The following product attributes are a must
- Image
- Title
- Price
- Star ratings + # ratings
- Product variations, if any (typically in the form of color swatches)
Title
The product title should be a no-brainer. It should be clear, descriptive, and unique. You should also try to keep it as short as possible without compromising on its descriptive functions.
What to include in a title:
- Brand/producer/designer name (this can be shown as a separate component, on its own line)
- Model name if applicable
- Product name
- Product variant, product color, or material
- Size or any unit of quantity
Plain titles like shirt, pants, phone, or TV should be avoided as they convey little meaning. Adjectives like good, excellent, high-quality, or superior should also NOT be used in the product title. They’re tacky and make it look like you’re overpraising unworthy items.
Examples
Here are a few examples of good and descriptive product titles:
- Tommy Hilfiger men’s checked cotton shirt XL
- Samsung 49 inches Q80T 4K UHD HDR Smart TV
Image
Having high-quality product images cannot be overemphasized. This is discussed extensively in BP #48: Have multiple high-quality product images.
Price
Failing to include the price on your product is for lack of a less offensive term, extremely stupid. It’s a pretty common pet peeve on many social media listings but no serious e-commerce site I’ve reviewed has made this mistake.
Your prices have to be hard to miss and should be written in a large bold font.
Ratings
Ratings have become an inescapable part of the online experience. People like to see the impression others have on something before they spend their money on it.
Product Variations
These are typically different versions of a specific product or design. Take the example of a cup, a speaker, a car, or a pair of shoes. The same exact product can come in a variety of colors. These are usually represented by color swatches or included in the product gallery.
List View vs Grid View
If your products are heavy on specs, you might opt for a List View instead of a Grid View, in which case you can show more attributes than those mentioned above. (see examples of this in best practice #185)
Mouse Hover
You can also show additional details on mouse hover (on desktop) – see best practice #165.