The Use of Images in Ecommerce Web Site Design
A Home Business Article Contributed by Elizabeth Fox-Wise
One Hurdle of Developing Your Ecommerce Web Site Design is Letting Your Customers See You Product
When starting out on your endeavor of ecommerce web site design, keep in mind that you are trying to sell products to your customers that they can not touch, hear or smell. The only sense available for you to use in your marketing is the sense of sight. This innately puts your ecommerce site at a disadvantage over typical retail stores. Especially if your product does have a wonderful feel or scent. Imagine the last time you walked into a store that sold fresh baked goods.
While you could see the product and even touch it, which of the senses were the most stimulated? If you are like most people you will answer your sense of smell. So, in this case, your nose, not necessarily your brain, was what chose your purchases. Now imagine you are trying to sell those cinnamon rolls from an ecommerce site, your potential customers can not smell the wonderful scent of your rolls. So you need to stimulate another one of their senses.
In the case of ecommerce, this is often the sense of sight. When designing your ecommerce site, it is very important that you take full advantage of the use of images.
If Possible, Use Actual Photos, Not Stock Photos, in Your Ecommerce Web Site Design.
Sometimes the products you purchase for re-sale will come with stock photos. If at all possible, it is best not to use these. Take your own photos or scans of the merchandise you are selling and use these in your ecommerce web site design.
Internet Savvy shoppers will begin to recognize the stock photos that they see on one ecommerce after another. And whether at a conscious or subconscious level, will be more drawn to purchase from the site that they believe it showing the actual item they are purchasing. Furthermore, stock photos can be pretty basic - often of just the box. Taking your own photos will allow you to point out special item features or display the product in a more favorable light.
Images are a Wonderful Means of Communication in Your Ecommerce Web Site Design.
Images, photos and pictures are a wonderful way to communicate to your prospects what you are offering from your ecommerce web site. The use of many and good photos leads to ease of shopping for your customers who may have low literacy levels. Also, if you are intending to do International business from your ecommerce web site, a picture will describe your product for those who do not speak or read your native language.
This is not to say that your product shouldn't also be well described and all manufacturer information provided for your customers. But the best written description still can not replace the need for images.
You have often heard that "A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words" In the world of ecommerce web site design this couldn't be more true!
