Which approach gets more people to complete their personalization and checkout? Do customers get overwhelmed with a blank canvas, or do they want that creative freedom?
Do you like to see live-preview on product image or this doesn’t mean a lot…
What do you recommend and why?
We’re collecting real feedback from the community to improve TailorKit and help merchants convert more browsers into buyers
I personally would like the screenshot example below a series of real photos of the product with various designs or letters, and maybe a couple short videos of the engraving or printing.
I think the number 1 killer of personalized merch is the mockup itself. How realistic it looks. Does it look like the end product? In your screenshot, the ring looks good. Not great. The product itself doesn’t look real. And I think we need to work more on making the design/letters look more real as well. We can’t just put text on an image anymore. “Mon” letter shadowing is all wrong for a realistic look. “Always love yourself” has a curve but it’s a 2d curve on a “3d” surface. Just some thoughts. I think as a whole we as business owners are lacking interest in the design field. Like the p.o.d. dropshipping sites that use crappy mockup generators.
To answer your question, the “blank canvas” approach is often overwhelming and will cause more customers to leave. The template or design gallery (Approach A) is a much better strategy as it provides instant inspiration and a low-friction starting point.
The live preview on the product image is not just a nice feature; it is absolutely essential. That preview is the “magic moment” where the customer sees their creation come to life, which builds an emotional connection and is critical for driving the sale.
My recommendation is to combine both approaches. Show the design gallery first (Approach A). When a customer clicks on a template they like, it should load that design into your customizer (Approach B), where they can then make it their own. This gives them the best of both worlds: inspiration first, followed by creative freedom.
