What makes a good service description?

Tip: a service can be an activity, club, group or resource.

Note: the service description will show at the top of the ALISS
service page. People will be able to see the organisation's
information by clicking the organisation's name.

Keep it short, simple, and friendly

Write in a friendly and welcoming tone, be concise and stick
to words you would use in everyday conversations. Imagine
you are talking to a friend who might not be used to a lot of
jargon.

Business listings

You can add private businesses to ALISS. However, there
must be a focus on the health and wellbeing benefit of the
service the business provides in the service description.

Block capitals

Please do not write in block capitals. They create barriers to
accessibility for many individuals, including those with
disabilities or learning difficulties. Using mixed cases can help
ensure that information is accessible to everyone.

Website links

Please do not add website URLs to the service description.
Users will not be able to click any links. Website links can be
added to the “Service Web Address” field.

Location

Please do not add an address to the service description. You
can add this in Step 3 of this form.

Include ‘keywords’ people might search

Think about the words someone might use when looking for
this service. Include those words in your description to make it
easier to find.

Connect

Try to connect with the people you want to use your service.
Make them feel the importance and value of your service.

State a clear purpose in the first sentence

Start with a clear sentence about what the service does.
Imagine you are telling a friend what this service is all about in
just one line.

Opening times

If the service has certain hours, include that information. It is
like telling someone when your favourite local shop is open.

Any costs involved

If there is any cost, add the cost. People appreciate knowing
this upfront, just like you would want to know the price of
something you are considering before deciding to buy.

Referral

If a referral is required for people to attend the service, it is
useful for people to know this upfront, so they do not contact
the service directly. Do not add any referral URLs to the
service description, add it to the “Referral Web Address” field.

Contact

Let people know if they need to contact the service before
attending for the first time. You would not want to turn up to a
service to be turned away for not contacting them first. On the
other hand, let people know if they can just drop in without
any prior contact or referral, this saves people time.

Example service description:
Supported Swimming is for older adults who enjoy
swimming but have either lost confidence, or due to ill
health, are no longer able to swim alone.
Our volunteers will meet you in the reception area prior
to the session and give the necessary support both at the
poolside and in the pool to help you regain your
confidence whilst working on improving your strength,
coordination, and flexibility.
This is a group activity; you are welcome to meet up after
the swim for a hot drink and a chat.
Come along and get fit and make new friends.
Tuesday - 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Thursday - 10.30am - 11.30am
Cost. £2.60 + £1.00 for refreshments

Why is a good service description important?

Filtering

A good service description provides valuable information that
can be used for filtering services effectively. People can use the
ALISS keyword search to narrow down their search.

Search relevance

A detailed and well-written service description improves the
accuracy and relevance of search results. The ALISS search
uses various algorithms to match user search queries and a
clear service description helps the ALISS system better
understand and match queries.

User engagement

A comprehensive service description improves user
engagement. People are more likely to click on and explore
services that have informative and well-presented descriptions.

Information accessibility

People often rely on service descriptions to quickly understand
what a particular service or offering is about. A well-structured
description makes information easily accessible, reducing the
time and effort people need to spend to find relevant services.

Search engine friendliness

Search engines, such as Google, may index and rank content
on ALISS based on its relevance and quality. A well-written
service description, containing relevant keywords and
information, can improve the visibility of the service in search
engine results. So, people do not need to know about or search
ALISS to find your service information via a search engine.

User trust

A clear and accurate service description contributes to building
trust and credibility. People are more likely to engage with
services that provide transparent and detailed information about
what you offer.