How to Add a Short Description to Shopify Product Page?

As a Shopify store owner, you understand the importance of showcasing your products effectively to stand out in a competitive marketplace. One powerful tool at your disposal is the short description – a concise yet impactful blurb that entices potential customers to explore your offerings further.

While Shopify provides the option to create short descriptions, it typically requires some basic coding knowledge, leaving many entrepreneurs overwhelmed or restricted. However, fear not; our game-changing solution makes this process a breeze.

This guide will walk you through the art of adding compelling short descriptions to your Shopify product pages without coding. Before going into the details, make sure you have built an eCommerce store on Shopify!

What Is a Shopify Product Short Description?

A short product description is a concise overview of a product's key features, benefits, and value proposition. It is a brief snippet of text that provides potential customers with essential information about the product at a glance. Product short descriptions are commonly used in eCommerce platforms, including Shopify, to give shoppers a quick understanding of what a product offers without the need to read through the entire product description.

Typically, a short product description is limited to a few sentences or a short paragraph, usually at most 50-100 words. The goal of a short description is to capture the customer's attention, spark their interest, and entice them to explore the product further or make a purchase.

Shopify Product Description vs Short Description

In Shopify, product descriptions and short descriptions serve different roles on a product page. Understanding the difference helps you structure content better, improve user experience, and increase conversions.

How they work together

• Short descriptions are optimized for scanning behavior. Most shoppers skim the top of the page first, so this section should answer: “Why should I buy this?”
• Full descriptions support consideration and confidence. They answer deeper questions like sizing, materials, usage, shipping, and returns.

Why you shouldn’t use only one

• Relying only on a full description can overwhelm users and bury key selling points.
• Using only a short description can leave shoppers unsure and reduce trust, especially for higher-priced products.

How to Add a Product Description in Shopify (Default Way)

Shopify provides a built-in product description editor that lets you add and manage full product descriptions without installing any apps or writing code. This is the default method most Shopify merchants start with.

Step-by-step: Add a product description in Shopify

1. Go to Shopify Admin → Products: Log in to your Shopify admin dashboard and click Products from the left-hand menu.

    

2. Select the product you want to edit: Choose an existing product or click Add product to create a new one.

    

3. Use the Product description editor: In the Description field, you’ll see Shopify’s built-in rich text editor. Here, you can:

    

• Type and format text (bold, italic, headings)
• Add bullet points and numbered lists
• Insert links, images, or basic HTML

4. Save your changes: Click Save to publish the product description to your live store.

    

Understanding the Shopify product description editor (rich text)

The default Shopify editor is a WYSIWYG rich text editor, meaning what you see while editing is close to how the content appears on the storefront.

It supports:

• Basic text formatting (headings, paragraphs, lists)
• Inline images and links
• Simple HTML for advanced formatting

However, it’s important to note that this editor is designed for full product descriptions, not short summaries or structured layouts.

How to Add a Short Description in Shopify (3 Proven Methods)

Method 1: Using Product Metafields

Product metafields are Shopify’s recommended way to store custom product data. Instead of hacking content into the main description, metafields let you create a clean, structured short description that’s easy to manage and theme-independent.

Key benefits of using metafields:

• Native Shopify feature (no apps required)
• Clean separation between short and full descriptions
• Works with Online Store 2.0 themes
• Safe for theme changes and store scaling
• Easy to reuse across templates and sections

For most modern Shopify stores, metafields are the most flexible and future-proof solution.

Step 1: Create a product metafield for short descriptions

• Go to Shopify Admin → Settings → Metafields and metaobjects → Products
• Click Add product metafield

Step 2: Add short descriptions to your products

• Open Shopify Admin → Products
• Select a product
• Scroll down to the Metafields section

• Enter your short description content
• Save the product

This content is now stored separately from the main product description.

Step 3: Display the short description in your Shopify theme

Creating the metafield only stores the data; you still need to render it on the product page.

You have two main options:

Option 1: Use the Theme Editor (no code, OS 2.0 themes)

• Go to Online Store → Themes → Customize

   

• Open the Product template

   

• Add a Text or Collapsible row block

   

• Click the Dynamic source

   

• Select Product → Metafields → Short description

   

Option 2: Use Liquid code (advanced)

Developers can output the metafield using Liquid:

{{ product.metafields.custom.short_description }}

This allows precise control over placement, styling, and conditional logic.

