Human face vs illustration for hero image
Putting the finishing touches on a new website design as we get ready to leave our beta.
The majority of software homepages I see use either a designed background or illustrations.
Very few use real people.
In my experience, human faces work better. I can’t remwmber now but i also read a study that said human faces improved conversion rates.
Is there a reason SaaS companies tend to go with the illustration/design route as opposed to using real people?
Hey Daniel, from what I've seen "human faces" can be a toss up. While it certainly does look more real, its important to remember that every human has underlying biases (it's true we all do), and that can impact how we view those pictures. So animations serve to help eliminate unnecessary bias by attempting to appeal to all (vs. appealling REALLY strongly to a smaller audience).
And on the animation side, the burder is making sure that your imagery is designed well/looks aesthetically pleasing
Honestly, there's no right or wrong answer here. I think if you're going with pictures, just try to make sure that they align pretty closely with who you think your target audience is (obvs lol).
(I'm a self proclaimed designer that only knows when things look/feel good or not.)
Feel free to link some ideas of what you're thinking and I'd be happy to offer some thoughts!
You make a very valid point there.