Blog posts without pictures make me sad.
There, I said it.
It’s partly because I’m a very visual person. Images grab my attention; they pique my interest and illicit emotion in a strong way. But my personal preference isn’t the main reason posts without pictures make me sad.
A large part of my job is promoting blog posts and articles through a variety of social media channels. After all, here at Weaving Influence we’re on a mission to connect authors to online audiences. A big chunk of my day is spent trying to figure out how to get articles noticed in a sea of online content.
As many of you may know, it’s harder than it sounds.
Without a compelling image, it’s nearly impossible.
Interaction on Pinterest, Google+, and Instagram is largely driven by the quality of an image. For many (but not all) Facebook users, big beautiful pictures ensure engagement.
If one of our primary tools for building buzz is social media, why are some people still creating content without an image?
Whhhhhyyyyyyyyyyyyy?
At Weaving Influence we have the luxury of working with some very talented graphic designers. Hiring their expertise and talent is worth every penny we spend. But if budgeting top dollar for several articles a week isn’t a possibility for you, you have other options.
1. Point and Shoot
I know, I know, photography isn’t everyone’s forte. But with cell phone cameras getting better and better, don’t underestimate the power of the resource in your pocket. There’s beauty all around you! Collect it when you see it and put the images to work in your next post.
2. Borrow and Cite
Flickr is a wealth of really, really compelling pictures. Its searchable database provides a wealth of options appropriate for a variety of topics. But be sure to grab the HTML code and embed the photo into your article. Screen captures aren’t acceptable. Paying credit where it’s due is imperative, and including a citation is more than polite, it is required.
3. Create Quotable Graphics
Sites like PicMonkey, Recite and pinwords have made creating quotable graphics a breeze. Whether you drop text on one of your own pictures or use one of the backgrounds these services provide, quotable graphics are easier than ever for everyone to create in just minutes.
4. Purchase Stock Photos
Reasonably priced stock photos are another great option for your blog. Websites like 123RF and Lightstock have thousands of searchable photos to choose from and even offer a handful of pictures that can be downloaded at no charge.
After crafting your copy don’t leave it all alone on the page when you publish your next post. Investing time or money in quality images will pay huge dividends when it’s time to promote your article on social media.
Where do you source images for your articles?