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Short answer: A listing sells when the buyer can see what the product is, trust that it will arrive as shown and understand the price in a few seconds. That needs a clear title, 5 to 7 honest photos, short benefit-led bullets, a price that covers every cost and clear delivery and return details. Use the checklist below before you publish any product.
Most sellers spend a lot of time finding products and very little on the listing. But on a marketplace or a store, the listing is your salesperson. A buyer who cannot tell what the product is, what size it is or how it works will scroll on. This checklist covers the parts of a listing that matter most. It works for marketplaces, your own store and Instagram or WhatsApp catalogues.
1. Write a clear title
A good title says what the product is, the key feature and, where it matters, the size or quantity. Write it the way a buyer would search for it.
| Weak title | Better title |
|---|---|
| Best product for home | Bathroom Floor Cleaning Wiper with Rotating Head, Long Handle |
| New kitchen item | Stainless Steel Vegetable Chopper, 5 Blade, Easy Clean |
| Cool car gadget | Car Phone Holder for Dashboard, 360 Degree Rotation |
Avoid stuffing the title with unrelated keywords or brand names you do not own. Marketplaces can suppress listings that do this.
2. Take 5 to 7 honest photos
- Main photo: the product alone on a clean background, filling most of the frame.
- Angles: front, back, side and any detail a buyer will want to check.
- In use: the product being used, so the buyer understands the size and benefit.
- Size reference: a hand or common object next to it, or a photo with measurements.
- Pack contents: everything that comes in the box.
Use your own sample for photos where you can. Real photos reduce returns because the product matches what the buyer saw. Natural light and a plain background are enough. A short video of the product working helps even more.
3. Write benefit-led bullets
Use 4 to 6 short bullets. Start each with the benefit, then the feature. For example: “Cleans corners easily: the rotating head reaches behind the toilet and along the wall”. Include the material, size, weight, colour and what is in the box. Say what the product cannot do as well. A buyer who is told the truth will not return it.
4. Price it so you still earn after every cost
Work backwards from the selling price. Subtract the product cost, 18% GST on purchase where it applies to you, shipping and packing, the platform fee and a returns allowance. If the profit is too small to survive a few returns, change the product or the price. Do not copy a competitor’s price. Their costs may be lower than yours. Our profit example shows the full calculation.
5. State delivery and returns clearly
Buyers hesitate when they cannot tell when the product will arrive or what happens if it is wrong. Say how long dispatch takes, how it ships and what your return rule is. On marketplaces, follow the platform rules for returns. On your own store, write a short policy and keep it honest.
6. Choose the right category and attributes
Fill every attribute the platform asks for: size, colour, material, pack of. Missing details lower your listing’s visibility and raise questions from buyers. Pick the most specific category, not a general one.
7. Answer questions in the description
Think of the five questions a buyer will ask: Does it fit? Is it safe? How do I use it? What is in the box? How do I clean it? Answer them in the description. This reduces messages and returns.
8. Check the product against the photos when it arrives
When you receive stock, compare the product with your listing. If the colour, size or material differs, change the listing before you sell. A mismatch is the top cause of returns.
Listing quality scorecard
| Check | Yes / No |
|---|---|
| Title says what it is, feature and size | |
| 5 to 7 photos including in-use and pack contents | |
| 4 to 6 benefit-led bullets with material and size | |
| Price covers cost, GST, shipping, fee and returns | |
| Delivery and return details are clear | |
| All category attributes are filled | |
| Description answers common questions | |
| Product matches the photos |
Common listing mistakes
- Using copied or stock photos that do not match what you ship.
- Claiming brand names or certifications you do not have.
- Keyword stuffing the title.
- Leaving out the size.
- Pricing without counting shipping and returns.
- Never updating a listing after buyer questions.
Browse our wholesale products list and order a single sample piece to test before you buy more.
What each marketplace rewards and checks
| Amazon | Flipkart | Meesho | Your own store or social | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Specific product name plus key attributes, avoid vague titles like “Women’s Kurti” | A common pattern is brand, main product, top feature, size or colour | Plain, clear product name and type | Say what it is first, then the benefit |
| Images | Clean main image, extra angles, in-use and infographic images | Image quality checks are a common blocker, follow the image guide for your category | Clear photos, correct colours, size shown | Your own photos and video, consistent style |
| Variants | Group sizes and colours as variations | Parent-child groups with consistent titles and attributes | Add size and colour options clearly | One page per product with options |
| Extra content | A+ Content where available | Enhanced descriptions where available | Not usual | Blog, FAQs, reviews |
| Compliance | Category rules, brand and restricted product rules | Brand approval and Legal Metrology details for packaged goods | Category rules | Consumer and GST rules |
Platform rules change often and differ by category. Always check the current seller help pages.
Fewer, stronger listings beat many weak ones
Amazon’s own seller guidance says that fewer, stronger listings tend to sell better than many thin ones. On Flipkart, duplicate listings of the same product split demand and reviews. For a small seller this means: finish one listing properly, with real photos and a clear description, before you add the next. Merge duplicates and keep one listing per product with variants for size and colour.
