If you consider your ecommerce website as an online showroom then product images are your salespeople. So if your salespeople are not good at selling, you won’t generate many sales. 

Following are the best practices to adopt for ecommerce product images:

#1 Use high-quality product images

Images with high-quality are instantly pleasing to the eyes. You don’t need a tool to measure the quality of an image. High-resolution images (image width >= 1000 pixels) tend to have high quality. 

#2 Make sure your product images meet the following technical requirements

• JPEG (.jpeg/.jpg), GIF (.gif) and PNG (.png) format
• Image pixel dimensions of at least 1000 or larger in either height or width
• sRGB or CMYK color mode

These are the same technical requirements used by Amazon for product images.

#3 Don’t use images which contain confusing additional objects

Ideally your image you should not show anything other than the product you are selling. Use other objects in an image only if they provide context. Otherwise, they are just distractions and can create the impression that the additional objects shown are also part of the sales.

#4 Make sure your product images contain realistic colors and smooth edges

Don’t use Instagram or Snapchat like filters that alter the image color. Otherwise, you may end up getting tons of requests for a refund with the reason ‘item not as described’. Your image should be a real representation of your product.

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#5 Your product should fill 85% or more of the image frame

The more you can show the finer details of a product to your customers the more you can increase sales. 

If your product does not fill even 50% of the image frame, it won’t be able to show the finer details of the product.

#6 Use pure white background for your product images

Pure white (RGB 255,255,255) background is a universal approach for the vast majority of product photos to make the product details stand out.

#7 Use large lifelike images on the product detail page

Use large lifelike images. Don’t just show the product, show it in context. Let your customers imagine using it. 

So if you are selling sunglasses, show them what it looks when they’ll be wearing it and that too from different angles. 

Putting a ‘human’ behind a product makes a world of difference.

Large lifelike product images will make your brand appealing to your target audience esp. on social media like Facebook and Instagram and help you in gaining massive social media following and brand loyalty.

The way products are displayed and promoted have a major impact on customers’ reactions to them and on how much merchandise is sold. By displaying products in ways that are appealing, accessible and attractive, online retailers can increase sales and conversion rates.

#8 Use a model shot as the main image on product detail pages

A product detail page can have one main/primary image and several other images (called secondary images) that show the product from multiple angles and/or show multiple variants of the product. 

The main/primary image is the image that a customer sees by default. Model shots should always be the main image (wherever possible). It evokes emotions, customers can identify themselves better and it boosts sales.

#9 Make sure that the main image shows the front view of the product, either straight on or at a slight angle

Not every customer zoom in or try to see the product from multiple angles. So if the primary image doesn’t show the front view of the product then this could kill the sales. 

#10 Use images that show the product from multiple angles

When you show a product from multiple angles, it helps your customers in building a thorough understanding of your product and its features. Images that show the product from multiple angles tend to boost website sales.

#11 Use variant images that change when you change one of the product attributes (like size, color, etc)

Your customers may have trouble visualizing their particular size or color if you don’t use variant images. This would hurt your website sales.

#12 Avoid adding too much text to your product images

Too much text in a product image can make it difficult for your customers to see the finer details of the product. 

Other than that, Facebook doesn’t like too much text in images and may not run ads that include such images. If you have to use text in your image then use fewer words and/or reduce the font size of your text. Also, avoid spreading text all over the image.

#13 Allow website users to zoom in on a product image and that too without losing image quality

The more you can show the finer details of a product to your customers the more you can increase sales. 

The close-up product shot provides a better feel for the design and overall aesthetics. You would need to use a high-resolution image (at least 1200 pixels wide ) so that your customers can zoom in without getting a blurry image. 

#14 Allow website users to zoom a product image on mouseover

#15 Allow website users to zoom in on any product variant image and that too without losing image quality

#16 Allow website users to zoom a product variant image on mouseover

#17 Make sure your product images provide a sense of scale

Although not necessary for all products, it is considered a best practice to provide some perspective of a product’s size as it compares to familiar items. 

It’s about managing customers’ expectations here. You don’t want an image to give the impression that a product is much bigger than its actual size. 

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