What is Image Search: How to Master it in 2024?

Consumer needs are driving search engine optimization (SEO) to an entirely new level.

Thanks to recent trends such as visual and voice search, the scope of SEO has expanded significantly. As these new search innovations continue to evolve, marketers are finding it difficult to keep up with the pace with their current PPC strategy.

Ignoring these new trends isn’t an option, as you’ll simply be left behind in the dust of leading marketers and forward-thinkers.

Visual and voice search are new trending topics that are soon to overcome the old, text-based searching. Knowledge and understanding of these popular trends are the only way to stay ahead of the game.

Thinking of ramping up your 2024 PPC strategy?

We’re here to show you the ropes.

What is Visual Search?

Before diving in, it’s important to understand what these trends are exactly, in order to understand how to utilize them effectively.

A visual search engine is designed to search for information throughout the internet based on an image or a visual display of the actual search results.

This information may include locations, web pages, other images or various types of documents. Thanks to AI and machine learning, the patterns of an image are analyzed, creating a visual result that is similar.

There are currently three visual search processes being used by major search companies:

1. Text-reliant traditional image search
2. Reverse image search based on structured data
3. Pixel-by-pixel image search for “snap and search” abilities

While there are pros to each of these different processes, there are many benefits to visual search in general as well.

Main Benefits of Visual Search for Your PPC Strategy

There are many benefits for marketers that come with utilizing visual search capabilities in your PPC strategy, however, there are also a number of benefits for customers and users as well.

• Implementing visual search makes searching easier — especially when trying to find something you don’t know the name of.
• It’s easy. All you need to do is capture an image. The pattern-recognition algorithm will do the rest.
• Customers can enhance their experience even further by searching visually through apps such as Pinterest Lens, Google Lens, Bing Search, and Amazon Recognitions.
• Visual search can help you find your way around cities. All you need to do is capture a picture of your surroundings and the algorithm can tell you where you are.
• You can shop directly through images.
• Visual search yield faster results than text or voice searches.

Who are the Leaders in Visual Search?

In the visual search race, there are a few commanders leading the way. These big brand platforms are:

• Pinterest
• Bing
• Google
• Amazon
• Snapchat

Besides these, other platforms such as eBay, Facebook and Instagram are gaining speed in their visual search implementation as well.

The truth is, people want results fast — a lot faster than before.

With cameras on our phones, and therefore everywhere we go, this is possible. Online shopping trends are increasing every day, creating an incredible market thanks to this innovation.

With Pinterest and Google Lens, users can use the AI-powered technology to detect and analyze objects with their smartphones. This analysis then offers actions based on what the user is seeing. In Google’s case, Google Assistant helps explain the choices.

Similarly, Amazon recently partnered with Snapchat to create a visual search application that allows users to quickly access Amazon product results through the Snapchat camera function.

9 Ways to Increase Brand Visibility in Visual Search

It’s clear that visual search is on the rise, and the ways that it can help your customers make purchases faster and easier are nearly endless. On top of all that, this technology can help increase your brand visibility as well.

Now that we have explained how important visual search is to your PPC strategy in general, let’s look at ten simple ways to increase your brand visibility through visual search.

1. Boost Organic Image Visibility

Metadata and Schema markup are particularly important for SEO in visual search.

Since the future of visual search will require very little text, data may be the only source of textual information search engines rely on.

Metadata boosts your ability to drive traffic, not only towards your website but also to various products on your site as well.

2. Advertise on Image Sharing Platforms

You should consider advertising on several image sharing platforms such as Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook.

Pinterest holds an enormous market impact and its abilities in well-developed visual search make for a smart bet.

If Pinterest fits with your audience, you should consider advertising your products beside similar items for the most amount of impact possible.

3. Submit Images to Sitemaps

Your images should be clutter-free and clear to allow visual applications to process them properly.

Optimize your image for the ideal file type and size and make sure to choose titles carefully before submitting to sitemaps.

4. Add Multiple Product Images

In order to increase the chances of your product image showing up in search results, we suggest adding multiple images for a single product.

This will put your name in the hat more than once.

5. Focus on General Brand Imaging

Make sure that the logos you have on signage, products and any other advertising media is not only clear but consistent. If you own a storefront, make sure your signage is large enough to see on Google Street View.

6. Take Advantage of Image-Centric Social Media

Instagram, Pinterest, Google, and Snapchat are leaders in integrating visual search, so take advantage of these platforms by sharing photos in a strategic manner. This will help them become more identifiable via search engines.

7. Image Quality Should Never Be Compromised

Make it easy for items in images to be identified. To do this, the image quality needs to be intact.

This will help make it easier for users to click on items within photos that they want to read up more about.

8. Product Information Should Be Readily Available

You should always have information about the availability and price of the product clear and available for users. This will boost your customer experience overall.

9. Add Metadata and Additional Text

As a marketer, never skip out on metadata or alternative text.

This is what describes the image and therefore is valuable to users and their experience.

Prepare Yourself and Your PPC Strategy for the Revolution

Visual search tech is a huge opportunity for marketers focusing on global shoppers.

While devising your PPC strategy, you should consider your visual impact. If you don’t adopt these techniques and tricks to align with this modern marketing revolution, you’ll be left behind. Even though visual search is still in the early phase of its development, marketers are preparing to capitalize on visual search growth by positioning themselves now.

Once it sets off, it will be these forward-thinking marketers who end up leading the competition.