Stock photos can be great assets for your marketing collateral. But when it comes to your website, they can be problematic. When people come to your website, they're looking for reasons to buy from you or hire you. And authentic photos factor very much into that decision.
But everyone is using stock photos!
I know. With sites like Unsplash, Pexels and Pixabay, there are a lot of gorgeous, high-quality pictures you can use for free, without attribution and even edit if you want. And if you're on a budget, these sites (there are many more) are a great resource.
But there are a few problems.
First, so many people use stock pictures, there's a good chance that a picture you like is already being used on another website. Maybe even 100 other websites. And you could get confused with some of these other sites - even if you're in an entirely different industry.
The other problem is that if you have stock pictures on your site showing people who are not your colleagues or showing a place that is not where you work, it will confuse your customers. Confuse people and you will lose them. Even if they are existing customers, they will wonder why you're not using genuine images of you and your team and your place of work on your site. You don't want to place any doubt in people's minds about you!
In this video, I'll show you a few examples of stock photos that just don't work. And also a few that do.
In conclusion
Great photography can make a huge difference in a website. It can pull people in and make them want to look around. And it can really set you apart. Hiring a professional photographer is, in my opinion, the best way to go. But if you don't have the budget for one, find a good amateur photographer. Perhaps someone who is eager to build their portfolio. Or someone who has a great camera and just wants to get better at shooting good pictures. Take a lot of pictures! It does take a lot before you land on just a few that really work.
Do you need help on your website project?
Creating a website that attracts and converts is a challenging task but it's definitely not impossible. If you're wondering where to start or are considering a redesign, I'd love to talk to you about it. Contact me for a Web Clarity Call. It's free and lasts about 30 minutes. We'll discuss where you are, what's working, what's not, and I'll give you suggestions on how to make some changes or get started. And at the end of our discussion, I'll tell you the number one thing you need to do in order to move forward and get a website that will help you grow your business.
