So maybe you are just starting an Etsy shop, or you are working on improving your current Etsy shop listings and know your product images could use a little work. You’ve landed in the right spot! In this 7 part series from the Make Etsy Work For You blog, I’ll be diving into different tips, tricks and proven Etsy strategies that will help make your listings stand out from the crowd, look professional and sell your product.
Tip #1? Start the process by making a Brand Mood Board!
Why Should I Create A Brand Mood Board for Etsy?
Whether you are a brand new business or have been around for awhile (and I’ve worked with lots of both types of businesses!), you need to thoughtfully create and stick to a brand look and feel. Don’t just take pictures willy nilly as you go along. You want people to see an image of yours and immediately associate it with your brand. Brand look and feel includes a lot of things, but the colors and images you use are a BIG part of it.
In my opinion, images are maybe the most important key to your success on Etsy. Compelling images are how most Etsy customers decide what they want to click on as they skim pages full of search results. Your photos should be high quality, on brand, styled if possible and appealing to your target customer! And the way to make sure you appeal to your target customer is to dive deep into exactly who your target customer is, and what types of images they might be attracted to.
Why do I need to define my target customer?
If you are trying to sell to everyone on Etsy, you are selling to no one! The key to success on Etsy is narrowing in on your niche, figuring out your unique selling points of why your product is unique and provides value to them, and then successfully conveying that through your listing images, titles, tags and descriptions. Keep them in mind as you create your mood board.
Where should I find inspiration for my Etsy Photos Mood Board?
So many places! You can find inspiration for your brand photography on:
Pinterest - create a board! I like to keep my inspiration boards “secret” as I build them and narrow down on the right images.
Instagram and Google - search for brands and products in a similar niche and see what photos stand out to you.
Magazines and catalogs - cut and paste inspiration images to your mood board if that’s more your jam! Catalogs can be a great place to discover new product photography layout ideas.
Research brands you think your target customer might like and find the photos you are most attracted to. Don’t copy them exactly, but use them as inspiration to put your own twist on the idea for your brand look and feel.
What exactly should I include in my Etsy Photos Mood Board?
In your photography mood board, include the following photo inspiration examples. You can even group the categories in different areas of the mood board to reference easily.
Style/vibe examples - Images from brands who you like/have a vibe you are going for.
Composition/layout examples - Layouts you like, model poses you’d like to try, or a certain angle shot that might work for your business.
Group shots - How can you group products together to sell more and show the scope of your product line?
Color combinations/filters - Light and airy? Contrasting colors? Find ideas for what you think might work best for your brand.
OK I made my mood board. What do I do once it’s completed?
Utilize it to your advantage and look at it often!! I recommend printing it out if you can (I like printing them on 11” x 17” and tacking them up by my desk/bringing them with me to photoshoots). Or keep the file easily available to pull up from your desktop!
Use the mood board to keep you focused as you take the following next steps:
Figure out what background you’ll use
Make a list of what props you’ll need
Brainstorm which product combinations you’ll want to take group shots of
Make your “shot list” - list your products out in a Google doc Google Sheets or Excel, and plan which shots will be needed for each one. Plan ahead and make it easy on the day you are taking photos to know what you need. This is especially important if you invest in a photographer - a shot list and mood board will guarantee they are on the same page about your vision for the photos, keep them on track and ensure you have every photo you need afterwards.
Check out our next blog post Etsy Photos That Sell Series: Tip # 2 Planning Your Etsy Photoshoot for more tips on how to plan ahead for your photoshoot, coming next week!
And just remember, the more time you invest in planning your photos and making them the best you can, the better results you’ll see. It may seem like it is a lot of time and effort (especially when you have so many other to-do’s on your list!), but think of this as a top priority. You are putting so much effort into creating your product, listing it online, etc. - now make sure its presented to your target customers in the best light possible!
