If you have a blog for your business, you must take advantage of using a featured image (or multiple images) in every blog post. The use of imagery can help draw in the reader, especially if your site uses thumbnail previews along with “teaser” text on a home page blog feed or on the blog page itself. A good featured image will also make a huge difference on social media when you are sharing article links and boosting posts.
Here are a few tips for using featured images from NextGear Marketing:
1. Take Your Own Photos
We’ll get into the use of stock imagery in a second, but another option is to take some quality photos of your own. Display your products, show your employees in action and take shots that represent your business and its personality. This can be one way to help your business blog stand out from competition using generic stock photos. Just make sure the photos are of good quality. If the photos look cheap, then it’s usually a poor reflection on your company.
2. Use Stock Photography
If you don’t have the resources or the subject matter to justify taking some of your own photos, you can effectively use stock photography. Make sure you are buying royalty-free images. Never use anything with limited rights. Some stock sites charge as little as a dollar per image, while others offer subscription services that allow you to download a certain number of images (or unlimited images) for a period of time.
3. Never “Borrow” Images from Other Sites
This is very important because it’s every blogger’s nightmare to get dinged for using a copyrighted image. Don’t just search Google images and pull whatever you want, even though it seems like the Internet is pretty much the Wild West these days. Eventually, you run the risk of getting caught with one or more rights-managed images. Best case scenario is you get a “cease and desist” letter/email. Worst case scenario is a huge bill for past usage rights—maybe even legal threats. In other words, be very careful about any photos or graphics you are using.
4. Name Your Images Strategically
Take the time to rename the image files with your focus keyword and your company name. Depending on your blog system, you can also add descriptions and/or captions. This is one more way to help with organic SEO on the blog post.
5. Look for Interesting Photos
Sometimes, a featured image might be a literal representation of what you are talking about in the blog article. In other cases, it may be more abstract or metaphorical. Finding the perfect stock image isn’t always easy. Don’t kill yourself looking for the photo, but give it some thought and find something that is eye-catching and at least somewhat representative of your blog topic.
These are just a few tips for using featured images on your business blog. If you have questions or need help with your blog, contact NextGear Marketing today!
NextGear Marketing 