"A Picture Paints a Thousand Words"
This is especially true for e-commerce.
Whether you sell on you own website, Amazon, eBay, Lazada, Facebook or any other online marketplaces, product images play a vital role in maximizing sales.
Those familiar with my approach to online sales know that I always emphasis keywords as the foundation to online success. That's because SEARCH (for keywords) is the primary way most people find what they're looking for online. It's the first step in a 3 step funnel that applies to all online sales channels.
While keywords are the key to the first step in the funnel (getting impressions), images are a big factor in the second and third steps - clicks and conversion respectively.
Whether you sell on you own website, Amazon, eBay, Lazada, Facebook or any other online marketplaces, product images play a vital role in maximizing sales.
Those familiar with my approach to online sales know that I always emphasis keywords as the foundation to online success. That's because SEARCH (for keywords) is the primary way most people find what they're looking for online. It's the first step in a 3 step funnel that applies to all online sales channels.
While keywords are the key to the first step in the funnel (getting impressions), images are a big factor in the second and third steps - clicks and conversion respectively.
Image Types
Here are 3 types of images you can deploy to maximize your click-through and conversion rates.
- Product Images
- Infographics
- Lifestyle Images
1. Product Images
Photographs of the product without any additional text descriptions or graphics. Some sites have strict image requirements. For example, Amazon requires that the main image, which is also used as the thumbnail shown in search results, must be a photograph of the product only, on a pure white background (RGB 255, 255, 255).
Product images can also be used to show:
Photographs of the product without any additional text descriptions or graphics. Some sites have strict image requirements. For example, Amazon requires that the main image, which is also used as the thumbnail shown in search results, must be a photograph of the product only, on a pure white background (RGB 255, 255, 255).
Product images can also be used to show:
- Different angles
- Close-ups to feature material texture, or details such as labels with nutritional info.
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2. Infographics
Infographics are product images with additional text or graphics which provide helpful information. The key word here being "helpful". Appropriate infographics can be very powerful. Some examples of helpful or useful infographics include:
Infographics are product images with additional text or graphics which provide helpful information. The key word here being "helpful". Appropriate infographics can be very powerful. Some examples of helpful or useful infographics include:
- Product dimensions.
- Highlighting of important benefits or features using bullet points, numbered lists, arrows, text boxes/bubbles.
- Compare and contrast to show superior design, quality, etc.
3. Lifestyle Images
Lifestyle shots show the product in use or in a setting where is would be used. This helps create a visual-emotional connection with the viewer by invoking the their imagination, through helping them envision themselves using the product.
For example a lifestyle image of sporting gear being used by a fit-looking model would evoke a potential buyer's aspirations. Or a kitchen product shown in a beautifully staged kitchen setting.
Lifestyle shots show the product in use or in a setting where is would be used. This helps create a visual-emotional connection with the viewer by invoking the their imagination, through helping them envision themselves using the product.
For example a lifestyle image of sporting gear being used by a fit-looking model would evoke a potential buyer's aspirations. Or a kitchen product shown in a beautifully staged kitchen setting.
Most often, lifestyle images also include infographics such as in the examples below:
How to To Get Product Photographs and Images
I often get ask, "What's the best way to get product images?"
As with most "what is the best..." questions, the answer is, it depends.
In this case, it depends on your:
As with most "what is the best..." questions, the answer is, it depends.
In this case, it depends on your:
- Goals - are you looking for basic product images only? Do you need images with a pure white background or not? A set of 6-9 images with a mix of product photos, infographics and lifestyle shots? Amazon A+Content images?
- Skillset - are you good at product photography, photo editing, graphic design and copywriting? For example, I think I'm pretty good at product photography (I received and too a ton of shots with the Nikon camera I received as a birthday present when I was nine!), but I am hopeless at photo editing (never had or used photoshop in my life!). Therefore I choose to take my own product photos, but outsource most editing, such as background removal and add infographics to others. I do occasionally create some of my own infographics by using Canva to overlay text on to my pictures. I'm also pretty good at copywriting, so I often specify the text for infographics to any designers I outsource to.
