What is visual search optimization?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Visual search optimization is the process of optimizing digital content to enhance its visibility and relevance in visual search results. Visual search involves using images or videos as queries instead of text. Users can upload an image or take a photo to search for similar or related visual content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A visual search is a query that is made with or about images. You might take a picture or screenshot of a product and use it to search for similar products online. When you use visual search, technology analyzes visual patterns to find similar images and return them to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In contrast, image search helps users find information using text, like typing in a Google Search \u201cblack boots for women\u201d or using voice search to find relevant results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to optimize your ecommerce site and product photos for visual search<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Understand how consumers use visual search<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Use multiple images for each product<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Make sure your images are high-quality<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Put images in your sitemap<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Add Google image badges<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Learn how to optimize your images for visual search<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Go beyond just images<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Create your own visual search<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Remember Google Snippets<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Understand how consumers use visual search<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Before you can understand how to optimize your site, you need to know how consumers use visual search. This starts with putting yourself in the consumers\u2019 shoes and considering the context and intent of their visual search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, are your customers searching for gift ideas, solving a problem, or looking to buy? How do they like to shop online? Understanding these motivations allows you to meet their needs better with visuals and photo descriptions that align with their intent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To learn more about your customer behavior, you can study your site\u2019s and social channels\u2019 analytics to see how your audience interacts with visuals and what they click on. Pay attention to any effective competitor visuals, too. What aesthetics and multimedia do users respond to? Reverse engineer what resonates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can also send post-purchase surveys, monitor social conversations about your brand and products, use focus groups if resources allow, and keep up with visual search trends from Pinterest, for example. Using Pinterest Trends<\/a>, you can change the region and the search period, select interests for trends within specific niches, add demographics filters and keywords, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAlthough these trends constantly change, the top Pinterest searches and categories at the start of 2024 were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Dinner party<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Nails<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Fashion<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Valentine\u2019s Day<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Winter outfits<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Prom dresses<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Tattoos<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Braids<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Use multiple images for each product<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Using more than one product photo to represent your merchandise isn\u2019t just good for the user experience, it\u2019s also good for visual SEO. Google has repeatedly said it prioritizes the user experience when determining rankings. Plus, you can use different keyword variations for each of your image files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check out Maik in the example below. The ethical sock brand shows a mix of white background images with contextual settings and people photos. The variety of images lets the brand target unique visual search terms that can appear in varying Google searches and visual browsing queries, like \u201ccolorful socks with jeans\u201d and \u201canimal-themed socks.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Bright]()
\n\n\n\n
Make sure your images are high-quality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
High-quality product photography benefits more than just on-site users. It also gives you an edge in visual search results. When images are crisp and detailed, shoppers are more likely to click on them over low-quality competitor images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, when users browse visual search results or image-based platforms like Google image search, clear, appealing photos stand out. You only have a small space alongside other brands in those results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As seen in the example search below for children\u2019s bedroom ornaments, top-ranking images allow shoppers to clearly see each product. With multiple thumbnail options competing for attention, ensure your product images are high-quality and clearly show the product to entice clicks.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Google]()
\n\n\n\n
