It’s all very well having high-value content in your blog posts, but if you don’t have any quality imagery to accompany them, they’re not going to pack quite the same punch. Of course, there is a right and a wrong way to go about it. Choosing any old images and failing to optimise them accordingly is a recipe for disaster. With that in mind, here are some best practices for choosing, sourcing, and optimising the imagery for your blogs. Let’s go!
Always double check licensing (Is the image free for commercial use)?
First of all, if you aren’t creating your own imagery, you need to ensure that any pictures you do use are indeed free for commercial use.
For example, if you do a quick Google search and save the first image you come across, there’s a good chance that you will be using an image without the appropriate consent.
Best practice dictates that you head to a website like ShutterStock or Pixabay and do it the right way.
Only edit images that are free to edit and use for commercial use
Just as you need the relevant permissions to use an image for commercial purposes, you also need the same if you are going to edit and personalise an image. Most pictures from the aforementioned stock photo websites can be edited freely, but do your due diligence.
Make sure the images are relevant
Don’t add any old image for the sake of it. When choosing pictures to add to a blog post, make sure that they have some relevance at the very least. If someone is scrolling through a blog post and they see an image that doesn’t look as though it belongs there, it’s going to be distracting.
Instead, make sure that they add value to the post and enrich the experience.
Size your images accordingly
You also need to ensure that your images are sized accordingly. Otherwise, they might wrap around the text awkwardly, take up the whole screen, or simply look out of place.
Here are some handy tips for properly sizing images for your blog posts.
Compress them for a faster page load speed
Just as you must size your images accordingly, it’s also worth using image compression software so that you can reduce their file size without compromising on quality.
In doing so you will improve your blog’s page load speed and ensure that when people are scrolling down the page, they’re not looking at blank space with imagery that is failing to load quick enough.
Add descriptive image alt text
Image alt text (or alt tags) is a written description of an image that will replace an image on a web page if it fails to load properly.
Not only does image alt text help the likes of Google to crawl, identify, and index your imagery accordingly, but it also adds further accessibility options for your website visitors who may be visually impaired.
That way, they get all the context they need – including your focus keywords (if possible).
Conclusion: Don’t rush your imagery
Take your time when choosing, sourcing, and optimising your imagery. Don’t add any old picture to your blog post. Make sure it adds genuine value!
If you are struggling with writing blog posts and sourcing high-quality imagery, it’s worth hiring the professionals for assistance. Running a business is stressful enough as it is without having to waste your precious time deliberating over which pictures to add to your blog posts.
Fortunately, this SEO in Abu Dhabi can help make light work of your blogging tasks for the best results with Google – and an even bigger impact with your readers.
This content is a joint venture between our publication and our partner. We do not endorse any product or service in the article.
