[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Most everyone would probably agree that images are important to a website. When is the last time you saw a website without images, anyway? Most likely, you can’t even think of a single website that doesn’t utilize imagery in some way. But even so, images still may hold even more value to a website than you might have imagined.

In today’s fast-paced, mobile device-driven world, people’s attention is more difficult to retain than ever. This creates a need to deliver messages and information quickly. You’ve heard that a photo is worth a thousand words. In web design, this is absolutely true, and what those words say all depend on the photos you choose.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][vc_single_image image=”3463″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/6″][vc_column_text]

Design

The first and most obvious purpose of images in web design is to make the website look good. A website with no images just doesn’t look right. But the trick isn’t just to use any old image and expect people to flock to and adore your website. Choosing the right images is a crucial part of the process. The images you choose need to be high quality and relevant to your content. People will notice if you use bad images or images that are irrelevant. Keep your images relevant to the content in order to avoid confusion among viewers.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/6″][vc_column_text]

Here is an example of an image that sticks out like a sore thumb, due to the fact that is is not relevant to the page content.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text]A few thoughts about stock photos:

• If you have access to your own high quality photos, use them.
• If you have the ability to take high quality photos yourself, do it.
• If you cannot do either of the above, the right stock photos can still be used effectively.
• Stock photos aren’t always the perfect option, but are far better than low-quality photos or no photos at all.

A website that makes great use of images will feature up-to-date imagery that will make sense with the page content, catch a viewer’s attention, and prompt a desired response.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][vc_single_image image=”3466″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text]

SEO

So, now that your website has awesome images, you need people to actually find them. That’s why optimizing your images with SEO is important. You probably use Google to search for almost everything, no matter how specific it may be. When you type in “Space Ninja”, for example, and ACTUALLY find results pertaining to exactly that, you have discovered a case of effective SEO. As someone with a business website, the last thing you want is for potential clients to be searching for your services and not finding your website in the process. Your website’s images can actually make your website easier to find, when utilized correctly.

Google likes when you optimize your images, and taking the following steps will help you in search engine rankings:

• Naming your image file something that makes sense. (Which makes more sense to you? grand-canyon-hikers or DSC6124)
• Use alt tags and titles, and make sure they describe the image and relate to the page content. The alt tag of a photo will appear if a photo is ever unable to load.
• Scale images to the correct size before uploading. Sure you can downsize a photo within your CMS, but chances are the full sized image will still have to load, then downsize, increasing page load time.
• Reduce your images file size. Using an 8mb photo is downright inefficient, and will bog down load times. There are a number of methods to reducing file size while maintaining good quality, utilize one.

Optimizing your images will not only make your images easier to index and find on the web, but your entire website will benefit from the boost in SEO. The effective use of images is greatly encouraged by Google, and is one of the better ways to boost a page’s value.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][vc_single_image image=”3469″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text]

Ecommerce

Product. Images. A crucial aspect of every ecommerce website is it’s product images. The average internet shopper is going to be more wary about the places they’re buying from, as to avoid their credit card information getting into the wrong hands. One thing that consumers generally don’t trust? A product they can’t look at.

Although any product images are far better than none at all, your chances of success increase dramatically with high quality, professional images. When shopping online, the picture of the products is the first thing the shopper sees, and if they aren’t impressed by what they see within seconds, they will move on. High quality images that easily display the style and features of any product are necessary since online shoppers don’t have the option of looking at the item first hand. In the case of an ecommerce store, it is always worth investing in good images of your merchandise.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Here’s the good news. At BNG Design, we are familiar with the role that images play within a website and how to best utilize images on websites. Our design team takes all of the above information into account throughout the design process in order to ensure quality and effective image use. Check out our portfolio to see some examples of our work, or contact us if you have any questions.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]