We’ve all heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” But in the digital world, that’s only true if you’re using your web photos correctly. If you don’t know how to do that, don’t worry! Keep reading to make sure you’re getting the most out of your web photos.
Choose Web Photos Intentionally
It can be tempting to use a photo just because. Something is better than nothing, right? Well, not exactly. Studies show that website visitors look over images that don’t serve a purpose or provide relevant information. That means that you’d be better off leaving that image off your page or replacing it with an image that adds value to your page. But how do you know if a web photo is adding value to your page? Ask yourself these questions when choosing an image:
- What are the benefits of using this image? (Does it show off your products or services?)
- Does it help website visitors understand the point you’re making?
- Will this image speak to my target audience in a way that relates to my brand?
- Can this image help visitors visualize themselves using my product or service?
- How will this image facilitate my visitors in the buying process?
If the answer to any of these questions is no, then you should probably keep searching.
Pick Web Photos with Real People
A/B testing shows that images of people will likely outperform those without. When possible, try to use photos of happy, smiling people. This is a win-win. Not only will it draw your audience’s attention, but it’ll also help your visitors visualize themselves as the happy, smiling people using your product or service.
Note: Things can get tricky when using stock photography, especially when you’re choosing photos of people. We put some tips together to help you out there. But really, just hire a photographer. It’ll pay off in the long run.
Use Photos to Guide Visitors
Yes, choosing the right image is important. But choosing a web photo that directs your visitors to the point you’re trying to make will send you to the next level. For example, instead of having your photo subject look directly at the camera (which translates to directly at the website visitor), instead, have them look to the side (where your headline is). This will naturally draw your website visitor’s eye to the subject of your page.
Optimize, Optimize, Optimize
Last, but certainly not least, make sure that your photos are optimized for the web. If you’re not careful, large web photos can slow down your website — leading to a poor visitor experience. This has a trickle-down effect and can negatively impact your website traffic and search engine ranking.
Get the Help You Need
If you’re not a website designer, it can be hard to keep all of this in mind when choosing and implementing images on your website. But no need to worry! We have an entire team of experts that are ready to create a customized solution for your website needs. Just get in touch today.
