Amazon Images Guide: Why are high-quality images crucial for Amazon success?

May 14, 2024

This Amazon images guide explains everything you need to know to improve your images as an Amazon seller.

The first thing we look at here is why high quality images are crucial for success on Amazon.

Part 1. You Only Get One Chance To Make An Amazing First Impression.

High-quality images are crucial for Amazon success for several reasons:

First Impressions Matter:

In the competitive world of Amazon, where customers face countless options, the quality of your images is your opportunity to create a positive first impression. A blurry or poorly lit image may drive customers away. But a clear, sharp, and well-composed image captures attention and encourages further exploration.

two pairs of headphones product images taken from Amazon. The pair on the left is a high quality image. The pair on the right is low quality and pixelated.

At first, these 2 pairs of headphones look very similar. But the image on the right is low quality and pixelated. It doesn’t give a good impression and doesn’t inspire confidence that the brand is good quality. If they can’t be bothered to provide high quality images, can they be bothered to build a high quality product?

Build Trust and Confidence:

High-quality images show customers that you are a professional and reputable seller. They give customers a sense of trust in your product. The more confidence they have in you, the more likely they are to buy from you.

Showcase Features and Benefits:

Images can do a much better job of showcasing the features and benefits of your product than text alone. Use high-quality images to show the product from multiple angles, in action, and close-up so that customers can see exactly what they are getting.

A Coleman Tent with caption explaining the features & benefits of the product

This image is a great example of highlighting product features.

  • It highlights 4 excellent benefits.
  • The red dots highlight exact items on the product.
  • There are technichal specs highlighted.
  • The fonts size is easy to read.
  • The font colour is easy to read.

This tent is for sale here on Amazon UK

Stand Out from the Competition:

With so many sellers on Amazon, it’s important to find a way to stand out from the crowd. High-quality images can help you do that. Use eye-catching visuals to make your listing stand out in search results and on product pages.

Search results page for the term "Toilet plunger" on Amazon UK

This is the search results page for “toilet plunger” on Amazon UK. I removed advertised products and blanked out “best seller” badges to test which product stands out.

  • Which items stands out  to you?
  • Why?

These are the search results for the term “toilet plunger” on Amazon UK

Reduce Returns and Negative Reviews:

When customers have a clear and accurate understanding of what your product looks like, they are less likely to be disappointed when they receive it. This can help to reduce returns and negative reviews.

Improve the Customer Experience:

High-quality images can make the shopping experience more enjoyable for customers. They can help customers to understand the product, make informed purchase decisions, and feel confident about their purchase.

Image showing Rattan Garden furniture product Images from Amazon and some of the product's review comments

These negative product comments all mention that the height of the furniture is low. It’s not surprising some customers misunderstand the product before they buy it becasue the image with the dimensions is the last one. The dimensions are not very clear.

To fix this issue, I would:

  • Include clear dimensions in the 2nd or 3rd product image.
  • Include people reclining on the furniture.

This product is for sale here on Amazon UK

Part 2. How do images influence a customer’s trust and purchase decisions on Amazon?

Images play a crucial role in influencing a customer’s trust and purchase decisions on Amazon in several ways:

Your Images Build Credibility:

  • High-resolution, well-lit images: These convey professionalism and attention to detail, making the product and seller appear more trustworthy. Blurry or poorly lit images raise doubts about the product’s quality and the seller’s reliability.
  • Multiple angles and close-ups: Seeing the product from different perspectives and zooming in on key features allows customers to visualize it better and feel more confident about its actual appearance. Close-ups allow them to understand the important details properly.
  • Lifestyle images: Showing the product in use helps customers imagine themselves using it and increases the perceived value.

Your Images Reduce Uncertainty and Risk:

  • Clear and detailed images: These help customers understand the product’s features and functionalities, minimizing the risk of receiving something different from what they expected.
  • Honest and accurate representation: Avoid misleading images that exaggerate the product’s qualities or hide imperfections. Accept your product’s unique selling points and highlight those using infogrpahics. Don’t try and be everything to everyone or you’ll end up being nothing to no-one.
  • Comparison and choice: Images can be used to highlight product comparisons or showcase different variations, guiding customers towards specific purchase choices.

Your Images Create Emotional Connection:

  • Visually appealing images: Beautiful or aesthetically pleasing images can capture attention, spark interest, and create positive emotions towards the product.
  • Brand storytelling: Using images that align with the brand’s values and personality helps create a connection with the customer and builds brand loyalty.
  • Evocative imagery: Images that evoke specific emotions or desires (e.g., comfort, excitement, luxury) can influence purchasing decisions by connecting with the customer’s aspirations. How can you get them to feel the product. in thee sames way Chanel does with perfume?

Overall, high-quality images that are informative, transparent, and emotionally engaging can significantly influence a customer’s trust and purchase decisions on Amazon. By investing in professional product photography and strategically using visuals, sellers can create a positive customer experience, build brand trust, and ultimately, drive sales.

These images tick all the boxes.

  1. A high resolution & very detailed product image.
  2. The product in use by a “normal” person whilst highlighting a shoppers biggest fear – that it won’t fit in their ear well.
  3. This image uses feathers to make the shopper feel how light they are.
  4. Reinforce how confortable they are with the use of a “normal” person.
  5. A high resolution detailed image of the technology to get you to feel the music.
  6. Highlighting another USP, playback time, whilst also showing the product in detailed close-up from other angles.
  7. Highlights another USP, easy bluetooth pairing, with explainer text and showing the product again in another angle / user postion.
  8. Another angle of the product being used in the real world by a “normal” person.

My use of the word “normal” above is to highlight that they’re not using supermodels in their pictures. The gir’s hair looks a bit fuzzy, the guy has some spots and the jeans pocket looks frayed. They’re not going for beautifule perfection (whatever that is) but trying to make the shopper relatable to their models.

This brand has done a superb job with their images. 

This product is for sale here on Amazon UK

Part 3: Do High-quality Images Impact Amazon Search Ranking?

Whilst images themselves have no positive effect on search rankings, the results of them can have a huge impact. Amazon’s algorithm takes into account the engagement of product listings.

Here’s what I mean:

Click-Through Rate (CTR)

Stand-out images lead to a higher click-through rate. When customers see attractive images in search results, they are more likely to click on the listing. A higher CTR signals to Amazon’s algorithm that the product is relevant to customers and positively impacts its ranking on the search results page.

Conversion Rate

Images that effectively showcase the product’s features and benefits contribute to a higher conversion rate. If customers are more likely to make a purchase after viewing the images, it indicates to Amazon that the product is relevant and appealing. Products with higher conversion rates rise up the Amazon search rankings.

Image Metadata and Alt Text

Amazon allows sellers to provide metadata, including alt text, for their images. Relevant and descriptive metadata helps Amazon understand the content of the images, improving the product’s visibility in search results and giving Amazon shoppers a better experience.

Conclusion

Boost Sales:

Ultimately, the goal of any Amazon seller is to maximize sales. High-quality images enable you to do that by increasing your click-through & conversion rate whilst reducing negative reviews.

On Amazon, various factors affect your ability to make a sale, including competition, reviews, images, price, competition, keywords, advertising & rank. Images are something you have direct control over and play a crucial role in a customer’s decision-making. Investing in brilliant images is a highly effective way to increase your chances of success and offset some the factors that you don’t have control over.

Read part 2 of our Amazon Images Guide

What are the technical image requirements for Amazon