September 18, 2024

Amazon Seller Guide: How to Use Photography to Improve Product Ranking

Amazon Seller Guide: How to Use Photography to Improve Product Ranking
Amazon Seller Guide: How to Use Photography to Improve Product Ranking

Product photography plays a major role in the Amazon marketplace and the world of ecommerce. 

Your online photography could make all the difference while selling on Amazon. High-quality images can help you market your products by showing customers exactly what your products will look like. On the other hand, poor product images may cause you to lose potential customers, impacting your sales negatively. Not only do poor-quality images affect your sales, but they also affect your product ranking on Amazon. So how can you use product photography to improve your product ranking and increase Amazon sales?

Read on as we look at what Amazon product photography is all about and go through ways you can improve your product ranking on Amazon using product photography. 

What is Amazon product photography? 

The old saying: “A picture is worth more than a thousand words” applies very much to selling on Amazon. Adding good product photos to your Amazon listing can get you more clicks than a listing full of text. But what is product photography all about? 

Well, product photography on Amazon refers to all the techniques used to take attractive images of a product to entice potential shoppers, boost conversion rates, and increase sales on Amazon

Why are product images so important for selling on Amazon? 

Shopping at a brick-and-mortar store gives you access to a wide range of products you can view in person. However, on the Amazon marketplace or any ecommerce platform, this is not the case. 

Customers have to rely on your product images to give them an idea of elements like the color, size, and even quality of the product. As an Amazon seller, this makes it very important to put up high-quality images. Here are a few more reasons why product images are crucial for Amazon selling success: 

Make a good first impression

Product images are often the first thing your potential customers notice when browsing on Amazon. If your product images are attractive, you can get more people to click on your Amazon listing, increasing your click-through rates. 

Also, adding high-quality images to your listing will give customers a good view of your products and make them comfortable enough to make a buying decision. Images convey information faster than text. A clear, well-photographed image can instantly communicate the product’s features, benefits, and quality, making it easier for customers to understand what they’re buying.

Builds trust and credibility

High-quality images show that you are professional and reliable and that the product is of good quality. This helps build trust with potential buyers, who may be hesitant to purchase from a listing with poor or unclear images. 

You are also less likely to get negative reviews when customers have a good view of what exactly they are buying. In fact, increasing conversion rates on Amazon starts with a great product photo. 

Improves Amazon search rankings 

Amazon’s algorithm looks at metrics like click-through rates (CTR) and conversion rates when ranking products. High-quality images that drive more clicks and conversions can positively influence your product’s ranking, making it more visible to other potential buyers. Also, proper alt text can contribute to better search engine optimization within Amazon’s platform, improving your product’s visibility.

Increases conversion rates

Multiple images showing different angles, and features, help customers fully understand the product, increasing the likelihood of a purchase. Lifestyle images that show the product in use can create an emotional connection with the buyer, allowing them to visualize how the product fits into their life. This emotional connection can help with their decision-making, ultimately increasing conversion rates. 

Reduces returns and negative reviews

Using clear, detailed images helps ensure that customers know exactly what they are buying. By highlighting key features and benefits through your product images, you can easily address common customer questions and concerns, leading to more informed and satisfied buyers. This reduces the likelihood of returns and negative reviews which can impact your performance on the Amazon marketplace. 

 Amazon image requirements and guidelines 

Taking a good product photo starts with understanding and following all of Amazon's requirements and guidelines. 

It can get tedious following Amazon’s rules. However, following the rules will prevent your listing from being suppressed and will improve your rankings on Amazon. 

Technical image requirements 

  • Your image files should come in the following format: TIFF (.tif/.tiff), JPEG (.jpeg/.jpg), GIF (.gif) and PNG (.png) format
  • Your images should come in pixel dimensions of at least 1000 or larger in either height or width 
  • Images should come in 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)

Here are Amazon’s product image standards: 

  • You must attach the cover art or a professional photograph of the product you are selling. You are not allowed to upload drawings or illustrations of your product.
  • The image must not have unwarranted or confusing additional objects.
  • The image must be in focus and should be professionally lit. It should also be photographed or scanned, with real colors, and smooth edges.
  • If you sell Books, Music, or Video/DVDs, you should attach the front cover art. It should fill 100% of the image frame. You are not allowed to add jewel cases, promotional stickers, and cellophane. 
  • Your full product must be in the frame.
  • Your image backgrounds must be pure white (RGB 255,255,255).
  • Your image must not include additional text, graphics, or inset images.
  • Pornographic and offensive materials are prohibited.

Here are guidelines for additional images: 

  • The image must be relevant to the product you are selling.
  • The image must be in focus and should be professionally lit. It should also be photographed or scanned, with real colors, and smooth edges.
  • You can add other products or objects that can help demonstrate the scale and use of the product.
  • Your product and props should cover 85% or more of the image frame.
  • You can also add cropped or close-up images.
  • You can include backgrounds and environments in your product photography 
  • You can include text and demonstrative graphics.
  • You are not allowed to upload pornographic or offensive materials. 

What you need to create high-quality images for your Amazon product listing

To give customers a quality shopping experience, you need to create high-quality images. And to do this, you will need the help of professional ecommerce product photography services. Alternatively, you can do this yourself if you are working with a low budget. Here are the materials you need to create high-quality images right from your home. 

