Home Page Images & Slide Shows

Many EyeCarePro.net designs include a large photo position on the home page. This area serves as a focal point for the page and attracts the attention of visitors.The mood established with this image position can set the tone for the entire website experience. This area is sometimes referred to as the "hero" spot and it can contain one or several strong image(s) or a slide show of images.

General Tips

• Horizontal Orientation. For almost all "hero" spots, photos MUST be significantly wider than they are tall to work well in this position. Vertical images can be used if they are arranged side-by-side.
• Sizing is very important. Find out the height and width of the photo position (in pixels or inches) on the layout you have chosen for your site. Take photos that can be effectively cropped to these sizes. Typically wide angled shots work best.
• Choose the Best Shots. Quality is vital for these images as they are larger than other shots used in the site. At 300dpi these will be about 3" (or 900 pixels) wide.

Slide Show Ideas

Subject matter... Matters! There are many approaches you can take to make the home page focal area engaging and effective. Be creative - use the photos you have or create a budget to build something new. Most importantly try to use this area to support your Practice's goals. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Profile your Practice

• Show the exterior, the interior, product, doctors & staff in action and so on (remember to get permission if you are Using Patient Photos).
• Gailmard Eye Center uses a slide show of Practice photos taken in a wide angled format and displayed "panning in". This is effective because the photos are high quality and the originals are large and wide.

Help Visitors see "Themselves"

• Show a series of happy faces with and without eyewear on representing your demographics (age, gender, ethnicity).
• Professional Eyecare Kansas City uses a slide show comprised of stock photos of happy faces. This works because there is a variety of people shown who are making eye contact with the visitor. In addition, the images reflect the warm but elegant tone of the site as a whole.

Focus on a Message

• Choose images with captions that reflect a message you wish to communicate to your visitors (a mission statement, a famous quotation, a great tag line).
• Custom Eye Vision Care uses a slide show with captions on each slide. This works because the stock images used mirror the captions and come together to communicate the site's main message of a "spa-like" experience at the optometrist.

Capitalize on Natural Beauty

• Show gorgeous outdoor images from the region your Practice is located in and that your patients are familiar with and love.
• VisionWorks Optometry uses a slide show of shots taken in and around the beautiful Comox, British Columbia. This works because their patients are passionate about nature and the outdoors and this theme resonates with them.

Have Some Fun

• Choose silly photos of people / pets wearing glasses or shades, show close ups of different eyes or pick images of people in silly situations.
• Mill Creek Vision uses a slide show of lighthearted stock photos of people. This works because the images reinforce the message & quote that are associated with the slide show and the light tone is reflected in the site's overall bright and youthful appearance.

Showcase Product

• Show off the designer sun and eyewear with shots from your vendors (these tend to be free for the asking and very high end).
• Niche Fine Eyewear uses a slide show of "branded" images. This works because eyewear is their area of specialty and the photos are very slick and evoke the high-end feel of their boutique and the brand they carry.

Highlight Problems Patients Recognize

• Pinpoint "problems" visitors might have (such as red or sore eyes or the need for reading glasses) and link a related photo in the slide show to a page in your site.
• Davis Eyecare uses a slide show of stock photos that reflect common problems their patients face. This works because each slide is linked to a page within the site that talks about how Davis can address this issue.

Draw People In

• Create a series of mini "ads" to educate visitors about your Practice and the services you offer. Link each slide to key pages within the site that detail these specialty areas.
• Kopolow & Girisgen Las Vegas uses a slide show of stock images combined with "ad-like" copy. This works because each one is designed to highlight a product or service the Practice offers.

Skip the Slides and use a Video

• Why not use a video instead of a slide show? It can be a collection of slides in fast-motion set to music interspersed with key words, a television ad you've had produced, a clip from a news show your Practice or Doctor was profiled on, or a simple video of the Doctor welcoming patients to the Practice.
• Today's Eyecare uses a series of television ads as their focal point. This works because the ads are short and engaging. The Practice invested a lot in the production of the ads and this was a good way to stretch their dollars.