Amazon’s Image Requirements Undergo Major Changes!

A while ago, Amazon released five new requirements for product listings, including restrictions on special characters, emojis, and certain phrases, such as guarantees related to refunds. If sellers don’t comply with these requirements, Amazon will use AI to optimize their listings.

Just as sellers were busy updating their listings to meet these five new requirements, Amazon has once again released new requirements related to product detail page images. Many Amazon sellers are exclaiming, “Every day is so busy!”

① Product detail page image request update

Amazon announced back in January that product detail pages for hard goods categories could display images from multiple sellers. In the coming months, Amazon will further expand this feature to include soft goods and consumer goods categories. This change aims to help increase sales by providing buyers with more information on product detail pages, allowing them to make more informed purchasing decisions.

Based on seller feedback, Amazon has also adjusted how these images are selected, giving priority to images from brand owners. Amazon will only use content from Amazon or registered brand sellers when the required images are missing from the product detail page or when there’s a need to upgrade low-quality content, such as sketches or low-resolution images.

A reminder has been issued that each product detail page must provide at least three required images:

1. A product image with a white background.
2. An image showing the product in a real-life environment.
3. An image displaying product information, such as dimensions or a nutrition facts label.

Seller Home reported that Amazon announced on January 25 that, starting January 31, product detail pages for hard goods categories might display images provided by multiple sales partners. This means your listing could show images of similar products from other sellers to help buyers make informed decisions. Hard goods primarily include categories like electronics, home goods, home improvement, furniture, automotive supplies, stationery, bedding, and outdoor sports and leisure items.

The recent rule expansion now applies to soft goods and consumer goods categories as well. Soft goods primarily include clothing, footwear, jewelry, personal care products, and everyday consumer items. Consumer goods categories include beauty and personal care, food and groceries, pet supplies, and baby products.

This means that product detail pages for these categories may now display images from multiple sellers, just as it has been for hard goods. The goal remains to provide buyers with more comprehensive information to aid in their purchasing decisions, potentially boosting sales across these additional categories.

From a positive perspective, this move by Amazon can be seen as a way to ensure image compliance, helping sellers enhance their listings’ visibility and appeal to buyers. By curating high-quality images that meet the platform’s standards, Amazon aims to improve the overall shopping experience, which could lead to higher conversion rates and greater buyer satisfaction.

However, on the implementation side, there are potential issues that sellers may face:

1. Image Relevance: There’s a concern about whether the images added by Amazon will accurately represent the seller’s specific product. Misaligned or irrelevant images could lead to confusion among buyers, resulting in negative reviews or returns.
2. Infringement Risks: Sellers might worry about potential intellectual property infringement if images from other sellers are used in their listings without proper authorization. This could lead to disputes or legal challenges, particularly if brand-specific or trademarked elements are involved.
3. Loss of Control: Sellers could feel that they are losing control over their listings, especially if Amazon prioritizes images from other sources. This could dilute the seller’s brand identity or result in a misrepresentation of their product offerings.
4. Quality Concerns: If Amazon’s AI-generated or selected images are of lower quality or do not meet the seller’s expectations, this could negatively impact the perceived value of the product.

While Amazon’s intention is to streamline the shopping experience and ensure consistency, these potential issues highlight the need for careful implementation and ongoing dialogue with sellers to address concerns and ensure that the changes benefit all parties involved.

② Conversion Rate Optimisation Series of Images

Indeed, in e-commerce, images play a crucial role in influencing click-through rates and conversion rates. It’s important for sellers to not only focus on the required three images but also to pay close attention to Amazon’s detailed compliance requirements for images:

1. Accurate and Professional Representation: Ensure the product is depicted as a real, professional-quality image, not a placeholder.
2. White Background: Use a pure white background (RGB color value: 255, 255, 255), with the product occupying 85% of the image.
3. No Text or Graphics: The image should not contain any text, logos, borders, color blocks, watermarks, or other graphics. For products with multiple components, all parts must be shown in relative size without isolating and enlarging any single component.
4. Full Product Display: The entire product should be visible within the frame without any part being cut off.
5. No Unnecessary Accessories: Do not display accessories or supports that are not included with the purchase and could confuse buyers.
6. Single Product Display: Only show the product once in the image (e.g., display only the front of the product, not both front and back simultaneously).
7. One Product per Image: Display only one product and any accessories included with the purchase. For multi-packs or bundles, refer to the “Product Classification” section for further guidance. Packaging should only be shown if it is an important feature (e.g., a portable case or gift basket).
8. No Body Parts: Do not show any part of a mannequin, regardless of its appearance. This includes transparent, solid-colored, or skin-toned frames or hanging on a hanger. Shoes should be displayed as a single shoe positioned at a 45-degree angle facing left (applies to all footwear).
9. Flat Display for Accessories: When displaying clothing accessories or multi-piece items, lay them flat without using mannequins.
10. Adult Apparel on Models: Adult-sized clothing should be worn by a standing model. The model must not be seated, leaning, or lying down. Various mobility aids and assistive technologies, such as wheelchairs and prosthetics, may be used to display the models.

Compliance with Amazon‘s image requirements is becoming increasingly critical as Amazon continues to refine and enforce its regulations. Sellers should prioritize adapting to these standards to avoid violations and improve their listings’ visibility and performance. Meeting these image guidelines not only helps prevent issues but also contributes to enhancing the overall quality and professionalism of the product listings, thereby attracting more buyers.