How to Optimize Product Images for Faster Loading Time 2022

It’s possible that you’re so thrilled about your recently launched e-commerce venture and Shopify store that you don’t mind waiting an extra minute for all of its components to load, including its content and features.

However, think with Google estimates that for every additional second it takes for your page to load, your store’s bounce rate increases by 36%. But it does not imply that you are the target of a hacker attack or that Google despises you.

It’s not magic; image optimization can speed up your page’s loading time by as much as 21% of what it was originally.

Therefore, today’s blog will first introduce what is image optimization, and then will show some useful tips to optimize your product images and thus fasten the speed of opening stores.

What is Image Optimization?

By using a plug-in or script, you can optimize an image’s file size to make it load more quickly and improve the shopping experience for your customers.

However, image optimization is more than just shrinking file sizes; it encompasses all that can be done to and with an image to increase its impact and usefulness on your page while preventing the said image from making it load more slowly. Product photography and image SEO fall under this.

This blog will go over a few techniques for optimizing website images on Shopify without sacrificing quality. Because image optimization does not always have to be done at the expense of the quality of the images.

How to Optimize Product Images

Take The Right Images

An attractive image can draw viewers’ attention immediately, and thus increase the conversation rate. But many dropshippers are trapped by how to select the right image for their winning product. Some source the photos from their suppliers, but if numerous dropshippers book products from the same suppliers, it leads to consubstantiality.

To change its situation, you can first use SimplyTrends to find the stores which sell similar products to you. It can discover similar stores across 2m Shopify stores. Then, you can visit them by the URL offered by SimplyTrends, and refer to their images, then retake your products’ photo.

Reduce The File Size of Your Images

As always, it is important to strike a balance between attractiveness and loading time. If your webpage has really bold images splattered across the board, you may want to consider if they are really necessary.

Although the majority of images for Shopify store owners have already been compressed, if you still need to speed up your page even more, think about optimizing your images. Alternatively, using a page speed booster is another option.

Compression, either lossy or lossless, can be used to shrink an image. As a result, it is advised that you make a duplicate of the image before you start compressing.

Lossy compression involves removing some of the image’s data to reduce the image’s kb size; however, this type of image cannot be restored to its original size without losing quality.

Pixlr, Canva, and Adobe Photoshop express are examples of popular apps that can perform lossless compression, which involves shrinking the size of the image without altering its composition.

Remembering that the ideal file size is 70 kb will help you not go overboard when reducing file size.

Change The File Format

The JPEG format, denoted by the extension.jpg in your file name, is undoubtedly the most common one. Other formats include GIF, PNG, and WebP.

Here are some differences among several types of file format:

1. JPEG format: This is the Internet standard for image formatting. It retains its quality at both ends of the scale. The JPEG format supports large file sizes and low file sizes. It can also be easily resized by most image editing apps.
2. PNG format: Although they have larger file sizes than the JPEG format, they are better for decorative images such as logos. They also have great quality and can be resaved multiple times without losing quality, unlike JPEG images. Consider using a few PNG images to improve the overall look of your online store.
3. GIF format: This picture format supports animation and decorative images, but they should never be used for large, detailed images. It is perfect for simplistic images with a small size.
4. WebP format: This is a relatively new format developed by Google. It is probably the most easily compressible file format for images.

Descriptive Naming

Descriptive naming is the game-changer when it comes to image SEO and making your image stand out when a potential client uses the Google search bar.

When you download a picture, your computer or camera typically gives it a name, such as Pictures/Instagram005420210512.jpg. This lengthy file name detracts from the page’s lack of optimization because it makes it impossible for your image to appear when your product is searched.

If you sell clothing on Shopify, naming each image file “Pink shift dress” or “satin wedding dress” is a much better choice than using a generic name.

Revise Your Alt Attributes

The string of words that appear in place of an image before it is loaded by the browser or when the browser cannot support the image if your page takes too long to load will probably keep your visitors looking at your alt text for quite some time.

Hovering your mouse over the image will allow you to see the alt text even when the image is displayed.

Alt text optimization should be considered if you want your images to appear in search results because they are excellent for SEO.

The secret to writing great alt text is simple: “less is more.” Instead of stuffing the alt text with keywords and buzzwords, use simpler language that describes your product. For example, compare these two alt texts.

“Price cut on comfortable leather shoes.”

And

“Size 42 LV brown leather shoes from 2008.”

It goes without saying that the second option makes a better alt text and that it also gives you a more credible and credible appearance.

Leverage On Product Photography

Imagine making a customer wait three extra seconds just to view an image, and when they do, it’s a dull image. Tragic, and if they decide to continue browsing your page at all. Now, do we really want that?

If you’re going to sacrifice a little bit of page loading time for an image, it had better be worthwhile.

Catchy phrases go best with these images. Call it clickbait, call it knowledge, but images are known to be the best way to grab a potential customer’s attention. Product photography isn’t just about colors and angles; it also covers the strategic positioning of images to make the most impact in a few seconds.

Learning how to take pictures from flattering angles is a simple way to use product photography to improve page speed. This helps your page because you’ll find that you need fewer pictures to show what really needs to be shown. A front shot, side shot, and finally a backshot of the item you’re trying to sell are not necessary with the right angling.

Test Your Images

Increasing page speed is obviously the main goal of image optimization, so it follows that you must carefully track the amount of time it takes for your page to fully load, down to the millisecond. You gain a new customer for every nanosecond that is saved.

A speed test can be performed on your store before and after images are optimized, and the results can be compared in the history section. By using the TestMyStoreSpeed app, you can now identify the speed killers slowing down your website and work on them.

The Number of Product Images Per Page

Each page has its own momentum, so you might be tempted to scrape together a lot of images just to make it load quickly. Before making such significant changes to your website, it is advisable to research the conversion rates and clickthrough rates.

Product Photography Style

If your audience has already come to associate you with a certain kind of product photography, you should either stick with it or find a way to improve it without alienating the relationships you’ve forged with your customers over time.

Image Impact

However, it is entirely up to you to decide what actions to take and which way you want your company to go. Even when optimizing images, keep an eye out for the images that may be in charge of your conversion rates; it is best to leave them alone even if they take up some space.

Conclusion

Here are 10 Tips about how to improve your image. Image optimization can shorten the loading time, and make your customers feel more comfortable. Let’s take those useful tips as soon as possible, thus attracting more traffic to your website.