{"id":21676,"date":"2019-03-14T11:08:50","date_gmt":"2019-03-14T16:08:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/?p=21676"},"modified":"2019-03-14T11:32:52","modified_gmt":"2019-03-14T16:32:52","slug":"when-you-need-professional-photography-for-your-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/when-you-need-professional-photography-for-your-website\/","title":{"rendered":"When You Need Professional Photography For Your Website"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Imagine if in just 2 short seconds you could start to build trust and authority with your customer'\u00a6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For most of us, this is the key to more sales online. The truth is that with most people the 2-second shot clock starts the instant a visitor lands on your webpage. Understanding how to convert customers online was a key for me in going from zero to over 1.3 million dollars in online business in under 60 days<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Content Is King'\u00a6 Think Again!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You may have heard this statement before'\u00a6 people will tell you '\u02dccontent is king.\u2019 The belief is that the content you create is the most important component in your brand. Before we take a look at this idea, let me share a statistic with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have on average 2.2 seconds to make a good impression before someone leaves your website. Yes'\u00a6 just 2.2 seconds. Most people who visit a website decide if they will stay or leave immediately within 2.2 seconds. You might be thinking, 'that doesn\u2019t feel fair! I spent weeks building my website!'\u009d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you land on a website that looks like it was built in 1995, what do you do? You leave! Why? Because you don\u2019t trust it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why content is not king; visuals are king<\/a>! Because without visuals that command authority, your viewer won\u2019t ever give your content the opportunity it deserves. The most significant visual component to your website and design are your photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professional Photos To The Rescue<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The easiest way to build trust and authority on your website is by using professional photos. This is true for your brand, a business, or a blog. In professional media, there are two types of photos that you could use – stock photos that you license and your own photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stock Photography<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stock photography<\/a> refers to professional photos that you license to use. Some stock photography is royalty free, meaning you don\u2019t need to pay royalty fees or license fees for each use. Some royalty free stock photography is free, and others are paid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either way, be sure you look at the copyright and license agreement to determine if or how you can use the photography. For instance, do you have to give credit citation or link to the creator? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: the <\/em>Gator Website Builder <\/em><\/a>comes with an extensive library of stock photos that are free to use with your package.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can tell you from experience that even the pricier options are worth it. Visuals are one of the most powerful pieces of the internet. If you\u2019ve ever hired a photographer for professional headshots, a wedding, or an event, then you know how expensive and time-consuming photography can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Select the Perfect Stock Photo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An essential component of stock photography is understanding why you\u2019re using it. Before you can select the perfect stock photo<\/a>, you want to know and understand precisely why you need it. You can\u2019t know what you need without understanding why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest keys to selecting the perfect stock photo for your website is having a goal in mind. The goal is to elicit an emotional response. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have a strong background in songwriting, and I have found that understanding music has helped to show this aspect of human psychology. But you don\u2019t want to write music. You\u2019re here because you\u2019re building a website. So why do you care?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I have to write a song I have a lot of tools on the table to use. I have instruments to choose from, a tempo to pick, melody, rhythm, and lyrics. The end goal that I\u2019ve found in music is to create an emotional response in the listener. The same purpose applies to business and sales. This is because all buyers buy with emotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If my goal in a song is to write something to make someone sad, I will write a slow tempo ballad with sad lyrics in a minor key. That is how I get that emotion, and those are the tools that I have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what about a website? What tools do I have to build the emotion?<\/p>\n\n\n\n