What makes a good service description?

The service description tells people all the details they need to know about your service. It 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.

 

Note: a service can be an activity, club, group or resource. You can add private businesses to ALISS. However, there must be a focus on the health and wellbeing benefits of the service the business provides in the service description.

 

This is an example of how an ALISS service page looks. There is an arrow pointing at the service description: 

Tips:

Do 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.

 

Do not use block capitals

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.

 

Do 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.

 

Do include ‘keywords’ people might search

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

Do add opening times 

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

Do state if any costs are 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.

Do add referral information if necessary

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.

 

Do be clear about how people can get involved

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.

Do not add website links

Do not add website URLs to the service description. For example: https://www.aliss.org. Users will not be able to click any links. Screen readers will read the entire URL out loud, which can be frustrating or confusing. Users will not be able to click any link. Website links can be added to the “Service Web Address” field.

Do not add an address

Do not add an address to the service description. You can add this later on in Step 3 of this form.

 

This is an example of a service description:

 

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.

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. 

 

Note: Remember to update your service listing if anything changes. 

 

Last reviewed: April 2025

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