Image -vs- Text Heading

GarrieWilson · 03-31-2010, 12:04 AM

Which seems to generally work better, a image or text heading?

I know that testing is the only way to know for sure and I will but I can only A-B test this specific site so I'm looking to start with what generally works better.

MTIA

Garrie

Johnny12345 · 03-31-2010, 09:20 AM

I think graphical headlines are vastly superior.

By using graphics you have COMPLETE typographical control -- size, kerning, line spacing, color, gradients, drop-shadows, special effects... and the list goes on.

Some operating systems do not anti-alias HTML text (that is, remove the "jaggies"). So graphical headlines are often far more readable than HTML text... and they also look more polished and professional.

It's a TKO, in the first round, for graphical headlines.

Regards,

Johnny

Sam Mlambo · 03-31-2010, 09:24 AM

I've looked at Ken Calhoun and Michel Fortin new headlines and they're mostly graphical. I've used graphical headlines in WSOs before. You should still test but I'm leaning towards graphical just because of the attention-getting power. And that's what the headline is all about... grabbing attention!

Hope that helps

- Sam

Justin Mandel · 03-31-2010, 03:51 PM

Keep I'm mind that there are SEO benefits to having text headlines vs. graphics.

GarrieWilson · 03-31-2010, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin Mandel

Keep I'm mind that there are SEO benefits to having text headlines vs. graphics.

Like what? You can use ALT text for the actual heading for SEs.

fasteasysuccess · 03-31-2010, 04:25 PM

Depends on the purpose-for seo purpose-text and non flash is way to go for google and other search engines because they can actually have issue crawling with graphic heading.

For website slowing down load times can affect some but obviously a lot of us have the high speed, but longer load times can kill leads and sales.

For copy purposes only, it's all about the testing. What may work for one site might not be good for yours.

BrianMcLeod · 03-31-2010, 04:30 PM

I use graphic headlines often and find that usually the time on site goes up, while my bounces go down.

However, in this recent letter I dumped the graphic and went with styled text because it improved readability... a lot.

Whatever works...

povchef · 03-31-2010, 04:56 PM

Personally and this is no way based on any testing (never actually thought of testing image over text before) I would always go with image header. If your worried about damaging your SEO then use alt text for your image.

I always find that a image header, even one that doesn't load fast looks better than a text header that almost fades into the body text.

MikeHumphreys · 03-31-2010, 10:00 PM

It depends on your graphic design skills. If you can create a great looking graphic headline image, go for it. If you can't, then stick with text.

The size of the graphic file also matters because you don't want to slow down the page load speed any more than necessary. A great looking headline won't matter if the prospect closes the browser because they got tired of waiting for the page to load.

Of course, you still need to test to see if your graphic image converts better than text.

Bruce Wedding · 03-31-2010, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GarrieWilson

Like what? You can use ALT text for the actual heading for SEs.

Garrie, weight is given to weight. <H1,H2,H3> tags are considered a hell of a lot more important by Google than an alt tag.

dtendrich · 04-01-2010, 01:50 AM

Hey,

Using a flash coding technique called "SIFR" you can have an image that is selectable as text. So you can have an h1 tag on your headline, but it shows up on the site as the cool font of your choice.

Best of both worlds

And the good news is if you check out elance.com there are guys on there who will add it to your site dirt cheap.

David

Vendor-Lock · 04-05-2010, 01:42 AM

I am a firm believer in the " a picture's worth a thousand words " theory.

graphical has always pulled better for me in marketing and the website design business.

go graphical ! text has it's place too, but pictures and graphics do sell better.

cheers
Jeff Noyes

tyroneshum · 04-07-2010, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeHumphreys

It depends on your graphic design skills. If you can create a great looking graphic headline image, go for it. If you can't, then stick with text.

The size of the graphic file also matters because you don't want to slow down the page load speed any more than necessary. A great looking headline won't matter if the prospect closes the browser because they got tired of waiting for the page to load.

Of course, you still need to test to see if your graphic image converts better than text.

True. The graphics and the text should complement with each other as always. If they won't, then many will be thinking what is the sense of having that graphic or text? That's just ruining the message and it makes me conclude everything seems non sense so better be working and testing one aspect at a time.

prettyboy · 04-07-2010, 07:47 AM

In my experience, graphic headlines seem to pull better. At least from testing I know that people tend to stay on the page longer, which is what you want. After that it's just a matter of having a great headline to make them want to read further. If you can get the reader to use the scroll bar, then you're on your way to making a sale.

