Why Avoiding Poor Quality And Pixelated Images Matters

With a career in graphic design, one of my major pet peeves is poor quality images. It’s such a simple detail on a website or marketing material that many small business owners get wrong. I understand that you don’t always have access to high-quality images, but I want to empower you with the language and the understanding of what to look for and what to avoid to set yourself up for success.

The fact is 67% of consumers say the quality of a product image is “very important” in selecting and purchasing from a business. If you think of the photos in your home, those photos share what is important to you. The photos we select for our marketing are just as important. They are how we best present ourselves.

The photos that you use should be presented in a way to show your best work and help your buyer visually identify if you're a good fit for them. It’s all about showcasing your skill or you and your team’s smiling, helpful faces! If you think about describing what you do versus showing someone what you do - there lies the difference in why having great photos is so impactful.

Why are good images important? Data shows the higher the quality of the image, the more likely someone is going to choose you over your competition. Poor quality images show a lack of detail, and frankly just look a little sloppy. Having high-quality images show attention to detail, and a more refined business process. Bonus: the web also rewards better quality images to help with organic growth.

Let's start with the basics. Every photo that you print or put online should have the proper pixilation crop. Specifically a printed photo needs to be 300 DPI, a website photo needs to be 72 DPI to ensure the size of the file is small enough to load quickly but look pretty!

DPI means “dots per inch” - so for printing, you want more dots per inch. For screens, the DPI can be lower because of screen resolution.

If you have too low of DPI, you will see jagged, little grainy spots on an image or perhaps a blurry look.

Let’s take a look at what to avoid:

Pixelated:

Blurry:

High Quality:

Selecting the right imagery matters. It makes you more trustworthy, it shows your professionalism, and ultimately it is more shareable to get you business!

This doesn't mean that you have to use professional photos all the time. The average cell phone camera is capable of getting great resolution images that you're able to use. Be sure not to email them and condense the size. Also be sure when you’re cropping to avoid any pixelation. 

Take a peek at your existing imagery for your marketing materials and website, and be sure to replace any images that feel blurry or pixelated.