31 Funny Twitter Bios & How to Write Your Own

Perhaps one of the most challenging parts of making an impact on social media is coming up with something profound to say, especially in a 280 character Tweet. Crafting one often leaves us staring blankly at that little blinking cursor, hoping for a way to rephrase the Tweet to let up some characters for an image, a link, or that ever-essential hashtag.

Unsurprisingly, a Twitter bio is equally challenging. You mean to tell me that I only have 160 characters to explain to the Twittersphere who I am and what I do?

It might not seem like a big deal, but keep this in mind: Your bio is one of the main things people use to decide whether or not to follow you on Twitter — so what you write needs to count. Here are a few quick steps to help:

As we've mentioned, leaning on humor can be a quick way to show off your personality and make you seem relatable to audiences. To give you some inspiration, we’re taking a moment to highlight 31 high-quality, and sometimes amusing, Twitter bios that get the job done.

31 of the Funniest Twitter Bios We Could Find

1. @Twitter

Why this works:

You can't have a list of great Twitter bios without including Twitter's Twitter bio. It reads, "what's happening?!" which is a clever play on the words displayed in the draft box before you type a Tweet. It's humorous because Twitter is a busy and active platform, so it's not uncommon to long on to the app, see a storm of tweets about something you don't yet understand, and internally say, "What's happening?!?"

2. @TheMikeTrainor

Why this works:

Comedian and writer Mike Trainor makes my inner seven-year-old want to ask him to pull my finger. Also, imagining Mr. Trainor saying, “He who smelt it,” while looking as dapper as he does in his profile picture is a little slice of added amusement. Plus, we can't help but love this bio's self-deprecation, in its allusion to the fact that one of his shows is "still airing somehow."

3. @topicals

Why this works:

Skincare can sometimes be intimidating as there are a wide variety of products to choose from.

Topicals' main goal is to remove that potential anxiety by creating products that are fun and exciting to use, and their Twitter bio tells us exactly that: "Skincare for funner flare-ups."

4. @UberFacts

Why this works:

UberFacts fills our brains with seemingly unnecessary information all day, every day. Though with the rise of popularity in bar-hosted trivia nights and games like Trivia Crack, I wouldn’t say we’ll never need to know things like this:

Berserk llama syndrome is a real condition where a llama believes its human owner is also a llama, causing the animal to become aggressive.

— UberFacts (@UberFacts) August 21, 2017

5. @FranksRedHot

Why this works:

If you’re as big a fan of Frank’s RedHot as we are, then you know how easy it to actually but that — ahem — [stuff] on everything. Of course, as marketers, we agree that the brand might as well put it on Twitter, too.

6. @mikeindustries

Why this works:

Mike Davidson, former VP of Design at Twitter, is a connoisseur of sorts — and while he has an impressive background, we do enjoy his present credential of, "Currently chillin'."

We also can’t help but wonder: Does the Twitter bio 160 character limit have to do with the aesthetics of a Twitter page’s design? Is Mike Davidson to blame?

7. @LabMuffin

Why this works:

Dr. Michelle Wong’s mission is to educate the public on the chemistry behind beauty products to help consumers make informed decisions. When you read her Twitter bio, you get a straightforward understanding of what you can expect to see in her Tweets.

She also includes links to other social profiles, helping her build legitimacy and drive traffic to other platforms to build her audience.

8. @SocialDriver

Why this works:

Social Driver is an agency that helps businesses with their marketing and communication needs, from websites to brand messaging to content creation. Their Twitter bio reads, “Experience digital with us,” and it works because it tells audiences what they can expect from doing business with them — a partnership that brings results.

The bio also includes a unique business hashtag, #BeADriver, letting users know that they can join in the conversation in their own Tweets.

9. @Arbys

Why this works:

Arby's puns its slogan, "We have the meat.", by replacing meat with tweets. This is a great way of reminding people of your slogan while making a funny joke about the platform you're on.

10. @BlkGrlSunscreen

Why this works:

Black Girl Sunscreen targets an audience often left out of sun safety discussions. Its Twitter bio is short and sweet and gets straight to the point: "Revolutionary SPF for all people of color."

