, complex data, PIM systems and category-level variations that most AI tools can’t handle. Instead of forcing you to change your workflow, PDPClicks.ai is built to sit on top of your existing processes, adapting to your spreadsheets, your systems, your approvals and your SEO rules. It’s built for speed, consistency and accuracy at scale, giving teams a way to produce optimised PDPs without drowning in manual work.

Best for:

• Enterprises producing 500+ PDPs monthly

• Teams using PIMs and spreadsheets

• Retailers with large, varied catalogues

• Generating consistent, SEO-friendly descriptions

• Handling custom rules per category

• Reducing manual clean-up work

• Scaling content without sacrificing quality

Strengths:

• Custom-built to your workflow (not one-size-fits-all)

• Handles complex, category-specific rules easily

• Works alongside existing systems

• Flexible for global teams

• Low monthly cost compared to many enterprise tools

• Available self-serve or fully managed

• Adapts as your catalogue and processes evolve

Limitations:

• Unnecessary for small stores or simple product sets

• Takes 2 - 4 weeks to setup

If you’re exploring AI for product content, our bespoke PDPClicks.ai tool can plug straight into your existing process and helps you generate accurate, consistent, search-friendly PDPs without reinventing everything behind the scenes.

Want to know more? Let’s chat.

Step 5: Develop Your New Process

Once you’ve chosen your tool, it's time to rebuild your PDP workflow around it. This doesn’t mean starting again from scratch - it means refining the process so it’s smoother, faster, and aligned with both your framework and chosen tool.

This is where everything starts to click.

Why Step 5 is important

• AI tools don’t fix broken processes, they amplify them.

• A great process turns your PDP framework into reality.

• It prevents teams falling back into old habits.

• It reduces errors, inconsistencies and duplicated work.

• It gives every stakeholder clarity on their role.

What the new process should cover

• Where product data enters the workflow

• Who enriches it (and what needs enriching)

• Where SEO fields are added

• At what point the AI tool is used

• Who edits or approves the AI output

• How the content gets uploaded or syndicated

• How different categories are handled

• How feedback loops work

Step 6: Track, Review & Refine

PDP optimisation isn’t something you do once and forget about. Search changes. AI changes. Customer expectations change. Your catalogue changes. Your tooling changes. Your team changes.

Tracking and reviewing ensures your PDPs stay strong - not just at launch, but long-term.

Why Step 6 is important

• It shows whether your efforts are actually working.

• It helps catch new issues before they spread across thousands of PDPs.

• It keeps your framework and process relevant.

• It helps you spot patterns (e.g., a category that keeps slipping).

• It allows your tooling to improve over time.

What to track

Focus on signals connected directly to PDPs:

• Visibility across AI Mode + Google Shopping

• Rankings for product-level keywords

• Product impressions vs clicks

• Add-to-basket rate

• Conversion rate

• Time spent on page

• Returns rate (linked to product clarity)

• Number of PDP edits or rework required

• Production time per product

• Quality score of output from your AI tool

PDP Optimisation Checklist - 6 Essential Steps

A simple checklist to make optimise your product descriptions pages:

1. Map Current Process

2. Identify Missing Puzzle Pieces

3. Keyword Research

4. Find the Right AI Tool

5. Develop New Process

6. Track, Review and Refine

Nail these six steps and you’ll transform PDPs from a never-ending headache into a streamlined, scalable system that actually works.

The Easiest Way to Optimise PDPs at Scale

If you’re looking for the best and easiest way to make your PDP workflow smoother, faster and far less stressful, then you need to get in touch and let us do the hard work.

Whether you need a full process audit, a scalable content framework, or just some support choosing the right AI tool, we can help you and your teams wherever you’re feeling the pressure.

Sound good? Let’s chat.