7 Product Display Musts Proven to Boost Sales

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By Matt Ackerson — Get free updates on new posts here

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Bad product photos are silently killing your sales. You know it's true every time you compare your photos to your competitors'.

Meet Marie, who almost shut down her handcrafted soap business last year. "I was ready to give up," she admitted. "My soaps were selling out at local markets, but online? Complete silence. Not a single sale for six straight weeks."

The problem wasn't her beautiful products - it was her photos. Dark shadows, blurry details, and dull colors made her luxury soaps look amateur. Her product photography was pushing customers away instead of pulling them in.

But here's what changed everything: Marie discovered that capturing stunning product photos doesn't need expensive gear. Using just her phone, a basic white sheet, and natural light, she completely turned things around. Within weeks, orders started flowing in steadily.

In this practical guide, you'll discover:

Learn the "three-light secret" that makes products jump off the screen (even with just window light)
Uncover the simple background trick that top brands use to double visual appeal
Discover the 5-minute editing routine that maintains product authenticity while boosting appeal
Reveal the composition framework that guides buyers' eyes exactly where you want them to look

Curious how better photos can boost your conversions? Let’s dive in and make your product display work harder for your online store...

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Product Display Must #1: Know Your E-commerce Buyer

When you know who your target customers are, you can tailor your photography style to resonate with their preferences. This connection is vital because it helps you present your products in a way that appeals directly to the people most likely to buy them. For instance, if your audience consists primarily of young adults, vibrant and trendy visuals might capture their attention more effectively than traditional styles.

Also, identifying the demographics of your audience can guide your decisions on lighting, backgrounds, and even the types of props you use in your photography.

For example, a study from Moldstud shows that incorporating high-quality imagery, especially lifestyle images, can lead to up to a 30% increase in conversion rates. This means that showcasing your products in relatable scenarios can significantly enhance their appeal.

By incorporating elements that reflect your audience’s lifestyle, you create a stronger emotional connection, which can lead to higher conversion rates.

You might be wondering how to gather insights about your audience. Tools like surveys, social media analytics, and customer feedback can provide valuable information on what resonates with your customers. By actively engaging with your audience and understanding their preferences, you can refine your photography approach to better meet their needs.

Key Takeaways

Tailor your photography style to resonate with your target audience.
Incorporate lifestyle elements to enhance emotional connections with customers.
Utilize audience insights to refine your photography approach for better engagement.

Product Display Must #2: Utilize Proper Backgrounds

The background you choose can either enhance your product's appeal or distract from it. A clean, uncluttered background allows your product to stand out, making it the focal point of the image. According to Iipvapi, 93% of consumers consider visual appearance to be a key deciding factor in their purchase decisions. This statistic underscores the importance of selecting the right background to showcase your products effectively.

When choosing a background, consider the colors and textures that complement your product. For example, if you’re photographing jewelry, a soft, neutral background can help the pieces shine. Alternatively, vibrant products may benefit from a more dynamic background that enhances their colors.

With recent advances in AI technology, you now have additional tools to optimize backgrounds:

Background removal AI: Tools like Adobe's Firefly and Remove.bg can automatically separate products from their original backgrounds with impressive precision, saving hours of manual editing time.
Virtual background generation: AI can generate contextual backgrounds that place products in lifestyle settings without expensive photo shoots. For example, furniture items can be digitally placed in realistic-looking living rooms.
Style consistency: AI tools can help maintain consistent background styles across an entire product catalog, even when original photography conditions varied.
Background optimization: Some AI tools can analyze which backgrounds drive higher engagement and conversion rates for specific product categories based on consumer behavior data.

example of using AI in product photography

You might be wondering how to balance creativity with simplicity when selecting backgrounds. A good rule of thumb is to keep backgrounds simple and relevant. This approach ensures that the product remains the star of the show. Experimenting with different backgrounds can also help you find the perfect match for your product.

Key Takeaways

Choose backgrounds that complement and enhance your products without distracting from them.
Consider the colors and textures of your backgrounds to create a cohesive look.
Keep backgrounds simple and relevant to ensure your product remains the focus.

Product Display Must #3: Master Product Lighting

Mastering lighting techniques is a critical aspect of product display that can dramatically enhance the visual quality of your images. Proper lighting not only highlights the features of your products but also sets the mood and tone of the photograph. Natural light is often a favorite among photographers because it provides a soft and flattering effect. However, relying solely on natural light can be unpredictable. For this reason, understanding how to manipulate both natural and artificial lighting is essential.

When using natural light, consider the time of day and the direction of the light. Early morning or late afternoon often provides the best lighting conditions for photography, as the sunlight is softer and more diffused. On the other hand, artificial lighting, such as softboxes or LED panels, allows for greater control over the lighting environment. Research from LinkedIn shows a 30% increase in conversion rates after revamping their product photos, focusing on high-resolution images, consistent backgrounds, and detailed close-ups. This statistic highlights the direct correlation between lighting quality and sales performance.

You might be wondering how to achieve the best lighting for your product shots. A good technique is to experiment with different light sources and angles. For instance, placing a light source at a 45-degree angle to your product can create pleasing shadows and highlights, adding depth to your images. Additionally, using reflectors can help bounce light back onto your product, reducing harsh shadows and creating a more balanced exposure.

Key Takeaways

Proper lighting enhances the visual quality and appeal of product images.
Experiment with both natural and artificial light to find the best conditions for your products.
Utilize reflectors and light positioning to create depth and balance in your images.

