What are hero images in websites?

If this is the first you’ve heard of ‘hero images’, do not fret. We’re here to tell you exactly what hero images are and how to use them.

What is a hero image?

A hero image is, simply put, the large image that you might see on the top of a website, just below the title, heading or main banner. It usually takes up the whole width of the webpage and grabs the visitor’s attention from the moment they land on the site.

What are the uses of a hero image?

First impressions are important, so if a website has a hero image that either draws your eye to it or evokes emotion, then it’s doing its job right – it’s getting your attention from the offset. Visuals play a key role in marketing, and websites are no different. It is usually the website designer’s chance to impress the user before they’ve even read anything about the business, and should sum up the company’s message or ethics instantaneously.

What kind of images work well as hero images?

Hero images don’t have to be images of people, animals or characters that you might perceive as ‘heroes’. A hero image can have any composition and can be of absolutely anything as long as it fits in with the website’s message and style and serves its purpose to make the user want to stay on the site longer. Another way of catching a visitor’s eye might be to use HTML banner ads, which are similarly effective in making an instant impression. Specialists in this field such as thebannermen.com/banners/animated-ads/html5/ can help design targeted banner ads for your business.

When it comes to the file type, a hero image can be anything from a photo, to an illustration to a 3D graphic. This will of course depend on the nature of the website and what the intended first impression is.

Powerful taglines used in combination with the hero image can help to further solidify the message. Can you picture your hero image already?