No we aren't talking about wearing a suit, doing your makeup etc. This time we are talking about website aesthetics, and how important they are in the online market place.
Online retail is really booming at the moment and there has been a rush to get businesses online. However many businesses are ignoring the look of their site in preference for completion speed and functionality. Obviously the sooner you are online then the sooner you can look at doing business, however your website relies heavily on the look. Studies show that users will navigate away from a website if they do not like the look, and their mind is made up within 3 seconds of visiting that page. So you need to make an impression, and make it quick!
Now this doesn't necessarily mean you need to spend thousands of pounds on your website design. Many visually appealing designs will start from a template, its the customisation of this framework that really sets you apart. This is often through widgets, features and most importantly imagery.
Many problems would arise that good quality images were either under Copyright protection (as is most found through Google images), or they were expensive to license (through sites such as iStockPhoto).
We have since looked into many alternative solutions that work for small business and websites that are run on a budget, and we have found some great resources where you can find high-definition imagery for FREE.
1. Stock.XCHNG
Known as the leading source for free stock photography, this site provides over 400,000 images which are free to use for websites, blogs and even video. Many of the pictures are taken with 300 dpi which makes them ideal for print. This is typically my first point of call when looking for stock photography for any blogs.
2. Every Stock Photo
Very similar to iStockPhoto in the layout and design of the website which makes it easy to navigate around the 9.8 million photos which they currently have in their database. This expansive catalog means you will always be able to find something relevant for articles, blog posts or advertisements.
3. PhotoRee
Seen as a library of interesting images, PhotoRee is a collection of some of the most beautiful images from Flickr. PhotoRee actually uses an engine which searches Flickr for images licensed under Creative Commons which are available for distribution. Also combined with a member voting system this allows for easy to find photos which match your tastes.
Sometimes stock photos will just not be able to match a photographer, which is why we always recommend getting a quality photography company for specific shots. This may include brochure photography or even website product photography which when done right can give you a real advantage over competitors.
Online retail is really booming at the moment and there has been a rush to get businesses online. However many businesses are ignoring the look of their site in preference for completion speed and functionality. Obviously the sooner you are online then the sooner you can look at doing business, however your website relies heavily on the look. Studies show that users will navigate away from a website if they do not like the look, and their mind is made up within 3 seconds of visiting that page. So you need to make an impression, and make it quick!
Now this doesn't necessarily mean you need to spend thousands of pounds on your website design. Many visually appealing designs will start from a template, its the customisation of this framework that really sets you apart. This is often through widgets, features and most importantly imagery.
Many problems would arise that good quality images were either under Copyright protection (as is most found through Google images), or they were expensive to license (through sites such as iStockPhoto).
We have since looked into many alternative solutions that work for small business and websites that are run on a budget, and we have found some great resources where you can find high-definition imagery for FREE.
1. Stock.XCHNG
Known as the leading source for free stock photography, this site provides over 400,000 images which are free to use for websites, blogs and even video. Many of the pictures are taken with 300 dpi which makes them ideal for print. This is typically my first point of call when looking for stock photography for any blogs.
2. Every Stock Photo
Very similar to iStockPhoto in the layout and design of the website which makes it easy to navigate around the 9.8 million photos which they currently have in their database. This expansive catalog means you will always be able to find something relevant for articles, blog posts or advertisements.
3. PhotoRee
Seen as a library of interesting images, PhotoRee is a collection of some of the most beautiful images from Flickr. PhotoRee actually uses an engine which searches Flickr for images licensed under Creative Commons which are available for distribution. Also combined with a member voting system this allows for easy to find photos which match your tastes.
Sometimes stock photos will just not be able to match a photographer, which is why we always recommend getting a quality photography company for specific shots. This may include brochure photography or even website product photography which when done right can give you a real advantage over competitors.
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