Take a good look at the photos and videos in your media library and be honest with yourself. Are you using high quality images? Do they load quickly on your web pages? If your media library doesn’t reflect your brand’s image and quality, visitors will go somewhere else.

Don’t let your media library keep you from gaining new customers!

A picture is worth a thousand words and this is especially true for a website. Online shoppers are busy and they will leave your site within seconds if the homepage fails to draw them in. The images in your media library have a direct impact on traffic, user experience and conversion rates. Whatever photos and videos you are featuring online, one thing is certain: Your images are sending a message.

Small businesses are notorious for using poor visual content on their websites. We’re not pointing any fingers… but are you one of the guilty ones? If an amateur takes your photos and videos, your media library is quite possibly a flop. This is important to acknowledge because it impacts your conversion rate!

Most people can tell a good media library from a bad one

The truth is that most people can tell a good image from a bad one, even without any knowledge of photography. Media content surrounds us every day, so our brains are used to judging the quality of visual content. Your website will be far more effective when you showcase your business the right way. If your homepage is displaying poor visual content, your first-time visitors are not going to stick around long enough to find out what you’re offering.

It’s hard to describe in words what makes a image a “good one” but at a glance you can see the difference. Here are ten guidelines you should keep in mind.

Images for you website should be:

1. Shot using professional equipment
2. High resolution as appropriate for onscreen viewing
3. Contrasted background/foreground
4. Well lit with minimal shadows
5. Accurate in color and scale
6. Zoomed in enough to show detail
7. Not blurry or pixelated
8. Not overly photo-shopped (it kills credibility)
9. Consistent with other photos in the collection
10. Saved in proper format for fast upload speed

Make sure the images in your media library are shareable

Photos and videos are valuable content boosters when it comes to online marketing. Savvy businesspeople compile stunning images in a media library, to be easily shared on a website or social media platform. The chance of your links being shared and your posts going viral increases significantly when you attach a dynamic image or an interesting video. Quality images tend to capture attention, increase engagement and promote network sharing.

Keep off-limits images out of your media library

Don’t be so fast to grab photos that you’re finding on Google Images. Even if the photo doesn’t have a stamp or watermark over it, you still might not be legally allowed to use it. Make sure you filter photos according to copyright and usage rights. Some photos are completely off limits, and others are permitted for non-commercial use. This can become a big problem, especially if the photo goes viral. You may be forced to delete content, regardless of the interaction you’ve received on it. The photo’s original owner could also sue you, so be careful about copyright infringement.

Options are quite limited when it comes to finding royalty-free professional photography. You could subscribe to a stock photography service, but this will only provide you with general photos, to set the overall mood of your page. Too much stock  photography can make a website seem generic. The better option is to schedule a photoshoot so you can access a bunch of useable content for your media library.

If your media library isn’t awesome, call a professional

Your media library is a worthwhile investment. Whenever possible, get professional original images for your webpages. Don’t forget to use professional photos on your social media marketing. Depending on your budget, professional photo and video services might be too expensive. This is probably why so many small businesses use dull, boring imagery. There are commercial photographers at the low end and high end. Prices range from $20 to $65 per photo. Some photographers charge hourly and add a fee for each photo you choose to have edited.

A great media library is possible even on a tight budget

Consider hiring a local college-level artist to help build your media library. You might want to see a portfolio first, just to be safe. Make sure that the photographer’s skill level and style and quality meet your expectations. Also remember to keep your images updated. Your media library should display the complete product line that you carry. Try to think ahead and plan a follow-up photo shoot when you release new products. Ask the photographer to make a note so you can replicate your original setup when it’s time to add new photos.

Use your media library to engage visitors and increase sales

Every business needs to have a media library full of high quality photos and videos. Use professional visual content on your website and your media library will help convert leads into customers!