The best way to present your products online

Nowadays, it’s hard to imagine life without the presence of online shops. Particularly in these strange times, characterised as they are by lockdowns and shop closures, they are proving to be a good alternative way to present and sell products direct to consumers. What retailers cannot offer online, however, is the chance for customers to touch and try out products and so get an overall picture of the goods in question. This is why product images and descriptions are particularly important in online shops. They should enable consumers to experience products even from a distance and so help them decide whether to go ahead with the purchase or not.

What a good product description does

The product description should make customers more familiar with the product and pique their interest. It should contain details on all the important characteristics, such as the material, size, technical features and the price of the respective product. This information should be easily visible and clearly presented to the customer and can, for example, be given in bullet-point form in a clearly laid-out list or a table. The advantages and unique selling propositions of the product can also be highlighted in keywords in order to set them apart from similar products and so offer customers some guidance when buying in your online shop. However, it is not only the mere mention of features that is vital when it comes to convincing customers of the merits of a particular product. Creative, detailed descriptions and stories that describe the possible ways the product can be used and that play with the reader's imagination help individual customers get a better image of the product and what it does.

These tips can help create appealing product images

Product images should make the product tangible and allow potential customers to view all the fine details of the product. To ensure that this is possible, product images should satisfy the following criteria:

Quality: When it comes to photos, a high resolution delivers value, demonstrates professionalism and encourages customers to place their trust in the online shop. Moreover, you need a good resolution if you want to include a zoom function, as this is the only way to avoid unsightly pixilation and allow customers to make out the fine details of the product better.
Focus: The aim of a product image is to present the product offered to customers as undistorted as possible. The focus of the image should, therefore, always be on the product itself, which should not be overwhelmed by distracting backgrounds. The product should also not be obscured by decorations or other objects.
Details: Pictures from different angles are vital if customers are to get a comprehensive picture of a product. Detailed images showing the texture of a product, for example, can also be included here.

These days, you no longer need a professional photographer or a photo studio to take good, appealing product pictures. Quality images can easily be achieved with inexpensive equipment that you often already own. By following these tips, you can take first-class product pictures easily and cheaply:

Camera: For large online shops and regular photo shoots, you may want to invest in an expensive camera, but in this day and age appealing product pictures can also be taken with a smartphone camera. Depending on your preferences, you can buy a holder for your smartphone to prevent the picture from shaking and to keep your hands free while taking the picture.
Image Background: The background of a product picture should be simple so as not to distract from the product itself. A monochrome background that contrasts with the product itself is particularly suitable for this purpose. Professional photo backgrounds can be bought at reasonable cost. For small products and just few photos, however, plain cardboard, paper or fabric can also be used
LightningLighting is particularly important for a successful product image. Avoid unwanted shadows and light that is too harsh. Here, too, you can invest in a photo box or a light tent, for example; however, a simple desk lamp can also be used to create good lighting conditions. It is important that the lamp does not emit light that is too yellow or too blue. In order to create a soft light and prevent shadows, bright parchment paper can be held in front of the lamp.
Planning and photographing: Before actually taking any photographs, it is a good idea to make a list of all the important details of the product. This will help you to quickly identify the angles you should photograph the image from so as to capture all the details in the product image. Once everything has been set up, you can start taking photographs. You should take care to increase the brightness of the smartphone and focus the camera.

Other ways to put your product in the limelight

On top of simple product images, there are also some new and exciting ways to present a product. 3D views and animations can help customers to understand the product better and come quite close to the shopping experience you get in a bricks-and-mortar shop. But even simple videos that show the product in use can give the customer an almost real experience of the product. Another advantage of product videos is that they give the customer a faster and better feel for the product. That is why they are particularly suitable for getting the functions of a product and all it can do across to potential customers.