Amazon listing success: why photos are so important

This guide outlines the crucial need for top notch images in every Amazon listing, and the recommendations for success.

High-quality photos are the business card for Amazon listing sellers. It is the first thing that potential customers pay attention to. In addition, the product’s image in an Amazon listing is one of the most valuable marketing tools. In a highly competitive environment, a good photo can distinguish a product from similar ones, inspire confidence in the target audience, and, subsequently, influence shoppers’ decisions in your favor.

So, let’s admit that product photos are of the utmost importance for doing business online with Amazon. It is a kind of cover for the buyer, judging by which they decide whether to stay on your page or go to someone else’s. For the seller, it is a way to make their product attractive, thereby arousing a desire to buy it.

Now, ask yourself – do your Amazon listing images reveal all the benefits of the product? If not, read this guide to take the most out of your pictures and enhance sales. 

Amazon listing photos: what you need

Each item on the Amazon listing needs one or more photos. The main image is the most important one. It appears first in search results and on pages viewed by the buyer, so it’s in your best interest to make it as presentable as possible.

When adding your main image, follow the Amazon listing guidelines below:

• the photo must show only the main product that the buyer will receive – without any texts, logos, or watermarks;
• it must be professional;
• it must be placed on a white background;
• it must have an extension of at least 1000 pixels so that when enlarged, it is still clear 
• the product should occupy 80% of the photo area; the rest falls on the background;
• product drawings and illustrations are not allowed;
• image must be in RGB color mode only;
• it must conform to acceptable file formats; JPEG, TIFF, GIF, or JPEG is preferred;
• books, music, video/DVD images must show the cover and fill 100% of the image frame;
• a total of 9 pictures are allowed.

 For additional Amazon listing photos, Amazon gives more freedom – the seller can use infographics, cropped or close-up images, as well as additional items to demonstrate the product in action or its scale. As the customer cannot physically touch your product, your task is to create a good first impression.

Pro tip: Sometimes, your competitors or hijackers can modify your listings by adding incorrect images. As a result, you can get poor customer reviews, and your sales might decrease. Therefore, use Amazon tracking software to get real-time alerts about the changes and handle the issues as soon as possible. 

Top 10 mistakes in Amazon listing photos

Unfortunately, sellers often ignore the guidelines for creating photos on Amazon. So, in this blog post, we have prepared a list of common mistakes to avoid:

1. Rectangular Amazon listing photos that appear cropped when viewed on the page. Use only square images.
2. Drawing, illustration, or 3D model of the product. Use only real photos.
3. Self-taken photos. It is better to test your photographic skills at your leisure and entrust the creation of images for your business to professionals. It will save a lot of time and, as subsequent sales will show, the money spent.
4. Images that do not reveal the essence of the product. Give yourself an answer to the question: “How can I use an image to show my product in action and demonstrate its benefits?” For example, if you’re selling travel pillows, don’t just display them on a white background. Instead, show the product in use. Let the customers know that your pillow will make a long trip more comfortable. Make it easier for the buyer to imagine themselves as your product owner.
5. Poorly prepared product for shooting. It is vital to remember that the Amazon listing photographs show all the flaws that are elusive in real contact with the thing. Be attentive to details.
6. Ill-conceived scenes for shooting. Many people make purchasing decisions because the product evokes emotions in them. If you’re selling products for children, use a themed location and a child as a model for shooting.
7. Advertising text in images. Words such as “sale,” “delivery,” and the like are considered by Amazon as a violation.
8. Don’t neglect infographics. Remember that most people love visuals. It is easier for them to perceive information in pictures. So communicate the benefits with graphics.
9. Using stock photos from free platforms. They are aesthetic, but not functional.
10. Poor visibility of product elements. If any elements are hard to see in the main Amazon listing image, use macro photography. Do not leave the buyer with questions about the appearance of your product.

To Sum Up

If the photo content on your Amazon listing fails to meet the above recommendations, do not be too lazy to modify it. Well-lit, high-resolution, and proper images taken on a white background will ensure you a 50% success rate and help you outperform most of the competitors. Amazon is full of goods with poor photo content, so by having quality images that are nice to look at, you will get a lot more engagement (clicks and sales) than unoptimized listings of other merchants.