HOW AND WHY FACES INCREASE USER ENGAGEMENT

https://designshack.net/articles/graphics/how-faces-increase-user-engagement/


There’s a lot of science and psychology that goes into design. Even if you don’t consciously think about it, choices that you make when selecting imagery and user interface elements can establish a connection with users (or not) and even lead to higher engagement rates.

A design is not deemed good because of its general style but it is actually much more deep rooted than that. A design is deemed good due to the emotions the viewer feels from it. 

Imagery can help a user figure out in an instant if what’s on your website is something they want to be a part of. The faces on the screen will tell a user if he or she is like the people on the screen (or wants to be like them). A positive match increases the chance of engagement. It shows the user that they can relate to your product or service.

Since faces grab attention better than nearly anything else, you can use them to direct your visitors’ focus to the key elements on a page. Even better, if you use a face that’s looking at your CTA (call to action), most visitors will follow the person’s gaze to see what they’re looking at.

Have you ever noticed that when you see someone yawn, you then feel the urge to do the same?

The same can be said about almost any other emotional cue, from a smile to an expression of disgust or anger. The emotions can actually be transferred or carried from person to person and set the tone for an interaction.

- Faces set an emotional tone

- Guide visual flow

- Avoid 'fake' faces

Faces only work to establish trust and emotional connections when the idea behind the image is real. Inauthentic scenes can backfire and do more harm than good.