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You’ve heard the saying “A picture is worth a thousand words”. I’m sure there are quite a few pictures out there like that, but when it comes to a blog post, that isn’t always the case. Even so, you want to make sure your posts are visually appealing and attention-grabbing. Good pictures are a great way to accomplish that.
I just spent a couple of hours looking at one of my old blog websites. Unfortunately, most of the pictures I had on there aren’t showing up anymore. However, I noticed how I hardly had any posts that had pictures to begin with! I also noticed that I was clicking on the posts that had pictures because they were drawing me in.
A Picture Can Draw Readers In
A picture will draw readers in and make them read your blog posts. Don’t believe me? Have a look at some of the major news sites, big blogs or even your Facebook feed. It’s the pictures that grab your attention in combination with the post title.
Try to find an image that tells the story of your post. The image should tell at a glance (with the help of the post title) what the blog post is all about. Of course, you’re not limited to just one image. If it fits the topic, grab a few to illustrate what you’re talking about or show step-by-step progress.
You Need Pictures For Social Media Shares
We talked about Facebook already and how important images are to grab your reader’s attention. Think about other social sites your audience participates in. It doesn’t matter if it’s Pinterest, Instagram or even Twitter. (Especially Pinterest!) A good image will stand out and draw people in. Without it, your chances to get the click and more importantly the read and interaction on your blog are slim.
But it doesn’t stop there. As you get traffic to your post, those readers will be more likely to share your post on social media if it has a good image or two. Of course, making it easy to share with social media buttons doesn’t hurt either.
But Where Do You Get Those Images?
Now that I have you convinced that you need good images, the next question is, of course, where do you find them? You have a couple of different options when it comes to getting pictures.
You Can Take Them Yourself – If you’re a decent photographer and can find the subject matter you need, by all means, go ahead and take your own images. Photography equipment aside, this is the cheapest and most authentic option. The downside is that it takes time to set up, take the picture, process it after and get it in a format you can use you on your blog.
You Can Hire Someone Else To Take Them For You – This is where things can get pricey. But you might get lucky and find a couple of friends with decent cell phone cameras that can get you the shots you need for a free Starbucks drink.
Get Some Stock Photos – The most time and cost-effective method for most of us is to buy stock photography. While you can use free stock photo sites like Pixabay and Unsplash, I find that for my style I am able to find the right photos on paid membership sites. I use Styled Stock Society, Shutterstock, and now Haute Stock! I have been able to find the most gorgeous photos on these websites. I have a few on my wishlist too. Jana Bishop Collection (formerly Twigy Posts) and PixiStock are a couple.
What is your Blog Image Strategy?
As long as you use clear, relevant images in your blog posts you will bring your readers in. There is no wrong way, besides NOT using pictures!! 😬 Let me know where you get your images!
- 5 Ways to Boost Social Media Sharing - 01/20/2020
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- Why You Need Elite Blog Academy® - 03/04/2019
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