“A picture speaks a thousand words.” But in web or digital world “A pixel is worth a thousand
words.” A “pixel” is a picture element; the smallest portion of a digitized picture which can be
changed.
Pixels are typically expressed as a matrix, e.g. 256×256, or, 512×464 (horizontally and
vertically). Web images come in the forms of JPEG, PNG, GIF or SVG. Web images need to be
hi-resolution and crisp. But, this comes at a price. Large, high definition images have huge file
sizes. Also, they take a longer time to load. This slows down the navigation process of a website
giving the browsers a snappy experience.
This causes visitors to bounce and when noticed by google, it affects the SEO. Thus, the best
practice is to strike a balance between image quality and image file size. Image optimisation
makes this possible.
This is where a digital marketing firm comes into the picture as they are equipped with tools and
technologies for online marketing. They help create a strong brand image with their digital
marketing services.
Things to do for image optimization:
1. Save the right dimension– view the image at 100% to know the exact size that it would
take for web display.
2. Save for web– reduce the file size without compromising on the quality of the image.
3. Compress image for web– remove hidden and unwanted data that takes up space.
4. Choose the right file format– depending on the image type, out of the many available
JPEG(JPG) is ideal for colorful images and PNG for simple ones. Image formats have a
significant impact on load time.
5. Scale and Crop Images to Fit Any Page Layout– images often require cropping to fit
responsive layouts and diverse device dimensions.
6. Using different image sizes for different devices– A phone does not need an image as
a large monitor needs. One can significantly decrease the resolution of an image to
serve the same purpose. This is to be done keeping in mind that mobile phones rely on
relatively slow 3G/4G connections.
By choosing the right combination of file format and compression type one can reduce image
size by as much as 5 times. Experimenting with compression techniques reveals what works
best for each image or format. Whether a web application supports user uploaded images,
deliver static images, or displays profile pictures from social networks, a digital marketing firm
manipulates them to fit the graphic design of the site.
Today, images account for more than 60% of downloaded content on a web page. Thus,
optimizing images by using professional services one can yield significant performance
improvements of any website.
Even if one saves 10-20% on each image, over time, as the website grows, every little KB can
add up to some significant savings. This leads to a pleasant overall experience for the visitors,
customers, and Google.
Benefits of image optimization using digital marketing services:
Improves the speed of loading a page.
SEO ranks high, accelerating your website.
Backups created faster.
Use of less bandwidth accelerates the browser.
Less storage space required in the server.
It is very important to create a brand identity to convey a positive and compelling message to
the audience of a website.
There are tools to optimize images (manual & auto):
Photoshop
Gimp
Paint.NET
GIFsicle- for images with animation
JPEGtran- for colourful images
JPEGMini
OptiPNG- for transparency in an image
pngquant
FileOptimizer
ImageOptim
TinyPNG- for images with very few colors
Trimage
Professional services company, e-commerce site or retail store; in today’s marketplace
everyone needs the specialized services whose branding process, creates a genuine online
presence through an array of tools.
These services are designed to help clients managing their online reputation. They present the
most professional image to the potential and existing stakeholders across the web. Whether to
revamp the look ‘n’ feel of an existing website or improve the online marketing & SEO efforts, a
Digital marketing firm creates an online brand image across the globe.