Stock Photos are Dead: Create These Blog Images Instead

The use of blog images in posts is a no-brainer.

Images are an easy way to break up chunks of text, add context, or give your readers a more accessible medium through which to digest your content.

With the growth of written content online, it’s harder to have your content be unique from others. Writers need to adapt to the changing landscape.

How can you continue to engage your audience when so many bloggers have written on the same topics—and will continue to do so?

The answer is original imagery.

Blog Image Trends: Why Stock Photos Are Dead

With more content available on the web every day, it’s more important than ever to stand out.

While finding ways to put a unique spin on your blog post topics is critical, there are only so many angles on one subject. You need other types of content, such as photographs and illustrations, to make your mark.

Unfortunately, stock photos just don’t cut it anymore.

This reason is in part because blog images don’t only live on your blog. They make the rounds on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest whenever your posts are shared.

Chances are, your users have seen similar stock photos many times already, and they’re bored with them.

With so many articles to read, videos to watch, and social media news to ingest, the average reader won’t spend hours looking for the best article on your topic. They’ll choose the most visually appealing option nearly every time.

So before you use stock photography in your next blog post, ask yourself:

Will my readers interact with the same stale image they’ve seen numerous times when researching this topic? Or will they choose to interact with an original image that more perfectly captures the content?

Why You Should Use Interactive and Original Images on Your Blog

Your goal as a digital marketer is to increase conversions.

So how do you do this even better than you already are, given the changing online landscape?

There are plenty of ways to drive traffic to your website. But what’s more important is driving the right traffic—the users who will engage with your content.

Images can help. According to BlogTyrant, images can up conversions by over 300%.

But keep in mind the kinds of images you use can have an impact on your conversions, too.

For years, stock imagery was the norm. But, it’s time to move away from those pictures.

Original images offer authenticity stock ones can’t provide. They offer your readers a peek behind the curtain, allowing them to see a deeper side of your content.

Unique blog image content can offer other benefits, including increased customer trust and brand recognition.

According to Brain Rules, a slogan alone only sticks in the minds of 10% of people. When related imagery is added, though, retention rises to 65%. That’s an increase you can’t ignore if increasing brand recognition is on your radar.

Original image content has an often-overlooked SEO benefit, too, and that’s the improvement of Google’s E-A-T score. The E-A-T score lets Google assess content quality based on these three standards:

  • Expertise
  • Authoritativeness
  • Trustworthiness

How can original imagery improve your E-A-T rating?

Whether you shoot and edit photography on your own or you work with a digital illustrator, your unique imagery will have a personal spin. If done right, this will become a vital part of your personal brand strategy.

You show expertise by including images that clearly demonstrate you understand your content.

You show authoritativeness by having consistent, unique branding people recognize immediately.

You show trustworthiness by providing information through images that are accurate and increase user’s knowledge.

A strong personal brand will bump all three elements of an E-A-T rating.

Placing Images on Your Blog

Images, just like text, can also be perceived as “fluff.” Because of this, you need to know when to use pictures on your blog to optimize user experience and benefit your SEO.

You should use images to do three very specific things.

Break Up Large Chunks of Text

According to a study by Microsoft, the average attention span of heavy screen users is a mere eight seconds.

That means you have eight seconds to captivate your audience—and large blocks of text may make them click away pretty quickly.

However, you don’t have to write two sentence posts to make them take fewer than eight seconds to read. Instead, employ clever tactics to keep your readers engaged.

One tactic is to introduce other media, such as photos or digital illustrations. This creates a less intimidating reading experience while also making the post more visually appealing.

Explain a Concept

Some concepts are too abstract or complex to explain effectively in writing, especially if your audience isn’t strictly experts in your topic.

Custom diagrams and visuals can help readers understand the material.

Enliven the Content

As much as you like to think your content is witty and engaging, some topics just won’t interest readers for very long. You can use original visuals to add some life to otherwise “dull” content in these cases.

When Should You Use Custom Illustrations or Photos?

The cost of custom graphics may be prohibitive for some bloggers, but it is possible to find some middle ground.

Use custom illustrations and photography sparingly. Ask yourself where they make the most sense and insert them accordingly.

If you’re creating a landing page for a new product or service, for example, this would be the place to splurge. After all, you want this content to stand out from your competitors—what better way than with a custom graphic?

You can also utilize custom illustrations to drive a point home or explain data.

Whether a comic strip panel, a diagram, or a flow chart, you can use custom illustrations to share ideas with your readers in a way words simply can’t.

