1. As discussed in class, please provide three reasons why visuals are important to web content. Please ensure you go into detail for each item. (6 Marks)
As we discussed in class when we produce and develop web content aimed at an audience, we have to take into account that 65% of the population are visual learners, meaning that in order to further engage with our audience in a more efficient way, we have to make use of visuals within our content because as we saw in class, people spend 100% more time on our page if they have visuals. Most people only read 28% of what’s written on a page, but when visuals are implemented, we guarantee that they will see the image and receive a message from it as visuals get 94% more views than text-based information. In other words, visuals make information more digestible for audiences and are of great importance when writing web content, the three main reasons to further explain it are: that visuals stick in long-term memory, transmit information faster, and trigger emotions.
- Visuals Stick in Long-term Memory:
As discussed and reviewed in class, humans have very short attention spans, which is why content with visuals gets significantly more views and engagement. The reality is, we humans not only prefer content with visuals but we rather need them most of the time. We have a very short average attention span, meaning that in order to capture the reader’s attention and ensure they store the information we are providing in their long-term memory, we have to pair our concepts with meaningful images. According to Hollingsworth, S. (2023, April 29). 7 Reasons Why Content Needs Amazing Images, Videos & Visuals. Search Engine Journal. https://www.searchenginejournal.com/why-content-needs-amazing-images-videos-visuals/268911/ visuals are not only the first thing to stand out but they are memorable and more likely to resonate with audiences overtime, making it easier to generate recall.
- 2. Visuals Trigger Emotions:
Additionally, as we discussed in class, visuals cause faster and stronger reactions than words, and this can be a valuable tool not only when producing content for web but also for marketing purposes, as it helps us engage with users faster and trigger emotions and reactions out of them, and this is due to the fact that visual memory is encoded in the medial temporal lobe of the brain, the same place where emotions are processed. Visuals can evoke emotions instantly, as when an image uses color, form, and facial expressions, it can express many emotions and feelings without a single word. This can be very beneficial whenever we as advertisers want to increase conversion rates. For example, an inspirational image would push users to comply with a specific call to action, like sharing the content, purchasing, or subscribing to a newsletter. https://www.searchenginejournal.com/why-content-needs-amazing-images-videos-visuals/268911
- 3. Visuals transmit messages faster and improve comprehension:
Lastly, we also learned that visuals have been found to improve learning by up to 400 percent.
Images and other visual elements help to facilitate fast and effective information transmission. The human brain processes images up to 60,000 times faster than text; literally in seconds, the users understand the main message of the content. This is critical for the digital space, where user attention remains low and heavily contested because as we saw in class today digital users have a very low attention span. For example, graphics, infographics, and diagrams will make it easier to describe complicated data coherently and easily.