Do category pages need intro text to rank?

Do category pages need intro text to rank?

'Q: Everyone says add 300 words above the products. Is that still true?'

Short answer: No — they need unique value, and a wall of keyword text usually isn't it.

The longer version: the old 'SEO paragraph stuffed under the H1' was a 2015 tactic. What category pages actually need:

— A descriptive, intent-matched H1 and title ('Waterproof Hiking Boots', not 'Boots Category').
— Genuinely useful framing: a short buyer's note, a size/fit guide link, or a curated 'best for X' block.
— Faceted links that map to real sub-demand (by brand, by use case).

If you do add copy, put it where it helps the shopper — a 2-line intro up top, deeper buying guidance below the grid. A 500-word essay shoved between the H1 and product grid pushes products down and hurts conversions for a ranking myth.

Rule of thumb: a category page competes on selection and relevance, not word count. Add text only if a human would read it.

Got a category-page question? Drop it.