Be aware that low-quality images can be as bad as having no images at all<\/a> because it can lead to disappointment and show a lack of care.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPut images in your sitemap<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your sitemap is essentially a \u201cmap\u201d of your website\u2014it houses information about the content on your site and the relation between those elements, such as text and images. Search engines use this file to crawl your website and learn more information about it. It helps search engines understand what is on your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you create an image sitemap, you\u2019ll give crawlers more information about the photos\u2014and make them more primed to appear in searches. You can learn more about sitemaps and how to submit them on Google Search Central<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAdd Google image badges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Google released an Image Search update back in 2017<\/a> to include small badges on search results thumbnails. These badges let users know what they\u2019ll see when they click on the image, such as a recipe, a product in an online store, or a video.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTo this day, you can see these badges in search results, and Google Images and Google Lens also use them. Follow Google\u2019s guide<\/a> to add this structured data to your product pages.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Google]()
\n\n\n\nLearn how to optimize your images for visual search<\/h3>\n\n\n\nSize and format your images appropriately<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Google\u2019s image optimization guidelines<\/a> include recommended file formats. They say PNG and JPEG files are best for still images, and WebP and AVIF files are best for animation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Comparison]()
\n\n\n\nReduce your image file size<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A big part of SEO is having a quick-loading site\u2014and large images can slow load speeds. Compress your images<\/a> so the file size is smaller, without using image quality<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou might also consider lazy loading<\/a> to reduce the page load time, but it requires some technical knowledge to set up.<\/p>\n\n\n\nUse keywords in file names and alt tags<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Uploading a product image titled \u201cPhoto_123\u201d will make it difficult for search engines to understand what\u2019s in the photo and when it\u2019s relevant to people\u2019s search queries. Instead, be descriptive about the subject matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, if you\u2019re selling a red women’s coat, you could give it a file name, \u201cRed-women-winter-coat,\u201d and also include your brand name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to alt tags, remember that they help visually impaired users with screen readers understand what\u2019s in the image. Alt tags also display when your images fail to load on the site, which could happen when the user has a bad internet connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using the example above, you could add an alt tag, \u201cA dark-haired woman in a long, red coat and black boots, sat on a park bench.\u201d Think how you would describe the image to someone who can\u2019t see it. And make sure not to add too many keywords in your alt tags because Google may consider it spam<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGo beyond images<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A multimedia approach is best, especially if you\u2019re optimizing for visual search. Think product videos<\/a> and 360-degree photos<\/a> that bring static images to life. This will not only help you stand out in search, but also in the eyes of the customer.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMatches<\/a> has high-quality videos and close-up shots to enhance the visual search and user experience. The different media options help shoppers see the product from several angles.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"MatchesFashion]()
\n\n\n\nCreate your own visual search<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Even though it\u2019s not mainstream yet, creating your own visual search experience can help get ahead of the curve. Implementing it now gives you time to work out the issues before it becomes widely adopted. This way, your competitors will deal with technical issues while you\u2019ve already hit your groove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you build your own custom application with visual search features? You\u2019ll find numerous visual search providers offer this service, such as Snap Vision<\/a>, Intelistyle<\/a>, Clarifai<\/a>, and Syte<\/a> among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYour own visual search can help shoppers find relevant results faster. It may even inspire them to add complementing products to finish the full look. As a bonus, you\u2019ll also get even more data and insights on your customer behavior, adding to marketing opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some brands are taking visual search into their own hands now, too. ASOS Style Match<\/a>, for example, lets its app users upload or take a photo of an outfit, and the store will find similar product recommendations. It\u2019s a great cross-sell and bundling opportunity.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Style]()
\n\n\n\nRemember Google Snippets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ever notice how some Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) have a \u201cPeople also ask\u201d box with dropdown questions related to your query? It looks like this:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Google]()
\n\n\n\n
Sometimes, they include images. You can use images to optimize for those highly coveted Google Snippets. Start by researching what type of images currently appear for your search query and add or replace them with a high-quality image that better captures the query.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Opt for photos with your product centered and move the image to the top of your page. Don\u2019t forget to also add appropriate image titles and alt text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visual search platforms to know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For customers, visual search is a simple, interactive way of browsing products that closely match what they\u2019re looking for. For ecommerce brands, it\u2019s an untapped opportunity to have their product images appear in the searches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But that\u2019s just the basics. Visual search tools continue to get more advanced as technology improves. Social media platforms, especially image-driven ones like Pinterest and Snapchat, have also launched their own versions of visual search. The list of visual search platforms only continues to grow\u2014here are a few popular ones you might want to note:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Google Lens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Google Lens app<\/a>, for example, is a seriously improved version of a basic image search. You can find recipes or directions, add events to your calendar, and translate words from a photo. Google Lens also allows users to find where to buy products online. They snap or upload a shot of the coveted piece, and Google will tell them where to get it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Google]()
