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A Picture's Worth: The Importance of High-Quality Images on Your Practice's Website

By   |  April 5, 2017

In this digital age, your website is a vital resource for potential clients to learn more about your practice and communicate effectively with your staff. But the materials on your website are sometimes more important than the site itself. If the site isn't complete and user friendly, it may pose more of a hindrance to your business than an asset.

One of the most important types of content for your website is high-quality images. In this blog, we discuss which images your website should utilize and why images are so vital for website design.

Which Images Are Best for Healthcare Practice Websites?

Not all images are created equal. For example, a grainy map-style shot of the street you're located on isn't as effective or inviting as a clear photograph of your building with a clear view of your signage.

All the pictures used on your website should be the correct size and resolution for the format to ensure that all your customers see a consistent, professional image of your practice.

You should also employ several types of images to make your website content more dynamic. Your practice may benefit from the following image types:

  • Click-through offers. While many of your links can be included as text, click-through images can offer an eye-catching way to ensure your patients take advantage of promotions, discounts, and special offers.
  • Infographics. Infographics incorporate statistics, diagrams, and illustrations to convey clear, concise messages.
  • Product images. If you offer healthcare products or use top-of-the-line equipment, you may want to include well-lit, professional photographs of these items on your product or service pages.
  • Property photos. In addition to an image of the front of your building, including pictures of your lobby and exam rooms can help patients know what to expect from your facility.
  • Relevant stock photos. When choosing stock photos, you want images that are inviting and relatable. For example, a dentist may benefit from displaying smiling families rather than photographs of sports fields or office sets.
  • Staff portraits. Introduce your staff members ahead of time with portraits. These pictures should be headshots and feature welcoming smiles.

In addition to the guidelines listed above, all the images you use must be legally obtained and displayed. If you aren't sure how to find high-quality images that are relevant to your practice and labeled for commercial reuse, work with a reputable website design team.

How Do Website Images Benefit Your Practice?

The right combination of images can provide your practice with numerous benefits. Your site may experience the following benefits from the inclusion of high-quality images.

Better Social Media Integration

Social media links are more effective when they include an image. When your site already has adequate images, links on Facebook, Twitter, and similar platforms show those images as part of the links to your website. This inclusion means that you don't have to find new thumbnail images for your social media posts.

Clearer Messaging

As mentioned above, certain images can convey your message even better than copywriting. For example, an infographic can give your patients a large amount of information in an approachable, scannable format. Similarly, click-through images often get more attention than lengthy paragraphs of promotional text.

Improved Search Engine Optimization

While search-engine indexing bots do not "see" images, they do read image alt-text and take note of where images exist. Websites with sufficient images often rank better in search engine results, especially if the images all have effective alt-text.

Additionally, search engine results that feature images are more likely to be clicked on than those without because these results catch the searcher's eye more easily.

Lower Bounce Rate

Your website's "bounce rate" describes how often individuals come to your site and immediately leave. As we discussed in our previous blog, "3 Essentials to Reduce Your Website's Bounce Rate," engaging content like high-quality images can keep prospective patients on your page for longer.

By extension, a lower bounce rate typically leads to a higher conversion rate. Essentially, the longer people stick around on your site, the more likely they are to read through your patient education materials and make an appointment.

Optimized Formatting

Text-heavy formatting does not work well on digital platforms. Online materials must be easy to understand without a lot of extra words. One of the ways you can optimize your formatting is by including relevant images to pique readers' interest, break up large sections of text, and help explain complex concepts.

As you optimize your practice website, prioritize choosing clear, engaging images that will make your practice more appealing to potential and current patients alike.

At Dr. Leonardo, we work with healthcare providers to help them develop the best possible websites. Our services include helping you choose images that best reflect your practice and values. Learn more about our process on our How It Works page.

Interested in Learning More About Images to Use on your Website? Contact Dr. Leonardo Today.

For more information, contact Dr. Leonardo today. We can also be reached directly at 516-586-1300. We look forward to hearing from you soon.