Why the Web Needs More Photo Galleries

Shopping and researching via the internet is a virtual experience. But, your web site's users want information that leads to a tangible product or service. Photo galleries help bridge the gap.

Shopping and researching via the internet is a virtual experience. But, your web site's users want information that leads to a tangible product or service. Learn how photo galleries help bridge the gap.

At Heideldesign, we say it over and over again: "Content is king." While we're usually talking about written descriptions, this philosophy also applies to visual representations of products or services.

Search engines only care about the words on the screen. So, obviously, those are important to get people to your site. And, there are people that feel that detailed spec sheets are the best way to learn the facts about your product or service. But, there's also another large section of people that you need to cater to: Those that want to see what they're getting.

A few examples of this might include:
Real Estate Listings
An agent needs to include as many photos on the property as possible, to ensure that potential buyers understand the style, size, and attractions of a property. While saying that a house has a modern kitchen in a written description is nice, showing the Sub-Zero appliances and granite countertops is better. With pictures, you are ensuring that a buyer knows in advance if the property is of interest, and no one's time is wasted.

Online Store
If you're selling physical products online, people need to see the product. Amazon.com's "look inside" feature is a perfect example of this. It allows you to see not only a book's cover; but also interior pages of the book. It quickly gives the buyer the ability to make sure the product is the one that they are looking for. Amazon also allows owners to submit personal pictures of selected items. This increases the interactivity of the site, and allows potential buyers to see the product in use by satisfied owners.

Service Industries
If you offer a service, display photographs of the service being performed. Roofers, show images of your employees (neatly dressed and obeying all safety codes, of course) on the job. Restaurants, show photographs of the interior of your space, detailed images of your main courses, and the smiles of your wait staff. Delivery companies, display images of your vehicles, drivers, and deliveries to smiling, satisfied customers.

Content/Knowledge Websites
Even if you're not directly selling a product or service, images help illustrate your points and draw in readers. Graphs tell an immediate story of cost/benefit analysis or sales figures. Diagrams make the intricacies of complex systems easier to understand. Photo-illustrations help to sum up an article's main points.

Whatever the purpose of your website, increasing your image count will help to convince your readers that your product, service, or article is worthy of their time or money.