Hero images
What are hero images?
Hero images are an image, video or any other graphic resource (photo, infographic, etc.) shown prominently, mainly at the top of a website, so that it’s impossible to miss when you visit a site’s homepage.
Their main purpose is to highlight a product, strengthen the brand image, or quickly convey the company’s essence.
1. Use of hero images
The use of hero images is mainly associated with a website’s homepage, although this trend has evolved over time and it’s now very common to find them in a site’s main sections, landing pages, etc., where they’re used to capture the visitor’s attention again.
- They help tell stories. They’re a great tool for telling stories and even reducing objections. Whether as a testimonial, as social proof or as the common thread of a particular experience, a good hero image helps our message resonate with visitors.
- In special offers. In ecommerce, brands commonly use hero images to spotlight specific products and services. Brands can use this strategy to run clearance promotions, draw attention to new products, gather visitor data, and more.
- Improving conversions. One of the most common uses of hero images is to place a highly targeted CTA, since they naturally draw the visitor’s attention and provide the ideal space to drive key campaign goals.
- To highlight information and improve understanding. Our brain processes visuals faster than text, and since most users tend to avoid reading lengthy descriptions, hero images are a great way to emphasize and summarize key messages clearly.
2. Hero images in online stores
Given their importance, online stores heavily rely on hero images to grab visitors’ attention. As a result, it’s common to see real product images displayed in ways that differ from what we’re used to.
These images highlight key product details with the goal of encouraging visitors to add the item to their shopping cart.
In this case, hero images must clearly and attractively display all essential information for the buyer, including five key elements:
- Brand or manufacturer.
- Product category.
- Product content.
- Appearance/real representation.
- Supporting typography.
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