A header for your website is the first thing that people see when they navigate to your page. Therefore, it is important to make a strong choice which exhibits the message that you want to portray.
Headers can be created yourself by using a do it yourself software, or if you want to create something more advanced, many people turn to professional graphic designers to do it for them. Whichever route you choose, here are the best tips for making sure that you make the right choice for an image.
Does It Reflect My Business?
You want to make sure that the header you are looking for is a direct reflection of the business that you are advertising. When looking at images you want to make sure that it is relevant to your product. Something arbitrary or basic isn’t the strongest choice since people need to get a direct message of what it is they are being asked to take part in.
For example, if you are a bakery, you probably don’t want an image of a man opening an envelope as your header image. The most relevant image would be something related to baked goods. Same as if you are a blog informing about cyber security, the most relevant image would have something to do with technology and the internet.
One of the best ways to look for inspiration is by visiting pages of your competitors in your market. Take a look at what you find works or doesn’t work about their page. Once you get an idea of how other people are using their header image to their advantage, you will be able to make a more informed decision about yours.
Is It a Clear and Professional Quality Image?
When someone lands on your page and sees a poorly executed and pixelated image they are immediately going to question the quality of your brand. Your website is a direct reflection of what kind of business you run, so you want to make sure that your image is well composed and high quality.
If you don’t have a big budget for hiring a professional you can find many stock photographs online that you can use either for free or for a reasonable price. Do some shopping around and play around with a few different ideas. There are plenty to choose from.
Is It Distracting?
It is important to look at whether your website header is framing your website in a flattering way or if it is detracting from the information on your site.
You want to choose something that is complementary rather than overbearing. The text should complement the image and be easy to read.