The Do’s and Don’ts of Using Stock Images in Web Design

Follow this list of what to do and not to do when using stock images in web design in order to maximize visual appeal and increase engagement with users.

A picture speaks a thousand words.

This saying is as relevant now as it was about a century ago.

Visuals are incredibly essential when it comes to the world of web design. They help organizations show the realistic side of the story, which words fail to express.

When you hear a piece of information, you will remember only 10% of what was said. Throw some visuals along with the content, and the retention rate goes up to 65%! Images also help to rejuvenate the overall SEO potential of a website.

However, your budget and time constraints may leave very few opportunities for companies to craft original images. Fortunately, they can utilize stock photos.

Benefits of Using Stock Photos

We are living in a digital landscape.

The audience yearns for high-quality visuals to enhance their overall experience on a website. The absence of images creates monotony and compels visitors to quit navigating your site.

Stock photos serve as a knight in shining armor. They bring various perks your way:

• A wide variety of pictures – You can explore images with the same keyword until you find the perfect shot
• Gives you the right to access intellectual property – You get the type of license you want to use an image.
• Saves time and budget – Getting a stock image is swift, easy, and costs a lot less than taking original pictures.
• You can test the photos – Some platforms allow you to evaluate if the picture will be functional for your site before you purchase them

Checking out the do’s and don’ts of using stock photos in your website design will help you understand how to excel at utilizing them.

Let’s check them out without further ado:

Do’s and Don’ts of Using Stock Images in Web Design Content

Do: Check Relevancy

Many Marketers often choose the wrong stock photos in haste. They forget that images are added to complement the written content, not merely fill the spaces.

Your entire design efforts may drain when you add a picture that doesn’t fit the bill.

Instead, put yourself in the audience’s shoes. Make sure you pick photos that convey the message accurately and convince them to convert.

Don’t: Overlook the Quality

The stock photo portals are overloaded with images.

However, you should not leave any stone unturned when selecting a picture for your website. Factors like low resolution and blurriness in the photos reduce the impact you are trying to make.

Some of the best stock photo websites to find high-quality images include:

• Stock Photo Secrets
• Shutter Stock
• Pexels
• Pixabay

Images with wrong dimensions and pixelated quality compel visitors to quit your platform altogether. Hence, we strongly recommend using images with correct dimensions and maximum resolution to enhance the site layout.

Do: Check the Licensing

It is imperative to read the terms of use on the Stock Photo website to adhere to legal requirements. A license also states if the buyer has the right to edit the image and use them on commercial platforms.

The primary elements to remember when navigating the stock photo portals are:

• Stock photos can have legal constraints
• A royalty-free license will allow you to use the image more than once after a single payment
• A rights-managed license allows one-time usage of the photo. Next time, you need to purchase another license when using the same image.
• An extended license allows you to use the picture as a commercial end product.

Bear in mind that a stock image portal may change the license according to their preferences. It will help if you evaluate all the license details to know about the various conditions.

Don’t: Ignore Image SEO Optimization

Image SEO optimization helps to increase the page loading speed and improves the overall user experience. Implementing good SEO practices will help you ace the search engine algorithms.

Use the following tips to optimize stock photos on your website:

• Add relevant keywords
• Use Alt-Text to facilitate the visually-impaired readers
• Rename the picture files to descriptive terms
• Compress the photos to reduce their weight
• Use good quality photos
• Add images on the sitemap

No doubt about it, Image optimization is vital to help rank your pictures in search engines.

Do: Choose Images Aligning with Your Brand

Google is smart and focuses on relevance. So, if your blog talks about winter cardigans and shawls, irrelevant images of summer or spring attire will not help with the rankings.

Using photos that create a poor impression of your brand or alienate your visitors can degrade your efforts. So, it is best to discard any images that will clash with the visual design of your webpage.

Don’t: Represent Other People’s Work as Yours

This is a crucial point to remember when using stock photos. Depending on the license, some stock photo websites require the users to credit the original photographer.

Even if they don’t obligate you to pay credits, it’s best that you shouldn’t represent others’ work as your own. Avoid all practices where you imply you or your team captured these photos.

Wrapping It Up

There is no denying that stock photos are a fantastic way to add a visual appeal to your website. But sometimes, you may find it challenging to find a photo that matches your brand or content.

You should keep looking for the right image rather than jumping to the first stock photo you come across. Remember, these photos are an asset to your website. You must go leaps and bounds to make them fit your purpose!

When the photos grab the attention of your audience, they will spend more time on your website, resulting in a better conversion rate. Good Luck!