The benefits of high-quality images for the user experience
In today’s digital world, high-quality images play a crucial role in improving the user experience. Indeed, a sharper, more detailed image can offer better visibility and understanding of content. In this article, we’ll explore the different ways in which high-quality images can improve the user experience as well as their commercial use.
Impact on user perception
High-quality images have a direct impact on how users perceive websites or mobile applications. A clear, crisp image often testifies to the seriousness and professionalism of the platform, which can encourage visitors to return and carry out actions such as registering or purchasing products.
Valuing content
High-quality images add value to the content presented to users. Whether illustrating a blog post, showcasing a product or highlighting a promotional offer, a well-chosen, high-quality image can make all the difference and make users want to investigate the subject matter further.
Increased time spent on the platform
Studies have shown that websites and apps offering high-quality images tend to encourage users to spend more time on the platform. This is because these images capture visitors’ attention and make them want to explore more of the content on offer.
Commercial use of high-quality images
The use of high-quality images can also prove highly beneficial in a commercial context. Indeed, these images are often more striking and memorable for potential customers, which can have a positive impact on a company’s brand awareness and sales.
Product or service presentation
To present a product or service effectively, it’s essential to have high-quality images. Not only does this better demonstrate the product’s features, it also gives a more professional and serious image of the company. Potential customers will thus be more inclined to trust the company and buy its products or services.
Improved conversions
High-quality images can also help improve conversion rates on a website or mobile app. In fact, they help make pages more attractive and engaging for users, who will then be more inclined to carry out actions such as filling out a contact form, signing up for a newsletter or making a purchase.
Importance of image size and weight
Although high-quality images are generally heavier and take longer to load, it’s important to find a good compromise between quality and loading speed. An image that is too heavy can have a negative impact on the user experience, particularly in terms of loading time and fluidity of navigation.
Optimizing images
To alleviate this problem, we recommend optimizing images before integrating them into a digital platform. This optimization can involve reducing file size, compressing images without loss of quality, or choosing the right image format for the intended use (JPEG for photographs, PNG for images with transparency, etc.).
Adaptation to different screens
It’s also important to ensure that high-quality images are adapted to the different types of screens used by web users (computers, tablets, smartphones). This can be achieved using techniques such as responsive design, which automatically displays an adapted version of the image according to screen size and resolution.
High-quality image sources
There are many high-quality image sources available today, from free and paid image banks to specialist photography websites and collaborations with professional photographers. Here are just a few examples of image sources:
- Free image banks: All Images, Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay…
- Paid image banks: All Images, Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Getty Images…
- Sites by independent or collective photographers
- Collaborations with professional photographers for specific projects
In conclusion, high-quality images are a major asset for enhancing the user experience and adding value to the content of a website or mobile application. They can also help reinforce a company’s brand image and reputation in a commercial context. However, it’s important to optimize these images to avoid any negative impact on platform performance.
