Text is without a doubt the most important part of a blog, but images play a vital role as well. By choosing and placing the proper image, you are adding to the reader’s experience.
Writing blog content is the most important part of your content marketing strategy. Through your blog you must engage your audience through fresh content.
Blog images are used as eye candy. The right image can dress up your blog. The right image can influence the reader to stick around and read your blog. Images are also the perfect tool to break up long blocks of content.
Walt Disney once said, “”Of all of our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language.”
Pictures can help you illustrate your blogs point or topic. The proper tagging of an image along with a keyword can optimize your SEO. Search Engine Optimization plays a big role in your page views.
With a good camera and a good eye you can take your own photos or you can use free or inexpensive online resources to get quality artwork and photographs. One of the best free sources of photos online is Flickr.com.
Google Images
You can also use free Google images. The search engine will help you locate photographs that are available to be used for both personal and commercial use.
Other excellent sources for photographs include FreeFoto.com and SXC.hu. You may also get lucky and find amazing photos that are free to use because the copyright has run out.
If you come across a copyrighted photo you must have for your blog you can always reach out to the photographer for permission to use the image. Often times the photographer will be happy to let you use their image just for an image credit on your blog.
If you have exhausted free image sources and you still haven’t located the perfect image there are several reasonably priced resources such as istockPhoto.com, Fotolia.com, GettyImages.com, Veer.com, and 123rf.com.
Content marketing teamed with the proper photo can make your blog or website a huge success.
Usually when it comes to images the biggest issue you will have is the amount of time you spend searching for the perfect photograph. Images are important, but don’t let finding an image consume important time you can dedicate to important issues or another blog post.
When searching for your image look for color and interesting photos that will quickly catch the reader’s eye. Don’t settle for an ordinary photo. Instead of seeing a photo as an image of a subject, view it as a piece of art and choose one that speaks to you.
Royalty Free Images
When choosing images it is important to understand what royalty- free/stock mean. Royalty-free refers to the right to use copyrighted images without having to pay for each use of the image.
If you choose to use a royalty-free photograph you pay just once and can use the photo multiple times.
No matter what type of photo you choose to enhance your blog, it is important to attribute the image properly. You can simply cite the original author and add a link to their work directly.
A few ways to cite a photo
- Originally upload by author-name/url
- Link the photo directly to the photographer’s site.
- Link to the direct Creative Commons license in use
Never forget that you can be sued for using a copyrighted image, so it is important that you are sure about the photos copyright standing. It is always best to assume that an image is copyrighted until you discover otherwise. If you can’t find an images status it is best not use the image. There is no shortage of photos out there so don’t take that chance that you are violating someone’s copyright. Always protect yourself and respect the rights of the photographer.
Remember that unique content is the key to a thriving blog, but that the right images give it a real kick. At times the slightest edit can make an amazing difference. Just a few minutes of tweaking can put your blog over the top.
In the end if you want to have a successful content writing experience, never forget the power of images. Be creative and represent your brand with flair while having fun!
Picture for Kundan Bora