We have all heard the saying a picture is worth a thousand words, but when it comes to learning how to use images on your website truer words have never been spoken. The following list will guide you on how to make the best use of your images, how to make them more powerful and important things to keep in mind when using them.
1. Copyright
By far one of the most significant aspects of using images is copyright. The possible consequences of not using images that have been cleared can range from lawsuits to forcing you to take down your website indefinitely. This can also negatively affect the professionalism of your brand. Luckily, there are various options to obtaining copyright free images. The easiest and most obvious is to take pictures yourself. This has the added advantage that you get exactly the pictures you want and how you want them. You can also use them multiple times and mix them up.
Of course, you may find that you don’t have the time or resources to take your own pictures, especially if you sale a product or offer a service that is not easy to take pictures of. In this case, there are two main options available. You can either use public domain pictures or purchase images. Public domain images are not covered by copyright or intellectual property rights. When using these images make sure they are also covered for commercial use if that is how you plan to use them. Purchasing images is also a viable choice. There are even websites that let you use an unlimited number of images for a fixed monthly fee. If you use a large quantity of images this might be the best option for you.
2. Improve Search Engine Optimization
Images are great for attracting people to your website but did you also know that they can be an effective tool for people to find it? First, you must learn how to optimize your pictures for improved Search Engine Optimization or SEO. SEO simply means that Google and other search engine will be able to find your information faster and easier. The best way to improve your search ranking is by putting descriptions relevant to your website in the photo descriptions. As a result, search engines can better “read” what your website is about and make it easier for people who need your product or service to find you.
Another great tip to increase your SEO ranking is to reduce the file size of your images. Find a balance between good quality images and file size. What tends to happen is that people often upload large sized images which results in a great strain for your website. This is a large red flag since search engines shun websites that take a long time to load. The heavier the information the longer it takes to load your page and the lower your ranking who will ultimately prevent people from easily finding your site.
3. Testimonials
That’s right! An effective way to promote your website is to include testimonials and images of people who have used your product or service. The benefits are manifold. It has been proven time and time again that users have a tendency to click on pictures of people. So if you have a testimonial of real people there is a high chance that someone will click on it. This has a positive domino effect. If someone clicks on a testimonial it will give your customers the peace of mind that other people can vouch for your brand and they may also recommend your product and service. Placing pictures of people who trust you will add depth and will legitimize you as a trustworthy source.
4. Share it!
If you’ve done your due diligence and taken steps to get the best images on your website the next step is to increase the influence of your images and to make them more powerful. One of the best tricks out there is the ability to share the images found in your website on social media such as Facebook or Twitter. If someone enjoys your picture and has some text within that describes your product or service, someone will want to share it. They won’t think about sharing it unless they see a button that allows them to do that. There are various apps you can use to this end. Pinterest is by far the most popular. You can put a single icon in any picture to instantly share it. This is an incredibly effective way to drive traffic to your website and promote yourself.
5. Call to Action
So a person has visited your website, taken an interest in your product or service and is ready to take the next step. Images are a great way to tell your visitors to take action. For example, if you want to give instructions on how to make a payment, three carefully placed pictures can make instructions easier to understand and streamline the process. If you are showing your visitors how to use a product or teaching them a skill, images are a great way to show them the best and most efficient way to do it. Images will also help you cut down on text which will make your website more appealing and easy to navigate.
Images are a powerful tool in and of themselves. If used correctly, they can be one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. If you take time to choose each image carefully and use the tips and tricks outlined above you will learn how to use images on your website in the most effective way to improve your visitor’s experience.
