A listing's job is to answer the questions a buyer has before they ask them - size, materials, care, and what makes this piece worth owning. Get that right, and the listing does the selling for you.
Lead with what it is
Say plainly what the piece is, what it is made from, and its size, in the first sentence or two. Buyers skim before they read, and a listing that buries the basics loses people before the story even starts.
Then tell the story
What inspired it, what it was like to make, what moment or idea it came from. Online buyers connect with the story as much as the finished piece - it is often the difference between a scroll and a sale.
Answer the practical questions
Dimensions, materials, care instructions, and how it ships. Leaving these out does not make a piece feel more special - it just means more unanswered questions, and fewer people willing to ask before buying.
Keep the tone like a person wrote it
Write the way you would describe the piece to someone standing in front of it, not like an ad. Overblown sales language usually reads as less trustworthy, not more, for handmade work specifically.
Listings are one part of a bigger system, alongside photography, pricing, and a place to sell. See how all of it fits together as an NDIS-funded program on the NDIS support for artists guide.
Frequently asked questions
What should the first line of a listing say?
What the piece is, what it is made from, and its size - the basics a buyer is scanning for before they read further.
Should I include the story behind the piece?
Yes. Story is often what turns a scroll into a sale, but it should come after the practical basics, not instead of them.
How long should a listing be?
Long enough to cover the basics, the story, and care or shipping details - usually a short paragraph or two, not a wall of text.
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