Picture This – The Importance of Images on Websites
Imagine a website without a picture on it.
Just a wall of text…
Would you want to stay on this site?
Probably not. It would be overwhelming and lacking flow; nothing would grab your attention or keep you interested.
Images to websites are like lights in the dark. They break up the space, make your webpage easier to understand, allow effortless navigation, and create a view worth looking at. Websites displaying photographs have an attribute of richness that influences your sites success through two key courses. The first attributes to search engine optimisation, allowing search engines to interpret your content. The second satisfies the human element, concerning how humans interpret and understand your website.
If that isn’t enough to convince you of illustration inclusion, here are some key factors as to why images should be kept atop your priority list when building a website.
Websites with images get more views and clicks
The human species is a very visually oriented sort, not only do images attract our attention but they spark emotions and draw us in. This element of behaviour creates the basis as to why more people view and click through on websites that have attractive imagery.
Better user experience
Leading on from this attractive imagery pulling people in and increasing views and clicks is user experience. Interesting photos allow the presentation of important information in a more digestible and swift manner. A contextual image is mesmerising, but also answers the need for additional information.
The age-old adage of “a picture speaks a thousand words” expresses volumes in this circumstance. Audience members can learn a whole lot more about the subject or product with visual aid. A well-placed image breaks up the text and offers instantaneous context, offering a respite from skimming which often tires viewers. Through pulling a reader into a scene, a picture its related text or even replaces it completely.
Through improving user experience visitors are far more likely to stay on your website, creating a higher probability of conversions.
Increase dwell time
We can therefore express that better user experience leads to higher dwell times on your website. The obvious positive of this is, as mentioned above, the longer a visitor is on your site the more likely a conversion will be made. But underneath that, is the fact that the time users spend on your website becomes an engagement signal for Google, and search ranking factors. Therefore, keeping people on your website will help you with SEO, resulting in higher organic search rankings.
Improve on-site SEO
Furthering this dwell time theme and the fact that images can improve your SEO endeavours, is that search engines can index your images. Therefore, through properly labelling you images, and using search friendly metadata and captions you are creating more content to be indexed. It also means that your images show up for both search results in text form and in image searches, causing a far higher probability of discoverability.
Googles algorithms can recognise filler images and stock photography so original imagery is best. Presuming your image matches your text, Google will rank it higher, but original photos will rank better.
Apart from the optimisation the search engines utilise from photos, actual people will use these images to select from the results of their queries. In particular, local businesses benefit from imagery in search results. With consumers being far more likely to consider and contact businesses where their listing included an image.
Images bring your product or service to life
It goes without saying that content is imperative in the explanation and portrayal of your products and services, but images are essential in curating a remarkable first impression.
It is better to show than tell, images are storytellers. Create a scene in potential customers minds by displaying your product in all its glory, so visitors can imagine themselves using them through visualisation. Highlight your brand and create grander sale prospects.
It may also be helpful to consider the use of positive emotion portrayal, and the use of people being contained in said photos. These features have been shown to boost conversion rates. Because images are immediate in capturing the attention of visitors. This actually helps with recall of your brand and business later, as images are stored in long term memory, as opposed to text which is only stored in short term memory.
To drive more conversions and create more opportunities to attract new visitors to your website, images are essential. If you need assistance sourcing imagery or are in want of an expert to help with your website design and visuals, then contact Mata Digital. Mata Digital specialises in everything visual and design and are passionate about creating a striking online presence, whether inventing a new website or revamping your current one.