Is your website looking a little dated? Are you not getting the engagement you’d like on social media? It might be time to take a look at your images. Visual content is an integral part of digital marketing. Let’s dig into the following facts.
It has been scientifically proven that text is processed 60,000 slower than visual information.This is why a picture may be worth 1000 words and help you to get more views on your content! Research claims that images increase engagement up by 94%. The quality of the image used impacts potential customers’ decisions about whether or not they will buy what’s being advertised – so use high-quality visuals for maximum impact in eCommerce marketing campaigns!.
So if your images are not well optimized, you’re missing out on potential conversions and engagements. Here are 5 image optimization strategies to get you started!
1. Choose the Right File Format
When it comes to file format, there are three main types: JPEG, PNG, and GIF. You need to make a choice based on your needs as each of them has its own strengths and weaknesses. You can use free online photo editors that will allow you to edit image online and choose the file format you need.
JPEG is the most common file format used for digital photos. It is also the best choice for images with lots of detail, like photos taken with a high-resolution camera. The downside to JPEG is that it can result in some loss of quality when the image is compressed.
PNG is a newer file format that was developed as an alternative to GIF. PNG files are lossless, meaning they do not lose any quality when they are compressed. This makes them ideal for images with lots of colors or complex designs. The downside to PNG is that they can be larger in file size than JPEG or GIF files.
GIF is the oldest file format and was originally developed for use on the internet. GIF files are lossless, meaning they do not lose any quality when compressed. They are also small in file size, making them ideal for use on websites. The downside to GIF is that they can only be used for images with a limited number of colors.
When choosing the right file format for your images, there are a few things you need to take into consideration. The first is the quality of the image. If you have an image with lots of detail or complex colors, then JPEG or PNG would be the best choice. If you have an image that is simple, like a logo or cartoon, then GIF would be the best choice.
The second thing to consider is the file size. JPEG and PNG files can be large in file size, so if you are worried about your website loading slowly, then you may want to choose GIF instead.
The last thing to consider is the compatibility of the file format. JPEG and PNG are compatible with all web browsers, but GIF is only compatible with older versions of Internet Explorer. If you want to ensure that your images are viewable by all visitors, then you should choose JPEG or PNG.
2. Compress Your Images
The first thing you need to do is open up your image in an editing program like Photoshop or Watermarkly. Once you have your image open, go to the “File” menu and select “Save for Web.” This will bring up a new window with all of the different settings that you can use to compress your image.
The most important setting to pay attention to is the “Quality” setting. This is where you can choose how much compression you want to apply to your image. The lower the quality, the more compressed your image will be. And while a highly compressed image might not look as good as a less compressed one, it will load much faster on a web page.
So, how do you know what quality setting to use? Well, it really depends on the image. If it’s something like a photograph, then you’ll probably want to stay closer to the 100% quality setting. But if it’s something like a logo or an icon, then you can probably get away with using a lower quality setting.
Once you’ve chosen your quality setting, all you need to do is click the “Save” button and your image will be compressed and ready for the web! So, there you have it: a quick and easy way to compress your images for better web performance. Now go forth and optimize those images!
3. Resize Your Images
One of the most important aspects of image optimization is sizing your images correctly. If an image is too large, it will take longer to load on a page. This can impact your site’s performance and affect your SEO ranking. On the other hand, if an image is too small, it will appear pixelated and low quality.
To ensure that your images are the perfect size, you’ll need to resize them. This can be done in a number of ways, depending on the software you’re using. For example, if you have Photoshop, you can change the size of your picture in the “Image Size” section. First, open your image in Photoshop. Then, go to Image > Image Size.
In the dialog box, make sure that the “Resample Image” checkbox is unchecked. This will ensure that your image doesn’t lose any quality when you resize it. Then, enter the new width and height for your image. Click “OK” to resize your image.
You can also use free online tools to resize your images. Canva is a great option for this. Simply upload your image to the platform and then click on “Resize.” From there, you can choose the new dimensions for your image. Once you’re happy with the sizing, download your image and it’s ready to be used on your website!
4. Use the Correct Dimensions
If you’re using images for your website or blog, you want to make sure that they’re optimized for the best possible performance. That means using the correct dimensions for the image.
If you’re not sure what dimensions to use, there are a few things you can do to find out.
First, you can check with the website or blog platform you’re using. They may have specific requirements for images.
Second, you can use an online to help you find the right dimensions for your image.
Finally, you can experiment with different dimensions to see what works best for your particular image. Once you find the perfect dimensions, make sure to use them every time you upload an image to your website or blog. This will ensure that your images are always optimized for the best possible performance.
5. Use a CDN
A content delivery network (CDN) is a system of distributed servers that deliver webpages and other Web-based content to users based on their geographic locations. The main purpose of a CDN is to improve the performance of website visitors by reducing the distance between them and the server that stores the website’s files.
One way to optimize your images is to use a CDN. A content delivery network can help you with this because it speeds up the process of getting your images from the server to the user. It does this by caching your images on multiple servers around the world so that when a user tries to load an image, they are served the copy that is closest to them.
This reduces the amount of time that it takes for the image to load and makes for a better user experience. In addition, a CDN can also help reduce the bandwidth that your website uses because it will serve cached versions of your images instead of always pulling them from your server. This can save you money on your hosting bill and make your website faster for everyone.
So if you’re looking for ways to optimize your images, Hope the above 5 are great options. These can speed up the loading time of your images and save you money on bandwidth. Besides, it won’t take much effort to set up and use them. So why not give those a try?