Side hustle spotlight: Writing product descriptions for E-commerce brands

The side hustle hiding in plain sight

We recently got a new puppy.

His name is Wylie, and he’s a sweet little toy-poodle puffball. And with his toy-poodle tininess comes a teeny-tiny bladder.

Which means I’ve been setting my alarm for the middle of the night to take the sweet puffball outside for potty breaks.

Oh, and did I mention it’s November in the Midwest? Yeah. It’s freezing.

After I crawl back into bed, I’m inevitably still wide awake at 2 a.m., doing what many of us blue-light rebels do… scroll my phone.

And with Christmas just a month away, I’ve been stalking Amazon for all the best toy deals.

I’ve found myself wondering (and perhaps you have too): Who is writing all these clever (and not-so-clever) blurbs for these products?

Guess what? It’s people. Regular people. Many of them freelancers, and a lot of them get paid surprisingly well.

So, if you’ve been looking for a consistent income stream that most folks overlook, you may have just struck gold.

What product description writers actually do (besides make you want to buy stuff)

Wingmen and wingladies are practically essential to a functioning society (in my humble opinion).

I say this from experience. The night I met my husband, my friend Erica was right by my side, tossing a little sparkle my way. Not too much to be obvious… just enough to help me shine.

And, well, I married him. So clearly, it worked. Shoutout, Erica.

Writing product descriptions is basically the same job. You’re the wingman for whatever you’re writing about. Helping it stand out in a sea of look-alikes. 

And on platforms like Amazon, that sea is crowded.

Your goal is simple: make the product irresistible.

You take boring specs and turn them into “OMG, I need this” moments by creating:

• Punchy one-liners for fast-scroll shoppers

• Cozy, lifestyle mini-stories for home goods

• Sleek, benefit-packed copy for beauty + skincare

• Clear-as-day technical breakdowns for gadgets and tools

Be the Erica. Help those products get noticed AND get chosen.

Why this side hustle is perfect for busy, creative humans

If you’re the type of writer that needs work to be a bit different every day to keep your creative brain happy then honestly this job is perfect. New products drop every single day which means there’s non-stop demand with a wide variety of options. 

Also, it’s near recession-proof since people still shop online regardless of the economy. Looking, searching for the best bang for their buck.

And if you find you like a certain industry better than others you can become “the go-to writer” for categories like skin care, toys and games, or tools.

How to land your first clients 

Okay, so you’re ready to give this a try. Where do you even begin?

Start with a low-pressure warm-up: grab five random items around your house, things people actually search for. Think paper towels, cleaner, lotion, trail mix, a picture frame.

First, write mock descriptions for each item. Then snap a quick photo of each product with your phone.

Next, hop into Canva and put together a simple mini-portfolio: product photo on one side, your description on the other. Clean, simple, effective.

Now you’re ready to reach out. Start contacting brands and asking if they’re looking for someone to write product descriptions. Attach your Canva samples, instant proof you can do the job.

Pro tip: look for brands with great products but… less-than-great descriptions. They’re often the most eager for help.

You can also check out content platforms and freelancing sites where companies regularly post for writers. There are usually more opportunities than you think.

How you can charge (yep, people pay for this)

There are four common ways to price product description work:

• Per description: One flat rate for the entire piece of copy

• Per hour: Charge based on your time

• Per word: Less common for small projects, but still an option

• Per project: Batch multiple products under one umbrella rate

When you’re just starting out, your rates will probably be on the lower side and that’s normal. As you gain experience, confidence, and (especially) a niche, your rates can climb quickly.

How to write product descriptions that make people hit ‘add to cart’

• When you’re writing, picture one person, not the entire internet. It instantly makes your copy feel more personal and genuine.

• Use sensory words. Don’t just say a blanket is “nice”. Show that it’s warm, soft, cozy, the kind you never want to crawl out of.

• Keep your sentences short and clear. Your reader is probably skimming, so make it easy.

• And don’t forget a light sprinkle of SEO keywords, just enough to help the product get found without sounding like a robot.

A final nudge from me (and Wylie)

So, the next time you’re up at 2 a.m. scrolling Amazon (hopefully not from freezing outside with a puppy), remember, real people are behind those little blurbs that convince us to click “add to cart.”

And if you’re craving a creative, flexible way to make extra income, this might just be your sign to try it.

If you want to learn more or see how the pros do it, go peek at my friend Dez over at The Pajama Writer. She has guides, you can book a call, or sign up for the newsletter.

Let’s get you writing!