\n\n\n\nOver 12 billion monthly searches<\/a> encompass a wide range of information, from identifying plants to translating signs. In 2022, Google launched Multisearch<\/a>, which combines text and image search, making it easier to find variations of similar products.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBing Visual Search<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Microsoft\u2019s search engine hit 100 million active users in 2023<\/a>, so while not in the same league as Google, it\u2019s still notable for its visual search feature<\/a>. It works in a similar way\u2014users can upload or take photos or paste image URLs to find similar search results.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPinterest Lens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Users can take photos of an object or select parts of pins to find other related pins with Pinterest Lens<\/a>. For example, by highlighting just the shoes of an outfit image, you can find pins related to the selected footwear. With more than 465 million monthly users<\/a> going on Pinterest to find products, it\u2019s definitely one to watch.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Pinterest]()
\n\n\n\nThis platform is all about inspiring its users. So, if your product images can be the source of a new home project or outfit idea, you can gain their attention before they go to a competitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pinterest also publishes yearly predictions<\/a> for which searches will trend. The predictions are based on their user searches, so it\u2019s a good resource for ecommerce brands planning in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmazon Lens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Unsurprisingly, the world\u2019s largest marketplace<\/a> has also capitalized on visual search. Using the Amazon app, users have different ways to shop. They can use the Shop the Look feature to upload their own photo or browse public images by other users to find products, take a photo of an object, or scan a barcode.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Amazon]()
\n\n\n\nFind It On eBay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Launched back in 2017<\/a>, eBay\u2019s visual search feature lets mobile users snap a photo of a product, upload an image or screenshot, or scan a barcode to find similar listings. eBay had 135 million active users in 2022<\/a>, so any ecommerce brands selling there shouldn\u2019t sleep on optimizing images for the app\u2019s visual search.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Vintage]()
\n\n\n\nScan by Snapchat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Similar to Google Lens, Scan by Snapchat<\/a> users can interact with almost anything using visual search. One of the features includes finding related products in partnership with Amazon so users can shop while using their favorite social media app.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy visual SEO is important<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Visual SEO isn\u2019t just a marketing buzzword we\u2019ll forget about when the next one comes along. It\u2019s important to incorporate it into your SEO strategy alongside text-based searches so you can start creating a better customer experience.. As Google, social networks, Amazon, and other online platforms continue to bolster their visual search experience, the tech isn\u2019t going anywhere soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A good search function is essential for 9 out of 10 U.S. consumers<\/a>. That means if your store website or product images aren’t updated with SEO in mind<\/a>, shoppers may soon abandon their carts. This is because it\u2019ll take them too long to find exactly what they\u2019re looking for. Or they may not find your product in search results at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWith 43% of consumers aged 16 to 64<\/a> using the Internet regularly for researching products and brands, it\u2019s even more important for smaller or lesser-known ecommerce brands to make sure their visual SEO strategy is on point or, at the very least, gets regularly updated.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor example, Australian furniture retailer King Living<\/a> saw a 15% increase in clicks and overall revenue<\/a> after\u00a0it updated\u00a0its site and replaced previously text-heavy content with product images. The brand found visuals more effectively communicating product information than just text descriptions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Modern]()
\n\n\n\nBesides helping users find products, SEO-optimized images improve website usability<\/a>, also making it more mobile-friendly and load faster. Smartphones account for 74% of online purchases<\/a>, so paying attention to the mobile experience is well worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe benefits of visual searches go beyond hitting marketing goals. Those who may face a language barrier or can\u2019t put what they\u2019re looking for into words can use visual search technology to help find good quality information and answers in their daily life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Implementing visual SEO into your ecommerce strategy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Setting up an effective visual SEO strategy takes time and effort, but the payoff for your ecommerce business can be huge. By optimizing your product images and site for visual search, you make it easier for interested customers to find you and explore your product range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But visual SEO is just one part of a solid marketing plan. Together with a strategy for text-based searches, faster website speed, and a great mobile experience, you\u2019ll be well on your way to more sales and customer engagement.