11. @popchips

Why this works:

We wish eating popchips was in our job descriptions — since, when they’re around, we certainly eat them like it's part of our collective responsibilities.

12. @sweetestsara

Why this works:

Sara Rubin is a former producer at BuzzFeed. You can thank her in part for many of the fantastic BuzzFeed videos you see circulating around social media and love are obsessed with. If you’ve seen any of the videos in which she’s, you know she’s an overall lovable and whimsical character — not to mention, hilariously awkward and anxious, like a good handful of us.

Her Twitter bio is just as imaginative and adds a touch of fantasy that I think provides a welcomed breather from some of the more serious Twitter bios out there.

13. @YouTube

Why this works:

YouTube’s Twitter bio is an excellent example of a humorous statement that gets the job done straight away: “Like and subscribe.” If you watch videos on YouTube, you’ve likely heard content creators say those words because it helps them generate engagement on their channel.

You can’t like and subscribe to accounts on Twitter, but those familiar with YouTube will know that the bio is asking you to follow and like their Tweets.

14. @JamieAmacher

Why this works:

Some people aim to save neglected pets. Jamie Amacher aims to save neglected houseplants. Buffalo, NY resident (and coworker of mine at Mainstreethost), Amacher knows the importance of keeping plants alive indoors — especially since, here in the Northeast U.S., we don’t get to see much plant life outside during winter.

I must say, it’s a noble act; sacrificing a Twitter bio front-loaded with accomplishments. for the sake of our forgetful nature and thirsty houseplants.

15. @Canva

Why this works:

Graphic design takes skill, but it’s a huge part of marketing. Canva presents itself as a solution to this challenge as an easy-to-use design tool for creating infographics, email templates, flyers — really any marketing material you may need. Its Twitter bio expertly conveys this as a way to attract its audience: “Amazingly simple design.”

16. @Pepsi

Why this works:

It's pretty funny to imagine a social media manager getting distracted from their job duties because the product they're supposed to be marketing is just so delicious.

17 & 18. @arnettwill & @batemanjason

Why this works:

First off, it’s clear to me that BFF Twitter bios are the BFF necklace of 2017. Actors Will Arnett and Jason Bateman wear their BFF-dom proud for all of the Twitterland to see — but it's not the first time they’ve taken their affinity for one another to the public eye. In 2013, they were seen strolling down the street on a sunny afternoon in 2013 while having some fun with the nearby paparazzi:

19. @JohnCleese

Why this works:

John Cleese is an English writer, actor and tall person (according to his website). As he is also a comedian, we’re allowed to find it incredibly humorous that he mentions in his Twitter bio that he’s still alive, contrary to rumor. Plus, he's doing "the silly walk" in his app, and we invite you to see for yourself just how silly it is. (Monty Python fans, rejoice.)

20. @TheOnion

Why this works:

The Onion is probably the most well-known and popular satirical news site. They publish gag headlines and goofy articles for the sake of humor. In this bio, they sarcastically claim that they are the opposite of a joke site by calling themselves the, "America's Finest News Source."

21. @Lesdoggg

Why this works:

What do we love about comedian Leslie Jones' Twitter bio? It's simple and to the point. Plus, we can't help but snicker at the humor in its simplicity — she lets us know about her line of work, without any jokes. That's okay; luckily, her on-screen work and actual tweets provide plenty of hilarious fodder.

22. @APStyleBook

Why this works:

If you write a lot, you’re probably familiar with the AP Style Book. As a refresher, it’s an English guide to writing and grammar that was created by journalists working for the Associated Press, but it’s used in many different industries. Its Twitter bio reads “A full suite of products to help you stay in style, whether on your desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet.”

It’s clever and it works because the stylebook is typically hard-copy but Twitter brings those tips to the digital landscape, accessible on desktop, laptop, smartphone, or tablet.”

23. @shondarhimes

Why this works:

For many of us, Shonda Rhimes is a legend — and our Thursday nights would be so much less interesting without her. She's the writer behind such hit shows as "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal," and yes: People love to tweet their plotline opinions to her. She stops that madness with a concise, funny quip in her bio: "It's not real, okay?" Yes, Ms. Rhimes.

