Humans are visual people. Given the choice between pictures and text most people will scan the pictures first before reading any text and if those pictures enhance and explain what the text is about, then they might read the text.
Research has shown that the inclusion of graphics amongst text will get the readers attention more than text alone. People need direction and graphics can give them that direction if used properly.
In this modern visual age of television and computers we have become ‘visual learners’ and pictures that were once an added attraction have now become expected … graphics are now part of us. Recent research shows that those who learn how to use visual communication will succeed and those who don’t will fail. Our lives have become more hectic and the easier it is for us to ‘grasp something’ the better … we will always take the easy route and a visual attraction in amongst all the commotion will win every time.
Why add another ‘thing’ to think about (i.e. reading) when that picture, that is easily understood, explains what all the writing is for … pretty logic isn’t it?
Enter a simple call to action button below a nice graphic explaining what everything is about and the easy way out is obvious if somewhat subconscious … hit the button to see what’s next. The most famous ‘call to action I’ve seen is the Facebook “like” button. Plain, simple and obvious what the action is!
From a very early age we use graphics. Just look at any family refrigerator and you will see drawings by the family’s children stuck all over the door. We can’t write at that age but we can express ourselves visually even though our attempts might be poor to adult standard we make sense of it. It is what we see!
So now you should be able to answer “Why Use Graphics” and apply the theory yourself. Give them a visual aid to get them to click through and make it simple to understand.
