Day 3 - Grab the Attention of Shoppers with Listing Thumbnails

Introduction

Once your listings include the keywords that show up in shoppers’ search results, the next step is to get these shoppers to click on your listings. That’s where clear, professional-looking photos play a noteworthy part. After all, they are shoppers’ first impression of your product! Clear, high-resolution photos entice shoppers to click. Likewise, for shoppers who need technology like screen readers when browsing, adding alt text to your photos can get you ahead of your competition and potentially increase your visibility. In addition, adding alt text to your listings’ images can increase your shop’s visibility to shoppers who use screen readers to browse Etsy.

Listing Thumbnails

Thumbnails are the first photo in your Etsy listings, featured on a search result page and within your shop. This is the photo that matters the most, so take the time to make sure that it fits within Etsy’s recommendations for eye-catching yet informative pictures. Position your product so that it appears centered, no matter how Etsy crops the photo. To learn the most common aspect ratios and best practices, check out eRank’s Etsy Listing Photo Guidelines PDF. 

Lighting also matters for thumbnails. Bright, well-lit shots are more appealing, while those that are dark or shadowy may give the illusion that your product is dull or less colorful than in reality. Take advantage of the spring and summer sunshine and have a product photo shoot! Natural sunlight offers a more realistic view than artificial light boxes, and it is also perfect for using when shooting listing videos.

Are you a digital or POD seller? While using mockups from your provider is allowed, try creating your own mockups to stand out against the crowds of other sellers using the same stock photos. Consider ordering a sample of your product and take photos of you wearing or using the item. If you offer personalized items, your main thumbnail must show a finished, customized item similar to what buyers will receive. It’s against Etsy’s policies to use a blank mockup or “Your Text Here” placeholder text for the main photo. (Listing Image Requirements)

Need more guidance for your product photos? Check out our article Five Photography Tips for Better Etsy Photos in 2026 for great tips and tricks.

Alt Text

Also known as “text alternative”, this is a written description of photos within an Etsy listing. Apps and devices such as screen readers use this information to “read” the photo and say it out loud. This technology allows shoppers with visual impairments or other sensory needs to shop without being able to fully see the product photos.

With that in mind, when writing the alt text for your photos, avoid keyword stuffing in an attempt to match with more queries or rank higher. Although “adding a text alternative to your listing images also means that search engines outside of Etsy can read your listing images and might also positively impact your listings’ SEO”, that’s not its primary purpose. (Quote from How to Add a Text Alternative to Your Listing Images) The text here is for shoppers who want to be able to visualize the photo and understand what the product looks like. Be clear and as descriptive as possible, while also including a few of your key terms in a manner that makes sense.

Let’s use this photo as an example:

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Poor Alt Text: White Coffee Mug, Kitchen Cup for Tea, Hot Beverage Mug for Home Office

‍Better Alt Text: A white coffee or tea mug with a green “E” logo on the front is held by a person wearing a forest green crochet sweater. The person is holding the handle of the 12 ounce mug in their right hand and resting the mug in their left palm, with the logo facing outward.

If you don’t have alt text for your photos, Etsy may pre-fill it in for you by having an AI look at your thumbnail photo. It is important to always double-check the suggested text to ensure that it accurately describes the product and setting. You can also edit it to sound more like your brand voice or style.

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When viewing the eRank Listing Audit for any active or draft listing in your shop, you can quickly learn if that listing has Alt text for the main image. 

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Conclusion

Keywords are just one part of the shopper-experience puzzle. Show your items with bright, clear photos to help them stand out on an Etsy search result page, enticing shoppers to click on your listings rather than ones from your competitors. Add in alt text to improve your visibility not only within Etsy, but Google search as well. You could have the loveliest product in the world, but without the photos to display that, it can get lost in a sea of similar products.

Todays’ Tasks:

• Review the thumbnails in your shop to ensure that Etsy isn’t cropping portions out
• Check at least 3 listings for alt text, adding it when it’s missing
• Remove any “Your Text Here” placeholder main images and swap them out for examples of finished products

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