Resolve to Strive for Better Resolution
Disclaimer: The following introduction-by-way-of-story really happened. It is not just some tale fabricated in order to more cleverly make my point.
When my friend and I decided to watch some cable television, my friend quickly found an acceptable program and replaced the remote on the table. While the program he had found was indeed acceptable, its resolution was not.
"You know, we could watch this in HD," I suggested.
To which he responded, "It doesn't matter, I don't notice the difference."
Incredulous, I grabbed for the remote, hit the guide button, and indicated "OK" to "Watch in HD."
Coming as no surprise to me, he said something about how he didn't realize how much better HD was, and began to wonder audibly if he had been missing out this whole time without realizing it.
Whether your audience notices it or not, they are internalizing the quality of your images.
If I am directly aware that the images you are using on your site are either of too low a resolution or are too compressed, then I am positive other people are at least subconsciously aware of it. They might not know what compression is, or even what resolution is (other than knowing that it is good when preceded by "high"); but, It has to have some affect on them.
And, what's more, I am aware of it. I am constantly bombarded with websites host to images which do not match the site's specification. I read LinkedIn articles whose authors have used pictures matching their article headings without any regard for the quality of those images. I see posters made from a smattering array of Google image search results not filtered by "size." It makes me cringe.
As this is really meant more as an intercession than a regular post, I will try to present you with a solid plan of attack for combating your issues of resolution.
1. Identify the Problem
To identify counterfeit money, one must first study real money. In this vein, please take the time to regard this perfectly fine image of mine to the left.
Yes, it is compressed. It has to be. Otherwise it would take too long for you to download. But, the compression is minimal. Furthermore, I exported it to dimensions only slightly larger than what I have told LinkedIn to display it at (around 300x300 pixels at 96dpi).
(If you right-click it and hit "view image," you can see its actual size. Which, is roughly 400x400 pixels)
Problem 1: Compression
Now, look at this picture. Do you see the difference? While I have exported this one at the same resolution, I have tacked on a ton of compression.
At this point you might argue that this second photo has a much smaller file size. This, of course, makes it much faster to download.
Two things:
1. People aren't using dial-up internet anymore--they can handle the slightly larger file (in this case, the additional 24.3 kb), and
2. Your browser most likely has the ability to download my first image in a lower resolution in the case that you are using dial-up... which, of course, you aren't.
Problem 2: Resolution
Stare into my beautiful eyes one last time. Wait, you can't see how beautiful they are? Perhaps that is because I took an image that is only 150x150 (appx.) pixels and stretched it to our beloved 300x300.
Minimal compression can't save you here folks. It just can't.
Stretching an image beyond its resolution is the visual equivalent to, gosh, I don't know... let's use "trying to make your leftovers last you for over a month." Everything just gets furry. Your kids get angry. I get angry. And, then, we all try to forget that casserole ever existed. Don't make me wish casserole never existed.
2. Fix the Problem
Now that you know what to look for, go to your website, review your mailers, look at your old LinkedIn posts. Find bad images and replace them. If you aren't responsible for those images, find the person who is. Then, fire them. They should have found out the specifications required of the images they were using before they so egregiously used them.