diff --git a/src/bin/vip-export-sql.js b/src/bin/vip-export-sql.js
index dc008f77f..e2d48ca1a 100755
--- a/src/bin/vip-export-sql.js
+++ b/src/bin/vip-export-sql.js
@@ -6,12 +6,19 @@ import { makeCommandTracker } from '../lib/tracker';
 
 const examples = [
 	{
-		usage: 'vip export sql @mysite.develop',
-		description: 'Export SQL file from your site and save it to the current directory',
+		usage: 'vip @example-app.develop export sql',
+		description:
+			'Download an archived copy of the most recent database backup for an environment to the current local directory.',
 	},
 	{
-		usage: 'vip export sql @mysite.develop --output=~/Desktop/export.sql.gz',
-		description: 'The output file can be specified with the --output flag',
+		usage: 'vip @example-app.develop export sql --output=~/Desktop/export.sql.gz',
+		description:
+			'Download an archived copy of the most recent database backup for an environment to a specific file path.',
+	},
+	{
+		usage: 'vip @example-app.develop export sql --generate-backup',
+		description:
+			'Generate a fresh database backup for an environment and download a copy of that backup.',
 	},
 ];
 
@@ -38,11 +45,11 @@ command( {
 	requiredArgs: 0,
 	usage: 'vip export sql',
 } )
-	.option( 'output', 'Specify the location where you want to save the export file' )
 	.option(
-		'generate-backup',
-		'Exports a freshly created database backup instead of using the latest existing one'
+		'output',
+		'Download the file to a specific local directory path with a custom file name.'
 	)
+	.option( 'generate-backup', 'Generate a fresh database backup and export a copy of that backup.' )
 	.examples( examples )
 	.argv( process.argv, async ( arg, { app, env, output, generateBackup } ) => {
 		const trackerFn = makeCommandTracker( 'export_sql', {
diff --git a/src/bin/vip-export.js b/src/bin/vip-export.js
index 0181ebe72..e7cc13074 100755
--- a/src/bin/vip-export.js
+++ b/src/bin/vip-export.js
@@ -4,10 +4,13 @@ import command from '../lib/cli/command';
 import { trackEvent } from '../lib/tracker';
 
 command()
-	.command( 'sql', 'Export the contents of your database to an SQL file' )
+	.command(
+		'sql',
+		'Generate a copy of a database backup for an environment and download it as an archived SQL file.'
+	)
 	.example(
-		'vip export sql @mysite.develop',
-		'Export the contents of your database to an SQL file'
+		'vip @example-app.develop export sql',
+		'Download a copy of the most recent database backup for an environment as an archived SQL file to the current local directory.'
 	)
 	.argv( process.argv, async () => {
 		await trackEvent( 'vip_export_command_execute' );
diff --git a/src/bin/vip.js b/src/bin/vip.js
index 102ef5d83..b132f08ff 100755
--- a/src/bin/vip.js
+++ b/src/bin/vip.js
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ const runCmd = async function () {
 		.command( 'cache', 'Manage page cache for your VIP applications' )
 		.command( 'config', 'Set configuration for your VIP applications' )
 		.command( 'dev-env', 'Use local dev-environment' )
-		.command( 'export', 'Export data from your VIP application' )
+		.command( 'export', 'Export a copy of data associated with an environment.' )
 		.command( 'import', 'Import media or SQL files into your VIP applications' )
 		.command( 'logs', 'Get logs from your VIP applications' )
 		.command( 'search-replace', 'Perform search and replace tasks on files' )