Visual content guidelines for retail syndication

Use this topic as a guide to determine the type of content you should syndicate to the Visual Syndication Network in Bazaarvoice Vibe.

Verify ownership

Determining ownership is critical when featuring user-generated content (UGC). Retailers want to ensure that ownership is clear and appropriate.

We do not recommend sharing content with unclear image ownership such as visual content that:
  • Originates from a child's Instagram account
  • Features too many people
  • Is identical to other posts or posted by multiple users

Attributes of approved content

Content that is likely to be approved:

  • Is bright, clean, and colorful
  • Showcases a product being used/worn
  • Shows a product in intended use
  • Features a user's natural environment
  • Showcases a product as the focal point
  • Is not overly styled
  • Displays the user as the perceived image owner

Attributes of rejected content

Retailers are in complete control of what visual content is displayed on their site. They can help their brand partners understand what quality means to them by using a set of rejection reasons for content they would not like to display on their site.

Content that is likely to be rejected:
  • Displays no specific product as the focus
  • Features competing retailers in image or caption
  • Displays Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
  • Is overly stylized
  • Is politically themed
  • Is captured in a retail store
  • Is sexually suggestive 
Other things to consider include:
  • Too many competing brands mentioned in the content
  • Username mentions a brand
  • Caption quotes a sale price
  • Images or video with multiple people pose an issue with usage rights

Quality spectrum

The following image shows the spectrum of quality for syndicated content:

A quality spectrum graphic showing examples of content ranging from high quality (bright, product-focused lifestyle photos) to low quality (dark, blurry, or over-stylized images).

Choose content that retailers like

Retailers prefer content with specific attributes. Use these lists to help identify content that retailers prefer.

Retailers like content that's:
  • Lifestyle-centered and authentic
  • Product-focused
  • Bright, clean, crisp with pops of color
  • Properly angled
  • Captured in natural environments
  • Positive and inspirational
Retailers dislike content that's:
  • Difficult to identify the product because the content is dull, dark, black and white, or low image quality
  • Showing an unintended use (including violence or unsafe practices)
  • Displaying unavailable features of clearance products
  • In an undesirable location (in-store, bathroom, mirror selfies)
  • Overly styled, studio photography, or a solid background which does not appear to be user-generated content (UGC)
  • Displaying text overlays, multiple filters, or screenshots
  • Displaying religious imagery, political themes, or nudity
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