When Should You Create Interactive Graphics?

You can take your blog’s imagery one step further with interactive graphics.

Interactive graphics are custom graphics that support reader interactions like mouse pointer movement, clicks, or keyboard input.

This form of original imagery is commonly used in infographics, though other display types include side-by-side comparisons, flow charts, and graphs.

The most obvious use for interactive graphics is to catch the reader’s eye.

Perhaps more importantly, they can also be used to break complex information down into bite-sized chunks. For example, take a look at this nifty interactive graphic that shows users how Google search works without becoming overwhelmed.

Examples of Successful Blog Images

There are plenty of ways to use images on your blog.

Here’s one creative example from Oberlo:

Examples of successful blog images

Instead of one lengthy infographic, the content creators chose individual infographic “slides” to answer each question on their post about social media statistics.

This use of graphics achieves two things:

  1. It makes the information easy to digest.
  2. It makes it simple for readers to share the information on social media.

As mentioned above, one of the benefits of original blog imagery is the personal branding aspect. When you use a particular style consistently, it becomes synonymous with your brand.

Copyblogger provides an excellent example of this:

Copyblogger example of blog image

Their featured images consistently use quotes overlaid on eye-catching images. They work as a watermark of sorts, as anyone who sees their imagery elsewhere will be able to identify them as belonging to Copyblogger immediately.

And what about interactive content? Your options are only limited by your imagination.

Take a look at this comprehensive timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe:

avengers blog images example

As you scroll through the timeline, new images and text content can be seen. This example tells a complex story in a linear, non-intimidating format.

How to Get Original or Interactive Blog Images

It’s never been easier or more affordable to get original and interactive blog images.

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 of a digital artist with a style you like, you may be able to commission them. They are often more expensive than the freelancers you’ll find on the websites mentioned above, but they’re great if you need a specific style.

For bloggers strapped for time, there are services you can hire to do the heavy lifting. The service may be a creative agency or a blog content specialist. Either way, you provide details, and they’ll 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.

If you hire a freelancer for a one-off gig, then the price varies based on the number of images, the complexity of the work, and how you plan to use the final product.

In some cases, you may be able to get a discount when you buy in bulk.

Commissioning a professional is likely to be the most expensive option. Unless you have money to burn, this should be reserved for high-impact projects, like illustrations for sales landing pages or campaign launches.

Tools to Create Blog Images

Whether you’re on a limited budget or just want to let the creative juices flow, you can opt to create your own images.

There are free and low-cost options, such as Canva and PicMonkey. These tools have limitations, including watermarks, if you don’t opt for premium memberships. You also need to be sure all assets used in your design are copyright-free.

For 100% original work, you may find creative suites like Adobe to be the best bang for your buck. With access to tools like Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator, you can create and edit various blog illustrations, diagrams, and original photography.

There are plenty of tutorials available online for creating graphics using Adobe Creative Cloud—so if you’re unable to pay a designer for their services, you don’t have to just guess about how to do this.

Conclusion

There’s no need to scroll through page after page of stock photos to find the right images for your blog post. You can create original blog images, whether by yourself or with the help of a professional.

Original blog imagery, including photography and graphics, can take your blog posts to the next level. It also helps build your overall brand and take your marketing to the next level.

With plenty of options at your fingertips, from free tools to freelance artists, there’s no reason not to use original images on your blog. 

Which of the tools mentioned above are you most likely to use to create images for your blog? Or do you prefer ones we haven’t mentioned? Let us know!

The post Stock Photos are Dead: Create These Blog Images Instead appeared first on Neil Patel.

New comment by coverbuild in "Ask HN: Who is hiring? (September 2020)"

Cover (YC S16) | Infrastructure Lead & Frontend Engineer | Los Angeles, CA | Full Time | Onsite post-covid | https://buildcover.com

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We’re currently looking for frontend engineers and an Infrastructure Lead.

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New comment by Sensolligent in "Ask HN: Who is hiring? (July 2020)"

Frontend Developer |Sensolligent GmbH| Frankfurt, Germany | Full-Time We are looking for a motivated and passionate frontend developer as soon as possible for our location in Frankfurt. Sensolligent focuses on IoT cloud solutions and simulation software. We are a young, dynamic team working with the newest technologies. More details here: https://sensolligent.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/747309a0… contact us directly want.yousensolligent.com

New comment by lolatthisui in "Ask HN: Who wants to be hired? (June 2020)"

  Location: California
  Remote: Yes
  Willing to relocate: No
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I’m a Software Engineer + Product Owner that has worked in FinTech for the past two years. I’ve had to develop a lot of product management skills on the job and realized I was most passionate about Product Management. I’m looking for a role that will allow be to help grow their product formally as a PM now!

