How can a single image end up spelling doom for your online store?
It’s simple. One image (or video) ends up becoming the only true touch point – or, point of reference – your customers have to your products.
The eCommerce ecosystem effectively removes your ability (& prerogative for that matter) to touch or examine a product up close, be it an item of clothing, or a piece of tech. Ergo, the product image becomes the consumer’s Alpha & the Omega.
Keep in mind that every sales channel or marketplace has their own rules and regulations in place for acceptable image use – with various specifications and requirements to be aware of. On a general level, the difference between a mediocre image and a magnificent image could mean:
We have compiled some handy tips & information on marketplace image practices to help make your images into the best versions of themselves they can possibly be.
As previously mentioned, each sales-channel & medium (desktop & mobile) follow their own sets of rules and specifications for product images. Let’s take a look at a handful of specific examples.
Amazon
Amazon is, by far, the strictest when it comes to image requirements and specifications. Though, looking at it from a glass half-full perspective, the benefit you get from optimizing your images for Amazon as a first step in your product image endeavors is quite serviceable.
Because of the level of strictness in effect, you can generally use these images as a quality benchmark and then adjust for other platforms where necessary.
For Amazon then, your main product image must adhere to the following guidelines:
These requirements apply to the images themselves. Also to note, are the file requirements which go something like this:
Official Amazon documentation: https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=202073580
eBay
Ebay is slightly more forgiving than amazon but generally follows a similar template. The main takeaways, being:
Official eBay documentation: https://developer.ebay.com/devzone/merchant-products/catalog-best-practices/content/images.html
Google Shopping
The requirements for Google Shopping are nowhere near the level of scrutiny you’ll find with Amazon & to a lesser extent, eBay. You just need to adhere to the following criteria:
File requirements & image specs are one thing. Though, if the image itself is lackluster, all of your image optimizations will be for naught. Take the following points into consideration.
As your customers’ only product reference, pristine image resolution & quality is everything in the world of eCommerce. This makes your company/business or brand seem more professional and trustworthy – and with that legitimacy, comes an effective reduction of returns or exchanges, and by proxy, negative reviews or comments.
Make use of the product itself. Use various dimensions, angles & perspectives which showcase & highlight your product strengths.
Take a dress, for example. Consider showcasing a 360 degree view, showing off particularly appealing angles or elements that may be eye-catching to the consumer.
On the other side of the product spectrum, if you’re showcasing something like a hotel room or property listing, select and display photos from various perspectives. Avoid showing the customer the same thing over and over again.
Accurate color & lighting (and in result shadows) are also important in their ability to give your product a more natural feel that generally tends to strike a chord with consumers.
Because of this white-background requirement most sales-channels have in place, you should make the most of the space that you are given & prominently display your product in a way that fills out as much of the white space as possible.
Finally, all images should retain a consistent crop ratio in order to avoid a sloppy overall storefront image.
Official Google Shopping documentation: https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6324350?hl=en
Facebook & Instagram
While most shopping channels discourage creative ads or creative images, social sales channels, like Facebook and Instagram, flip that restriction on its head & encourage your ads (images) to do the talking.
There are some recommendations that Facebook throws your way, though they feel like obligatory statements. These requirements are as follows:
Finally, as with other channels, there are size specifications to take into account which are listed below:
You should make the most of the free rein you’re given when using social sales channels. Standing-out, is one of the most important objectives when advertising on these channels. You want to grab the shoppers attention as soon as possible.
Official Facebook & Instagram documentation: https://www.facebook.com/business/help/686259348512056?id=725943027795860
By including key attributes such as price, product name, and relevant product information on a single slide, customers will instantly have their questions answered, and thus will ensure that more clicks are coming in from qualified customers.
Finally —staying true to the social dynamic — make sure to utilize every tool at your disposal, including customer reviews or special offers. Take advantage of ‘big-budget’ occasions like Black Friday or Valentines day and get creative with special offers or promotions that can fit your desired purpose.
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