Have you ever looked at your blog and wondered what was missing. Well, believe it or not, the answer to this is high-quality, relevant images. Yes, you heard that right. See, it doesn’t matter how good your writing is if you don’t have the proper pictures to back it up.
Humans, on average, are largely visual beings. This means that they are more likely to view and enjoy the content that contains some visual elements. In fact, research shows that content that contains pictures are likely to get up to 94 percent more views!
Clearly, images matter to your blog. On this note, the following article will show you just how to include pictures in your blog so that you can elevate it to the next level:
Original Images vs. Stock Photos
When you think of adding more images to your blog, the first thing that may come to mind is adding stock images. After all, this is rather a common thing on websites and blogs. However, while these images may be easy to find, you shouldn’t use them on your blog.
One of the main issues regarding stock photos is that they are overused. You can often find the same picture used over and over again in various types of websites. Another problem is that few stock photos have complete relevancy to your blog topic.
This is why it will be worth your while to make an effort with original photos. Now, considering the cost of such images, you don’t have to rely on them solely. Nonetheless, it is a good idea to have at least one authentic picture per blog article.
Have People in Your Images
Humans are drawn to what they find familiar. And, what they are most familiar with is other people. This is why it is always a good idea to include images with people in them. Visitors will then be more compelled to click on the article and start reading.
On a similar note, try to use couples or groups of people instead of images of single people. This creates more fun, relaxed vibe for the article as a whole. Diversity is also another selling point, particularly if you are catering to a wider demographic.
Quality is Key
Once you have identified which images to use in your article, the next issue is that of quality. Remember, since camera technology has advanced by quite a bit, your readers are expecting crystal clear and bright images. Therefore, blurred or lopsided pictures just won’t do.
So, when you are taking the pictures, make sure to capture them in the highest resolution possible. This way, you can make certain that all of the details will stand out beautifully. Not to mention, should you need to edit the images, the higher quality will make this easier to do.
If you are planning on using or digitizing old printed images, look at them carefully first. Are they damaged or marked in any way? If so, you can’t upload them as is. Instead, you should consider sending them to an online restoration service such as www.instarestoration.com. Once all of the problems have been fixed or ironed out, you can then upload them to your blog.
Use Images to Emphasize Your Point
Every now and then, you probably include an informative article on your blog. If you look at such articles closely, you will see that they are heavily dotted with facts, statistics, and more. Thus, they can be rather difficult to read.
To break up the monotony of the text – and to make it easier to understand – turn some of these statistics into charts or graphs. This way, your readers will be able to quickly grasp the point that you are trying to make. Well, what if your article contains more facts than statistics? That’s not a problem, in this scenario, you can simply create an infographic instead. This will help to breakdown the main idea in an easily digestible, colourful way that is sure to make your point stand out.
Optimize Images for SEO
Did you know that images can actually boost your blog’s listing position on search engines? Well, it can! Of course, to see this benefit, though, you are going to need to be able to utilize all of the tips and tricks necessary for search engine optimisation.
The top point to keep in mind here is regarding the naming of the image files. Here, there are a few factors that you need to remember if you want to get it right. So, to start with, select one that is short and to the point – usually, about five to six words is more than enough.
While using targeted keywords can be tempting, you shouldn’t go overboard with this. Instead, focus on a name that is relevant to the image itself. This way, you will not risk being penalized by Google and other search engines.
Another thing to do is to use hyphens to break up the name. This makes it easier to read and works well for SEO purposes as well. While these aren’t tactics that you have to use for every picture, try to work it into at least a couple of images on your blog.
Focus on the Right Placement
Having great images isn’t enough – you also need to know just where you should place them on each blog post. Well, it is a good idea to always have a large, relevant image at the head of every article. This will work to pull the reader’s attention and give them a reason to keep scrolling.
When you have large amounts of text, it is nice to break it up with images as well. Here, there are two placements that you can use. You should put the pictures either in the middle of the text or on the right-hand side. This way, the image will support the text nicely without actually disrupting the viewer’s ease of reading.
As you can see, images can be incredibly important to any blog. If you use them properly, it is quite likely that you will see an increase in the number of people visiting your blog and reading your articles. Therefore, the next time you are planning content, make it a point to use the pictures appropriately as well.
