The reasons for putting an image with a product listing are intuitive, but reasoning as to whether or not to make that image static or animated is less clear. You want your image to be as eye-catching as possible, especially when its aim is to get a click and encourage a purchase. So, you’d think that some animation or the implementation of a GIF would help to serve this purpose.
However, moving images, GIFs, and videos can be seen as gimmicky or even lacking a bit of refinement – especially when compared to a high-quality image. Product images online have long been static, so committing to an animated image can give a distinct persona to the product of being either very contemporary or just desperate to grab attention.
Seeing the Rise of Moving Product Listings in Action
Source: Unsplash
One of the big marauders into the space of having moving pictures for product listings in recent times has been eBay. Battling to keep up with a sudden onslaught of competitors, eBay’s been trying all sorts to get people selling on its platform again, and the ability to make a listing video is one such approach.
They hail it as being an easy way to increase buyer engagement, with you having the ability to upload very short videos to quickly showcase products. When listed, the product will show the moving images while likely alongside static ones, immediately giving it more visual appeal.
A similar approach can be seen in the different ways that online casino slots compete in the ever-growing game libraries. Games like Eye of Horus: Legacy of Gold, Cash Grotto, and White Witch, for instance, keep things simple by being mostly static, whereas titles like Epic Fish: Marlin Madness, The Grim Reaper, and 15 Stars Ablaze introduce pulsing logos and busy backgrounds which help them stand out from the crowd.
Some sites have gone for a kind of in-between. In these instances, there are some static images added to the listing, and that listing reacts when the cursor hovers over it. At Honeypunch, the boxing glove listings flick from the top side to the side of the product when the product listing is hovered over. So there’s much room to experiment and be creative with how the audience interacts with the media on a given site. The question is, is it worth it?
Is Moving Better than Static?
Source: Pixabay
Whether it’s short videos, GIFs, or animated images, it’s tough to argue with their ability to catch your attention, especially when alongside static images. Static images are passive, but particularly high-quality images still have a lot of appeal. There’s also the fact that they’re much less demanding on a website or a poor internet connection.
An argument can be made that on one’s own website, the customer is already there and likely looking to buy a product. As such, you can do the selling with static images more successfully and will stop others from clicking away should the page struggle to load heavy animations or videos.
However, moving images can still be useful in other areas if not on the main site. In social media posts, ads, and emails, a proven way to catch attention and spur clicks is through formats like GIFs. Stats suggest that GIFs can increase click-through rates by over 40 percent and lead to a 100 percent boost in conversion rates.
Animations, moving images, and short videos have become powerful tools in the world of online product sales, but applying them to a business or brand takes a degree of nuance to get right.