03-31-2010, 12:04 AM	#1
GarrieWilson GarrieWilson.com War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Mount Vernon, IL Posts: 4,366 Blog Entries: 20 Thanks: 550 Thanked 342 Times in 208 Posts Social Networking	Image -vs- Text Heading Which seems to generally work better, a image or text heading? I know that testing is the only way to know for sure and I will but I can only A-B test this specific site so I'm looking to start with what generally works better. MTIA Garrie
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03-31-2010, 09:20 AM	#2
Johnny12345 John Palmieri, Copywriter War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: USA Posts: 797 Thanks: 134 Thanked 118 Times in 94 Posts	Re: Image -vs- Text Heading I think graphical headlines are vastly superior. By using graphics you have COMPLETE typographical control -- size, kerning, line spacing, color, gradients, drop-shadows, special effects... and the list goes on. Some operating systems do not anti-alias HTML text (that is, remove the "jaggies"). So graphical headlines are often far more readable than HTML text... and they also look more polished and professional. It's a TKO, in the first round, for graphical headlines. Regards, Johnny
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03-31-2010, 09:24 AM	#3
Sam Mlambo Marketer and Copywriter War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 265 Thanks: 22 Thanked 34 Times in 33 Posts	Re: Image -vs- Text Heading I've looked at Ken Calhoun and Michel Fortin new headlines and they're mostly graphical. I've used graphical headlines in WSOs before. You should still test but I'm leaning towards graphical just because of the attention-getting power. And that's what the headline is all about... grabbing attention! Hope that helps - Sam
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03-31-2010, 03:51 PM	#4
Justin Mandel Trust Establisher War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Long Island, NY. Posts: 2,972 Thanks: 535 Thanked 172 Times in 128 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Image -vs- Text Heading Keep I'm mind that there are SEO benefits to having text headlines vs. graphics.
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03-31-2010, 04:25 PM	#6
fasteasysuccess FastEasySuccess Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: wisconsin Posts: 490 Thanks: 2 Thanked 75 Times in 60 Posts	Re: Image -vs- Text Heading Depends on the purpose-for seo purpose-text and non flash is way to go for google and other search engines because they can actually have issue crawling with graphic heading. For website slowing down load times can affect some but obviously a lot of us have the high speed, but longer load times can kill leads and sales. For copy purposes only, it's all about the testing. What may work for one site might not be good for yours.
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03-31-2010, 04:30 PM	#7
BrianMcLeod Fingers of Fury War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Miami, Florida, USA. Posts: 2,164 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 1,458 Thanked 1,643 Times in 693 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Image -vs- Text Heading I use graphic headlines often and find that usually the time on site goes up, while my bounces go down. However, in this recent letter I dumped the graphic and went with styled text because it improved readability... a lot. Whatever works...
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03-31-2010, 04:56 PM	#8
povchef HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 162 Thanks: 39 Thanked 35 Times in 22 Posts Social Networking	Re: Image -vs- Text Heading Personally and this is no way based on any testing (never actually thought of testing image over text before) I would always go with image header. If your worried about damaging your SEO then use alt text for your image. I always find that a image header, even one that doesn't load fast looks better than a text header that almost fades into the body text.

03-31-2010, 10:00 PM	#9
MikeHumphreys Copywriter and Marketer War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Philly Suburbs, USA Posts: 2,831 Thanks: 873 Thanked 776 Times in 406 Posts Social Networking	Re: Image -vs- Text Heading It depends on your graphic design skills. If you can create a great looking graphic headline image, go for it. If you can't, then stick with text. The size of the graphic file also matters because you don't want to slow down the page load speed any more than necessary. A great looking headline won't matter if the prospect closes the browser because they got tired of waiting for the page to load. Of course, you still need to test to see if your graphic image converts better than text.
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04-01-2010, 01:50 AM	#11
dtendrich Writer of Copy War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 160 Thanks: 16 Thanked 37 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Image -vs- Text Heading Hey, Using a flash coding technique called "SIFR" you can have an image that is selectable as text. So you can have an h1 tag on your headline, but it shows up on the site as the cool font of your choice. Best of both worlds And the good news is if you check out elance.com there are guys on there who will add it to your site dirt cheap. David
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04-05-2010, 01:42 AM	#12
Vendor-Lock Da Warrior PHP Guy War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: BC Canada Posts: 488 Thanks: 399 Thanked 92 Times in 73 Posts Social Networking	Re: Image -vs- Text Heading I am a firm believer in the " a picture's worth a thousand words " theory. graphical has always pulled better for me in marketing and the website design business. go graphical ! text has it's place too, but pictures and graphics do sell better. cheers Jeff Noyes

04-07-2010, 07:47 AM	#14
prettyboy Banned War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 120 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Image -vs- Text Heading In my experience, graphic headlines seem to pull better. At least from testing I know that people tend to stay on the page longer, which is what you want. After that it's just a matter of having a great headline to make them want to read further. If you can get the reader to use the scroll bar, then you're on your way to making a sale.