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Understand how consumers use visual search<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Before you can understand how to optimize your site, you need to know how consumers use visual search. This starts with putting yourself in the consumers\u2019 shoes and considering the context and intent of their visual search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, are your customers searching for gift ideas, solving a problem, or looking to buy? How do they like to shop online? Understanding these motivations allows you to meet their needs better with visuals and photo descriptions that align with their intent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To learn more about your customer behavior, you can study your site\u2019s and social channels\u2019 analytics to see how your audience interacts with visuals and what they click on. Pay attention to any effective competitor visuals, too. What aesthetics and multimedia do users respond to? Reverse engineer what resonates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can also send post-purchase surveys, monitor social conversations about your brand and products, use focus groups if resources allow, and keep up with visual search trends from Pinterest, for example. Using Pinterest Trends<\/a>, you can change the region and the search period, select interests for trends within specific niches, add demographics filters and keywords, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although these trends constantly change, the top Pinterest searches and categories at the start of 2024 were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using more than one product photo to represent your merchandise isn\u2019t just good for the user experience, it\u2019s also good for visual SEO. Google has repeatedly said it prioritizes the user experience when determining rankings. Plus, you can use different keyword variations for each of your image files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check out Maik in the example below. The ethical sock brand shows a mix of white background images with contextual settings and people photos. The variety of images lets the brand target unique visual search terms that can appear in varying Google searches and visual browsing queries, like \u201ccolorful socks with jeans\u201d and \u201canimal-themed socks.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n High-quality product photography benefits more than just on-site users. It also gives you an edge in visual search results. When images are crisp and detailed, shoppers are more likely to click on them over low-quality competitor images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, when users browse visual search results or image-based platforms like Google image search, clear, appealing photos stand out. You only have a small space alongside other brands in those results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As seen in the example search below for children\u2019s bedroom ornaments, top-ranking images allow shoppers to clearly see each product. With multiple thumbnail options competing for attention, ensure your product images are high-quality and clearly show the product to entice clicks.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be aware that low-quality images can be as bad as having no images at all<\/a> because it can lead to disappointment and show a lack of care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your sitemap is essentially a \u201cmap\u201d of your website\u2014it houses information about the content on your site and the relation between those elements, such as text and images. Search engines use this file to crawl your website and learn more information about it. It helps search engines understand what is on your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you create an image sitemap, you\u2019ll give crawlers more information about the photos\u2014and make them more primed to appear in searches. You can learn more about sitemaps and how to submit them on Google Search Central<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google released an Image Search update back in 2017<\/a> to include small badges on search results thumbnails. These badges let users know what they\u2019ll see when they click on the image, such as a recipe, a product in an online store, or a video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To this day, you can see these badges in search results, and Google Images and Google Lens also use them. Follow Google\u2019s guide<\/a> to add this structured data to your product pages.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u2019s image optimization guidelines<\/a> include recommended file formats. They say PNG and JPEG files are best for still images, and WebP and AVIF files are best for animation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n A big part of SEO is having a quick-loading site\u2014and large images can slow load speeds. Compress your images<\/a> so the file size is smaller, without using image quality<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might also consider lazy loading<\/a> to reduce the page load time, but it requires some technical knowledge to set up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Uploading a product image titled \u201cPhoto_123\u201d will make it difficult for search engines to understand what\u2019s in the photo and when it\u2019s relevant to people\u2019s search queries. Instead, be descriptive about the subject matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, if you\u2019re selling a red women’s coat, you could give it a file name, \u201cRed-women-winter-coat,\u201d and also include your brand name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to alt tags, remember that they help visually impaired users with screen readers understand what\u2019s in the image. Alt tags also display when your images fail to load on the site, which could happen when the user has a bad internet connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the example above, you could add an alt tag, \u201cA dark-haired woman in a long, red coat and black boots, sat on a park bench.