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Photoshop
Most websites can be improved by adding images and pictures. However large images can take a long time to download. In the context of a website ‘large’ is not necessarily related to the physical size of the displayed image.
For example an image of 400x400 pixels may be 20k or 800k (ie 40 times as large) and it does not necessarily follow that the 800k image will be better or clearer than the 20k image. Equally an image that is only 100x100 pixels may be large in terms of its storage requirement ie the number of kilobytes.
Photoshop (and other programs) can be used to optimise images for display over the web so that the right level of quality is maintained while minimising the size (number of kilobytes) of the image file. There is a related article Website Images - Pixels and Quality on the articles web page.
There are many image storage formats; jpeg, gif, tiff, bmp, png, etc. and it is important to use the most appropriate format to store the image. For example a two-colour logo would normally be stored as a ‘gif’ file and a photograph as a ‘jpg’ rather than a ‘tiff’ file.
When images are used in the right way they will totally transform the ‘look and feel’ of a website and keep your customers interested and create that favourable all-important first impression. You only get one chance to create a first impression.
Web Marketing (Part Two)
Part one of this series highlighted the importance of having a good website.
Equally important for small business is to have a consistent image. This does not mean spending two million pounds with a design consultancy. But having a decent logo design, clear strapline (see below) and message etc embodied in the website, business cards and stationary builds credibility and looks more professional … and need not be expensive.
A strapline is the short phrase that best describes your business. This could be your USP – unique selling point eg "24-hour mobile chiropractor - there to get you mobile."
And having a professionally printed postcard advertisement in your local library or shop should be complemented by a website in the same style, with the same message. This attention to detail shows that you take your business, and therefore your clients, seriously.
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