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Last updated on June 19th, 2023
Written by Himanshi Raj
Images are one of the most crucial elements of effective Amazon product listings.
Shoppers on Amazon have tons of options right at their fingertips, and before they can even click on a product, they've already laid their eyes on product images. If you want to get ahead of the competition, having alluring, high-quality photos is paramount.
As the cliche says, a picture is worth a thousand words; for Amazon, a picture is its salesforce. Product images reflect the quality of your products, a reason why product photography should be as crucial as other methods of optimizing listings.
Below are ten amazing hacks that can help you with Amazon image optimization. Stand out from the rest with compelling product images now!
A professional photographer may have shot your product images, yet those same highly-priced images are failing to sell more products. This is because product photography is more than just stunning, expensive imagery; the photos also need to catch up to the platform's standards, which seasoned Amazon marketing consultants can help you with.
Let's explore ten expert-backed image optimization hacks to help you create picture-perfect product images.
Amazon has strict rules regarding the main product image, but don't worry. Plenty of ways exist to make it stand out from the rest. Below are easy tips to make your image stand out without violating Amazon's image guidelines.
Avoid placing texts, props, borders, or items that show the scale of the product. The purpose of the main image is to focus on the product you’re selling.
Note that Amazon wants a specific white background for the main images. It should be set to RGB 255, 255, 255 (see Google's color picker or any color chart for reference).
Using the right kind of white is crucial since Amazon wants your product to look like it is floating in the interface. If you are no design geek, you can always outsource this task to experts who can edit your photo's background to the right color for a small fee.
Amazon requires a product to take up at least 85% of the image frame. Avoid cropped images since they will make your product look small in the thumbnail that appears in your search and PPC ads. Ensure that your image is zoomable so shoppers can look into the details of your product.
A poor-quality image that can't be zoomed in can decrease your ads' click-through rate (CTR) and reduce the organic traffic your listing receives.
Keeping yourself updated and reviewing the Amazon seller support page is always a good thing, as the platform's image guidelines can change anytime.
One of the most common mistakes sellers commit is not having enough images for their product listings. Some listings only contain 2 or 3 images; you do not want that in any of your own. Amazon gives most product categories seven or more image slots to take advantage of.
Use the opportunity to add as many images as possible so that your target shoppers can take a better look at your product from different angles and perspectives. You can have even more than seven images for your product listings, but shoppers will only see seven on the product detail page unless they click on additional images.
| Quick Pro Tips |
Your goal in using the first four images is to visually demonstrate how your product will benefit the buyer's life and why it should matter to them. You can do so by showing the product used in different settings, backgrounds, or angles.
See examples of how we did this with some of our own products:
We not only state the benefits but also show them in a manner that is easy to understand and emotionally connect with.
Your most critical images should be in the first 6–7 slots of your listing. Use them to sell the lifestyle your products evoke using lifestyle images instead of simply putting as many images of your products from different angles—this will not lead to maximum conversion. With lifestyle photos, you can effectively showcase your product's benefits.
There are two goals when using the last two images on your listing.
Ultimately, it's all about how we feel. Your Amazon product listing must clearly and simply make a customer feel something compelling enough to result in a purchase.
Appropriate image sizing plays a vital role in how your product images on Amazon are viewed. According to Amazon, the right size should be at least 1000 pixels to be zoomable. When you use pictures that are too small, they may appear pixelated, disabling the zoom feature for desktops.
But even with the correct image size, the thumbnails won't look good without the proper proportions. Using the recommended aspect ratio, which is 1:1, is vital. You should also avoid uploading rectangular images on Amazon.
Inconsistencies in the image sizes will make your product look less professional and dramatically decrease your conversion rate.
| Quick Pro Tip Showing scaled items next to your products can be essential in reducing returns and increasing the number of positive reviews. This way, you can communicate effectively about the actual size of your product. |
When it comes to indexing and ranking, Amazon puts a lot of emphasis on titles and bullets. Your images may not do much in bringing traffic to your listings; however, they can convert the traffic your listing receives. So if you're considering optimizing Amazon listings for mobile use, the best way is to make your images attractive and informative.