Method 2: Split Content Using HTML Comments

Step 1: Add code to Product Description

• Go to “Products” in your Shopify admin and open the product you want to split its description. Click “Show HTML” to see HTML view.

• Put the tag “ <!-- split --> “where you want the product description to "split" into the two parts in your description. Remember to hit “save” to save your changes.

Note: Only the Default product page template is compatible with the split tag.

Step 2: Arrange the split descriptions

• Navigate to “Online Store > Themes > Edit theme.”

• In Shopify's default editor, select “Product Pages” in the dropdown menu
• Click on “Default product”

• Hit “Change” at the top to choose the product that you want to edit the description

• Click on “Add section” to add the “Custom Liquid” section

• After that, add the following code to the “Custom Liquid” section.

{{ product.description | split: '<!-- split -->' | first }}

You can see the description is divided.

• Next, move “Custom Liquid” to the desired location (below “Product information” section”).

• You also can adjust the padding for better visuals

The problem is that the top description still contains both parts. The solution is you can use another “Custom liquid” section and do almost the same thing.

• Now, in “Product information”, click on “add block” and select the “Custom liquid” section

• Add this code to the “Custom liquid” section, and the first part is added.

{{ product.description | split: '<!-- split -->' | first }}

• Move the newly created “Custom liquid” to the suitable position, and then hide the actual description.

Step 3: Save & Publish

• Remember to “save” your change by clicking the button at the top right corner

Method 3: Using Page Builders (No Code)

Shopify offers the option to create a short description, but this process traditionally requires basic coding knowledge. However, there is a more convenient and accessible solution for you – use a third-party app that makes creating short descriptions easy. To simplify your journey to finding the perfect app for your Shopify business, we proudly present EComposer - Shopify Page Builder.

EComposer is famous as a next-generation Shopify app that helps you freely create Landing pages, Home pages, Product Pages, FAQs, and so on. It integrates many outstanding features and elements to help you create attractive, eye-catching websites.

You can easily add a short description by dragging and dropping the text or product tab elements. EComposer lets you use this feature for free when you use any of its service plans.

Step 1: Install and open EComposer

• Go to the Shopify App Store
• Search for EComposer – Landing Page Builder
• Click Add app and install it on your Shopify store

Step 2: Open the product page you want to edit

You can add a short description to either a new or existing product page.

Option 1: Add a short description to a new product page

• In the EComposer dashboard, click Start Building

• Select the Product Page and click Start Building

You’ll now be inside the EComposer editor and can place the short description anywhere you want.

Option 2: Add a short description to an existing product page

• From the EComposer dashboard, select an existing product page
• Click to open it and start editing

Step 3: Add and customize the short description

You have two common ways to display a short description using EComposer:

Option A: Simple short description (Text / Description element)

• In the editor, go to Elements → Single Product
• Drag and drop the Description element onto the page

• Place it near the product title, price, or Add to Cart button

   

• Edit the text and customize:

   

• Font size and style

   

• Line spacing

   

• Colors and alignment

   

This option is ideal for concise benefit-driven summaries.

Option B: Combined short description using Product Tabs

• In Elements, search for Product Tab

• Drag and drop it into your desired position

   

• Customize the tabs to include:

   

• Short description

   

• Additional product details

   

• Reviews, videos, or documents

   

Product tabs help organize content neatly and are useful if you want to combine short descriptions with supporting information without cluttering the page.

Step 4: Save and publish

Once you’re happy with the layout:

• Click Save

   

• Click Publish in the top-right corner of the editor

   

Your Shopify product page will now display a fully customized short description

How to Show Product Description in Shopify Themes

Where Product Descriptions Appear by Default (Dawn & OS 2.0 Themes)

In most Shopify OS 2.0 themes, including Dawn, the product description is:

• Rendered using the {{ product.description }} block

   

• Displayed below the product title and price

   

• Positioned under the product media gallery

   

• Shown as a single long content block

   

This default setup works fine for simple products, but it’s not ideal when:

• You want a short description near the Add to Cart button

   

• Your description is long and hurts scannability

   

• Mobile users have to scroll too far to find key info

   

That’s where layout customization comes in.