24. @Charmin

Why this works:

Charmin, as we know, sells toilet paper. We’re all adults here, and we all know what it's used for. Charmin’s Twitter bio is entertaining because, considering its industry, the brand gets the awkwardness out of the way immediately, letting us all know that, hey, quality toilet paper is a good thing ... and a good bathroom trip — or, "the go," as it's called here — should be enjoyed.

Plus, who doesn't enjoy a good, TP-related riddle?

#NationalTellAJokeDay
Q: Why can't you hear a pterodactyl go to the bathroom?

A: Because the "P" is silent!

— Charmin (@Charmin) August 16, 2017

25. @ComedyCentral

Why this works:

Because we see what you did there, Comedy Central. Also, this:

A great way to deal with your problems is to melt some cheese on them.

— Comedy Central (@ComedyCentral) August 21, 2017

For some of us, cheese is always the answer, no matter what the problem.

26. @YourAwayMessage

Why this works:

Are we the only ones who remember the days of AOL Instant Messenger, a.k.a., AIM? Think back, if you can, to a time before Slack, Twitter, and even Facebook -- and maybe, just maybe, it'll all come back to you.

If looking at this bio (and its accompanying profile image) gives you an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia, then you already know why it’s amusing. Remember AIM profiles? And sub-profiles? And away messages?

Also, the location being “the den” is on point. If this doesn’t hit home for you, view this BuzzFeed article, or move on to the next!

27. @TheEllenShow

Why this works:

Ellen DeGeneres entertains us on social media, television, real life, etc. She’s just plain amusing. So it should come as no surprise that her actual bio on Twitter is pretty darn amusing. According to her bio, she has a second job as an ice road trucker — hmm — and her tweets are both real, and spectacular. Well, she’s not lying about her tweets. After all, see below. So, what does that tell us about her second job? We buy it.

I just invested in an eclipse sunglass company. Does anyone know when the next one is?

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 21, 2017

28. @Alexa99

Why this works:

This is the official account of the Amazon Alexa voice assistant. The bio is funny because it reads as if a robot wrote it. For those who have an Alexa, they might also know that Alexa is bad at puns and tells bad jokes when asked. So, her interests, along with the sci-fi Star Trek, make sense for her.

Because she is a robot, the most hilarious thing in this bio is how it ends with "Tweets and opinions are my own."

29. @tomhanks

Why this works:

Fame didn’t get to Tom Hanks’ head. He’s a normal person, just like you and I, having issues with fluctuating weight. Sometimes, he gains people's approval -- and other times, not so much. To that, we say, "Tweet on, Tom."

30. @aparnapkin

Why this works:

Comedian Aparna Nancherla’s Twitter handle (@aparnapkin) is seemingly a play on her name, which is silly enough on its own. Based on her bio I’d be willing to guess that her Twitter feed is equally as amusing.

31. @notzuckerberg

Why this works:

In case you haven’t already guessed, this is NOT Mark Zuckerberg. But that doesn’t stop @notzuckerberg (a.k.a., Twitter user @afterthatsummer) from tweeting as if (s)he were the “Zuck.”

The fake Mark Zuckerberg is pretty funny, as proven by his Twitter bio and tweets like this:

Facebook beat Wall Street's target again. I am a wizard making mad coin from the most abundant thing on earth—your desire to procrastinate.

— Not Mark Zuckerberg (@notzuckerberg) January 29, 2015

 

Find Your Twitter Humor

It's true — exercising humor while also tweeting as a responsible business is often a fine line to walk. But as these examples show, it's possible to be both self-deprecating and funny on social media, as long as it aligns with your brand.

As the examples show, it's possible to craft a relevant bio on Twitter that can be humorous, and still let users know what to expect from your profile.

31 Funny Twitter Bios & How to Write Your Own was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

The Definition of a Buyer Persona [in Under 100 Words]

Recently, Lululemon announced its program "Like New", an initiative aimed at collecting gently-worn Lululemon gear and reviving the clothing to re-sell on Lululemon's online resale shop:

At first glance, the move might seem a bit random coming from the athletic apparel brand — but it makes a lot more sense when you consider buyer personas. 