The product title and images on mobile are the only content that will appear above the fold. Typically, most shoppers never scroll down to where the bullets are shown. That is why it is crucial to highlight your products' advantages and the main benefits in the additional images.
Remember that mobile use and desktop use on Amazon are two different things. So be sure to optimize your product listing for both devices.
Understanding your market is crucial in crafting the perfect product images for your listing. Research your customers’ demographics, average income, beliefs, and more, and use the information you gather to help your images be more compelling to them.
For example, if your product is expensive and targets the upper class, be strategic with your lifestyle photos and use cozy and state-of-the-art backgrounds to represent your target market accurately. Let your potential customers see that the product they will buy from you fits their needs and lifestyles.
Many sellers use Adobe Photoshop to improve their product photos. However, there are things that you need to avoid, which we’ve outlined below.
Watch out for shadows. They easily give away your Amazon image’s flaws. So, ensure that your shadows fall where they are supposed to be. Otherwise, your image will look unprofessional.
If you are photoshopping props to accompany your image, ensure they are accurately scaled to maintain genuineness and visual harmony. Wrong scaling can give Amazon the impression that you are misleading customers about your product's size. This can result in returns and restricted Amazon Standard Identification Numbers (ASINs).
Refrain from letting a misspelling or grammatical error slip into your images. Proofread your copy through programs like Grammarly, or have them checked by at least two or more people you can trust before uploading.
Amazon has specific product image rules that vary per category. These include placements of shoes, usage of a mannequin, and nutritional labels. Amazon might make some changes without notifying its sellers, so always make it a habit to re-check the image style guidelines now and again.
Aside from the image slots Amazon provides at the top of the product detail pages, you can also utilize the A+ Content feature to upload other images—that is, if you are an Amazon Brand Registry member.
Avoid repeating the same images from slots in the A+ Content. Instead, use it to upload new, varied images to give your target consumers a more detailed look at your product.
| Quick Pro Tip Use A+ Content to showcase the following: |
Lastly, it is crucial to note your listings' performance to know which work and which don’t. You can use various tools to do split testing or get Amazon product listing optimization services to do it in your stead.
You can also do it yourself by manually comparing data from the Detail Sales and Traffic Report. Use your gathered data to identify your strongest and weakest points and continuously improve your performance.
Here are two more actionable tips you can use today to really make your product listings on Amazon stand out using images.
Any element you put into your images must have a specific purpose, which contributes to your goal. In this case, the ultimate goal is to sell more products.
Suppose an element in an image does not directly contribute to your sales or conversion. In that case, it is, at best, taking up valuable real estate and at worst, hurting your conversion rate.
| Example: Our goal for Gator Cable products was to clearly communicate the product's primary features within the hero shot. Within seconds, the buyer can understand that this cable is HDMI on both ends and compatible with an Xbox, UHD TV, and more. The bright red coloring also helps distinguish it from other cable products, quickly standing out in the crowd. The secret to this is understanding exactly what you want to show your customers. Naturally, it's all about the benefits and how the product can meet a potential buyer's needs. So before taking different image angles, identify their purpose first. |
Amazon's rules aim to minimize cluttered and spammy-looking results pages. If you keep that in mind, you can significantly add to the effectiveness of your all-important hero shot! Add product packaging and other graphics to your images only if it adds to the aesthetics of Amazon’s search results.
For example, pick a color that stands out from the major competition. If your competitors all use white or black, consider including a box with a more vibrant color in the hero image.
When creating your Amazon product listing, you want images that can answer all the questions that your consumers might have in mind. From understanding the essence of image size to optimizing for mobile devices and leveraging different angles, these hacks will help showcase your products in the best possible light, increasing sales and customer engagement.
If you want to learn how to optimize Amazon product listings without any hassle, Seller Interactive is the agency you are looking for. We offer Amazon optimization listing services that will help your business scale. Our full-service Amazon marketing services give you a competitive edge in today's ecommerce market.
Book a free consultation and talk to one of our account managers today.
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