Surfing through images
Designing you website, graphics make your site come alive. Using only text it’s so boring! And remember that the main function of your page is to attract people, inviting them to explore it, and try to turn their visit into a purchase. It’s time to discover image maps, great solutions for catching people’s eyes and improving navigation.
Image maps are illustrations which included links or information over different sections. Don’t be confused: it is several links on just one picture. Wikipedia explains that “in web page development, an image map is a graphic image defined so that a user can click on different areas of the image and be linked to different destinations”.
For better understanding imagine a bowl of fruits. When you click on a strawberry, you will be directed to a description’s page of this fruit (or a strawberries’ store, for instance). Also, if you click on a peach, a short explanation can be displayed.
You can use photos, graphics, and illustrations in any format, although the most recommendable is .gif. When you roll the mouse over different sections, each one of them show you a text about what is that element or a summary of the link where it’s directed.
Why should you use it? Image maps are appealing, improve navigation, interaction is better and can be used as a tool for promoting your products, services or as an explanation of your company. Yes, it’s a great application.
For example, through image maps, you can include a catalogue of your products, for aim people to select anyone and link it to its specific characteristics. Or include a photo of your staff, with the name of each person, for linking everyone to a curriculum page.
It’s really important to show people which images have links, they are not wizards. For that, just include a short explanation below the illustration.
Possibilities are endless because image maps are just a relation between an image and URLs that serves for coordinating and organizing information. If you have to include a complex graphic of your company’s structure, links on each department facilitate comprehension, navigation through your site and accessibility.
Use them for improving the design of your site and make it more attractive. Web designers are increasing the use of this great tool. Take advantages of each opportunity Internet gives you!