The Importance of Good Website Graphics by Kelli Brink
Hey there, it's Kelli Brink, your resident graphic design geek!
Today I just wanted to talk for a moment about your website graphics, how important they are, and WHY they're important.
FIRST OFF...
Sorry I haven't added a blog post for such a long time! I AM on Wealthy Affiliate daily, but I've been super busy managing my websites. :-)
Since joining Wealthy Affiliate, I've learned SO MUCH. Not only have I gained knowledge and made connections, but my affiliate sales are at an all-time high across all my websites.
WHY?
Because my Wealthy Affiliate training taught me WHO my customer is, where they're at in their search, all about the sales funnel, and how to catch those fish - get the bite - and reel them in!
ON TO GRAPHICS...
I've been blogging for 5 years, and I knew nothing when I started out. I knew very little about graphic design, or specifically how to create beautiful graphics for my sites. It took a lot of trial and error, a lot of learning, but I've finally gotten to a point where I feel like a pro.
I use a web-based graphic design program that is under $100 per year, and I have been very pleased with the results. This program allows me to edit photos, and add layer upon layers of design elements to achieve lovely custom graphics.
WHY ARE GOOD GRAPHICS SO IMPORTANT?
Beautiful, professional-looking graphics are what makes your website or blog stand out from the rest.
When your photos and graphics are cheap-looking, or appear to be just generic clip art, it prevents your site from looking its best. Even if you have absolutely amazing content, cheap-looking graphics are going to hurt you.
Honestly, NO graphics are better than BAD graphics.
Here are a few examples of how I use my favorite graphic design program to really stand out.
Example 1, A Blog Post Graphic:
This photo below is my example of a bad graphic.
Why is it bad? First, it is just a flat, low-resolution, shadowy photo. Second, it just has some writing slapped on top of it. There are no additional elements or embellishments to add interest.
Besides the visual elements that are lacking, the title on the graphic just says, "How to make spaghetti"...it's not catchy at all!
HOW CAN WE IMPROVE IT??
LIKE THIS! Let's add a catchy title that will make your Twitter and Pinterest followers want to click on it! Let's add multiple photos, colors, and embellishments.
This image below is A LOT better, don't you think?? This improved image actually contains about 20 different elements all put together and layered. The "bad" graphic had only 2.
EXAMPLE 2, A Website Header:
If you were looking for hair extentions and stumbled upon the website below with this header graphic, what would you think? It doesn't exactly portray anything exciting, does it? It's very blah. HOW CAN WE IMPROVE IT??
LIKE THIS! This header below for this website commands attention and really shows what it's all about. The use of fonts, colors, and images adds interest. You can tell it is a beauty website.
EXAMPLE 3, An Ebook Cover:
Below is an image that COULD be used as an ebook cover, but it's a little bland and boring. It doesn't have much interest or dimension. It's not the worst graphic ever, but, HOW CAN WE IMPROVE IT??
LIKE THIS! The image below makes a much better ebook cover because it has multiple high-res images. It has a few different fonts in various colors. It is pretty and inviting, and it looks like a book you'd want to read.
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EXAMPLE 4, A Website Bio Graphic:
Most bloggers like to include a pretty bio in a widget on their website. This usually includes a nice photo of themselves, and a little bit of info welcoming visitors to their site.
The photo below is a nice picture of a blogger, but HOW CAN WE IMPROVE IT??
LIKE THIS! Here, I used a shape cutout on her photo, added a cute background, and typed in a bio below her photo. This is a nice all-in-one graphic, all the elements are layered in one rectangle for easy insertion into a website widget, page, or post.
SO...
As you can see, there's a big difference between a good graphic and a bad one. They can make or break the look and feel of your website. Since we humans are very visual creatures, visitors to your website want to look at graphics that are appealing to them.
It takes some practice and playing around with graphic design programs, but with a little bit of effort, YOU can create really great graphics!
And if you can't or just plain don't have the time...would you like some help? I have graphic design experience creating website logos, blog post graphics, ebook covers, bio graphics, website buttons, and more.
Ask questions below if you have them! Or private message me! If I take a little while to get back to you, don't worry...I will for sure answer everyone.
