No doubt – I expect #5 aids conversion in some cases. So do really long sales pages with lots of bold text. Still, I find the approach a little cheesy. I also think you raise a good point about the “lower end of the market.”

Maybe the handshake and puzzle piece were unique at some point, but today they’re relegated to the world of pulp business images. I think I’m a bit more jaded than the average bear, but these have almost taken on negative connotations in my mind. If a company uses mediocre marketing what else about their business is mediocre?

Personally, I’d rather make up my own mind whether I wanted to use a company not because they have some 20-something blonde in a tight t-shirt spurting scripted marketing bilge.

The puzzle piece and hand-shake are good observations. I had not really noticed the prevalence of the former. Those two are definitely big subconscious turn-off for me. I’d prefer to use a company that gives the appearance of substance rather than one using imagery that doesn’t mean anything.