Want to get more clicks & conversions on your Amazon listings? Upgrade your product photos with these guidelines.
Main Image
The main image is the first thing customers see. Since it appears as the thumbnail image when a shopper searches for a product, this picture will determine whether the customer even clicks on your listing. It’s important that it stands up to the competition!
Amazon has strict standards for the main image. Here’s a quick summary:
– Must be edited to have a pure white background (RGB 255, 255, 255).
– Must contain the full product, and ONLY the product. No confusing additional objects.
– Must be a professional-quality image: in focus, full color, and well-lit. No dark, grainy, or blurry images.
– Must fill 85% of frame or more.
– No additional text, graphics, or inset images.
All those rules can be hard to keep track of, but it’s necessary to do so. If the main photo is not up to Amazon’s standards, your listing could be suspended, costing you lots of time, stress, and money!
Beyond that, I suggest shooting the product from straight on-no weird angles. Make sure the lighting is natural looking and that the product appears true to color in the photo. Check out your competition, if possible. Imitate the photos that look and perform the best on Amazon. Also, pretend you are the customer. Which listings make you want to click? How can you arrange the product to make it look its best?
Supporting Images
The supporting images count, too! I suggest adding 5 to 8 photos that showcase the product in different ways. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your supporting images:
Show the Scale-Supporting images allow you to use backgrounds or other objects in order to showcase the size and scale of the product. Think everyday life and where/when/how your product will be used. If it requires snow – find snow! Does it go on a car? Head out to the garage. One of the easiest things to do is simply ask someone to hold it while you take a picture. Hands are a great way to demonstrate scale.
For example, I recently had to photograph a finger brace with lots of confusing straps and Velcro pieces. First of all, the product simply didn’t photograph well on its own-it just looked like a jumbled pile of Velcro. Plus, it was hard to figure out how the brace fit onto a hand. That photo shoot definitely required a hand model, both to make the product look good and to inform consumers on how to use it.
Use Informational Graphics-Though graphics of any kind are prohibited in the main image of an Amazon listing, you’re allowed to use them in your subsequent images. You can use text and arrows to point out the features and benefits of the product and show its exact dimensions. You can also add badges (such as “Quality Guaranteed” or “BPA Free”) which I highly suggest doing.
Get Some Close-ups-This is especially important if the product has lots of detail or an interesting surface finish. Texture, quality, and luxurious materials all benefit from clean, clear, close-ups!
Use a Model-Not every product requires a model, but in my opinion – 99.9% should have one. The .01% of listings I am letting off the hook involve clear poly bags, and even that is a stretch. It is my professional opinion that every product listing benefits from a model. Your model may be a child, adult, or animal. Consumers can put themselves into the model’s shoes and picture themselves using your product. This type of psychology immediately increases conversion. I suggest using realistic models because you want to showcase the product, not the person. So, don’t worry if you can’t afford a glamorous supermodel, your girlfriend, grandmother, husband, or neighbor down the street will do just fine.