How to Move the Product Description in Shopify

With OS 2.0 themes, you don’t always need code—many layout changes can be done directly in the Theme Editor.

1. Show Description Above the Add to Cart Button

Best for: highlighting key benefits, materials, or guarantees before purchase.

How to do it:

Go to Online Store → Themes → Customize

Open a Product template

Drag the Product description block above:

• Variant selector

   

• Quantity selector

   

• Add to Cart button

   

2. Put Product Descriptions Inside Tabs or Accordions

Best for: long descriptions, technical specs, shipping info, FAQs.

Common tab structure:

• Description

   

• Specifications

   

• Shipping & Returns

   

• Reviews

   

How it’s usually done:

• Via theme’s built-in tabs/accordion feature (some themes)

   

• Or using:

   

• HTML + CSS

   

• Product metafields

   

• Page builders (no code)

   

Benefits:

• Cleaner layout

   

• Better content hierarchy

   

• Improved mobile experience

   

• Keeps product pages from feeling overwhelming

   

UX note: Avoid hiding critical selling points inside collapsed tabs—customers may never open them.

3. Display Description Below Product Media

Best for: visual-first products (fashion, home decor, art).

Why this placement works:

• Lets images do the selling first

   

• Description acts as supporting context

   

• Keeps the top section clean and focused

   

This is the default layout in many themes and works well when:

• Your product visuals are strong

   

• Your description is more explanatory than persuasive

   

Mobile vs Desktop Placement Tips

Mobile UX deserves special attention—over 70% of Shopify traffic is mobile for many stores.

Best practices for mobile:

• Keep short descriptions above the fold

   

• Avoid long text blocks near the top

   

• Use accordions instead of full text

   

• Ensure tap targets (tabs, accordions) are easy to use

   

• Test scrolling behavior on real devices

   

Desktop tips:

• Tabs work well due to wider screens

   

• Side-by-side layouts (media + text) are effective

   

• You can afford more content, but still prioritize clarity

   

Why Is My Shopify Product Description Not Showing?

If your Shopify product description suddenly disappears (or never shows up at all), don’t panic. In most cases, it’s caused by a theme configuration issue, not a Shopify bug.

Below are the most common reasons and how to fix them quickly.

SEO Tips for Shopify Product Descriptions

Product descriptions play a crucial role in Shopify SEO, but not in the way many merchants expect. Short descriptions don’t directly boost rankings on their own, yet when used strategically, they can improve engagement, clarity, and crawlability, which indirectly supports better SEO performance.

• Where short descriptions help SEO (indirectly): Short descriptions improve user engagement signals such as time on page, scroll depth, and bounce rate. When shoppers quickly understand what a product offers, they’re more likely to stay, interact, and continue browsing, signals that search engines interpret as content quality. While Google doesn’t rank short descriptions directly, better UX often leads to stronger organic performance over time.

   

• Keyword placement best practices: Use your primary keyword naturally in the short description, especially near the beginning. Focus on intent-driven phrases (benefits, use cases, materials) rather than keyword stuffing. Long-tail keywords work particularly well here because short descriptions are meant to clarify value, not repeat full technical details.

   

• Avoid duplicate product descriptions: Reusing the same description across multiple products can dilute SEO value and confuse search engines. Even similar products should have unique short descriptions that highlight differences such as size, use case, or audience. This helps Shopify avoid internal duplication issues and improves overall index quality.

   

• Be careful with AI-generated content: AI tools can speed up writing, but generic or repetitive AI content can harm SEO. Search engines favor descriptions that show real product understanding and specificity. Always review, edit, and customize AI-generated text to ensure it reflects actual product features, brand tone, and user intent.

   

• Use internal links inside descriptions (sparingly): Adding internal links to relevant collections, guides, or related products can help distribute link equity and improve crawl paths. Keep links natural and helpful, don’t overload short descriptions with links, especially near the Add to Cart area, where focus should remain on conversion.

   

Best Practices for Shopify Short Descriptions

1. Be Concise

In the fast-paced digital world, attention spans are shorter than ever. Customers want quick information without having to read lengthy descriptions. Keeping your short description concise ensures that the most critical information is delivered at a glance. Aim for around 1-2 sentences or a maximum of 50-100 words. Each word should contribute to the overall impact of the description.

2. Highlight Benefits

While features are essential, customers are more interested in how a product can improve their lives or solve their problems. Focus on the benefits and outcomes of using the product. 

