Using Graphics in Ecommerce Web Site Design
A Home Business Article Contributed by Donna M. Brown
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words in Ecommerce Web Site Design -- Unless You're Counting on a Search Engine to Save You
Everyone likes to look at pictures and they certainly play an important role in ecommerce web site design. A picture can immediately invoke an emotion, encourage a smile or make a shopper feel welcome in your cyber space.
Remember though, to use pictures and graphics that send a clear message about the products and services you sell. The whole concept of ecommerce web site design is to find a creative way to turn browsers into buyers. Use original, good quality art that exudes the professional appearance for which you are striving with your ecommerce web site design. The moment a shopper sees your first picture load, he or she should know exactly what you offer.
Have you ever watched a commercial and been completely entertained by it -- but then you wonder in the end of that commercial who the advertiser was and what, exactly, that advertiser was selling?
Animations and videos might be entertaining, but unless they relate directly to your product or service they will entertain, not sell.
Search Engines Can't See Pictures -- Use Them Carefully in Ecommerce Web Site Design
Search engines look for words and phrases that are typed in by a customer. Therefore, you should use plenty of text in your web site design to woo the spiders that reach out their long legs to find you for the unsuspecting searcher.
Good Ecommerce Web Site Design Includes Rapid Download for Images
We are an "I want it now, " kind of a society and rarely will a potential customer wait for your pictures to download if it impedes the shopping or surfing process. Make sure you optimize images on your web site for fast download. You can't catch a shopper with a cool image if he or she can't even see it!
Popular graphics packages usually support compression for web based graphics, usually through easy to use wizards. Take the time to let your customer know you care enough not to waste time on slow-loading pictures. Get right to the point and the point is to sell that busy shopper your product or service today, not tomorrow after your graphics have downloaded!
What Kind of Browser Will Your Next Shopper Use?
Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer are two of the most popular browser types on the market today. Are you willing to exclude customers who don't use the one browser you support? There are at least 100 different brands of INternet browsers available today.
You can't, obviously, cater to every kind of browser in use today, but remember to check the appearance and functionality of your web site in the most current versions of INternet Explorer and Netscape Navigator at the very least.
Pay close attention to compatibility and your customers will pay much closer attention to you!
Remember to work the kinks out of your web site before you fully launch and market it. If a customer comes to you once and is disappointed, chances are, that customer won't be back again.
