Photographs are lifeless: create these weblog photographs as an alternative
Illustration by Laetro
Using images in your blog posts is a breeze.
Images are an easy way to break up blocks of text, add context, or provide your readers with a more accessible medium through which to process your content.
With the increase in written content on the internet, it is more difficult for your content to be unique from others. Writers have to adapt to the changing landscape.
When so many bloggers have written on the same subject – and will continue to do so – how can you continue to engage your audience?
The answer is original images.
Blog Image Trends: Why Photos Are Dead
With more content available on the web every day, it is more important than ever to stand out.
While finding ways to add a unique touch to your blog post topics is important, there are only so many angles on a topic. You need other types of content like photos and illustrations to stand out.
Unfortunately, photos stop cropping if you have the resources and time to make an impact.
Illustration by Laetro
This is in part because blog images aren't just stored on your blog. You'll make the rounds on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest when your posts are shared. Chances are, your users have seen similar photos many times and are bored with them.
With so many articles to read, videos to watch, and social media messages to record, the average reader won't spend hours searching for the best article on your topic. You choose the most visually appealing option almost every time.
This is supported by visual content statistics such as those collected by Venngage. When marketers were asked about content that helped them achieve their marketing goals, original images performed best 40% of the time, compared with photos at 13%.
So before you use stock photography in your next blog post, ask yourself:
Will my readers interact with the same outdated image they saw multiple times while researching this topic? Or will they choose to interact with an original image that captures the content more perfectly?
Main reasons why you should use interactive and original images on your blog
Your goal as a digital marketer is to increase conversions.
Given the changing online landscape, how can you do this even better than you already are?
There are many ways to drive traffic to your website. More importantly, however, is driving the right traffic – the users who are engaging with your content.
Pictures can help. According to BlogTyrant, images can increase conversions by over 300%.
Illustration by Laetro
Keep in mind, however, that the types of images you use can also have an impact on your conversions.
Stock images were the norm for years. But it's time to move away from these images.
Why? According to a study by Marketing Experiments, readers are 35% more likely to convert if they receive a photo without artwork.
Original images offer authenticity that those cannot. They give your readers a behind-the-scenes look and allow them to see a deeper side of your content.
Unique blog image content can provide other benefits, including increased customer trust and brand awareness.
According to Brain Rules, a slogan alone is only remembered by 10% of people. However, when related images are added, retention increases to 65%. This is an increase that you can't ignore when brand awareness growth is on your radar.
The original image content also has an often overlooked SEO benefit. This is Google's E-A-T score improvement. With the E-A-T-Score, Google can evaluate the quality of content based on these three standards:
- E.xpertise
- ONEauthority
- T.rustiness
Illustration by Laetro
How Can Original Images Improve Your E-A-T Rating?
Whether you take photos and edit yourself or work with a digital illustrator, your unique images have a personal touch. When done right, it becomes an integral part of your personal branding strategy.
You show expertise by including images that clearly show that you understand your content.
You show authority by making consistent, unique trademarks instantly recognizable.
They show trustworthiness by providing information through images that are accurate and improve users' knowledge.
A strong personal brand triggers all three elements of an E-A-T rating.
Placing pictures on your blog
Like text, images can be perceived as "fluff". This is why you need to know when to use images on your blog in order to optimize the user experience and improve your SEO.
You should use pictures to do three very specific things.
Break up large blocks of text
According to a study by Microsoft, the average attention span of heavy screen users is just eight seconds.
That means you have eight seconds to hook your audience – and large blocks of text can cause them to click away pretty quickly.
However, you do not have to write two contributions to the sentence to make it take less than eight seconds to read. Instead, use clever tactics to keep your readers busy.
Illustration by Laetro
One tactic is to introduce other media such as photos or digital illustrations. This creates a less intimidating reading experience and makes the post more visually appealing.
Explain a concept
Some concepts are too abstract or too complex to explain effectively in writing, especially if your audience isn't strictly experts on your subject.
Custom charts and graphs can help readers understand the material.
Liven up the content
As much as you think your content is fun and engaging, there are some topics that won't interest readers for long. In these cases, you can use original images to bring otherwise "boring" content to life.
When should you use custom illustrations or photos?
The cost of custom graphics may be prohibitive to some bloggers, but it is possible to strike a balance.
Use custom illustrations and photography sparingly. Ask yourself where they make the most sense and include them accordingly.
For example, if you're creating a landing page for a new product or service, this is the place to get pampered. After all, you want this content to stand out from your competitors – how could it be better than with a custom graphic?
You can also use custom illustrations to drive a point home or explain dates.
Whether it's a comic panel, diagram, or flowchart, you can use custom illustrations to share ideas with your readers in ways that words just can't.
When should you create interactive graphics?
Interactive graphics can take your blog's images one step further.
