7 Tricks to Optimize Product Images for Search and Greater Sales

Online retailers are in a somewhat unique situation when it comes to selling their products. Unlike other businesses who can craft lengthy content about their services or blog posts that demonstrate their thought leadership, one of your greatest points of persuasion is your product imagery.

93 percent of online consumers say the most important factor in their decision-making process is the product image. Without images that live up to their standards or expectations, they are less likely to make a purchase. If every 93 out of 100 of your customers feels ambivalent about your product images, your business is going to be in trouble.

Without conversions and customers, the search engines will stop sending traffic your way.

Let’s take some time to focus on what you can do to optimize your product images in a way that attracts the attention of search engines and potential customers alike.

1. Keywording

The first thing you want to do whenever tackling content optimization is to look at your keywords. One aspect of creating a killer SEO strategy is to zoom in on the metadata of your images. Create a relevant keyword that aligns with consumers’ most commonly searched terms. Then add that keyword to the file name, title, alt tag (which is like a keyword) and description of your images.

2. Speed

Images can be a huge drain on your web server if they are not properly sized or optimized. Moreover, the more weight you put on your website, the slower your product pages will load. With 64 percent of consumers choosing to ditch a purchase because a site loaded too slowly, this is not something you can afford to play around with.

If you do not have one already, get a speed optimization plugin to enhance your site’s performance. Also, only upload photos in the size you need them to be, as oversized image files will only waste space.

3. Resolution

On a related note, image sizing and file size also have an effect on how products display on your site. For starters, always use high-resolution images, so your products always look crisp and clear. Secondly, save your photos as JPG files. This is the most reliable format for quality and also allows you to save in smaller sizes without compromising image clarity.

4. Views/Angles

Your customers want the same experience online as they do in person, which means you need to provide them with multiple views, angles, zoom-in features, and even 360-degree videos of your products. If you want to make the decision-making process easier, cover all your bases, so your customers are not left with questions.

5. Color

Did you know that 85 percent of consumers list color as a primary reason why they purchase a particular product? If your products come in a variety of colors, don’t leave it up to your customers’ imagination to envision how your color swatches look on the products. Include photos that show off the color options.

6. Social-Friendly

Social media has, in recent years, become a ranking factor for search engines. In other words, the greater your presence on social, the more likely the search engines are to rank your site higher. If you want to give your site a boost and you want to encourage customers to share your products across social media, attach eye-catching thumbnail images to each product page to increase the chances of engagement.

7. Test

Search engines respond well when your on-site visitors do. The best way to ensure this happens is to employ the use of an A/B testing tool. This way you will not have to permanently alter your product images. Instead, you can try different product angles, colors, models, and placement to see which ones are the most well-received before committing to the change.

The quality and relevancy of the images you use on your site are what ultimately sell your products—not just by impressing visitors, but also by letting search engines know that you are selling a high-quality product. If you are serious about increasing your brand reputation and sales, you cannot afford to skimp on these SEO tips and tricks.

About Endicia

Endicia is a leading provider of internet-based postage services that make it easier and more affordable to ship parcels through the U.S. Postal Service®. We know that shipping can be complex and our goal is to simplify your shipping operations so you can focus on doing what you do best. Visit us at www.endicia.com to learn more.