\u201d Think how you would describe the image to someone who can\u2019t see it. And make sure not to add too many keywords in your alt tags because Google may consider it spam<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A multimedia approach is best, especially if you\u2019re optimizing for visual search. Think product videos<\/a> and 360-degree photos<\/a> that bring static images to life. This will not only help you stand out in search, but also in the eyes of the customer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matches<\/a> has high-quality videos and close-up shots to enhance the visual search and user experience. The different media options help shoppers see the product from several angles.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though it\u2019s not mainstream yet, creating your own visual search experience can help get ahead of the curve. Implementing it now gives you time to work out the issues before it becomes widely adopted. This way, your competitors will deal with technical issues while you\u2019ve already hit your groove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you build your own custom application with visual search features? You\u2019ll find numerous visual search providers offer this service, such as Snap Vision<\/a>, Intelistyle<\/a>, Clarifai<\/a>, and Syte<\/a> among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your own visual search can help shoppers find relevant results faster. It may even inspire them to add complementing products to finish the full look. As a bonus, you\u2019ll also get even more data and insights on your customer behavior, adding to marketing opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some brands are taking visual search into their own hands now, too. ASOS Style Match<\/a>, for example, lets its app users upload or take a photo of an outfit, and the store will find similar product recommendations. It\u2019s a great cross-sell and bundling opportunity.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ever notice how some Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) have a \u201cPeople also ask\u201d box with dropdown questions related to your query? It looks like this:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, they include images. You can use images to optimize for those highly coveted Google Snippets. Start by researching what type of images currently appear for your search query and add or replace them with a high-quality image that better captures the query.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Opt for photos with your product centered and move the image to the top of your page. Don\u2019t forget to also add appropriate image titles and alt text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For customers, visual search is a simple, interactive way of browsing products that closely match what they\u2019re looking for. For ecommerce brands, it\u2019s an untapped opportunity to have their product images appear in the searches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But that\u2019s just the basics. Visual search tools continue to get more advanced as technology improves. Social media platforms, especially image-driven ones like Pinterest and Snapchat, have also launched their own versions of visual search. The list of visual search platforms only continues to grow\u2014here are a few popular ones you might want to note:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Google Lens app<\/a>, for example, is a seriously improved version of a basic image search. You can find recipes or directions, add events to your calendar, and translate words from a photo. Google Lens also allows users to find where to buy products online. They snap or upload a shot of the coveted piece, and Google will tell them where to get it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over 12 billion monthly searches<\/a> encompass a wide range of information, from identifying plants to translating signs. In 2022, Google launched Multisearch<\/a>, which combines text and image search, making it easier to find variations of similar products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Microsoft\u2019s search engine hit 100 million active users in 2023<\/a>, so while not in the same league as Google, it\u2019s still notable for its visual search feature<\/a>. It works in a similar way\u2014users can upload or take photos or paste image URLs to find similar search results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Users can take photos of an object or select parts of pins to find other related pins with Pinterest Lens<\/a>. For example, by highlighting just the shoes of an outfit image, you can find pins related to the selected footwear. With more than 465 million monthly users<\/a> going on Pinterest to find products, it\u2019s definitely one to watch.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n This platform is all about inspiring its users. So, if your product images can be the source of a new home project or outfit idea, you can gain their attention before they go to a competitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pinterest also publishes yearly predictions<\/a> for which searches will trend. The predictions are based on their user searches, so it\u2019s a good resource for ecommerce brands planning in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unsurprisingly, the world\u2019s largest marketplace<\/a> has also capitalized on visual search. Using the Amazon app, users have different ways to shop. They can use the Shop the Look feature to upload their own photo or browse public images by other users to find products, take a photo of an object, or scan a barcode.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Launched back in 2017<\/a>, eBay\u2019s visual search feature lets mobile users snap a photo of a product, upload an image or screenshot, or scan a barcode to find similar listings. eBay had 135 million active users in 2022<\/a>, so any ecommerce brands selling there shouldn\u2019t sleep on optimizing images for the app\u2019s visual search.