Images: Why every blogger should use them

Every blogger should use at least one image in their blog post. Why? Well, the answer is simple. Images are powerful tools all by themselves.

A picture is worth 1000 words. The right image can grab a reader’s attention faster or sometimes more effectively than words when they’re scrolling through posts on Facebook, G+ or other social media site. Images can be bold and dramatic or even just silly. Whatever the impact you need to make the right photo can reel them in.

Shareablility! Yeah, I made that word up, but it’s true. People will share a snappy photo or a hilarious meme and often your link right a long with it. Not to mention getting pinned. Pintrest is out growing most other social media sites in popularity.

Snappy Susie pins the photo of a cat from your blog to her boards. Then Pinner Pam says “oooo” and pins it to her board and clicks on the link to see if there are any more cool things to pin from your website or blog. The cycle continues when people pin the photo from those to their own boards and so on. Before you know it you’re blog is all over the web and you’ve got new followers. All thanks to Snappy Susie taking a liking to the cute kitty you posted with your blog.

Searchablility. Yes, images can help you in your SEO. I have gained a few readers who mentioned they stumbled across my blog because they were searching for something and a photo from my blog popped up on their list. The blog title or something about the description made them hop over and check out not only the photo but my blog too.

There is a trick to it though. It is recommended that you place  your photo to the side of your text or under the first couple of lines so that the SEO bots don’t hit it first and skip over the important words that will help boost you in search engines.

Screencaps for easier explanation. If your post is something instructive, it may help to have some

screenshots showing exactly what you’re referencing.

Makes it more enjoyable to read. A lot of text can get hard on the eyes. A long post broken up with an image or two can make it more appealing and easier on the eyes.

All of that to say, photos can make a difference and even boost your blog. Here are a few sites to find some blogger friendly/ royalty free/ and cost free photos. Be sure to check the licensing before you use the photo, some require a type of attribution.

JLB Creatives Flickr  

PhotoPin

Morguefile

rgbstock

Photography and the Muse

Part of the Blogging from A to Z challenge 2012 for the letter P

“A photograph is worth a thousand words.” That quote is absolutely true. That’s why photos make such wonderful writing prompts. The same image can hold thousands of stories or more. You can use photos as inspiration to find a story or for those ‘blocked’ moments.

When your story starts to slow down or you end up stumped on a scene try this. Google images that have to do with the subject or scene you’re working on. Keep your search to the images only and don't be too specific or too general.

Photo by Elise VanCise. Ferris at Night. Taken at Georgefest.

 Now go through those and pick out at least three that you feel ‘fit’ your story. Here’s the fun part. Pick one photo and open it as big as you can get. Now sit back, relax and let your muse free.

Take in all the details and shapes of each of the photos you picked out. Before you know it, your muse has been jumpstarted and ready to write.

Photo by Elise VanCise. Hello Honey, taken in my front yard .

 Looking through the lens can have the same effect as Googling an image. Objects we see in our everyday lives take on a different look when you gaze at them through your camera. Take a photo of a street lamp. Who do you see leaning against it? A grizzled private eye with his trench collar pulled up or maybe.

Photo by Elise VanCise.  Rain Bell, taken again in my front yard :) 

Take a photo of a group of people waiting at the bus stop or sitting at the tables in an outdoor café. There are all sorts of characters in those shots waiting to come to life.

The key is to let your imagination run wild and your muse will be inspired. Have you used photos as prompts or inspiration before? I would love to hear.  

Photo by Elise VanCise. Swamp King, bravely taken at Silver Springs  :)