Overtime – Episode #425: WH Spokesmen, American Oligarchy, Public Service

Bill and his guests – Rep. Adam Schiff, Jon Favreau, Michael “Killer Mike” Render, Matt Welch, and Annabelle Gurwitch – answer viewer questions after the show. (Originally aired 5/12/17)

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New comment by tpotanski in "Ask HN: Freelancer? Seeking freelancer? (March 2020)"

SEEKING WORK | Remote I’m a software developer who enjoys working with my clients to help them achieve their dreams and goals using technology. So far, I have built numerous web & mobile solutions for large and small businesses as well as for individuals. My expertise is to provide the most customized web solutions for …

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New comment by marton_s in "Ask HN: Freelancer? Seeking freelancer? (March 2020)"

SEEKING WORK | REMOTE from Berlin, Germany

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High Risk, Moderate Risk And Low Risk Investments

High Risk, Moderate Risk And Low Risk Investments

For those wanting to invest, you should comprehend that a number of monetary investments can be categorized as being high danger, small danger as well as likewise lowered hazard. It is furthermore unbelievably essential to educate on your very own pertaining to the numerous monetary investments easily offered to you so you can uncover those that fit excellent with your particular situation in addition to lifestyle.

Minimized Risk Investments
While minimized threat monetary investments are normally incredibly decreased trick along with rarely are marketed or extremely fancy, they do provide conventional plutocrats an approach to preserve money for the extensive or quick term without the hazard consisted of that you situate in different other kinds of investing. Minimized risk monetary investments usually pay one of the most cost effective returns, yet are a lot less unpredictable than great deals of different other sort of economic investments. While lowered risk monetary investments do not provide high returns, they do make use of protection as well as additionally defense for those that can not spend for to lose money or would absolutely merely such as to remain free from as much hazard as practical.

Small Risk Investments
Moderate threat monetary investments are optimal for those that have an interest in investing for the prolonged term as well as additionally would absolutely such as to make small returns. Moderate risk monetary investments are typically particular sort of products, bonds as well as additionally usual funds that pay handsomely over the prolonged term. Small risk monetary investments usually return yields of 5% to 12%.

High Risk Investments
High risk monetary investments are those monetary investments that if you are privileged can return significant returns, however the decrease is that they can be remarkably uncertain along with in a great deal of situations in contrast to acquiring bountiful off your monetary investment, you find by yourself losing some or all of it. High risk monetary investments include dollar products, worldwide products, some type of Forex careers, and so forth. The skies is the restriction for returns, yet a number of high risk economic investments- if taken into account a victor should return yields that differ from 10% to 30%++.

For those looking to invest, you should recognize that a number of economic investments can be identified as being high hazard, small hazard as well as additionally minimized threat. High risk monetary investments are those monetary investments that if you are lucky can return considerable returns, nonetheless the economic crisis is that they can be exceptionally unpredictable as well as additionally in whole lots of circumstances instead of acquiring bountiful off your economic investment, you situate on your very own losing some or all of it.

Minimized risk economic investments usually pay the most cost effective returns, yet are a lot less unsteady than great deals of different other kinds of economic investments. High risk monetary investments are those monetary investments that if you are lucky can return considerable returns, however the decrease is that they can be remarkably uncertain as well as in a great deal of instances as opposed to acquiring plentiful off your economic investment, you find on your very own losing some or all of it. For those looking to invest, you should recognize that a number of monetary investments can be identified as being high hazard, moderate danger as well as likewise decreased risk. High threat economic investments are those economic investments that if you are privileged can return significant returns, however the economic downturn is that they can be extremely unsteady as well as additionally in great deals of circumstances instead of getting plentiful off your monetary investment, you find on your very own losing some or all of it.

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New comment by kodr in "Ask HN: Who is hiring? (November 2019)"

Incepto | Paris, France | Fullstack Software Engineer | ONSITE | https://incepto-medical.com/ We co-create and distribute AI applications for medical imaging – Bridging the gap between Physicians and Engineers. Among R&D team, you are a key member of an Agile-Scrum team, you play a key role in the design and development of our SaaS platforms … Continue reading New comment by kodr in "Ask HN: Who is hiring? (November 2019)"