Want to know how to improve your car photos for more VDPs and Leads? Not software (yet)

[Tony.Steen]

If you'd like to find out the gaps in your listing photos so you can drive more VDP views and leads then I'm happy to do an audit based on these car photo insights I've learned.

Some interesting nuggets of information I read about car photos:

• Cox says that 40+ pictures increases VDP by 64.8% (Cox)
• CarGurus found that 20+ high quality photos are optimal for lead conversion. Those photos should be taken at eye level, centered in the frame, and have clean backgrounds with minimal distractions. (Wayback machine link)
• For used cars the most important picture for a used car is the odometer. For new cars the most important picture is interior dash (Cox Automotive)
• Don't overlay branding on top of the photo (Cox)
• Inventory listings with 11 or more photos generate 205% more VDP views and 185% more leads than a listing with 10 or fewer images (AutoTrader.ca)

Also I found this article that says 9 photos are the ideal number - not good for what my business does - but this was met with suspicion, curiosity and disbelief by most DealerRefresh community members here. Also, unless I'm missing something, the data implies that having 0 car photos is better then having 20 or 30 car photos??? I love counterintuitive findings but this one is hard to square.

I'll create a listing photo report for you that includes:

• The average number of photos per listing
• How many of your cars have below 40/20/11 images
• Which cars are in bottom 20% by photo number count
• Which cars have 10 or fewer images
• Which cars have stock photos only
• Which cars don't have any or just 1 photo
• Which new cars are missing a cockpit/dashboard photo
• Which used cars are missing an odometer photo
• Which cars don't have clean/no background distractions, aren't shot at eye level, centered

I'm doing this for free so I can learn from you guys (also for full transparency I'm seeing if this valuable to you guys. If it is, I'm thinking about using it my marketing for lead capture so any feedback on this idea would be greatly appreciated)

If this sounds useful send me a DM or an email at [email protected]

Tony