Selling goods on the internet has become increasingly popular in recent years. If you’re looking to launch a successful eCommerce business, there are certain things you should focus on to make your products and your business stand out. One of your main focuses needs to be quality product photos.
There are plenty of factors that go into having great photos. Using tags, optimizing your images, and having a “pack” of photos so customers can see your product(s) from every angle are all important things to consider. But, whether you’re just starting to sell on the internet or you know it’s time to take photos seriously, it’s okay to start small.
Still not convinced why you should be investing in the best product photos possible? Let’s look at a few convincing reasons, and talk more about how you can make that investment and boost your success.
A Photo is Your First Impression
With so much competition online, a consumer might only look at your listing for a few seconds before deciding to go with your product or not. Quality images can help with your conversion rate by building upon your brand. But, we’ll touch on that later.
Start by focusing on quality images because you want consumers to know you have a quality product. A picture paints a thousand words. Some consumers won’t even look at your description or reviews if you’re not using pictures that capture their attention.
So, how can you make a better first impression with your photos? Consider some of the following tips:
- Be consistent with your posting plans and the overall “look” of your photos
- Utilize a white background to make products “pop”
- Find the right lighting scheme
- Use a high image resolution
- Show different angles
Once you start setting a consistent theme with your photos, you can work that look into your marketing efforts and build a better brand.
A Consistent “Look” Will Build Your Brand
One of the reasons Amazon is such a popular sales platform is it’s become a trusted household name. But, that doesn’t mean every seller on the internet automatically receives the same level of trust. That’s why it’s so important to build your business and your brand.
Think about taking your customers on a journey through your images. They should all have the same general layout, lighting, and look. If you’re not sure how to get there, consider having multiple brainstorming sessions with your team. Together, you can ensure everyone is on the same page. You might also build upon new, fresh ideas that can improve your branding and make your business more personable. When you’re putting together a brainstorming session, make sure to:
- Assign a facilitator
- Build a diverse team
- Outline your agenda
- Establish goals
- Inspire people to share their ideas
- Elaborate on shared ideas
- Document everything
The average consumer sees thousands of advertisements for different companies each day. Many people have learned how to tune them out. If your business can stand out because you’ve built a better brand than your competitors, you’re going to find greater success.
So, focus on storytelling through your images, and how your brand can relate to your target audience.
How You Can Invest in Better Product Photos
If you’re not sure how to put these tips into practice, it’s worth it to hire a professional photographer. Or, if you want to save a bit of money in the long run, you might consider taking photography and Photoshop classes. Doing so will teach you the basics of capturing quality photos, and you’ll be able to edit them perfectly to fit your needs.
Does it seem like a lot of work? Yes. But, think about how much effort you put into your first impressions. Your photos deserve that same kind of attention.
Take the time to learn about everything from image priority to the scale of your products. It’s important to be as transparent and clear as possible in the very first photo. Some people will only look at the photos without reading the product description. So, in many cases, your pictures have to paint more than a thousand words. They have to be able to sell your product and increase your conversion rate.
Don’t be overwhelmed by photography lingo if you’re just getting started. But, take the time to upgrade your photos from something you may have taken from your phone or a camera you didn’t know how to operate. At the end of the day, your business will benefit and you’ll feel confident in knowing you’re exhausting every avenue to improve the success of your listings.
Product photos play a critical role in all eCommerce sales, and this is especially true of Amazon sales. For Amazon sellers, product photos are oftentimes the first point of engagement for a customer, and they are used to determine the brand’s quality/trustworthiness, the product’s usefulness, and its overall value proposition in comparison to other products. In this way, it is worth investing in high-quality images that incorporate the social science of marketing as well.
illustration: business vector created by Storyset
Jori Hamilton is an experienced writer living in the Northwestern U.S. Her areas of expertise and topics she typically covers revolve around business productivity, marketing strategies, and web design. To learn more about Jori, you can follow her on Twitter: @HamiltonJori