More than likely, Lululemon has identified its buyer persona as someone who lives an active lifestyle and enjoys getting outside. Lululemon's buyer persona doesn't just have one interest or value; she has many. And I'm willing to bet the brand has identified that their buyer persona cares about nature, and the importance of sustainability. 

This is why buyer personas matter: They help you appeal more authentically and personally to your consumers, expand your reach, and create lifelong brand advocates. 

Here, let's dive into what a buyer persona is. 

What is a buyer persona? 

A buyer persona is a semi-fictional representation of your ideal customer based on market research and real data about your existing customers.

When creating your buyer persona(s), consider including customer demographics, behavior patterns, motivations, and goals. The more detailed you are, the better.

Try Our Make My Persona Tool to Create Your Own

Buyer personas provide tremendous structure and insight for your company. 

A detailed buyer persona will help you determine where to focus your time, guide product development, and allow for alignment across the organization. As a result, you will be able to attract the most valuable visitors, leads, and customers to your business.

Ready to put this definition into practice? Learn how to create a detailed buyer persona for your business.

The Definition of a Buyer Persona [in Under 100 Words] was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

50 Free Online Marketing Classes to Take This Year

Are you a marketer looking to sharpen your expertise and increase your earning potential?

Great! You’re in the right place.

It’s no secret that individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher are more likely to find employment and earn higher incomes than those who do not. But did you know that earning a certification can follow this same trend?

Now, I’m not saying that a certification and a master’s degree hold the same weight in the eyes of a hiring manager or a client who’s considering working with you on a marketing project. What I am saying is that having specialized education in your field won’t hurt and it’ll typically help you.

I know what you’re thinking, “I can learn on the job — experience is more valuable than a certificate.” And you’re not wrong — 15 years of experience compared to five years of experience and a certification isn’t exactly a one-to-one comparison. For entry-level generalist roles, promotions, and freelance work, though, certificates can be the fastest and most affordable way to get ahead.

Given the frequency at which new digital marketing technologies and software are developed, it can be overwhelming to continue learning through blog posts and ebooks alone. That's where self-paced online courses come in — but which do you choose?

Don't fret, I’ve done the hard work for you. Below are the best free online courses you can take to strengthen your digital marketing skills. I’ve taken many of them myself and can assure you they’ll be worth your while. Each of these offerings varies in time commitment, but many are self-paced so you can learn on your time. The topics these courses cover include:

• Content Marketing
• Social Media Marketing
• SEO Marketing
• Email Marketing
• Web Development and Site Design
• Online Advertising Courses
• Other Digital Marketing Courses

Want to learn more about brands and organizations that offer the courses on the list below? Scroll to the end of this post, or click here, to find affordable online marketing courses.

Free Online Marketing Courses

Free Content Marketing Courses

1. HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification - HubSpot Academy

2. HubSpot Content Marketing Certification - HubSpot Academy

3. Internet Marketing for Smart People - Copyblogger

4. Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content - Coursera

5. The Strategy of Content Marketing - Coursera

6. Copywriting Blunders - Udemy

7. Content Marketing for B2B Enterprises - Udemy

8. Semrush Content Marketing Toolkit Course - Semrush

9. Copywriting Quick Start: Top FREE Writing Tools & Hacks - Udemy

 

Free Social Media Marketing Courses

10. Free Social Media Certification - HubSpot Academy

11. Developing an End-to-End Instagram Marketing Strategy For Your Business - HubSpot Academy

12. Diploma in Social Media Marketing - Alison

13. Facebook Blueprint - Facebook

14. Social Media Analytics - Quintly

15. Social Media Quickstarter - Constant Contact

16. Semrush Social Media Toolkit Course - Semrush

17. Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate - Facebook

 

Free SEO Marketing Courses

18. SEO Training Course - HubSpot Academy

19. Google Digital Marketing Course - Google

20. SEO Training Course by Moz - Udemy

21. SEO - QuickSprout

22. SEO Specialization Course - Coursera

23. Semrush SEO Toolkit Course - Semrush

24. Online SEO Training - Yoast

 

Free Email Marketing Courses

25. HubSpot Email Marketing Certification - HubSpot Academy

26. Email Marketing Course - Sendinblue Academy

27. Email Marketing Made Easy for Beginners - Udemy

28. Email Marketing for Beginners - Skillshare

 

