Your website is a valuable marketing tool. It can help you reach new audiences and sell your products to people all over the world. However, your site isn’t complete without images. In this article, we’ll give you some tips for using images on your site, as well as the importance of optimizing them for better quality and increased conversions.
What are website images?
According to studies, people only retain 20% of what they read and retain 80% of what they see. Without knowing language but just looking at images, one can understand what a text is about and the goal of it.
So, as it is in all offline world, websites also have images to support the information that is provided. Images are a powerful tools that can affect the users’ actions on the website.
How to use images on your websites
It’s important to remember that not all images are created equal. In order for images to be effective, they need to be high quality and relevant to your website’s content. Using generic or irrelevant images will not only fail to capture the attention of visitors but could also lead them to believe that your site is unprofessional or untrustworthy.
Why are images important for your website?
Images are an important part of any website as they can help to capture the attention of visitors and make your site more visually appealing.
To improve your website design
Images can help you make your website more visually appealing and easy to navigate. They can also help you add personality to your site and make it more memorable. In addition, images can also help to convey your message more effectively and can make it easier for visitors to understand what your site is about.
To increase your click-through rate
When used correctly, images can be a powerful tool that can help increase your website’s conversion rate. For example, using an image of a product on your home page can help to increase sales, or using an image of a person on your contact page can help to encourage people to get in touch with you. If you use relevant and eye-catching images on your website, people will be more likely to click on them. This can help you increase the number of visitors to your site and convert them into customers. When it comes to website conversions, the power of images should not be underestimated. In fact, according to Kissmetrics, “Images can increase conversion rates by as much as 46%”.
To boost your sales
Images can also be used to promote special offers or discounts on your products or services. By using persuasive imagery, you can encourage people to buy from you and increase your overall sales.
Brand Recognition
When choosing images for your website, it’s important to consider the overall tone and message you want to communicate. The right image can help convey your brand identity and make a strong impression on visitors. Conversely, using the wrong image can give the wrong impression and turn visitors away.
Why do we need to optimize website images?
Websites are increasingly becoming more image-heavy as internet speeds improve and users demand more visual content. Images can help tell your story, explain your product, or just add some personality to your site. But if they’re not properly optimized, they can also slow down your site and hurt your conversions.
Large images take longer to load, lowers the website speed which can frustrate users and cause them to leave your site.
And if your images aren’t sized correctly for different devices, they’ll look pixelated or cropped, which doesn’t give users the best impression of your brand.
That’s why it’s important to optimize your website images before you upload them. By compressing them and sizing them appropriately, you can ensure that they load quickly and look great on any device. This will help improve user experience on your site and ultimately lead to better conversion rates.
How can you optimize your website’s images?
Images are a powerful tool that can affect your website conversions. Here are some tips on how you can optimize your website’s images:
- Use high-quality images that are relevant to your product or service.
- Make sure your images are optimized for web use. This means they should be the right size and have proper file names and alt text.
- Choose images that are visually appealing and help tell your brand story.
- Use A/B testing to see which images work best for your website visitors.
What types of images are out there?
There are several different types of images used in various applications and industries, including:
- Raster images: Also known as bitmap images, these are made up of pixels and are best used for images with lots of colors and details, such as photographs.
- Vector images: These images are made up of mathematical equations and are best used for logos, illustrations, and graphics with clean lines and shapes.
- Animated images: These images contain multiple frames that are played in succession to create the illusion of movement.
- Icon images: Small, simple images that are used to represent a particular action or concept, such as a trash can icon for delete.
- Infographic images: Images that present complex information in a clear and visually appealing manner, often using graphs, charts, and illustrations.
- Stock images: Pre-made images that can be used for commercial purposes.
- User-generated images: Images that are created and shared by users, such as user-generated photos on social media.
- 3D images: Images that use computer graphics to create a three-dimensional representation of an object or scene.
Each type of image has its own strengths and limitations, and the type of image used will depend on the specific use case and the desired result.
Where can you find free and paid images for your website?
There are a number of places you can find free images for your website.
- One option is to do a search on Google Images.
- Another option is to use a stock photo site like Unsplash or Pixabay.
Unsplash – Free Image Source
Unsplash is a free image provider that offers a wide range of high-quality images that can be used for websites and other digital marketing collateral.
Unsplash offers over 1 million high-resolution photos, All of the photos on Unsplash are free to use, even for commercial purposes. Unsplash is an ideal resource for small businesses and startups looking to create a professional-looking website on a tight budget.
In addition to being free, another advantage of using Unsplash is that the images are all high quality. This is important because poor-quality images can reflect negatively on your business and turn potential customers away.4 With Unsplash, you can be sure you’re using only the best possible images on your site.
Pixabay – Free Image Source
Pixabay is a popular free image provider that offers a wide range of stock photos, illustrations, and vector graphics. Millions of people worldwide use Pixabay to find the perfect image for their projects.
While some designers and businesses are hesitant to use free images, the truth is that Pixabay offers high-quality, professional-looking photos that can help your website conversions.
If you’re looking for paid images for your website, there are a number of options as well.
- One option is to purchase stock photos from sites like iStockphoto or Shutterstock.
- Another option is to hire a professional photographer to take custom photos for your website or fix the images you got from different tools.They can help you select the right images and ensure that they’re properly sized and formatted for your website.
Shutterstock – Paid Image Source
Shutterstock offer a number of advantages that can make them worth the investment.
For one, paid image providers typically offer a much larger selection of high-quality images to choose from. This can be especially helpful if you’re looking for specific types of images to use on your site.
Paid image providers also offer more flexibility in terms of licensing and usage rights. This means that you can often use the images in multiple ways and on multiple platforms without having to worry about copyright infringement.
Finally, paid image providers typically offer better customer support than free image sources. If you have any questions or concerns about using the images on your site, you can usually contact the provider directly for assistance.
iStockphoto – Paid Image Source
If you’re looking for high-quality, professional photos to use on your website, iStockphoto is a great option. With over 8 million images in their collection, you’re sure to find the perfect image for your needs. And, with prices starting at just $1 per image, iStockphoto is very affordable.
Conclusion
Images are a powerful tool that can help you convert more visitors into customers or clients. By understanding how images affect your website conversions, you can use them to your advantage and increase the chances of getting people to take the action you want them to take. Whether it’s using images to convey emotion or using them to highlight specific elements on your page, using images strategically can make a big difference in your conversion rate.