Image Optimisation Tips for Shopify SEO

At Lillian Purge, we specialise in Ecommerce SEO Services and have developed comprehensive guidance on Image optimisation tips for Shopify SEO.

Images play a huge role in ecommerce. They showcase your products, influence buying decisions, and shape how users interact with your store. However, large or unoptimised images can slow down your site and hurt your SEO performance. Google considers site speed and user experience as ranking factors, so image optimisation directly affects your visibility.

For Shopify stores, image optimisation means balancing visual quality with performance. When done correctly, it helps pages load faster, improves Core Web Vitals, and enhances accessibility for both users and search engines.

Understanding Shopify’s Image Setup

Shopify automatically compresses and serves images in formats like JPEG, PNG, and WebP depending on browser support. Each product, collection, and blog post image is stored on Shopify’s content delivery network (CDN), ensuring fast global delivery.

However, Shopify’s automatic compression doesn’t cover every aspect of optimisation. You still need to pay attention to file names, alt text, dimensions, and consistency across your site.

1. Choose the Right Image Format

The file format you use affects both image quality and size.

• JPEG: Best for product photos and lifestyle images with rich colours.

• PNG: Ideal for transparent backgrounds or logos.

• WebP: Provides superior compression without losing quality.

Shopify supports all these formats, but using WebP where possible can reduce file sizes by up to 30% without visible quality loss.

2. Resize Images Before Uploading

Shopify automatically scales images, but it’s still good practice to upload files close to the size they’ll appear on your website. Uploading overly large images only slows your store down.

For most Shopify themes, product images should be around 2048 x 2048 pixels. Banner images or full-width headers may need to be larger, but always balance dimensions with performance.

3. Compress Images Without Losing Quality

Compression removes unnecessary data from image files. Even slight reductions can significantly speed up your site.

You can compress images before uploading using tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh, or you can use a Shopify app such as Crush.pics, TinyIMG, or Image Optimizer. Always test your images after compression to make sure they still look sharp and clear.

4. Use Descriptive File Names

Search engines can’t see images, but they can read filenames. Instead of uploading “IMG_1234.jpg”, rename it with descriptive keywords like “white-leather-handbag.jpg”.

This small change improves image SEO by helping Google understand what your images represent. It also makes your site more organised and accessible.

5. Write SEO-Friendly Alt Text

Alt text (alternative text) describes an image’s content for search engines and visually impaired users. Shopify allows you to add alt text directly in the product image editor.

A good alt text example for a product might be “women’s black running trainers with mesh upper”. This clearly describes the image while including relevant keywords naturally. Avoid keyword stuffing, as Google prioritises clarity and accuracy.

6. Optimise Image Placement for User Experience

How images are used on your site affects both SEO and conversion rates. High-quality product images placed strategically above the fold keep users engaged.

Shopify themes usually optimise image display automatically, but you can further improve user experience by ensuring images are responsive and load correctly across all devices. Always preview on desktop and mobile to confirm proportions and alignment.

7. Implement Lazy Loading

Lazy loading delays the loading of images until they appear in the user’s viewport. This reduces initial page load times and improves site speed metrics.

Shopify’s modern themes already include lazy loading, but if you use an older theme, you can add it manually or install a lightweight optimisation app that includes this feature.

8. Create Image Sitemaps

Image sitemaps help Google index all your images properly, even those loaded via JavaScript or galleries. Shopify doesn’t generate a separate image sitemap by default, but you can use apps or third-party tools to create one.

A well-structured image sitemap ensures that every important product and collection image is crawled and indexed, giving you better visibility in Google Images search results.

9. Use Structured Data with Product Images

Adding structured data (schema) to your product pages can enhance how your images appear in search results. Shopify includes basic schema, but you can enhance it with SEO apps or manual JSON-LD code.

Structured data helps Google display rich results that include product images, prices, and availability, making your listings more appealing.

10. Test and Monitor Image Performance

After optimisation, test your site’s performance using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix. These tools highlight areas where images could be further optimised.

Keep an eye on metrics such as Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) within your Core Web Vitals. Both are affected by image loading and can influence your SEO rankings.

Regularly review your store’s images, especially when adding new products or changing themes. Over time, even small optimisations can add up to major performance gains.

Advanced Shopify Image SEO Tips

For those who want to take optimisation further, consider these additional tactics:

• Use CDN caching: Shopify already includes a CDN, but you can ensure images are cached properly for repeat visitors.

• Add captions and context: Text around an image helps Google understand its relevance.

• Avoid decorative images: Limit the use of heavy background graphics that don’t add SEO or conversion value.

• Test A/B variations: Experiment with different image styles or dimensions to find what converts best.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Uploading huge images directly from a camera or phone without compression.

2. Using vague alt text like “product image”.

3. Overusing PNGs when JPEG or WebP would load faster.

4. Forgetting to test how images display on mobile devices.

5. Ignoring Core Web Vitals performance scores.

How Image Optimisation Impacts Conversion

Fast-loading pages not only rank better but also improve sales. Shoppers expect quick and smooth browsing experiences. A one-second delay in page load time can reduce conversions by up to 7 percent.

Optimised images ensure customers can explore your products effortlessly, boosting engagement and trust. In ecommerce, a visually appealing yet fast website can be the difference between a sale and an abandoned cart.

Bringing It All Together

Image optimisation for Shopify SEO isn’t about sacrificing quality. It’s about creating a seamless experience for users and search engines alike. When your images load quickly, look sharp, and include proper metadata, you enhance your store’s overall performance and visibility.

By following these strategies, you’ll improve your search rankings, speed up your site, and provide a more enjoyable shopping experience that encourages customers to buy and return.

We have also written in depth articles on How to manage duplicate content issues on Shopify and Shopify URL structure explained: how to optimise slugs as well as our Shopify Hub to give you further guidance.