Here, we will take a look at why you should include images in blog posts and where you can get them from.

When most people think of blogging, the image they call to mind is of lots of text, with little to no images or anything to break up the text a little bit. However, that is no longer the case with blogging today. While the text in your blog is the most important part, you still need to use images in it, if for no other reason than it will help you attract readers on social media and Google. 

Why should I use images in my blog posts?

While you should include images in your posts, that does not mean you should dress up your post with cutesy pictures that detract from the true message in your post. However, if you use them right, they can help people better understand the content in your post. When someone is looking at which site to visit on social media, they will most likely select the site with the most compelling photo. While the text in the post does play a part in this choice, people are drawn to visuals, and if you have the best quality images, they can bring in traffic.

Visual searches on Google are becoming increasingly important these days, so using the right images in your blogs can help you stay visible in that too. If you optimize your images, they can show up in the image results, increasing your traffic.

How do I find images for my blog?

When you select an image for your blog, one of the most important things to keep in mind is that it must fit your post’s topic. Sometimes it can be difficult to determine where you should get your photos. Let’s look at some of your options.

Take your own photos

One of the best ways to get them is to take them with your camera if you want original images. This will ensure that your images are always original to your brand, so you never have to worry about using an image you do not have permission to use. If you have a daily life blog, a food blog, or something else along those lines, taking photos is easy to do. However, if your brand is more technical, you might have a hard time taking pictures that will fit in with your posts.

Hire an artist

You might have specific ideas for what kinds of images you want on your blog, but they are not something that you can create on your own. In this case, you can hire a graphic designer or illustrator to create them for you. This ensures you will get the images you want to go with your blogs, and they will be completely original since the artist will be creating everything completely for your blogs. The illustrations will also become a part of your brand if you work with the same artist for a long time, which can allow people to recognize your brand just based on that art style.

If you are unsure of where to start with looking for an artist, you can look at social media or Google image searches. When you see some images you like, look up the artist and reach out to them. A lot of graphic designers and artists are freelancers, so you may be able to find the right artist quickly.

Stock Photos

The internet is full of stock photo websites that you can take images from. Some of these sites are free, and others charge you either a subscription or for each individual photo. Make sure you check the licenses that are on the website to ensure you can use the image and if you need to credit the artist.

When you take photos from the internet, you need to make sure they are stock photos or contact the image owner to ask permission to use their image. You would be upset if you found your original photos on someone else’s blog when they did not ask permission, so the same thing applies to you. If you truly love an image, take the time to reach out to the owner to seek permission. If they grant it, make sure you credit them.

Now, let’s go over some of the stock photo options available to help you get started.

Pixabay

Pixabay offers both free and paid images. You typically do not need to credit the photographer on Pixabay, and you can alter the images as needed. Pixabay has more than photos; it also has illustrations, vectors, music, and videos available.

Unsplash

Unsplash is great for blog images. The site is easy to navigate, and it has beautiful images with clear licensing information. The photos on this site are all free to use for businesses and people alike, and you can alter the images too.

Foter

Foter has over 335 million free stock photos available. Every individual image has the licensing information displayed under it, so you know if you need to credit the photographer and if you can or cannot alter the photo. This site is a little harder to find images on since there are many that will not allow you to make changes to them to suit your brand.

Create Your Own Designs

If your blog is about something that is a bit abstract and difficult to find a photo for on any of the stock photo sites out there, check out Canva. Canva lets you create images right in your web browser. It has a lot of free designs that you can add text, images, and other design elements to it to make it fit your brand. Canva even has templates for each social media network, printed posters, and more. Even if you are not a graphic designer, this is an easy-to-use system that will allow you to quickly customize the images for your blog posts.

A picture is worth a thousand words, which is why images need to be included with your blog posts. When used right, adding compelling images to your blog, you can increase your readership and add depth to your posts.  Seattle Digital Marketing can turn the spotlight on your business and push your blog to new heights.