After debunking the affiliate datafeed myth, we discussed one method of getting around it: rewriting product descriptions. If this is a route you’d like to take, there are a few resources which may help simplify the process.
Dictionary/Thesaurus
You’ll want to have a dictionary and thesaurus handy when you’re doing rewrite because you’ll surely encounter words that are way out there or where a different word could better express an idea.
Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com are two free online resources for quick searches. There is also a Firefox plugin which allows you to highlight a word and look it up with the right click of your mouse.
When you’re not in your browser window, then you could use software like TheSage, which is excellent for looking up words and finding synonyms, antonyms, and various other forms of a word.
The Elements of Style
While you’re doing your rewrites, you may encounter a number of spelling/grammatical mistakes and that’s where The Elements of Style will come in handy. It covers basic writing rules and gives some examples of how to omit the needless elements. (You can also pick up a copy from Amazon.com)
Spreadsheet Program
You could easily edit a datafeed in a text editor such as Notepad, but it can quickly become a jumbled mess if you’re editing a number of product descriptions. When you have a spreadsheet program, such as MS Excel or OpenOffice Calc, it organizes the content in a more readable way.
Using your arrow keys and mouse, you can quickly bounce between product descriptions and you can even have the columns display in a format that is most comfortable for you.