Free Web Development and Site Design Courses

29. Make a Website - CodeAcademy

30. Learn Javascript - CodeAcademy

31. Learn Ruby - CodeAcademy

32. Learn Python 3 - CodeAcademy

33. Learn HTML & CSS - CodeAcademy

34. Learn to Code Awesome Websites - General Assembly 

 

Free Online Advertising & PPC Courses

35. What Digital Advertising Is and How to Do It - HubSpot Academy

36. How to Build a Paid Media Strategy - HubSpot Academy

37. PPC University - Wordstream

38. Advertising Your Business Online - Alison

39. Advanced Competitive Research Practices with Semrush

40. Copywriting 101: Crafting Your First Ad Campaign - Skillshare

41. Semrush Advertising Toolkit Course - Semrush

 

Other Free Digital Marketing Courses

42. Graphic Design Basics - Canva

43. Graphic Design Specialization - Coursera

44. Photoshop 2020: One-on-One Fundamentals - LinkedIn Learning

45. InDesign 2020: Essential Training - LinkedIn Learning

46. Video Marketing Course- HubSpot Academy

47. Event Marketing Course and Certification - Eventbrite

48. Event Sponsorship Course and Certification - Eventbrite

49. Affiliate Marketing for Beginners - Udemy

50. YouTube Ads Certification - YouTube

Benefits of a Digital Marketing Certificate

The most well-known benefit of earning a marketing certificate is the potential for better pay and career advancement, but there are plenty more rewards to reap by honing your skills. Here are a few of the top advantages of earning a digital marketing certificate.

Specializing in a Marketing Niche

The “jack of all trades, master of none” mantra is the marketer’s enemy. Any experienced marketing professional will advise someone looking to enter or grow into the field to narrow their focus. There are simply too many types of marketing to do all of them well. Certifications come in handy because they’re narrow enough in scope to give you a high-level overview of how the skill fits into a larger marketing strategy but tactical enough to show you exactly how to execute the skill in your day-to-day work.

Communicating Advanced Marketing Concepts

Whether you’re interviewing for a marketing role or pitching a client, one thing’s for sure — you’ll need to sound like a skilled marketer. Sure, you can fake it ‘till you make it, but I don’t advise this route. Shibboleths will only get you so far before someone notices a gap in your experience. Certification courses are comprehensive education tools that will teach you essential marketing lingo and exactly what it all means. Best of all, you’ll be able to communicate advanced concepts confidently without over or under-explaining which can undermine your credibility.

Building Your Resume

When it comes down to it, your resume will almost always precede your presence. Before an interview or a client meeting, people will look to your resume and portfolio first to verify your skills. Adding the certifications you’ve received after completing marketing courses is a smart way to get picked up by resume scanners and it’ll catch the attention of human eyes, too. Even if you have several years of experience, a certificate can still help get your foot in the door so you can speak in detail about your experience during an interview.

Where to Find Free and Affordable Courses

The free courses we mentioned above are amazing resources for budget-conscious marketers. They’ll teach you the basics of the subject and give you some tactical knowledge you can apply right away. If you want to become more competitive in the job market or if you have a bit more time and resources to dedicate to furthering your education, check out the following courses. They’re not all free, but they’re affordable and will provide you with up-to-date course material.

HubSpot Academy

HubSpot Academy offers certification and training courses to teach people how inbound marketing and HubSpot software work. Classes are often taught by marketers at HubSpot and are made up of video lessons, quizzes, and tests. Most HubSpot Academy classes are available free of charge, and if you pass the certifications, such as the two below, you get a nifty certificate and badge to share on your social media profiles.

Copyblogger

Copyblogger is a content marketing company that creates content about content (so meta). Its blog provides a ton of great resources about digital marketing, and this class, "Internet Marketing for Smart People," is made up of ebooks and emailed lessons and other course materials. Copyblogger espouses four pillars of content marketing success, which it delves into over the course of this class.

Coursera

Coursera offers MOOCs (massive online open courses) created and taught online by universities such as Northwestern University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of California system. These courses start at various times throughout the year, so browse the catalog to see when one lines up with your schedule.

