Graphic Punch

I had someone tell me that he didn’t want pictures of pretty, smiling girls on his website. He only wanted relevant pictures, like of businessmen doing the work he was selling. “What am I going to do?” he asked. “Tell the potential client to click on the link under the pretty girl? Then I sound like a jerk.”

I don’t think there’s anything sexist about presenting an attractive example of the buying demographic on your website.

Well, no. I don’t want anyone to sound like a jerk, but the images you choose for your website should not only be indicative of the content, they should also be attractive. Pretty, smiling girls are right up there with babies, kittens and puppies for appeal factor for both sexes.

Unfortunately, babies, kittens and puppies had nothing to do with his business, while pretty, smiling girls actually did. His potential clients are predominately women between the ages of 25 and 50. His contention was that a man on the website represented him doing business with them. My contention was that the pretty girls were representative of his potential client. I don’t think there’s anything sexist about presenting an attractive example of your buying demographic on your website.

So what’s the answer? Mine is to make the link more obvious. That way you don’t have to tell the potential client to click on the link under the pretty girl, you tell the potential client to click on the big button that says FREE SAMPLE.

Meanwhile, casual visitors to your site see pretty, smiling girls, and young up and coming professionals regardless of gender, and a few other relevant pictures all illustrating your stellar, chock-full of content, really useful text.

What’s your answer?