adpapa Editor
11 March 2021
Blog posts that contain images are 94% more likely to be shared and they have far better SEO value than content that is just text; no one likes reading a giant wall of text. However, you probably don’t have the budget to purchase or the time to create original images for every piece of content you publish.
That’s where stock photos and images come in. We explain in this article.
What are stock photos?
Stock photos are used to populate the website with images in various formats: JPEG, GIF, TIFF, PNG, BMP, PSD, PDF and more. Since they’re royalty-free, you can use them on any site or blog for free. You just have to link back to the source. Stock photos are also often used for presentation purposes.
Some popular stock photo sites include Shutterstock, Getty Images, Stockphoto.com, 500px, Pexels and Pixabay. You can filter by specific keywords, or use one of these image filters on your toolbars to quickly find the right images for your content.
What are graphics? Graphics are simply images that aren’t images; they are more complicated. It’s much like stock photos, except they aren’t linked to anything specific.
How do stock photos work?
Most of the world’s top websites now use stock photos to enhance and even replace content without a second thought. It’s a good idea for you to be familiar with the basics of stock photography as this is how you will find most images on your website to get the same effects as these popular examples: How do you find images for your website?
When you are developing your website, you’ll have the most success finding images that are part of a series of similar images that also happen to be of good quality. Finding images in this way is a very good way to identify a clear understanding of the concept you are working with, and it helps your website stand out as unique and appealing. In addition, you can turn to creative commons to uncover images for the piece that you are working on.
When should I use stock photos?
Regardless of whether you intend to repurpose the image to your personal or professional sites, stock photos and images are a fantastic resource to add a touch of professionalism to your site. For blog posts that are longer than 1000 words, you can create a logo-like image that you can share on social media and your business‘s website.
This option may not be necessary if you have a standard blog, but it could make for a very professional looking site in your industry.
What are the best stock photo sites?
The core of the online creative world today is the web. However, the web also gives us access to plenty of great sites that provide free images. These sites, most of which have a small interface or no interface at all, provide you with more control over your images than you’ve ever had. And for the first time ever, they are free!
Don’t let that stop you from getting the most for your money when you find images for your website! Here are the best stock photo sites out there for getting great photos.
Conclusion
While you may want to add images to all of your content, it’s highly likely that your articles and blog posts don’t really require them. If you’re in a small niche that doesn’t have any original content you can add a stock photo or two as a fun touch. In some cases, that extra visual help can bring your readers in a circle around your brand.
If you have a blog that you consistently publish articles, make sure that you spend time reviewing and optimising your site for the highest SEO score possible. Have you made the switch to a WordPress theme? Did you make it in a different colour? Have you separated your blog posts or maybe renamed them? Or if you’re an avid photographer, how do you plan to showcase your images?
