Some words are worth a thousand pictures

As the maxim goes - a picture is worth a thousand words. We are all aware of that. But can some words be worth a thousand pictures?

Is a picture really worth a thousand words? written by Jamie Kiley, is a manifestation that words can be worth a thousand pictures. “As a graphic designer, she reveals, my natural inclination is to create graphically-rich, light text websites. Since I'm focused on what a site looks like visually, I like using impressive images, bold splashes of color all over the page, and not very much copy. The end result is an attractive, visually-appealing site, with very few words.”

Based on her observation, she noticed that visitors want specifics and they want them quickly. So it is advisable that you tell them exactly what you can do for them. You should tell why they have to choose you over other competitors. For this purpose, words are far more effective than images. In some if not most cases, pictures cannot convey the message nearly as specifically or quickly as well-chosen words can. Thus, it is necessary for the web to be informative and use the right words. Visitors want explanations, answers, reasons and motivation – and that’s exactly what you suppose to give them!

“I firmly believe that pictures and images enhance a website, but they should be used to provide a tasteful, professional frame for your copy, not replace it”, Kiley added. “It is true that web users are notorious for having short attention spans and not wanting to read large amounts of copy. However, the problem is that most of the copy on websites today is vague and not enticing. It's focused on the company rather than the customer. So it should be no surprise that visitors avoid reading it.”

Don't focus strictly on graphics, focus on what the customers need. And what they need is information. If you supply them what they want, they sure gonna purchase from you.

Now, do you subscribe to the idea that a picture is worth a thousand words--and therefore images, not a lot of text, should be the major drive of your home page? Or do words have more influence to capture a visitor's attention and motivate them to purchase?

Jamie Kiley, the author of the aforementioned article creates inviting websites. If you want tips on website building or you want your website done, you can contact her at jamiekiley@kianta.com.