Better Images on the Web
In our previous blog post, we covered 7 tips for improving the text on your website. Today, we continue to review how you can enhance the content of your website, but this time, we focus on your images. Here are 7 tips for better images and image management:
1. Find the right feeling and theme
Take a moment to consider what you want to convey with your images and the emotions you want to evoke in your website visitors. Different colors evoke different feelings, while black and white images create a different atmosphere. Most image editing programs offer various filters that can be used to create a specific mood and maintain consistency in your images.
2. Homemade photos surpass stock images
There are plenty of images available for purchase (or free use) that you can use on your website, but self-taken photos will always convey a stronger sense of your business. Instead of buying a picture of anonymous people in a conference room, photograph your employees and your office. It also creates a stronger sense of participation and team spirit among your staff.
3. Image quality matters
Good lighting, carefully chosen angles, and perspectives can transform a photo from “good” to “fantastic”. Therefore, in many cases, it’s worth considering hiring a professional photographer to showcase your business in the best possible way.
4. Respect copyright laws!
Photographs and illustrations are protected by copyright, and if you publish someone else’s image on your website, Facebook page, or blog without permission, you may be guilty of image theft, which can result in hefty fines. You can purchase image rights from platforms like Shutterstock and iStock Photo, but there are also free alternatives (such as Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay).
5. Name image files with keywords
Think about how you name the image files on your website. Search engines take file names into account and have an easier time understanding and interpreting a file named “white-lacquered-bookshelf.jpg” compared to, for example, “IMG2916.jpg.” Named images also rank higher in Google’s image search.
6. Write image captions!
Make it a habit to always provide appropriate captions for your images. Google’s image search is increasingly popular, especially for product searches. Boost your product images with relevant captions. ou can test how the images on your website are displayed by going to Google Images and entering “site:yourdomainname.com” in the search function.
7. Don’t let images slow down your website
Large, beautiful images that catch the eye are highly popular on the web today. However, keep in mind that large high-resolution images take a long time to load, especially for those browsing via mobile networks or with a poor internet connection. By compressing your images and optimizing them for the web, you can reduce file size and, consequently, loading time. If you have a WordPress site, this can be easily done with the WP Smush plugin.