Just realized A/B testing product images beats A/B testing descriptions every time

I spent 3 months tweaking my Shopify product descriptions for a client in Austin. Changed headlines, bullet points, even the tone of voice. Saw maybe a 5 percent bump in conversions. Then I swapped their main product photo from a white background shot to one with someone using the item in a real setting. Conversions jumped 22 percent in a week. I couldn't believe it. Now I always test images first before touching any copy. Do you guys put more effort into visuals or text when optimizing a store?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_robin18d ago

That is a very solid observation and I appreciate you sharing it. Your experience matches my own from running my own business. People are so visual first, especially when shopping online. They see the image and make a split second decision about whether they trust the product or not. Text is important for the final push, but the picture is what gets them in the door. A 22 percent jump is huge and it really proves the point. I am glad you found something that works so well for your client.

the_ben18d ago

Hold on a second there, Robin. That 22 percent jump you mentioned is actually a bit higher than what I've seen in my own testing. The standard lift I usually track from better product photography is closer to 15 to 18 percent for most online stores. 22 percent is a standout result, but it's not the norm for everyone. It really depends on the starting point of the images and the type of product being sold. Something like a handmade crafts store might see a bigger jump than a generic electronics seller, so your client's case is a great example but not a universal rule.

gray31418d ago

@the_robin that 22% is still the ceiling most stores should aim for though.