You've heard it all your life: "a picture is worth a thousand words". And it's true - viewing a photograph can often convey more information faster and better than using just words.

A photograph can attract attention, establish credibility, convey emotions, create desire, and explain fine details.

And these days, anyone with a digital camera can instantly and affordably create interesting photos of products, places, events, and people - all of which can liven up and attract attention to the web pages and sales letters where they are used.

A photo can attract attention and immediately convey information

Knowing that, it is surprising that so many web sites fail to take advantage of the power of the photograph - especially in the how-to articles or product reviews they offer.

But the failure by others to include photos can work to your advantage - especially on the internet. Start including relevant photos with your articles, product reviews, and shopping cart items, and you'll be surprised at how much better they are received.

And as a bonus, the Google search engine now includes a photo search capability.

Just include the 'alt' tag when you place photos on your web pages, and Google can find them. If you include photos with your articles -- and others don't -- you win, with customers and the search engines.