Legal Metrology and mandatory details for packaged products
Packaged goods sold in India generally need certain declarations on the pack and often in the listing: the name of the product, net quantity, MRP (maximum retail price inclusive of all taxes), the manufacturer, packer or importer name and address, month and year of manufacture or import, country of origin and a consumer care contact. Marketplaces check these details more strictly each year. If you resell packaged goods, check that your supplier’s pack carries them and copy them accurately into the listing. Ask your supplier or an accountant if you are unsure which rules apply to your product.
Photo shot list you can follow with a phone
- Hero: the product alone on a plain light background, filling most of the frame. A longer side of at least about 1000 pixels is commonly advised so the image can zoom.
- Angles: front, back, side, top, and any detail such as a joint or finish.
- In use: a hand using the product, showing real size and result.
- Size reference: next to a hand, a coin or a ruler, with dimensions written on the image.
- Pack contents: everything in the box laid out.
- Close-up of material or finish: to answer quality doubts.
- Short video: 15 to 30 seconds of the product working.
Use daylight near a window and a plain sheet or chart paper as background. Edit only for brightness and crop. Do not change the colour or add features the product does not have, because that leads to returns.
Title formulas that work for most categories
| Formula | Example |
|---|---|
| Product + key feature + size or pack | Vegetable Chopper with 5 Stainless Steel Blades, 900 ml |
| Product + use + material | Bathroom Floor Wiper for Corners, Rotating Head, Plastic and Microfibre |
| Product + compatibility + quantity | Car Phone Holder for Dashboard and Vent, 360 Degree, Pack of 2 |
Before and after: a worked listing example
| Part | Weak version | Better version |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Cleaning wiper best quality | Bathroom Floor Cleaning Wiper with Rotating Head, Long Handle, Reaches Corners |
| Photos | One stock image | Seven photos including in-use, size and pack contents, plus a short video |
| Bullets | Good product, strong, long lasting | Rotating head reaches corners; Extendable handle for different heights; Easy to rinse and dry; Suitable for tile and marble floors; In the box: 1 wiper and 1 spare pad (check yours) |
| Description | None | How to use, how to clean, size and weight, material, what not to use it on |
Write a description that answers questions
- Opening line: what it is and who it is for.
- How it works: three to five steps in plain language.
- Specifications: size, weight, material, colour, pack contents.
- Care: cleaning and storage.
- Delivery and returns: short and clear.
On your own website add a short FAQ per product, because real buyer questions also help the page get found.
SEO basics for your own store and social catalogue
- Use the main search phrase in the product title once, naturally.
- Write a unique description, never copy the supplier’s text word for word.
- Name image files and write alt text that describes the picture.
- Show price, stock status and delivery information on the page.
- Add real customer reviews and photos when you have them.
Audit an existing listing in 15 minutes
- Open the listing on your phone, because most shoppers browse on mobile.
- Check if the first photo makes the product clear in two seconds.
- Read the title aloud. Does it say what the product is?
- Check that price, delivery and returns are easy to find.
- Read your last ten buyer questions and returns. Add the answers to the listing.
Frequently asked questions
How many photos should a product listing have?
Aim for 5 to 7 clear photos: main, angles, in use, size reference and pack contents. Add a short video if you can.
How long should a product title be?
Long enough to say what the product is, its key feature and size, but readable. Follow the character limit of the platform you use.
Can I use the supplier’s photos?
You may use photos you have the right to use. Your own photos of the sample are safer and reduce returns because they match what you ship.
Should I put the price in the title?
No. Put the price in the price field. Use the title for the product name and key features.
How do I improve a listing that is not selling?
Check photos first, then the title, then the price. Read buyer questions and add the answers to the description.
Is it better to write my own description or copy the supplier’s?
Write your own. Copied text looks the same as every other seller and gives your own site no unique value. Use the supplier text only as a fact check.
What size should product images be?
Follow each platform’s image guide. As a general rule use sharp, well-lit images with a longer side of around 1000 pixels or more.
Do keywords in the title still matter?
Yes, but use the words buyers actually search for and keep the title readable. Stuffing unrelated keywords can get a listing suppressed.
How often should I update a listing?
Review it after every ten buyer questions or returns, and before each major sale season.
Sources and further reading
- Amazon Smart Commerce: more listings or better listings
- Streamoid: Flipkart seller guide
- Base.com: top 5 cataloguing hacks to rank higher during festive sales
Keep reading
Last updated: 12 November 2026.
Written by WholesaleOye Team
WholesaleOye is an online wholesale market for sellers, shop owners and new resellers in India. Our mission is to make wholesale simple and low risk: buy in small quantity, start with a single sample piece, and grow as your customers re-order. Our vision is to be the place small businesses trust to source direct from importers and manufacturers at the best price, with GST bills, doorstep delivery to 25000+ pincodes and an easy 5-day return policy.
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