7 types of stock images you must stop using today

By WebMeUp.Com

Visual content drives engagement

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

The Fact

Increased traffic flow

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Increased traffic flow

Better social media exposure

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

Increased traffic flow

Better social media exposure

Juicy links from popular websites

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

Increased traffic flow

Better social media exposure

Juicy links from popular websites

Higher conversion rates

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

Increased traffic flow

Better social media exposure

Juicy links from popular websites

Higher conversion rates

Outstandingly visualized brand

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

Increased traffic flow

Better social media exposure

Juicy links from popular websites

Higher conversion rates

Outstandingly visualized brand

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

That is what you can achieve if you get the right images.

But how can you make your site’s images better?

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

Let’s start with

types of images you should avoid!

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

1. Freaky and unnatural emotions.

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

When your customers contact you they definitely don’t look this way

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

…or this one.

Normally we don't make such faces, as that looks completely unnatural.

So why do you think people will be touched by something that's totally unnatural and looks funny?

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

Alternative:

Contact some of your old-time users and ask for an interview and a couple of photos.

Even some amateur pictures done in the natural setting will look much better than the examples above.

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

2. Happy and organized corporate

people everywhere.

.

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Do you really start you working day the same way?

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Also some parts of the bodies of the office workers next to the switched off devices seem to be popular.

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•

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

Hmm…something is seriously wrong here!

Alternative

In case you don't want to place the photos of your real office and real employees, then focus on something else.

By the way, garage businesses and start-ups are all trendy these days, so the severe look of your "headquarters" can be quite interesting!

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

3. Abstract 3D figures and all other abstract things

.

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http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

Looks 1990’s… and weird.

•

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Clouds…

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Lamps…

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and even a bigger number of lamps…

… don't explain why you are creative, smart and competitive!

These images are huge space-eaters on your site's pages – they don't help to convey the necessary messages and only distract visitors’ attention.

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

4. People with laptops and tablets in weird settings

.

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http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

Would you really think about work at a sunny seaside ?

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OMG! this guy takes an "extreme" approach to business.

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Welcome the King of multi-tasking!

This man can work surfboarding at sea and without even

looking at his laptop screen.

Sitting on the beach with the laptop is not the sign of success, prosperity and free way of living and working.

By the way, if you try to work with the laptop on the beach, you will understand that it is NOT comfortable and you will get distracted all the time!

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

5. Quick faking of the product in the stock image.

.

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

No need to be an advanced Photoshop

user to understand that there’s something

terribly wrong with the picture.

6. Boards. Whiteboards, greenboards, glass boards.

.

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

People truly believe in the power of the board, but they keep on adding images with boards everywhere!

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http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

Like this one,

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…or this.

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Sometimes you don't even need a board.

Anyway, these images don’t tell the story.

They don’t tell what you do, how and why your users need to care.

So, please avoid them!

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

7. Low-resolution images.

.

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

Whatever the image, please don’t try to save 50 cent on buying a pic with ridiculously small resolution.

That’s totally unprofessional and ruins the impression on any page.

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

Meh…

Bottom-line: Every time before you decide to use stock images, ask yourself 3 questions: • Does this image look professional? • Does it help better understand what I'm

talking about? • Would the page lose any value if I remove

the image?

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

Beware of:

• Pictures that are irrelevant and not realistic

• Pictures that are meaningless

• Low-quality pics

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html

Choose the right images and stay cool.

Pro tip: kittens ROCK!

For more info check

WebMeUp Blog:

http://webmeup.com/blog/stock-images-to-avoid.html