5 Mistakes to Avoid When Adding Images to Your Site

Website images are the anchor and hook of good website design. According to research, visuals are more effective in communication, attracting viewers, influencing purchase decisions, and increasing business reputation.

But it will be hard to reap some benefits if your images aren't optimized for user expectations.

In this guide, I'll explore some common mistakes marketers make when adding images to their websites and how to fix them.

1: Adding "huge" images

Image size significantly affects website performance. When we upload large images, the site speed becomes slower and slower. And if your pages take too long to load, you risk losing visitors who need more patience to wait.

Ideally, your image size should be 125KB for the web. However, you can test how different images affect site speed to determine the best size for your page layout.

2: Adding distorted images

Everything looks normal to the visitor, unlike an image improperly stretched or scaled down.

However, with digital photos, you don't simply grab onto any side and stretch to the desired size. Instead, it would help if you pushed the 1:1 images proportionally using the appropriate tools. One of my favorites is the Image Up scaler from Stock Photos. This tool uses machine learning technology to decrypt photos and accurately erase the Image when resizing automatically.

Best of all, it has a built-in social media feature that lets you crop photos to your desired social media size – giving you the flexibility to use the same Image on the web and social media without losing quality.

3: Failure to focus on SEO

It can be easy to overlook SEO regarding images, but you need to include all the details from Google's perspective to help your page rank. For example, most of us habitually add file names as default names. However, file names that contain keywords are essential for image optimization. It also helps the visually impaired to understand better what the picture is about.

Above all, it can help your website rank better when search engines crawl your page. Take your time to create the correct names for your file. Clearly describe the file name and Alt tag using keywords. But of course, avoid keyword stuffing and only add where appropriate.

Example:

An example of a suitable file name and Alt tag for this Image is:

File name: lioness-drinking-water.jpg

Alt Tag: A brown lioness drinks water during the day

4: You are not using the correct image format

Some people assume that file extensions don't matter. It's also easy to get confused by technical abbreviations.

However, remember that not all image file formats are created equal. Each has its specific uses and set of pros and cons. For example:

JPG/JPEG files are primarily used for images and are ideal for rich color photos and gradient images. However, they compress file sizes, which can result in poor image quality. Additionally, they are not recommended for images that also contain text.

PNG is another standard file extension that supports high image quality and color representation. Because of their inability to pixelate (like JPEG), they are recommended for charts, logos, graphics, etc.

GIF is widely used in animation. They produce lower-quality images than JPEG but are often used for simple graphics.

SVG is a vector format that remains crisp and clear regardless of your viewing device.

Learn the difference between each file extension and save images according to use. This will not only display the Image correctly but also ensure that you keep all of the technical details of the performance.

5: Using a cliche image

If you can't find the time or resources to create your photo shoot for your website, it's OK to use a stock photo. However, photo sites are full of overused and somewhat generic images. If you're using one you've seen somewhere online, chances are your audience has one too.

Look carefully. As we said above, using a stock photo on your website is excellent. However, search the internet for unique images overused to death.

Instead, use images with candid shots. Avoid those that look unrealistic or squat, and go for natural photos. You can also adjust stock photos to match your website layout so they complement your brand – rather than overshadow it.