Udemy

Udemy is another online learning platform that focuses specifically on courses related to skill building for working professionals. One thing to note about Udemy: The classes we've highlighted are free, but the site features a myriad of other paid options for as little as $10, in some cases. If you have a good experience with a free course, try a paid one to get even more value from the content on this site.

Wordstream

Wordstream is a search engine and social media marketing software company that helps marketers drive the greatest ROI from their paid search and social media campaigns. These free guides and ebooks distill learnings and best practices for users with varying levels of expertise running pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns. Here are some of its topics and offerings:

Social Lock

Social Lock is a social media consulting, management, and strategy agency that also provides educational content and courses. The Standout Social Content Course is a comprehensive guide for small business owners who want to grow sales through social media. Although this course isn’t free, it’s available at an affordable rate and can even be paid in installments if you’re on a tight budget. If you need free resources that can teach you how to generate revenue that can pay for a course like this, Social Lock offers a Hustle with Hashtags eBook and Social Media Post Ideas.

edX

edX is another MOOC provider that features courses offered by top-tier universities, including Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Boston University. Like Coursera, classes are taught online and start at specific times throughout the year. Here are just a few of the many courses you can find on edX:

The 4-day Creative Brief

Before a marketing campaign is launched, you’ll need to get your design team onboard, and one of the best ways to do this is by developing a creative brief. The four-day creative brief is an online, self-paced course designed to hone your writing skills and help you convey your unique ideas. Advertising and branding expert Yadira Santana-Dowling condenses this process into just seven lessons so that by the end of it, your creative team has all the information they need to bring the campaign to life.

Alison

Alison offers free online classes in various professional skills users can take at their own pace. This content repository includes courses that lead to certificates and diplomas — you choose which is best for your goals. For an even more rigorous curriculum, you can choose a learning path that combines several lessons and courses into one learning track that gives you a well-rounded learning experience.

Facebook Blueprint

At this point, you probably already know what Facebook is and what it does. What you might not know is that the company offers several training and certification programs. Facebook Blueprint offers self-paced and live e-learning courses for marketers seeking to grow their organizations using Facebook. Blueprint offers classes in different languages on how to use Facebook and Instagram.

quintly Academy

quintly is a social media analytics tool that offers courses through quintly Academy. The self-paced course provides an overview of social media analytics, benchmarking, and goaling using downloadable written materials and video lessons. These courses are available to take at no cost — simply sign in to enroll for free.

Google

Google is another company you've probably heard of before, and its digital marketing course offers a ton of valuable information if you plan to advertise on the search engine. You can even take a Google AdWords certification at the end of the process that helps you beef up your resume. Google has expanded its course offerings to include other types of digital marketing, too, so check out the site for up-to-date insights in the marketing world.

Codeacademy

Codeacademy offers free, interactive coding classes that take you from bare-bones to building a fully functioning website. The courses we've highlighted below just scratch the surface, though. Codeacademy offers a variety of course topics so you can truly focus on your niche. These classes include lectures and a workspace in the same browser window so you can see the effect of your work as you create it — how cool is that?

Image Source

General Assembly

General Assembly offers live online courses that can be accessed for free or for a fee. These courses specialize in technical skills and disciplines like the fundamentals of HTML5, CSS3, and Javascript. Each one is categorized as one of five types that range from full-time immersive learning to on-demand learning. Once you choose your time commitment, simply find a course that works with your schedule.

Canva

Canva helps people easily make beautiful images for web design, and Canva Design School offers design courses that are valuable for any kind of storyteller. The Creativity course explores the challenges of constant creation and innovation and how to do it well — with visuals, of course.

Become a Marketing Powerhouse with These Free Certifications

I’m sure all marketers (myself included) can agree that furthering our education in this field is a worthwhile way to advance our careers or businesses. And earning a certificate from a reputable online course is one of the most convenient ways to accomplish this. Whether you want to take a free online marketing class or you’d like to devote more time and resources to a paid one, you can’t go wrong with one from this list. Just remember to focus your studying on a specific sector of marketing and develop a niche skillset — you’ll be well on your way to success as a consummate marketer.

Editor's Note: This blog post was originally published in May 2018, but was updated in July 2020 for comprehensiveness and freshness.