- Budget - how much are you willing to pay for photography and/or image editing and creation? Your skillset will partially factor into this as well, since if you can do both photography and graphics, you don't need to pay anyone. But if those aren't your talents, then it would make more sense to outsource them.
3 approaches to producing good product images for your online listings
1. DIY
This is great if you're good at taking product pictures, photo editing, graphic design, and copywriting, which is needed for the infographics.
You'll also need the right equipment. For my product photography, I use either my DSLR with an f/1.8 Prime lens, or my phone, which has a very good camera system with an f/1.4 aperture. The purpose of those apertures is to create a nice bokeh, or in laymen's terms, to blur the background. I also have a photobox and some basic lighting. But what do I end up shooting with most often? Just my phone camera and a piece of A3 paper, a plain piece of cloth, or a bathtub, with natural sunlight!
For removing the background, you can search online for free background removal tools. Or use Microsoft Powerpoint, which has a background removal function. I have used both multiple times, but don't anymore, as explained in point 2 below.
2. Hybrid
Since I don't do any editing especially removing the background to make it pure white. I used to do this with free online background removal tools or Microsoft Powerpoint, which has a built-in background removal function in the pictures menu. But I've found that I can never get the results I want, it is very tedious, and way too time consuming. So if I just want the backgrounds removed, I take the pictures and engage a Fiverr gig to remove the backgrounds for $1 per picture. Which is way more sensible than wasting hours trying to tweak the backgrounds with Powerpoint or a free online tool, and end up with half-baked results.
Another service that I've used for several listings is the Amazing Freedom Magic Image service. The Magic IMAGE service is a hybrid solution where you take the photos yourself, then send them to be edited. The lifestyle images with infographics above are all from the Magic Image service's portfolio. They also have a other services including professional photography, image editing and video creation, and copywriting for both standard pages (product name, feature bullets, and product description) as well as A+ Content (formerly known as Enhanced Brand Content).
3. Outsource Everything
Depending on the extent of your requirements, here are some options for all-in-one services:
As I write this, I am about to sign up for the second option for one of my listings, which is called:
Ultimate Done-For-You Magic Photos & Video: 7 High Quality Photos (With text and graphics), 1 Full-length Product Video, 2 Video In Search Ad Videos, Listing Copy, A+ Copy & Images
Click here to check out the various Magic Image and Listing optimization services.
Finally, you can send your product(s) to the DNA Hub by GS1 in Singapore, which provides product photography, infographics, lifestyle photos, and video production. The product photography package is fantastic value-for-money. You can use the images for your Amazon product listings as well as on other sales channels. You can either have your products sent to the DNA Hub or go to their studio yourself where you can communicate directly with the team on the spot to achieve the images you want. See the brochure below and click on the Sign Up Now button to submit your quotation request for any of the services.
- Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
- Hybrid
- Outsource Everything
1. DIY
This is great if you're good at taking product pictures, photo editing, graphic design, and copywriting, which is needed for the infographics.
You'll also need the right equipment. For my product photography, I use either my DSLR with an f/1.8 Prime lens, or my phone, which has a very good camera system with an f/1.4 aperture. The purpose of those apertures is to create a nice bokeh, or in laymen's terms, to blur the background. I also have a photobox and some basic lighting. But what do I end up shooting with most often? Just my phone camera and a piece of A3 paper, a plain piece of cloth, or a bathtub, with natural sunlight!
For removing the background, you can search online for free background removal tools. Or use Microsoft Powerpoint, which has a background removal function. I have used both multiple times, but don't anymore, as explained in point 2 below.
2. Hybrid
Since I don't do any editing especially removing the background to make it pure white. I used to do this with free online background removal tools or Microsoft Powerpoint, which has a built-in background removal function in the pictures menu. But I've found that I can never get the results I want, it is very tedious, and way too time consuming. So if I just want the backgrounds removed, I take the pictures and engage a Fiverr gig to remove the backgrounds for $1 per picture. Which is way more sensible than wasting hours trying to tweak the backgrounds with Powerpoint or a free online tool, and end up with half-baked results.