In the spirit of paying it forward (which Wealthy Affiliate is all about), I'd like to create a free graphic for the first 5 people who reply below.
You tell me what you need, and I'll make it for you.
~Kelli Brink
Recent Comments
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Example 03: The ebook cover was the only one that I got correct! How could I improve it? My first though was fill up the page. Wow!
Hey all! Thanks for the great feedback and comments! To those of you who expressed an interest in some free graphics, I will send them to you ASAP! Thanks again! -Kelli
That is well said, Kelli, graphics can be one of the things that draw folks in, we have such little time to connect, well presented. What program are you using if you don't mind me asking?
Exactly! Readers tend to glaze over things...which is the same reason we use bold headings and super short paragraphs. A killer graphic is just one more visual way we can attract visitors to our content.
Graphics are one of the things I really would like to get stronger at making. What would you recommend to slowly learn how to apply more elements other than to just slap a few words on an image?
Below is an example of a pin I made which I know has a lot of room to improve.
Hey there Cramer!
Well your graphic is certainly not bad! I think there are a few little tweaks though that might add some interest.
Can I tweak it a bit and send it back to you? Or do you have another one you'd like me to do?
You can mess around with it if you like, I am more interested in learning how to make them myself and finding out a way to gain these skills through practice. That was the reason I asked thinking you could suggest a video or some type of tutorial that covers the process.
Oh yes, there are so many tutorials! Here is a link to find all the PicMonkey tutorials in one place. https://www.picmonkey.com/blog/picmonkey-tutorials
You can start simple and progress from there!
I do have a picmonkey affiliate link, so if you decide to buy it, I'd love it if you'd use my link, just let me know. Thanks so much!
Kelli :-)
Thanks for reading my post! Do you want me to make you a free graphic? Let me know what you'd like it to be! :-) Just PM'd you Vicki!
Kelli :-)
Thanks so much, Fran!
Thanks for reading my post and for the PM.
I'm going to get a graphic over to you ASAP! :-) I love the Wealthy Affiliate community. I've had SO MANY people help me with things here, and I love being able to pay it forward by using my own strengths. :-) Kelli Brink
Thanks so much for the compliment! Can I make you a free graphic? Just PM me the details and I will make it right up for you! :-) Kelli
I would love one around my picture- your pictures are great! Can you share the name of the graphic program or is that not allowed? Thanks!
I PM'd you, Beth! Thanks for reading my post. Just PM me the details of the graphic you'd like me to make for you & I will send it your way! :-) Kelli
Thank you for sharing this. I'm so aware that I need to improve my images, maybe you'd be able to share how you create those images? Thanks :)
I'm always happy to learn new things on WA. Oh and I would love some help with my header unless that's a bit too much to ask?
I PM'd you, Petra! Send me the details of what you want me to make you and I will make it! :-)
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Hey Kelli,
I have a challenge for you! I just wrote a 5,000 word blog on ACNE! I am struggling with how many pictures to put on the site, and how I can make them interesting without being gross! Unfortunately, I do not have any of the acne problems and I don't know anyone that does. I normally produce a lot of my own photos in photoshop and/or Canva. I am really stumped on this one! I can use stock photos and I don't know really what else I could do or how I could "dress up" the stock photos?
Any input from you would be welcome! Are you up for the challenge? I just realized that 8+ people have already responded. When I first clicked, it only showed 3! So actually, suggestions would be fine. Thanks for any help! I truly appreciate it! Take Care.
I am up for the challenge! :-)
I searched pixabay for acne and pimple pics (LOL LOL) and there weren't a ton, but on Google images creative commons there were a lot, so check that out! :-)
I use PicMonkey to do my graphics, let me know if you want me to make you a specific graphic (size, wording, etc) and I will send it to you. If you ever decide to purchase that program, I have an affiliate link and would be thankful!
I would basically dress up stock photos by adding them to a blank canvas in PicMonkey. Then I add blocks of color, and add text over that. I always use more than one stock photo, too, and usually change the canvas color.
You can find a lot of PicMonkey tutorials here: https://www.picmonkey.com/blog/picmonkey-tutorials
But again, let me know if you'd like me to make you something and I certainly will.
Kelli :-)