50 Free Online Marketing Classes to Take This Year was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

The Beginner's Guide to Product Photography [Tutorial + Examples]

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a stunning product picture is worth a thousand website visits. Although I don't have data to back up that statement (yet), product photography can be extremely valuable to your ecommerce website strategy.

To reach your target audience members whoprefer buying online, you also need to give your audience clear, eye-catching photos of your products.

But product photography isn't as simple as pointing and shooting. Even the most basic products need the correct equipment, lighting, and space to produce beautiful images that sell shoppers right from the purchase page.

6 Product Photography Tips (and Examples) for Taking Pictures That Sell

Here are the tips, examples, and supplies you'll need to effectively photograph and market your products in a way that makes your visitors and prospects want to convert.

1. Don't be afraid to use your smartphone's camera.

This is the part where I'm supposed to convince you to invest in a high-end, 50-megapixel (MP) camera with a 100-millimeter screw-on lens. But I'm not going to do that.

If you already own a camera that fits this description, take advantage of it. But for many types of products, it's completely acceptable to shoot product photos on a smartphone.

Newer smartphones boast powerful camera lenses and settings that allow you to optimize your shots for the different types of light and environments you might shoot in.

If you need more convincing, just check out Apple's Shot On An iPhone campaignand the photos that have resulted from it over the years such as this one:

Source

2. Shoot from a tripod for photo consistency.

Before explaining tripods, I'm obligated to start with a cardinal rule: Don't prop your phone against something sturdy to aim your lens toward the subject.

It's just too easy for this makeshift setup to slide around during the shoot and cause inconsistencies in your photos' appearance. If you rest your camera on, say, a stack of books, just be sure this arrangement doesn't change over the course of the shoot.

There's no harm in holding your camera yourself when shooting just a few product photos for your ecommerce website. But as your business grows, and you take more photos of more products, it can be difficult to standardize the product's orientation in each photo when shooting handheld.

To ensure consistency across your products, you'll need a tripod. And luckily, buying one isn't always the big, industrial-sized investment it used to be.

Here are two types of tripods to consider.

Traditional vs. Flexible

This is a tradition tripod — there are traditional tripods available for both cameras and smartphones.

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A flexible tripod can be manipulated in a number of ways. You can bend its legs and place it on different surfaces to get the angle you need.

Source

Mobile Grip

There's often a screw on the top of your tripod which attaches to your camera to hold it in place. The underside of most professional-grade cameras has a screw hole just for this purpose, but smartphones can use the following adapter:

Source

The adapter grips the sides of your smartphone and can screw into either type of tripod, allowing you to operate the camera controls with the phone screen facing outward and toward you.

Once you determine which mount you'll need, set it up in front of your product, and consider putting three pieces of tape on the ground to mark where you'd like to keep each leg of your tripod over the course of the shoot.

3. Choose natural light or artificial light.

Never underestimate how certain types of light can improve (or hinder) your product photography. Remember, buyers get the best look at an item in person, where they can see everything they need to before purchasing. The right lighting arrangement helps you reveal those critical decision-making product features when all website visitors have to go on is a photo.

A single lighting setup might not work for every product — a lighting arrangement that works for some products might weaken the appearance of others.

There are two types of light you can choose as your main light source: natural and artificial light.

Natural Light

Natural light refers to sunlight — simple as that. It's also known as "soft light" because the sun casts a larger, softer range of light than, say, a lamp shining directly on the product. Ecommerce product shots thrive in natural light if:

• The product is shot outside or meant to be used outside.
• The product is used by, worn on, or shot with a person (people tend to look better in natural light).
• You're trying to emphasize the product's surroundings, rather than specific attributes of the product.

Here's an example of a shot using natural light:

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Artificial Light

Artificial light includes candles, fire, and more commonly, light bulbs. It's also referred to as "hard light" because it produces a smaller but more focused light surface. This type of light caters to products with physical details that need to be highlighted to impress an online shopper.

Here's an example of artificial light being use to shoot:

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As a general rule, stick to just one type of light per photo — natural or artificial. Adding natural light to an artificially lit photo can soften a product that's meant to look sharp, and adding artificial light to a naturally lit photo can sharpen a product that's meant to look soft. You don't want to get in your own way.

