Using Graphics and Pictures on Your Website
The web is a very graphic-rich and visual place. Pictures and graphics abound on websites and make the design elements on your web pages stand out. The trick is, however, to make your web pages attractive and appealing to your visitors.
One common problem that many website owners have is making their web pages too busy. They often feel that the more graphics the better, but in reality this is not often a good thing. Your visitor can get lost by viewing too many graphics, not knowing where to look first. It could be very confusing for him. Then he may simply leave your site in search of a more user-friendly or eye-sensitive one. And, if your pages are too busy your site may appear amateurish and unprofessional. If this happens, your visitor will not feel confident in doing business with you, and again he will search out another site.
What you need to do is to find a balance of text and information, graphics and pictures, and white space. The text and information comes in the form of your website content. The graphics and pictures you display on your website should complement and enhance that content. And you do need to provide at least some graphics. Your website would seem pretty boring without it.
How many graphics and pictures your display on a single web page is up to you. How many would really help the ‘story’ of your content? How many would be visually appealing? Usually a web article can get by with two or three pictures or graphics to enhance it—but if you feel more are needed, use your discretion and good judgment. Critically look at each of your web pages from a viewer’s standpoint.
Try not to use too many ‘flashing’ graphics as well. Although you may feel these grab a visitor’s attention, they also many repel him. Too many items flashing at him at once will only annoy him and make him leave your pages sooner.
Be sure to use enough white space around your pictures and graphics as well. Part of the design of your website should include white space to keep your viewers eyes soothed. And in fact you should include white space around your content as well.
You should only use relevant graphics as well. The pictures and graphics you use should reflect your website’s content. What good would a picture of a rabbit be, no matter how cute, when you are trying to sell vitamins? Again, it would only tend to confuse your visitor and seem unprofessional on your part. Your graphics, as well as your content, needs to gain your visitor’s confidence in order to get him to buy from you (or use your services, or whatever).
Getting graphics and pictures for your website should not be a real problem. You can take the pictures yourself with your digital camera, and then up-load them to your website. There are many good programs that allow you to manipulate and crop images to suit your needs. Many of these are simple to use so that you do not have to be a graphic expert to be able to use them.
You can also purchase pictures and graphics from various photography sites on the web. You can get pictures for pretty much any type of topic you wish. The pictures can range from a few cents each to dollars, depending on the quality of the picture, the fame of the photographer taking the picture, or other factors.
There are also many sites that offer free pictures that you can use for your websites. And, some of these sites do not care whether you use them for business purposes, as long as you stick to their rules and do not abuse them. Do a little research into the ones that allow this if this is a route you wish to take.
Graphics can come in the form of illustrations as well as photographs. You can manipulate photographs to appear as illustrations that you can use on your website. Again, there are many programs that will help you do this. You can also get illustrations from the photography/graphic websites mentioned earlier-from both paid and unpaid sites. You can also hire an artist to create unique illustrations for you to use.
Pictures and graphics can be an attractive lure for visitors visiting your website. They can create visual interest in what you are trying to convey to your customer. You do need, however, to be careful in how you use them. Consider what is appealing to you, and then use your restrained judgment in using graphics on your site.