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similar to Google Lens, Scan by Snapchat<\/a> users can interact with almost anything using visual search. One of the features includes finding related products in partnership with Amazon so users can shop while using their favorite social media app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visual SEO isn\u2019t just a marketing buzzword we\u2019ll forget about when the next one comes along. It\u2019s important to incorporate it into your SEO strategy alongside text-based searches so you can start creating a better customer experience.. As Google, social networks, Amazon, and other online platforms continue to bolster their visual search experience, the tech isn\u2019t going anywhere soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A good search function is essential for 9 out of 10 U.S. consumers<\/a>. That means if your store website or product images aren’t updated with SEO in mind<\/a>, shoppers may soon abandon their carts. This is because it\u2019ll take them too long to find exactly what they\u2019re looking for. Or they may not find your product in search results at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With 43% of consumers aged 16 to 64<\/a> using the Internet regularly for researching products and brands, it\u2019s even more important for smaller or lesser-known ecommerce brands to make sure their visual SEO strategy is on point or, at the very least, gets regularly updated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, Australian furniture retailer King Living<\/a> saw a 15% increase in clicks and overall revenue<\/a> after\u00a0it updated\u00a0its site and replaced previously text-heavy content with product images. The brand found visuals more effectively communicating product information than just text descriptions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Besides helping users find products, SEO-optimized images improve website usability<\/a>, also making it more mobile-friendly and load faster. Smartphones account for 74% of online purchases<\/a>, so paying attention to the mobile experience is well worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The benefits of visual searches go beyond hitting marketing goals. Those who may face a language barrier or can\u2019t put what they\u2019re looking for into words can use visual search technology to help find good quality information and answers in their daily life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Setting up an effective visual SEO strategy takes time and effort, but the payoff for your ecommerce business can be huge. By optimizing your product images and site for visual search, you make it easier for interested customers to find you and explore your product range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But visual SEO is just one part of a solid marketing plan. Together with a strategy for text-based searches, faster website speed, and a great mobile experience, you\u2019ll be well on your way to more sales and customer engagement.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n
Use multiple images for each product<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Bright](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/how-to-optimize-for-visual-search-the-seo-your-ecommerce-site-is-missing\/maik-yellow-bee-pattern-socks.png\")
\n\n\n\nMake sure your images are high-quality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Google](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/how-to-optimize-for-visual-search-the-seo-your-ecommerce-site-is-missing\/children-bedroom-ornaments-google-search.png\")
\n\n\n\nPut images in your sitemap<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Add Google image badges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Google](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/how-to-optimize-for-visual-search-the-seo-your-ecommerce-site-is-missing\/baking-tray-google-search-results.png\")
\n\n\n\nLearn how to optimize your images for visual search<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Size and format your images appropriately<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Comparison](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/how-to-optimize-for-visual-search-the-seo-your-ecommerce-site-is-missing\/image-format-comparison-table.png\")
\n\n\n\nReduce your image file size<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Use keywords in file names and alt tags<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Go beyond images<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"MatchesFashion](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/how-to-optimize-for-visual-search-the-seo-your-ecommerce-site-is-missing\/ganni-hooded-padded-recycled-jacket.png\")
\n\n\n\nCreate your own visual search<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Style](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/how-to-optimize-for-visual-search-the-seo-your-ecommerce-site-is-missing\/style-match-green-cargo-pants-recommendations.png\")
\n\n\n\nRemember Google Snippets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Google](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/how-to-optimize-for-visual-search-the-seo-your-ecommerce-site-is-missing\/google-search-results-mens-sunglasses-shopping.png\")
\n\n\n\nVisual search platforms to know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Google Lens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Google](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/how-to-optimize-for-visual-search-the-seo-your-ecommerce-site-is-missing\/google-lens-green-faux-fur-coat.png\")
\n\n\n\nBing Visual Search<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pinterest Lens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Pinterest](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/how-to-optimize-for-visual-search-the-seo-your-ecommerce-site-is-missing\/pinterest-brown-croc-bags-accessories.png\")
\n\n\n\nAmazon Lens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Amazon](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/how-to-optimize-for-visual-search-the-seo-your-ecommerce-site-is-missing\/amazon-lens-similar-clothing-styles.png\")
\n\n\n\nFind It On eBay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Vintage](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/how-to-optimize-for-visual-search-the-seo-your-ecommerce-site-is-missing\/vintage-lamp-ebay-search-comparison.png\")
\n\n\n\nScan by Snapchat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Why visual SEO is important<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Modern](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/how-to-optimize-for-visual-search-the-seo-your-ecommerce-site-is-missing\/king-furniture-1977-sofa-sleep-collection.png\")
\n\n\n\nImplementing visual SEO into your ecommerce strategy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n