How nice! I go to your website and I’m greeted with a big picture of a pretty lady wearing a headset, enthusiastically typing away while talking with a customer – I suppose.
Now, this foxy mama is popular – I saw her several times just today. You know her, here she is with some of her popular friends.
TRUST! You are using this image for one or several reasons. You want to convey a sense of caring. You want users to know you emphasize customer service. Maybe you bought a template.
Generating trust is the most important part of converting visitor to customers. Don’t lie to them! Don’t trick them – don’t insult them!
Get rid of that stock photo of the customer service fox and take a real picture of your team. Get them outside in front of your real building, next to your real sign. (Make them smile – tell the ugly employees to take a long lunch)
Introduce some employees without corporate-speak. Let them say hello in their words.
Involving your employees will also generate more visitors! People want to see their name in lights, they’ll tell their friends, family and more.
So, STOP trying to convince yourself or your customers that you’re the next IBM. Get personal – BE YOUR CUSTOMER.
Now, I know not every department is filled with people that you would want pictured on your site, but you are already lying. If you want to be dishonest, at least be entertaining. Use these these pictures to introduce your call-center employees.
Or if you have a feminist visitor base – go hip.
I suggest if your employees are real ugly, you may want to leave those off your site.
Serious again. Get rid of the car salesmen. You know – those happy “thumbs up” pictures you corporate decision maker types like to use.
Everyone hates those guys. And I know they don’t work for you.
While I’m on this rant – get rid of the “thinking wise man“, the “handshake” and the “stalker“.
So this post is semi-humorous – but it’s all very important. Stop lying to your visitors. Get personal – talk to them and not down to them.
Very entertaining!
Haha. Great article and good for a couple laughs as well. I like your writing style.
[...] I wrote a silly article in November about using template pics for a website, and how they can hurt you when it comes to trust on the internet. [...]