Using Stock Images for Your Blog: Dos and Don’ts

using stock images for your blog

Introduction

All words and no images make your blog a dull piece of content. However, the relevance of using images in a blog continues beyond making your content cheerful.

Putting stock images in your blog might seem like an easy task. You don’t directly have to put in the effort to click the photos or design them. But still, there’s a lot you must keep in mind.

Here are some of the dos and don’ts for using stock images on your blog.

What Are Stock Images?

Images taken by photographers and made accessible for use by others are called stock photographs or images. They encompass all types of photography with no restrictions on topic or style.

You can find loads of stock photo options online.

&

That’s not all!

In addition to stock images, several websites offer—

  • Animations.
  • Web layouts.
  • Graphics.

Did you know you could purchase the rights to utilize stock photographs for your creative projects?

As a result, designers may rapidly locate the right image for their projects. They can search for a big library of photographs rather than hiring a photographer.

People, places of travel, animals, and cuisine are some of the most often used stock images. Additionally, this enables photographers to get modest royalties. It is a consistent source of money for their work.

Dos and Don’ts Of Using Stock Images On Your Blog

Here we shall state one do and one don’t alternatively for you to grasp the rules better—

DO Use Stock Images That Enhance Your Content

When you’re using an image on your blog, it needs to be highly relevant to your content. Images, when used in a blog, should serve as a visual representation of your written content.

You can enhance your blog by using images that—

  • Are unique and original.
  • Complement the color of your brand.
  • Have high image resolution.
  • Have relevant text.

DON’T Use Cliché Images

We know that your blog must have one or more relevant stock images. Nonetheless, using stereotypical images from a stock library is not at all recommended.

If you observe, you’ll find that some of the images in different stock media websites or libraries are extremely similar to each other. In addition, the subjects of these images are similar, with identical color palettes.

For example– you’re looking for an image relevant to your family planning blog. Unfortunately, for most of the stock images, you’ll observe subjects that portray a stereotypical idea of a family with parents, children, or pregnant bellies.

To stay away from such cliched images, you need to search deeper and for better, more unique images.

DO Use High-Quality Stock Images

Images provide information that is simple to scan and help you convey a story or idea related to your blog. In addition, high-quality photography increases the number of visitors you receive.

Plus, it also enhances your user engagement. Users are more likely to stay on your website for longer, giving you more time to promote your goods, services or ideas through information and pictures.

DON’T Ignore The SEO Aspects

Regarding photos, it may be simple to disregard SEO, but to improve your page rank, you must include all the relevant information from Google’s point of view.

SEO aspects that you should follow while selecting, uploading and keeping stock images on your blog are the following—

●       Remove All The Extra Images

According to research, online sessions with converted users had 38% fewer pictures than ones without. The quantity of photographs that should be included on a web page is a subject for debate.

●       Use The Right Format

JPEG, PNG, WebP and SVG are some of the most suitable formats that you can use when uploading stock images on your blog.

●       Add Alt Text

In the event that your photographs fail to upload for whatever reason, the ALT text explains your images. Make sure the picture contains your blog’s focus keyword.

●       Add Site Map

You may boost the likelihood that search engine algorithms will find your website by including images and media assets in your sitemap. As a result, you may anticipate more traffic and conversions to your website from Google and other search engine analytics competitors.

DO Use Royalty-Free Images

In many circumstances, a royalty-free license is suitable. However, to guarantee you are using the photographs securely, just make sure you are aware of the licensing conditions and everything they imply.

Compared to alternatives like free stock photographs from the public domain, royalty-free images have been reviewed for this usage and are thus safer.

DON’T Use Stock Images On Social Media

Using stock photos in social media posts and advertisements is not always a good idea. In both social media postings and advertisements, the image is frequently the main attraction.

Please refrain from utilizing your old stock photographs in certain circumstances. Accept the trend of sharing unprocessed, unedited photographs instead.

The Last Note

Using the right photographs might be a little trickier than it sounds. However, you have a lot of resources at your disposal to locate stock photographs with the appropriate license for your website and other material.

These stock photo websites provide a variety of picture options. They include pay-per-photo and membership services. You can also try to study what best satisfies your requirements for the right kind of photographs and content.