Think email is a relic of the past? Think again. Despite the ubiquity of social media, email still reigns supreme as one of the most effective forms of communication. In fact, according to Constant Contact, email has an average ROI of $36 for every $1 spent.
But just because email is ubiquitous doesn’t mean it’s not important to make your graphics look good. After all, if you want people to take your message seriously, you need to put some effort into your emails. So what makes for effective email graphics, and how can you make them look good? Read on to find out.
What Are Email Graphics?
Think about the last time you opened an email. If it was anything like most people’s inboxes, it was probably full of a mix of text and images. And chances are the images caught your eye first.
The reason for this is simple: our brains are hardwired to process images faster than text. In fact, according to MIT’s neuroscientists, we can process images in as little as 13 milliseconds. That’s faster than the blink of an eye.
Email graphics can be anything below:
- Product images
- Images of people
- Graphs and charts
- Infographics
- Logos
- Call-to-action buttons
- Background images
- Banner images
Why You Need Email Graphics
When it comes to email graphics’ importance, the list goes on. But suffice to say, they are a vital part of any email marketing campaign. In fact, Oberlo says that almost 9 out of 10 claim that they use them to disseminate organic content.
In other words, roughly 87% of all marketers prefer using emails to get their message across aside from other digital marketing channels, such as social media. This is likely because email allows marketers to generate leads and nurture them until they’re ready to buy.
Think about it. Statista reported that there were roughly 306 billion emails in circulation every day in 2020, and that number is only expected to grow to more than 376 billion daily by 2025.
It is, therefore, more important than ever to make your emails stand out. And one of the best ways to do that is with eye-catching email graphics. Here are some of the most important benefits of using them:
Email Graphics Help You Stand Out in a Crowded Inbox
Due to the sheer number of emails people receive daily, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to get people to pay attention to your message. In fact, according to Tempafly, the average office worker receives 121 emails per day.
To make your email stand out in a crowded inbox, you need to make it visually appealing. Whether it’s a product image, an infographic, or even just a well-designed logo, email graphics can help your message stand out from the rest.
Email Graphics Help You Communicate Your Message Quickly and Efficiently
As we mentioned earlier, our brains are hardwired to process images faster than text. So if you want to communicate your message quickly and efficiently, email graphics are the way to go.
They allow you to convey complex information that’s easy to understand. Just think about how much easier it is to grasp the concept of a pie chart than it is to read a paragraph of text explaining the same thing. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Email Graphics Help You Generate More Leads
If you want to generate more leads, email graphics can help. The reason for this is simple: they are attention-grabbing. And the more attention your email gets, the more likely people are to click through to your landing page.
In fact, according to Vero, emails with images get 42% more clicks than those without. So if you’re not using email graphics, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to generate more leads.
How to Make Email Graphics Look Good
Now that we’ve gone over some of their benefits, let’s look at how to make them look good. Here are a few tips:
Use High-Quality Images
When it comes to email graphics, quality is key. That means using high-resolution images that are clear and easy to see. Blurry or pixelated photos will only make your email look unprofessional.
Choose the Right Image Format
Not all image formats are created equal. When it comes to email graphics, you should always use JPEG or PNG files. You can also use GIFs, but they’re not always compatible with all email clients. And avoid using BMP or TIFF files, as they’re too large for email.
Optimize Your Images for Email
Before you add an image to your email, optimize it for email. That means reducing the file size, so it doesn’t take too long to load. A good rule of thumb is to keep your images under 1MB. You can also use an online tool like TinyPNG to optimize your images for email.
Add Alternate Text
When adding an image to your email, always add alternate text (alt text). This is important for two reasons. First, it helps people with visual impairments understand your email. Second, it helps improve your email’s deliverability. Some email clients block images by default, so the alt text is what people will see in place of the picture. Simply select the image and then click on the “Add Alt Text” option in the toolbar to add alt text.
Final Thoughts
Email graphics are an important part of any email marketing campaign. They help you stand out in a crowded inbox, communicate your message quickly and efficiently, and generate more leads. So if you’re not using them, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to improve your email marketing results.
Now that you know all about email graphics, it’s time to put them to good use. Just follow the tips we’ve outlined above, and you’ll be well on your way to creating beautiful, eye-catching ones that get results.
For email graphics design and templates, reach out to Easelly today! We’re here to help you create beautiful email graphics that boost your email marketing campaign.