As the Internet becomes more of a community for like-minded individuals to share their experiences with one another, product-based companies face the challenge of ensuring that their first impressions are both professional and welcoming. Today, more than ever before, it’s imperative to develop an online presence that not only captures your brand but also draws in potential customers.
The way your products are staged and showcased speaks volumes not only about your company’s professionalism but also to their quality. That’s not to say that stellar photography will make a subpar product any better, but customers are less likely to spring for a poorly shot product even if it’s the best option on the market.
Focus on quality
The number one rule for staging products for your website is to make sure that all of them are professionally taken and remain consistent. Nobody wants to purchase anything from a website filled with iPhone pictures that have a different background on each shot. It looks sloppy and amateurish, so go ahead and hire a local photographer to shoot your products in batches. Not only will this guarantee high quality shots, but a professional will know the best angles and lighting to ensure the very best photo.
Keep it simple
As you set up your products, it can be tempting to continue adding details to make the shot more aesthetic. However, it’s best to keep everything clean and simple—you want to draw people’s eyes to your product, not distract them with lots of other elements. While a few added pieces can be nice to play up colors or display sizing, especially if they’re your own complementary items, be sure to limit the stage before going overboard.
Angles, angles, angles
Be sure to take a number of shots from different angles so that potential customers are able to see the products from all sides. Using light boxes to showcase the product is a nice way to keep things simple and professional by distributing light evenly for an ultimate effect.
On-site shots
It can help customers to visualize your products in an event setting, so be sure to get in touch with clients’ photographers to see if you can grab some of their on-site shots for marketing purposes. When you do use their photos, always credit other vendors and photographers on your social media and blog.
User experience
With that said, social media isn’t just for you to share—it’s for everyone to share! When developing your website, make sure the necessary measures are in place for others to share your images as well. If a client loves your product, let them share it with their friends! It’s also a good practice to have a comprehensive FAQ page that anticipates customers’ questions—not only does this provide a good customer experience, but it also saves you the time of answering the same questions repeatedly. Not even the most striking of shots can make up for poor customer service.
As you build your website and populate it with professional images of your wonderful products, don’t forget to be strategic about it. Put yourself in the shoes of a prospective client and ask yourself what you would expect from a business. With that in mind, you simply can’t go wrong.
Audrey Isaac is the spokesperson for 100 Candles, a wholesale market for candles and lights. Since 2002, thousands of wedding and event professionals have entrusted 100 Candles with their wholesale candle accounts. For more information, please visit http://www.100candles.com/.