For example, instead of merely stating that a vacuum cleaner has a powerful motor, highlight that it effortlessly cleans even the toughest dirt, saving time and effort for the user.

3. Use Engaging Language

The language you use in your short description should be attention-grabbing and compelling. Employ persuasive language that sparks curiosity and emotion. Consider using powerful words that evoke strong reactions, such as "effortless," "life-changing," "irresistible," "transformative,” and so on.

4. Know Your Audience

Knowing your target audience is the foundation of successful marketing. Understand their preferences, interests, and pain points. Tailor the short description to resonate with their unique needs and desires. 

For instance, if your target audience is health-conscious, emphasize the nutritional benefits of a food product.

5. Avoid Jargon

While you may be familiar with industry-specific terms, your customers may need to be. Use language that is simple, clear, and easily understandable by the average person. Avoid using technical jargon that might confuse or discourage potential customers.

6. Create Urgency

Humans are driven by a fear of missing out (FOMO). Create a sense of urgency in your short description to encourage immediate action. Phrases like "Limited stock available," "Hurry, before it's gone," or "Today's special offer" can prompt customers to make a purchase sooner rather than later.

You can also add a countdown timer right below the short description. 

7. Incorporate Keywords

While keeping the short description natural and engaging, strategically incorporate relevant keywords that customers might use to search for the product. This helps improve the product page's search engine ranking and visibility, making it easier for potential customers to find your product online.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does Shopify support short descriptions natively?

Not exactly. Shopify only provides one default product description field by default. To create a short description, you’ll need to use metafields, HTML-based splitting, or a page builder. Shopify OS 2.0 makes this easier by allowing dynamic metafield connections in the theme editor.

2. Can I add two product descriptions in Shopify?

Yes. While Shopify doesn’t offer two description fields out of the box, you can display multiple descriptions by:

• Splitting content inside the main description

   

• Creating a separate product metafield for a short description

   

• Using a page builder to manage different content blocks

   

This approach is commonly used to show a short description near the Add to Cart button and a full description lower on the page.

3. What’s the best place to show a short description?

The most effective placement is near the Add to Cart button, usually above or just below it. This ensures customers see key benefits before making a purchase decision. On mobile, keeping the short description above the fold is especially important for conversion.

4. Are metafields SEO-friendly?

Yes. Shopify metafields are fully SEO-friendly as long as:

• They’re properly connected to visible theme blocks

   

• The content is rendered as HTML (not hidden)

   

• They contain unique, meaningful text

   

Search engines can crawl and index metafield content just like standard product descriptions.

5. Why is my Shopify product description not displaying?

In most cases, this happens because:

• The product description block was removed from the theme

   

• The description field is empty

   

• CSS is hiding the content (often on mobile)

   

• A metafield isn’t connected correctly

   

• An app or page builder is overriding the product template

   

These are display issues, not Shopify bugs.

6. Can I add a short description without coding?

Absolutely. You can add short descriptions without writing any code by:

• Using Shopify product metafields

   

• Connecting metafields via the Theme Editor

   

• Using a page builder like EComposer

   

This is the recommended approach for non-technical store owners.

7. Which Shopify themes support multiple descriptions?

Most Shopify OS 2.0 themes support multiple descriptions when combined with metafields or page builders. Popular examples include:

• Dawn

   

• Refresh

   

• Craft

   

• Sense

   

• Ride

   

The key requirement isn’t the theme itself, but whether it supports dynamic content and flexible blocks, which OS 2.0 themes do.

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• How to Make a Good Shopify Website

   

• How To Create a Custom Preloading Screen on Shopify Store

   

• How To Customize Shopify Product Page Fast & Easily

   

• How to Copy Sections Between Pages on Shopify 2.0

   

In a nutshell

By implementing the tips and techniques shared in this guide, you've equipped your online store with a powerful tool to engage customers, increase conversions, and ultimately drive business growth.

Remember, a well-crafted short description is a gateway to your products, leaving a lasting impression on potential buyers and enticing them to explore further. Continuously refine and optimize your short descriptions based on customer feedback and data insights to keep your product pages fresh and relevant.

If you want more information or to learn more about EComposer, follow us at ecomposer.io or click on the message icon in the screen's right corner.