According to recent surveys, over 85% of online shoppers believe zoom functionality is helpful when browsing products online. Additionally, images with zoom can result in 26% more conversions compared to standard images.
As an WordPress expert with over 5 years experience building high-traffic sites, I highly recommend adding magnifying image zoom. It creates an immersive viewing experience and lets visitors view critical visual details.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore two methods to add zoom functionality for WordPress images, including for WooCommerce stores.
Why You Should Add Image Magnifying Zoom
Beyond the hard numbers showing zoom increases conversions, there are a few key reasons why sites benefit from image zoom capability:
Inspect Product Details – Allow potential customers to closely examine your product images from all angles. This builds trust and aids purchase decisions.
View Photo Particulars – Give visitors the ability to zoom in on small intricacies in high-res photos that they would otherwise miss.
Improved User Experience – Creating an immersive viewing encounter keeps visitors engaged with your visual content for longer.
Accessibility – Image zoom assists those with visual impairments better see key aspects of photos and products.
Simply put, adding zoom provides site visitors with supplemental visual information they cannot attain from standard images.
Now let‘s compare two great options for adding magnifying zoom…
Method 1: Envira Gallery (Recommended)
Envira Gallery is the most popular and user-friendly WordPress gallery plugin. It also offers a zoom add-on providing robust image zoom functionality.
Here are the step-by-step instructions to set it up:
Install Envira Gallery – You will need an Envira Plus license ($39/year) to enable the zoom add-on. Enter your license after installing.
Get the Zoom Addon – From your account dashboard, find and install the zoom add-on. Make sure to activate it as well.
Create an Image Gallery – Build a new gallery via Envira and upload your photos. Customize layouts, captions, etc.
Configure Zoom Settings – On the Zoom tab enable functionality and tweak options like zoom window size, zoom effect, tint, etc.
Embed Your Gallery – Add your gallery to any post, page, or product with the Envira block in the editor.
I recommend Envira Gallery because it seamlessly integrates zoom in a user-friendly way. With robust options, you can fine-tune zoom functionality to match your site‘s design aesthetics.
Method 2: WP Image Zoom Plugin
WP Image Zoom is a customizable WordPress plugin purely focused on image zoom effects.
Here is how to set it up:
Install WP Image Zoom – Search and install the plugin for free from your WordPress dashboard.
Choose Zoom Lens & Effects – Pick your preferred lens graphic and zoom animation effects.
Enable Zoom Globally – From settings enable zoom for all product images, galleries, etc.
Add Zoom to Individual Images – When editing posts, check "With Zoom" on a per image basis.
I suggest the WP Image Zoom plugin for sites wanting to easily incorporate basic zoom functionality across all image types.
Comparision Table – WP Image Zoom vs Envira Gallery
| WP Image Zoom | Envira Gallery | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Image zoom specifically | Gallery creation + zoom addon |
| Price | Free | $39/year for zoom capability |
| Ease of Use | Simple generic configuration | More options equals complex setup |
| Customizability | Limited options for free version | Robust zoom customization |
| Usage | Global or per image | Created galleries only |
My Expert Recommendation
While both are great solutions, I recommend Envira Gallery if your site displays groups of images together like product catalogs, portfolios, or collections of high-res photos.
For applying a consistent zoom effect site-wide, including just individual images in posts, the WP Image Zoom plugin is a great pick.
Let me know if you have any other questions on expertly implementing image zoom effects in WordPress!
