Start with a product record, then write the copy

Shopify Magic can help you turn a product brief into readable copy. The useful starting point is a reliable product record: what the item contains, how it is used, what varies between options and which claims you can support. A fluent paragraph cannot resolve missing specifications.

An illustration of using a product and notes to draft a product description with AI
Start with reliable product information, then draft with AI. AI-generated explanatory illustration; this is not an actual Shopify interface.

This guide is based on official documentation checked on September 6, 2026. The sample brief and review process are our editorial recommendations, not a hands-on product test or evidence of sales improvement. They are designed for a merchant editing a small group of product pages before expanding the process.

If you are planning your first Shopify store, check the current store plans and trial terms below. This is a new store signup link, not a separate purchase of Magic. Existing merchants can use their current admin to check feature availability.

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Availability and the current editing sequence

Shopify describes Magic as free AI features within its platform, with access to individual features potentially varying. Shopify Magic availability

For product descriptions, use desktop admin. Open Products, select the item, choose the text-generation icon in its description and submit your prompt. Generated text goes into the description; review it before saving. Saving a published product makes the revised description visible immediately. Write the prompt in the intended output language. Product description generation

Before editing a live item, keep a dated copy of its existing description outside the editing field. Assign an owner who can restore that wording if the new version omits an important qualification. This is a suggested working practice, not a claim that Magic provides a separate approval queue or version-control system.

Build a brief that distinguishes facts from instructions

Use two clearly labeled sections. The facts section contains approved product information. The instructions section describes the reader, structure and voice. This makes it easier for a reviewer to trace an output sentence back to its basis.

For facts, collect the exact item name, variant scope, material, dimensions, included accessories and care guidance. Record where each detail came from and when it was checked. If a supplier sheet conflicts with your current catalog, resolve that conflict before drafting. Do not ask the generator to choose which number seems plausible.

For instructions, define the customer's decision. A shopper comparing desk organizers may need to understand dimensions and compartment layout before reading a brand story. A replacement-part buyer may care most about exact compatibility. Decide which information belongs in the opening sentence for this particular product.

Keep temporary offers and store-wide promises separate from the basic item brief. A product description that embeds a seasonal delivery promise can become inaccurate after the campaign ends. Give price, shipping and return-policy wording their own review owners if you decide to include them.

Shopify's AI guidance recommends explicit goals, data, constraints and output format. Treat the brief below as a way to operationalize that advice. AI prompting practices

A sample prompt for a fictional product

The following product and specifications are invented solely to illustrate the prompt. Replace every detail with information approved for your own item. The requested length is an editorial choice, not a Shopify requirement.

Draft an English product description for the Alder Desk Tray. Approved facts: powder-coated steel; external dimensions 24 × 12 × 3 cm; one open compartment; charcoal finish; one tray included; wipe with a dry cloth. Intended reader: someone organizing small everyday desk items. Start with one factual introductory sentence, then three short bullets covering construction, dimensions and care. Keep the total under 100 words. Use a calm, practical tone. Do not invent accessories, certifications, origin, protective properties, warranties or customer reviews. Do not claim compatibility with a particular device. If a benefit cannot be supported by the facts, leave it out.

The instruction to omit unsupported claims is useful, but it is not a substitute for checking the result. A model can still introduce a plausible adjective or silently change a number. Treat each revision as a new draft requiring inspection.

An illustration of checking an AI-written product description against a product and review notes
Compare the draft with your product information before saving. AI-generated explanatory illustration; this is not an actual Shopify interface.

Review claims before polishing the tone

Read the first draft once only for factual assertions. Mark every measurable value and every sentence that promises performance, compatibility or an outcome. Compare those assertions with the product record, including the option to which they apply.

For the fictional tray, “24 × 12 × 3 cm externally” follows the brief. “Fits every tablet” does not. “Scratch-proof” is also unsupported even though the coating sounds protective. Remove the unsupported claim rather than replacing it with another attractive synonym such as “damage-resistant.”

Check implied facts as carefully as explicit ones. “Complete desk set” can suggest accessories that are not included. “Designed and made locally” combines two origin claims. “All-day comfort” promises a user outcome even without a numeric guarantee. A reviewer should be able to identify the evidence for each meaningful claim.

Shopify cautions that generated descriptions may add benefits or facts drawn from similar products. The merchant remains responsible for what is published. Generation accuracy guidance

Make the description useful at the buying decision

Once facts are correct, edit for a reader who is comparing several products. Replace general praise with distinctions that help that reader choose. If the specification sheet is the same for two variants, do not manufacture a difference merely to make their paragraphs sound unique.

Separate the main use from the constraints. Put the product's purpose near the start, then make dimensions, care instructions and package contents easy to find. Keep caveats adjacent to the relevant claim rather than hiding them below unrelated promotional copy.

Shopify's writing guidance emphasizes concrete details, evidence for benefits and scannable presentation. Writing product descriptions

For an internal review, ask a colleague to answer three questions using only the draft: What exactly arrives? Which option is being described? What would make this unsuitable for a buyer? Their unanswered questions identify editing work more clearly than a general request to “make it more persuasive.”

Localize the buying information, not just the sentences

Create a separate approved brief for each market. Keep SKU facts aligned, but check units, terminology, included components and market-specific instructions. If you convert measurements, retain the original values in your review record and agree on a rounding rule before editing.

For Japanese copy, decide whether to use full-width or half-width numbers consistently, how to present dimensions and whether technical terms need a plain-language explanation. For English copy, specify the intended variety of English and whether the store uses metric, imperial or both. These are editorial decisions for your customers, not default settings assumed here.

Do not import one market's delivery or warranty wording into another description just because the paragraph reads naturally. After localization, compare factual statements across versions separately from reviewing style. A polished translation can still describe the wrong package contents.

Publish a limited batch and record corrections

Choose a small set with complete source records. Save the old wording, approved brief, final copy, reviewer and publication date together. Preview the result on a narrow screen and inspect the visible storefront after saving, especially lists, special characters and units.

Track correction time as well as drafting time. If a draft saves writing effort but requires repeated fact repair, improve the source brief before increasing volume. Record the types of errors: missing qualifier, wrong variant, unsupported benefit, awkward terminology or formatting issue. That classification can guide the next prompt revision.

A change in conversion rate alone does not establish that the new wording caused it. Traffic mix, price, promotions and availability can change at the same time. Start by checking whether the content is accurate and whether customers can find information they previously asked support to clarify. Broader testing requires a deliberate comparison design.

How this fits your wider Shopify workflow

Use this process for product-page drafting and review. For event-based operational tasks, see our Flow and Sidekick automation guide. If shoppers still need help after reading the page, the AI customer support pilot guide explains how to define answer boundaries and human handoffs.

The next practical step is to choose one product with reliable specifications, draft from its approved brief and have another person check every claim before the live description changes.

Starting a new Shopify store?

If you are planning your first Shopify store, check current plans and trial terms on Shopify's website. The link below is for new Shopify store signup, not a separate Magic purchase. Existing Shopify merchants can follow this guide in their current store's admin.

ShopifyPlanning your first online store?Check the features, pricing and eligibility you need before signing up.Start a new Shopify store

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