Another service that I've used for several listings is the Amazing Freedom Magic Image service. The Magic IMAGE service is a hybrid solution where you take the photos yourself, then send them to be edited. The lifestyle images with infographics above are all from the Magic Image service's portfolio. They also have a other services including professional photography, image editing and video creation, and copywriting for both standard pages (product name, feature bullets, and product description) as well as A+ Content (formerly known as Enhanced Brand Content).
3. Outsource Everything
Depending on the extent of your requirements, here are some options for all-in-one services:
- Product photography, photo editing (background removal), and graphic design
- All the above, plus 1 Full-length Product Video, 2 Video In Search Ad Videos, Listing Copy, A+ Copy & Images
As I write this, I am about to sign up for the second option for one of my listings, which is called:
Ultimate Done-For-You Magic Photos & Video: 7 High Quality Photos (With text and graphics), 1 Full-length Product Video, 2 Video In Search Ad Videos, Listing Copy, A+ Copy & Images
Click here to check out the various Magic Image and Listing optimization services.
Finally, you can send your product(s) to the DNA Hub by GS1 in Singapore, which provides product photography, infographics, lifestyle photos, and video production. The product photography package is fantastic value-for-money. You can use the images for your Amazon product listings as well as on other sales channels. You can either have your products sent to the DNA Hub or go to their studio yourself where you can communicate directly with the team on the spot to achieve the images you want. See the brochure below and click on the Sign Up Now button to submit your quotation request for any of the services.
UPDATE:
The DNA Hub's current promo is for 10% Off Amazon listing images, Lifestyle images, Graphic design and Product videos till 31 Dec 2021.
Use promo code: AMZ10_Oct21
Click here for details and to get a quote.
The DNA Hub's current promo is for 10% Off Amazon listing images, Lifestyle images, Graphic design and Product videos till 31 Dec 2021.
Use promo code: AMZ10_Oct21
Click here for details and to get a quote.
In closing, here are Amazon's image requirements. It would be good to familiarise yourself with them if you're selling on Amazon.
Amazon's official product image requirements
Reference: https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200109520
Technical Requirements
Product images submitted to Amazon must meet the following technical specifications.
Note: Spaces, dashes or additional characters in the filename will prevent your image from going online.
Amazon Site Standards for Product Images
For images named by product identifier without a variant code or named with the MAIN variant, and display as the main image on the product detail page, Amazon maintains the following site product image standards:
For additional other view images:
Technical Requirements
Product images submitted to Amazon must meet the following technical specifications.
- TIFF (.tif/.tiff), JPEG (.jpeg/.jpg), GIF (.gif) and PNG (.png) format
- Image pixel dimensions of at least 1000 or larger in either height or width preferred
- sRGB or CMYK color mode
- File names must consist of the product identifier (Amazon ASIN, 13-digit ISBN, EAN, JAN, or UPC) followed by a period and the appropriate file extension (Example: B000123456.jpg or 0237425673485.tif)
Note: Spaces, dashes or additional characters in the filename will prevent your image from going online.
Amazon Site Standards for Product Images
For images named by product identifier without a variant code or named with the MAIN variant, and display as the main image on the product detail page, Amazon maintains the following site product image standards:
- The image must be the cover art or a professional photograph of the product being sold. Drawings or illustrations of the product are not allowed.
- The image must not contain gratuitous or confusing additional objects.
- The image must be in focus, professionally lit and photographed or scanned, with realistic color, and smooth edges.
- Books, Music, and Video/DVD images should be the front cover art, and fill 100% of the image frame. Jewel cases, promotional stickers, and cellophane are not allowed.
- All other products should fill 85% or more of the image frame.
- The full product must be in frame.
- Backgrounds must be pure white (RGB 255,255,255).
- The image must not contain additional text, graphics, or inset images.
- Pornographic and offensive materials are not allowed.
For additional other view images:
- The image must be of, or pertain to, the product being sold.
- The image must be in focus, professionally lit and photographed or scanned, with realistic color, and smooth edges.
- Other products or objects are allowed to help demonstrate the use or scale of product.
- The product and props should fill 85% or more of the image frame.
- Cropped or close-up images are allowed.
- Backgrounds and environments are allowed.
- Text and demonstrative graphics are allowed.
- Pornographic and offensive materials are not allowed.