4. Fill or bounce your light to soften shadows.

Whether you use natural light or artificial light, you'll need to lessen the shadows that any potential hard light casts on the opposite end of a product.

There are three ways to do this:

Fill Light

Include another, less-intense light source to supplement your main light. This additional light is called your fill light and is used as a counterbalance to soften the natural shadow your main light produces behind an object.

To do this, place your fill light opposite your main light so your product sits between both light sources.

Flashbulb Bounce Card

A bounce card, or reflector card, is a small card that "reflects" or "bounces" the main light back onto the surface beneath your product to reduce shadows.

Some bounce cards attach to the flashbulb of a professional camera lens to diffuse the light from the camera's flash. This card splashes a softer light onto the subject from above your set — rather than straight at it — so you don't have long shadows trail behind the object you're shooting.

See two versions of this item below — both white (left) and foil (right) screens can diffuse the flash.

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Standalone Bounce Card

If you're shooting from a smartphone, a flashbulb bounce card isn't an option, since you don't have a physical flash you can attach it to. Instead, make your own standalone bounce card positioned opposite your main light source.

For beginners to product photography, this bounce card can effectively replace your fill light, which counters the hard light from the camera flash or lamp that's facing toward the front of your product.

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5. Use a sweep or portrait mode to emphasize the product.

There isn't one right way to position your product, lights, and bounce cards – they can change dramatically depending on your background. But don't choose a background based on what's easiest to create. Backgrounds should resemble how you want your buyers to perceive your product when viewing it online.

Consider first whether you'd like a white background or a more dynamic, real-world background. There's an easy way to achieve each one.

White Background: Sweep

For white backgrounds, it's not as simple as setting up a table against white drywall. Even smartphone cameras can pick up little blemishes on a white wall that you wouldn't notice with the naked eye. To capture a perfect white background with no corners or blemishes, use a sweep.

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A sweep is a large bendable sheet of paper, whose bottom acts as the surface beneath your product and then curves up into a white wall behind the product.

On camera, the sweep's curve is invisible, emphasizing key product details and allowing the item to own all of a website visitor's attention.

Here's a side-by-side comparison showing why a sweep matters:

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Real-World Background: Portrait Mode

Dynamic, real-world backgrounds are very appealing when shooting products that have a specific use or are being modeled by a person — as you saw in the picture of the briefcase earlier in this guide.

But, it's easy for a real-world background to steal the focus of the photo, making it unclear which item in the photo you're actually selling.

Give your product depth and emphasis with portrait mode, a picture setting on most professional cameras, and also available on many new smartphones. This setting blurs the background so the context of the product is clear but not competing against the product itself.

Below is a super awesome photo of a HubSpot pen taken in portrait mode on a Google Pixel 2 (I took this picture myself). You can tell the pen sits on a desk with a computer behind it, but the pen is still the focal point for viewers:

"It's such an incredible photo, Braden. I totally want my own HubSpot pen now." Get one here!

6. Shoot a variety of images.

My last ecommerce photography tip to you is to not stop at one photo per product. Just as your customers look, hold, use, and even try on merchandise in a store, your website should shoot a variety of images to simulate this very experience.

If you're shooting clothing, for instance, capture the garment of clothing alone — that is, spread out on a white surface — as well as on a mannequin whose color contrasts the color of the product.

Then, for additional photos, have the clothing modeled on a person, allowing you to take pictures of the product from the person's different poses and angles.

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Product Photography Set-Up

Next, let's summarize what we just received — here's a list of quick product photography set-up tips that you can refer to and share on your team:

1. Decide on a camera — whether or not that means using your smartphone.
2. Get a tripod that works for your camera of choice.
3. Choose natural or artificial lighting — think about which option is best for your product and environment.
4. Determine whether you'll fill or bounce light.
5. Select sweep or portrait mode.
6. Take several different images to offer your viewers variety.

Get Started With Your Product Photography

Don't feel obligated to invest in every tip and piece of equipment at once. Apply these product photography tips gradually to see what makes your store look the most presentable, and change your approach as your photography chops get better.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in April 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

 

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