Our latest barter tip highlighted the benefits of adding photos to your swap listings. Sharing photographs of the items and services you have up for swap is a powerful way to attract more interest. If a fellow swapper is able to see several photos of a couch, car or piece of clothing, it’s the next closest thing to them being able to see that item in person—and might be the thing that seals the barter deal.

If you’re swapping items such as DVDs, books or CDs, one photo will suffice. However, for items that are one-of-a-kind, valuable, unique or have interesting details, the more photographs the better. Here are some tips to help make your photos more professional and inviting:

Tip #1: Use an uncluttered background so the focus is on the item you’re swapping. Don’t let the background distract from the subject.

Tip #2:  Set up the item carefully. Positioning it at an angle helps to give an item 3D depth.

Tip #3: Adjust your lighting. A well-lit photograph lets others see the colour and texture of an item.

Tip #4: Be creative. The more personality you can convey through your photographs, the better.

Tip #5: Edit the image. Use photo-editing software to crop, rotate or adjust contrast and brightness.

Wondering how to convey your service visually? Try making a short video. Take a look at this example of how you can create a demonstration for your product or service. For more tips on video listings, read our past blog post on videos.

In other news, we have recently made a few upgrades and added some perks to make Swapsity even more video-and photo-friendly.

Unlimited pictures
Extra pictures and videos are no longer a premium features, so get creative with unlimited photos and video clips. The more visuals you add to your listings, the more interest swappers will take.

Item pictures in profiles
We've recently added a feature to your profile so photos of your items and services are displayed in just one glance.

Pictures in Blog Post
We’re taking our passion for visual appeal to heart. Swapsity’s blog post index now features photos. Check out our swap stories and see what we mean.

So grab your camera, start snapping and start swapping!