Photos on 'about me' pages - is there a need for them?

What if you are old, fat, bald and have a face only a mother could love?

Then don't use the wifes picture.

Earl

 

[iArtist]

Then don't use the wifes picture.

Earl

You should be a comedian Sir Earl

 

[Salt&Pepper]

ooh.... do tell??

well no one in this thread. But just have a look around and you might see where I come from. As somebody suggested customers (consciously or not) make judgements based on the seller appearance, or their website etc. I guess that's the reason why we don't go to meetings in our track suits

 

[Paul Murray]

I think if you're marketing yourself or your services, it's important to have an image, just because people are nosey and it's nice to put a name to a face (though my face is impossible to make out on my 'about me' page).

Also, if it's a small, family-run business then I think that could help sell the company. I couldn't really give a **** about all the employees and their roles in my local supermarket though.

Personally I hate corporate, posed-for, smiling/laughing shots. I'd rather see a natural, unplanned shot. I did have a 'posey' pic until recently and I cringe at the thought of it now.

 

[captaincloser]

Personally I hate corporate, posed-for, smiling/laughing shots. I'd rather see a natural, unplanned shot. I did have a 'posey' pic until recently and I cringe at the thought of it now.

Good point here.Probably the worst type of photo is the stock photo you get with some woman with a piece of paper in her hand smiling like a Cheshire or a couple of tailors' dummy men looking like they are about to hold hands with several other smiling nylon shirted colleagues.

I never trust those websites..cheap and not so cheerful.

 

[Paul Murray]

Probably the worst type of photo is the stock photo you get with some woman with a piece of paper in her hand smiling like a Cheshire...

With a 'customer service' headset on, along with a 'close up of men in suits shaking hands'. They may as well just right in big letters "WE'RE TRUSTWORTHY!".

It would be much more subtle.

 

[iArtist]

well no one in this thread. But just have a look around and you might see where I come from. As somebody suggested customers (consciously or not) make judgements based on the seller appearance, or their website etc. I guess that's the reason why we don't go to meetings in our track suits

I can think of only one that makes me recoil back ..cos they look a tad like a spectre I have always wondered why they choose that particular image..I am sure they have much nicer ones. Maybe it's deliberate!

Meanwhile if I posted pic of me in work clothes...it'd be me in pj's most the time, given the odd hrs I work, so maybe that's not a good idea

 

[iArtist]

Right then *deep breath*

After reading and considering all the comments here, I have bravely stuck an informal pic of me up in my flip flops and re-wrote my previously formal 'about me' page to something less 'stiff lipped' and more real.

Please be kind if you choose to comment on it! Though if the flip flops need to go...let me know!!

 

[BustersDogs]

I've got our pics on my site, but mainly to show us interacting with the dogs. At least 3 of us you can't see our faces because we're busy playing with dogs. Only the good looking ones are allowed to look at the camera!

 

[iArtist]

I've got our pics on my site, but mainly to show us interacting with the dogs. At least 3 of us you can't see our faces because we're busy playing with dogs. Only the good looking ones are allowed to look at the camera!

I have recently drawn a cartoon of a dog riding a bike..might look cute on your site. You can use it if you like? Have to wait till I digitalise it though.

 

[BustersDogs]

That's very kind of you! Maybe you could use it for a guest blog post for us. :-D Must be of interest to dog owners! I've got a few put aside, I can't seem to blog more than once a month, but need more than that really!

 

[iArtist]

That's very kind of you! Maybe you could use it for a guest blog post for us. :-D Must be of interest to dog owners! I've got a few put aside, I can't seem to blog more than once a month, but need more than that really!

Yep sounds like a good idea. I rather like the idea of this dog riding a bike as a 'boredom buster' exercise

If you're interested you could offer via your site pet caricatures and take 25% comission of any sales? If interested pm me.

 

[I Love Spreadsheets]

What if you are old, fat, bald and have a face only a mother could love?

Like me you mean

It doesnt matter, I think having the face of a real human on your site gets over that you will be dealing with a real person, not someone hidden behind a faceless website

 

[sla3]

Right then *deep breath*

After reading and considering all the comments here, I have bravely stuck an informal pic of me up in my flip flops and re-wrote my previously formal 'about me' page to something less 'stiff lipped' and more real.

Please be kind if you choose to comment on it! Though if the flip flops need to go...let me know!!

Wow! You aren't at all the scary monster you come over as with all of your quarrelsome and controversial posts. Very human and reassuring. The lady sitting next to you is fine too, but don't let her take all the limelight.

 

[BustersDogs]

Awwww, my dog's called Fred too.

 

[iArtist]

Wow! You aren't at all the scary monster you come over as with all of your quarrelsome and controversial posts. Very human and reassuring. The lady sitting next to you is fine too, but don't let her take all the limelight.

hahahaha ...

 

Wow! You aren't at all the scary monster you come over as with all of your quarrelsome and controversial posts.

Thats just the Artistic temperament,something us great artists suffer from.

Must say she has become a very competent and amusing artist,not something one could say about many so called famous artists.

I mean apart from Salvador Dali ( who I am not sure was human ) I can't think of any artists that had a sense of humor.?

Although many of there works of art were a joke.

Earl

 

[iArtist]

Thats just the Artistic temperament,something us great artists suffer from.

Must say she has become a very competent and amusing artist,not something one could say about many so called famous artists.

I mean apart from Salvador Dali ( who I am not sure was human ) I can't think of any artists that had a sense of humor.?

Although many of there works of art were a joke.

Earl

Salvador is my absolute fav. His pictures are nuts. Thanks for compliment re my pics btw . I am also seeing improvement and I do anticipate, retirement will treat me well. Just give me 20 more yrs of practice!

 

[sla3]

I mean apart from Salvador Dali ( who I am not sure was human ) I can't think of any artists that had a sense of humor.?

Escher?

But that's wasn't poor old Salvador's sense of humour, that was his sense of reality!

 

[iArtist]

'ere, look what I found!


http://visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/split-testing-blog/human-landing-page-increase-conversion-rate/

It concludes thus:

"
So, should you use human photo on your website?

There are hundreds of more research studies and probably more A/B test results that you can read but from what I have read and observed, here are some salient points about human photos on websites:

• Human photos on a website definitely have positive impact on visitor's first impression of trustworthiness
• Human photos with focus on face have much better impact (as emotional connect is stronger)
• Photos should be "real". Visitors can tell when you are using stock photos
• Most important conclusion: human photos are not panacea for all websites. Best is to A/B test photos v/s no photos on your website. Many research papers proved that in some cases, human photos may actually have a negative impact"

 

[Dave.F]

So should we or not?????????????

Has anyone here tested A/B ?

If so can we see your results and photo

 

[iArtist]

So should we or not?????????????

Has anyone here tested A/B ?

If so can we see your results and photo

Hehe, I know

It's like, yes..yes..yes...then...

or NOT...no..no...no

hehe

I think we should if providing a personalised service of sorts, if not then no need.




(are we still talking about photos? )