TulipTools Internet Business Owners and Online Sellers Community

Quote:With all the tasks associated with selling online, it's easy to dismiss how important product photography is and how much it can affect sales. In fact, Jim Miotke, president of BetterPhoto.com, cites research that says 83 percent of eBay shoppers skip listings without images, while sites with galleries get 15 percent more activity and those with so-called super-size photos show a 24 percent spike in sales.

But you don't have to be an avid shutter-bug to take compelling pictures of your merchandise. All you need are a few basic tips and you can show case your wares with engaging images...

Composition: When setting up your shots, it's important to think about three factors: placement of the object, contrasting background and lighting...

Quote:Look around at other e-commerce sites and you'll see a range of photography from very good to appallingly bad. Good photos make your business look professional and your products attractive to buyers. Bad photos do just the opposite, especially when customers can't actually touch the inventory or inspect it in person. When you take high-quality product shots, your wares look inviting, and they have a better chance of attracting the eye of shoppers, who naturally are more inclined to make a purchase.

The difference between excellent and poor product photography, however, is not based on who has the best camera, but rather who has the tools to pull off professional-looking imagery and who uses them to best advantage. In this article, we'll have a look at some basic tools that you can use to take photographs that pop — without spending a fortune...

Quote:Images have a big impact on a Web site. Unfortunately, the impact can be both good and bad — and sometimes at the same time. While an image's visual impact is a good thing, it can also make your site slow to download, which is not a good thing. Compelling images are critical to netting sales, but if the file size is too big, waiting for it to load will annoy visitors. In this article we will go behind the scenes and look at how you can ensure that the images at your e-store work for your site, and your bottom line, and not against it.

Knowing Your GIF from Your JPEG
The average online shopper's Web browser can only display two different types of still images. These are GIF format images and JPEG images. While some browsers do support the PNG format, it's sure to be a tiny fraction of your customer base, so it's not a sensible choice for your Web site...