Why (and how) to optimize your product images for Google Shopping

I imagine you are already selling online. If not, you need to asap – and Google can be your best friend.

A big part of succeeding in the online marketplace is Google rankings for your products. To get your images to the top of Google SERP, you need to make sure that the search engine has access to highly optimized images of your products.

Google Shopping can double* your click-through rate – but, you need highly optimized, high-quality images for that to happen. There are several things you need to do to improve your sales conversion via Google Shopping.

In this article, we’ll cover some of the most important factors that will make your experience on Google Shopping a success – in short, we’ll help Google find “your” product images when a user searches for a product (like a “table”).

You need to also know that Google continuously crawls your webpages and images to check for quality. Make sure you only have high-quality content that is relevant and refreshes periodically.

High quality images

It’s a no-brainer that all businesses today need high-quality, high-resolution images to make an impact online. By using high-quality images, you have a greater chance of leaving a positive impression of your business in the minds of your prospective customers.

You also need to ensure you have multiple images of your products covering different angles. This way, the customer can have a detailed view of your product and assess its suitability for his/ her needs. The images also need to be high enough resolution so that a customer can zoom in to check details without the image getting distorted.

Having great images is awesome. However, they will only give you a high ranking on Google if you follow Google’s Image Guidelines. Here’s a short list:

• Use a pure white or gray background with the subject centered in the photo
• Make sure the images are clean and devoid of any distractions
• Use proper lighting. Ensure no areas are over or under lit
• Avoid blurry images

The Google quality standard

Google has a reputation to protect, and it does so diligently. For your photos to show up on Google Shopping near the top, you need to meet Google quality standards and have high-quality photos. Some key standards are:

• Make sure you upload high-resolution images only. Google accepts files up to 16MB in size
• Don’t upload thumbnails. Make sure your images are centered and take up at least 75% of the available photo space
• Google prescribes image sizes and ratios for different product types. For eg: clothing images should be no less than 250x250 pixels. Make sure you follow the guidelines for your product type

What makes a great photo?

There are any number of studies that prove how important clean, large, and high-quality images make a substantial difference to an online brand’s presence. More than 71% of customers say that high-quality images influence their purchase decisions online.

There are several components to ensuring a great image. Here are some suggestions to improve your product images and take your visual presentation to the next level.

Improve your lighting

Having a proper lighting setup with 2-3 main lights to illuminate and backlight your product is critically important. You can also use ambient natural light to frame your product but it’s ideally done in a product photography studio for the best, most engaging visuals.

Shoot from multiple angles

Since your customers don’t have the opportunity to physically see the product or inspect it from all sides, it’s crucial that you do. Take multiple photos from different angles to showcase the look and features of your product. The more clarity the customer has about your product and its features, the more likely he/ she is to purchase the “Buy” button.

Remove distractions

Lifestyle photos are a great choice for your website and social media to showcase how your products can be used. However, for Google Shopping it’s best to stick with simple product photos with minimal distractions so that the customer is completely glued to your product.

Image editing

Image editing is the “Damocles sword” of photography. It can both enhance or destroy your image. Opt for minimal editing to your images via Pyx’s automated editing tools to give your photos a natural, out-of-the-camera look. Our tech is 100% automated and allows you to receive Google-ready images in a matter of minutes. Contact us to learn more about our automated photo editing features.

Product description perfection

About 25% of all product returns are because the product description mentioned something that was not a feature of the product. To be successful on Google Shopping, make sure you write accurate and brief product descriptions. Google checks for a combination of photos, descriptions, customer ratings, etc. to rank any particular page/ image. Ensuring you have a consistent set of high-quality images and accurate product descriptions will help drive your rating on Google SERP.

Conclusion

To grow your online presence using Google Shopping, make sure you use only high-quality images and have accurate product descriptions. At Pyx Photography, we work with leading and upcoming eCommerce businesses to optimize their visual assets. Contact us to learn more about our offerings and our automated photo editing process. We’d love to hear from you.