  • A good camera: You don’t necessarily need a costly camera. However, it’s important to go for a camera with good exposure, as this can affect the quality of your image. 
  • A white paper roll: Amazon requires that your images be taken over a white background. To achieve this, you will need to invest in a white paper roll. Go for a paper that's at least 10 feet long with a width that properly fits your product. 
  • White foam boards: White foam boards are important to reflect and increase lighting from your window. You will need them to give your product that full lighting effect free of your product’s shadows. 
  • A tripod: You will need to invest in a tripod to stabilize your camera as you do the photo shoot. A sturdy tripod ensures that your camera remains stable, reducing the risk of blurry images caused by camera shake.
  • Duct tapes and clamps: You will need some duct tape and clamps to hold the white background and product in place as you shoot.  
  • Natural lighting: You will need natural light coming from your windows. However, you need to make sure you have sufficient light. It will work best to do your shoot close to a large window in your home. 
  • Ring light: For your smaller products or close-up shots, a ring light can provide even lighting and minimize shadows, improving your product's details.
  • Lifestyle props: To bring your photos to life, you can use props that align with your product’s use to create lifestyle images. For example, if you’re selling kitchenware, show it in a kitchen setting with relevant items around it.

10 tips to create images that improve your product ranking on Amazon

Now we have a list of Amazon’s image requirements and guidelines. Let's look at some tips to help you create images that can improve your product rankings on Amazon. 

  1. Focus on your main image 
  2. Capture your product from different angles
  3. Zoom in on unique product features
  4. Capture the right product size 
  5. Educate your customers with instructional images 
  6. Include some lifestyle images 
  7. Add some before/after images 
  8. Show your brand identity 
  9. Leverage A/B testing 
  10. Pay attention to mobile optimization 

Focus on your main image 

The first thing customers see when they scroll through Amazon is the main image. You need to make sure your main image stands out. Ensure your main image is bright, clear, and bold. It should also take up 85% of the image and should be attractive enough to get potential customers to click on your listing.  

Capture your product from different angles

Your main image will only show customers the front view of your product. It’s always a good idea to add some additional images as Amazon will permit. A few of your potential customers may not have seen or felt your product before. Give them ample shots, capturing different angles of your product. 

Zoom in on unique product features

Your customer may not be able to see some parts of your product, so it is important to showcase details of your product. You can do this by zooming in on the special features of your product. For example, if your product has a special material or a hidden feature you can take shots of those features properly zoomed in. You can also zoom in on the product, highlighting the product dimensions. 

Capture the right product size 

When taking shots of your product, you need to pay attention to your product size. You don’t want to take images that are too big or too small. If your product image is too small or too big, your customers could lose out on seeing essential features of your product. Follow Amazon’s image requirements and ensure your product is captured in the right ratio. 

Educate your customers with instructional images 

If you sell products that require installation, it will be helpful for potential customers if you add images that explain the process. If your customers don’t get instructions on how to use your product, they may abandon the product or even drop a negative review on your listing. This is especially true if you sell products that fall under the electronics product category. 

Include some lifestyle images 

Show your customers how your products will fit into their everyday lives or areas of interest. Consider the interests of your target audience and showcase your product in that area of interest. For example, if you sell scented candles and you are targeting a family, you can showcase your product during a family dinner or a dinner with that special someone. 

Add some before/after images 

If your product solves a specific problem, you can consider adding some before/after images. This will show customers what they will look like before and after using your product. It could even reveal problems your customers didn’t notice they had while presenting your product as the answer to that unique problem. 

Show your brand identity

Your product images should consistently reflect your brand identity. Use consistent colors that reflect your brand. You want to subtly include your logo in lifestyle images without detracting from the product. Maintain a uniform style across all products to strengthen brand recognition. This creates a sense of familiarity and trust with your customers.

Leverage A/B testing

Not all images will work the same. Using Amazon’s A/B testing tools like Amazon Seller Central’s “Manage Your Experiments” feature, you can test different images to see which ones perform better in terms of clicks, conversions, and sales. You can experiment with various product angles or lifestyle images to determine which resonates more with your audience. You can use the data from these tests to optimize your listings and replace those lower-performing images with those that yield better results.

Pay attention to mobile optimization 

Mobile optimization is very important as many Amazon buyers are shopping for their favorite products using their mobile phones. Your main image should be compelling and clear even when viewed as a thumbnail on a mobile screen. Any text on infographics should be large enough to be readable even on smaller screens. 

How to upload images to your Amazon product listing 

Once you’ve created your images, the next step is to upload them to your Amazon listing. For each product, you can upload nine images. Here’s a step-by-step guide to uploading images to your Amazon product listing: 

  1. Go to your Amazon Seller Central account
  2. Find products you want to add images to
  3. Click on ‘Manage Images’ from the drop-down menu
  4. Next, click on Add Images
  5. Next, select the image slot for images you want to upload
  6. Lastly, click on ‘Browse File’, find the images you want to upload, and click on ‘Upload Images’.

If your images meet Amazon’s requirements, you should be able to get your images approved within a few hours. 

Conclusion 

Product photography is an essential part of marketing on Amazon. Getting your product images right starts with following Amazon’s image guidelines. This will ensure you stay on Amazon’s good side, improve product rankings, and increase sales on Amazon. Don’t be afraid to get creative and spice things up to attract your potential customers. 

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Turbo-Charge Your Revenue!

You’ve probably already considered selling on Amazon but its way easier than you think.

Call Us Now

Enjoying our articles?

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive ePlaybooks insights directly in your inbox. Don't worry we will respect your inbox.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.