Interactive graphics are user-defined graphics that support reader interactions such as mouse cursor movements, clicks, or keystrokes.
This form of the original images is widely used in infographics, although other types of side-by-side displays include comparisons, flowcharts, and diagrams.
The most obvious use for interactive graphics is to get the reader's attention.
Perhaps more importantly, they can also be used to break down complex information into bite-sized pieces. For example, check out this nifty interactive graphic that shows users how Google Search works without getting overwhelmed.
Examples of successful blog images
There are many ways to use images on your blog.
Here is a creative example from Oberlo:
Instead of one lengthy infographic, the content creators selected individual infographic slides to answer each question in their post on social media statistics.
This use of graphics does two things:
- It makes the information easy to digest.
- It makes it easy for readers to share information on social media.
As mentioned above, one of the advantages of the original blog images is the personal branding aspect. If you consistently use a particular style, it will become synonymous with your brand.
Copyblogger offers an excellent example of this:
Her featured images consistently use quotes overlaid on eye-catching images. They act as a kind of watermark because anyone who sees their images elsewhere can immediately identify them as belonging to Copyblogger.
And what about interactive content? Your options are only limited by your imagination.
Check out this comprehensive timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe:
As you scroll through the timeline, new images and text will appear. This example tells a complex story in a linear, non-intimidating format.
What to use instead of photos
They know that you should use unique images on your blog. But what should you use instead of photos?
There are many options for every budget and skill level.
Take your own photos
You don't need a professional setup to take photos for your blog. Even a smartphone camera can be used to take your own photos.
Depending on your time and budget, you can edit these photos on your phone or with software like Photoshop.
Edit stock photos
Not all photos are bad, but you need to be focused on the photos you choose.
It is best to choose images that have not been used too often. How can you know Google's reverse image search allows you to search through images to see how many results they get. The less the better.
You can also tweak existing stock photos to give them a new look.
Some quick changes include:
- Flip the image horizontally
- Add a text overlay
- Add a picture effect or filter
- Cropping the image (e.g. from rectangle to square)
The simplest changes can be made using free or inexpensive online tools or the photo editing software built into your computer.
Use online tools and software
There are tools available to help you edit or create images of any format and style. You can use these tools to edit photos as described above or to create images with digital assets.
Many tools like Lucidpress even have pre-made templates to inspire your designs.
Use custom images
Pictures are so much more than photos, and you don't have to rely solely on photography to add pictures to your blog.
Custom images can also include digital assets, illustrations, and iconography.
How to get original or interactive blog images
Getting original and interactive blog images has never been easier and more affordable.
When it comes to hiring a professional, you have options. You can easily find freelancers on sites like Fiverr or Upwork, or use a service like Design Pickle.
If you know a digital artist with a style that you like, you might be able to hire them. They're often more expensive than the freelancers you can find on the websites above, but they're great when you need a particular style.
For bloggers who have the time, there are services you can hire for heavy lifting. The service can be a creative agency or a blog content specialist. In either case, provide details and they will commission work on your behalf.
Do you have more time than money? You can also create blog images using tools like Canva, Pixlr, or PicMonkey. For a more professional finish, you can invest in a creative suite like Adobe Creative Cloud.
How much do original blog images cost?
As with most services, there are options for almost every budget.
When you hire a freelancer for a one-off gig, the price depends on the number of images, the complexity of the work, and the way you plan to use the final product.
In some cases, you may get a discount if you buy in bulk.
Hiring a professional is probably the most expensive option. Unless you have money to burn, this should be reserved for high impact projects such as B. Illustrations for sales pages or campaign starts.
Tools for creating blog images
Whether you are on a budget or just want to get the creative juices flowing, your images can be created.
There are free and inexpensive options like Canva and PicMonkey. These tools have limitations, including watermarks, if you don't opt for premium memberships. You also need to ensure that any assets used in your design are copyright free.
For 100% original work, creative suites like Adobe might be best bang for your buck. With access to tools like Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator, you can create and edit a variety of blog illustrations, diagrams, and original photographs.
There are many tutorials available online for creating graphics with Adobe Creative Cloud. So if you can't pay a designer for their services, then you don't have to just guess how to do it.
If you are in a time crisis, there are even services that offer quick turnaround times for unique illustrative designs. With tools like Laetro, you can create a unique illustration in just 24 hours.
Conclusion
No need to scroll through the images page by page to find the right images for your blog post. You can create original blog images, either yourself or with the help of a professional.
Original blog images, including photography and graphics, can take your blog posts to the next level. It also helps in building your overall brand and taking your marketing to the next level.
With options ranging from free tools like Canva to paid software like Adobe to freelance artists, there's no reason not to use original images on your blog.
Which of the above tools are you most likely to use to create images for your blog? Or do you prefer those that we haven't mentioned? Let us know!