Text or Photo First?

1. 68

   lpanfilposted 13 years ago

   When you view a tutorial, do you want to see the photo or text with written instructions first?

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   1. 81

      CyclingFitnessposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Text Intro then photos for a tutorial/ how to/ instructional article
      
      Big photo personally makes me want to click off the page
      
      Alternately photo to the right could work
      
      First photo really has to sell a hub to the reader imho

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2. 60

   holdmycoffeeposted 13 years ago

   Photos! I might or might not read the tutorial, but I will look at photos!

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3. 60

   mel22posted 13 years ago

   as long as the first photo is not too big and I have to then immediately scroll to start reading then I think photos can keep a viewer on page with an immediate reaction of 'ok, this is what I was searching for', then they'll read on from there. only on a how-to article  though.

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4. 59

   capricornrisingposted 13 years ago

   Remembering that readers need to be grabbed in the very first paragraph, and we're now living in an impatient, fast-paced society of nonreaders, I think any visual aids are beneficial early in a hub. Long blocks of text make readers click away!

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5. 74

   IzzyMposted 13 years ago

   Unless the viewer specifically searched for the photo, make a text intro.  You don't want searchers for photos only - they can go to Google images, find your hubs with photo and copy the photo without ever looking at your hub.
   
   Photos should be placed to enhance what you have written about, just like in a good magazine article.
   
   This is what a good Hubpages looks like - a good magazine article. Some articles look better with a top photo, others don't.
   
   If someone on a smartphone really wants the info you have written, they may click out before that photo has loaded.
   
   Use text to grab their attention.

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6. 76

   melbelposted 13 years ago

   I'll scroll through a tutorial looking at how neatly its set up and how "in-depth" the photos looks before taking a tutorial seriously.
   
   I like to see a tut with a lot of bulletpoints, neatly laid-out steps, information about other methods I could try, common problems people run into when doing whatever it is the tutorial is teaching, and photos of each step in the process. That is my idea of a fantastic tutorial.
   
   Tutorials that make me run are ones with just a "this is what it looks like when it's done" picture and a big block of text that's not split up.
   
   As for photos vs text, I'm not really sure, but a tutorial devoid of pictures isn't fun at all! I hope this answers your question!

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7. 80

   Rain Defenceposted 13 years ago

   Why not just have both? All of mine have both a picture and text at the top.

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   1. 59

      capricornrisingposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Yep - me too. I usually opt for a photo very near the top, certainly within view when readers first click onto the page.

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8. 58

   sprobinposted 13 years ago

   I want to both. which can help me  to read text  and see video for  tutorial ...

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9. 60

   BfoBarneyposted 13 years ago

   Only include a picture first if you're positive that it will lure in your viewers (High detail is a must), but also key words or well written introductions can have the same affect. So really it's what ever you can do best.

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10. 82

    Millionaire Tipsposted 13 years ago

    Usually with a tutorial, the first picture I include is the finished project.  The reader can see what it is that the tutorial is all about.  I put the words first, and try to make sure that the photo is visible when the site is pulled up.  I do not make the photo large, because their project will likely look different, and it isn't clear it is a tutorial and not just show and tell without scrolling.
    
    Then, I explain the step by step directions with appropriate photos, so that the reader understands how to do them. I explain with words as completely as possible, and I explain with photos as completely as possible.  This way, if someone is following just one or the other, they don't miss anything.
    
    I also include a final photo of the finished project at the end, preferably not the same photo.  That way, it makes sense chronologically and the reader can compare their finished project (if they did follow along and make it) with mine. This photo can be large, so they can catch any details I might have missed in the explanation.

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