Product Display Must #4: Showcase Multiple Angles

Showcasing multiple angles of your products is essential in product display, as it provides potential customers with a comprehensive view of what they are considering purchasing. When customers can see a product from various perspectives, they feel more confident in their buying decisions. This is particularly important in e-commerce, where shoppers cannot physically interact with the product before making a purchase. According to Businessdasher, 360-degree product images, which involve displaying multiple angles, can boost brand conversion rates by 22%. This statistic highlights the significant impact that showcasing multiple angles can have on customer interest and engagement.

When photographing your products, aim to capture them from different angles, including front, side, back, and top views. This approach allows customers to get a better sense of the product's size, shape, and features. Additionally, consider including close-up shots that highlight intricate details, such as textures or patterns. These detailed images can further entice customers by showcasing the quality of your product.

You might be wondering how to effectively display these multiple angles in your online store. A simple and effective method is to create a gallery or carousel feature that allows users to click through different images. This interactive experience keeps customers engaged and encourages them to explore your products further.

Key Takeaways

Provide multiple angles of your products to enhance customer confidence and engagement.
Include close-up shots to highlight intricate details and quality.
Utilize interactive galleries to encourage exploration of your products.

Product Display Must #5: Perfect Your Image Editing

Editing is a crucial step in product photography that can elevate your images from good to exceptional. While capturing high-quality photos is important, post-processing can enhance colors, adjust lighting, and refine details to ensure your products look their best. According to a study from Clutch, 80% of people have purchased a product or service as a result of content marketing, which often includes professionally produced and edited visuals.This statistic underscores the importance of investing time and effort into the editing process.

When editing your product images, focus on correcting any exposure issues, adjusting contrast, and enhancing colors to make your products pop. Additionally, removing any distractions or imperfections can help maintain the viewer's focus on the product itself. Tools like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom offer powerful features that can help you achieve a polished look. You might be wondering how much editing is too much. The key is to enhance the product while keeping it true to life. Over-editing can lead to unrealistic representations, which may disappoint customers upon receiving the product.

To effectively showcase your products, consider creating a consistent editing style across all your images. This consistency helps establish your brand identity and makes your product listings more visually appealing.

Key Takeaways

Editing enhances product images, making them more appealing to potential customers.
Focus on correcting exposure, contrast, and color to create polished images.
Maintain a consistent editing style to strengthen your brand identity.

Product Display Must #6: Bring Your Products to Life

Incorporating lifestyle shots into your product display is an effective way to create context and connect with potential customers on an emotional level. These images showcase your products in real-life scenarios, allowing customers to envision how they might use or benefit from them. A study from Convinceandconvert found that lifestyle imagery, boasts the highest average engagement rate across platforms at 2.4%. This statistic highlights the significant impact that lifestyle photography can have on customer interest and conversion rates.

When creating lifestyle shots, consider the setting and the story you want to tell. For example, if you sell outdoor gear, photographing your products in a natural setting can help customers imagine themselves using the items during their adventures. This approach not only highlights the product but also evokes feelings of excitement and aspiration. Additionally, including people in your lifestyle shots can further enhance relatability and create a connection with your audience.

For example, a lifestyle shot might show how a piece of furniture looks in a cozy living room setting

You might be wondering how to balance lifestyle photography with traditional product shots. The key is to use a mix of both to provide a comprehensive view of your products. While lifestyle shots create context, traditional product images ensure that customers can see the details and features clearly.

Key Takeaways

Lifestyle shots create context and help customers envision using your products.
Consider the setting and story to evoke emotions and connect with your audience.
Use a mix of lifestyle and traditional product shots for a comprehensive view.

Product Display Must #7: Optimize for Web

Optimizing your product images for the web is a crucial step in ensuring that your e-commerce site performs well and provides a positive user experience. Large image files can slow down your website, leading to longer loading times, which can frustrate potential customers. Research from Instant shows that a one-second delay in loading time can result in a 7% reduction in conversions. This statistic highlights the importance of optimizing your images to improve site performance and retain customers.

example of optimized product display - desktop

example of optimized product display - mobile

To optimize your images, start by compressing file sizes without sacrificing quality. Tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim can help you reduce file sizes significantly. Additionally, use the appropriate file formats; JPEG is great for photographs, while PNG is ideal for images that require transparency. Don’t forget to include alt text for each image, as this not only helps with SEO but also improves accessibility for users who rely on screen readers.

You might be wondering how to implement these optimizations effectively. A good practice is to create a folder structure that organizes your images by product categories, making it easier to manage and update them as needed.

Key Takeaways

Optimize image file sizes to improve website loading times and user experience.
Use appropriate file formats for different types of images.
Include alt text for SEO and accessibility purposes.

CONCLUSION

Let me show you why quality product display directly impacts your online sales success. Each element, from lighting to lifestyle shots, plays a key role in turning browsers into buyers.

Think about it: mastering these photography and display techniques takes significant time and expertise. You could spend weeks learning photography basics and perfecting your editing skills.

Or there's a simpler way.

Here are the practical steps for better product display:

Review your current product photos
Assess lighting and background quality
Capture multiple product angles
Add lifestyle context shots
Optimize images for web speed

Imagine having both a professional design team to create stunning product displays and a complete marketing team for all your other needs - without the usual high costs.

At Growbo, our design experts handle your design needs while our marketing team takes care of everything else. You focus on running your business.

Book a call today and start turning visitors into loyal customers. Have questions about design strategies? Let's connect in the comments below.

Keep Growin', Stay Focused,