Picture Perfect! Make a Great First Impression with Your Photos

By Dave Allen

First impressions are everything in today’s fast-paced, digital marketing world.

Consider: The average website user needs less than two-tenths of a second to form an opinion about a website, according to a study conducted by Missouri University of Science and Technology. That’s less time than it takes one to make a full backswing. Furthermore, the same viewer requires just 2.6 seconds to find the one feature image or item that most influences their first impression.

What does this all mean? It says that if you want to make a good first impression with potential new clients, AND get them to spend more time clicking through your website and reading about your products and services, that you better have attractive, engaging photography to draw and keep them in. The more visually appealing your website is, the better the user experience and the better chance you have of converting their visit into a transaction.

Nobody wants to read a novel when they come to a website, either. The more copy there is on a web page, the more likely they are to bounce off that page and look somewhere else. In fact, the typical user spends an average of 5.94 seconds looking at a website’s main image, compared to just 5.59 seconds consuming the written content on the page. Yes, in the case of the modern website, less (written content) is more.

Having good photography is just as important in the social media landscape. According to data from Wishpond, photo posts on Facebook receive 120 percent more engagement and 53% more likes than the average post. What’s more, they attract 104% more comments than the average post. They even outperform video posts on Facebook, attracting an engagement rate of 37% to 31%.

I can throw a whole bunch of other stats at you but one thing is certain, the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words” has never had more meaning than it does today. If you want to increase the number of engagements, likes, clicks, click-throughs, retweets, etc., on your website and social media, and attract more new customers, then it pays to have good photography. It’s also one of the fastest and easiest ways to increase viewer engagement, not to mention one of the cheapest.

At Golf Content Solutions, we specialize in providing top-notch, professional golf instruction and promotional photography for golf professionals. Our team has overseen hundreds of photo and video shoots over the last 20-plus years, and knows how to produce images that are not only visually appealing and correct, but also bring your products and services to life.

Good photography requires more than a super high-resolution smartphone device. It demands, among other things:

• Good lighting
• A sound understanding of different camera angles and how they apply to the golf swing
• Strong attention to detail (specifically backgrounds, clothing, turf conditions, etc.)
• A well-defined, organized shot list
• Knowledge of the correct image dimensions to fit all different-sized digital devices
• The ability to work on a tight deadline and change on the fly, if necessary

For more information about our photo services and how we might assist you with putting your business’ best face forward on the web and social media, please email dave@golfcontentsolutions.com. Also, for more information about our additional services, which include website development and social media and email marketing, visit GolfContentSolutions.com.