How to use images in blogs.

1. All About Images
(and how to use them)
Attract Readers; Gain Impact

2. Why use images?
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
An aid for skimming and scanning
• An image introduces the main subject of
your post without the use of words
• It encourages your reader to continue
reading if they appreciate the subject
• Images can break up a lot of text to make
it look easier to read, and can help the
reader to understand the content better

3. Why use images?
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
It catches reader’s eye
• An image is the first thing readers see
after the headline, so should be placed
underneath it
• If the image has a caption, this is also
read before the rest of the content
• Images placed left or right of the first
paragraph will narrow the text and make
the reader read it more quickly. This will
encourage him to continue reading

4. Why use images?
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
It enhances your post’s content
• They add value to your subject matter by
providing a visual reference point
• They strengthen the content’s message by
helping the reader to understand it better
• This also includes graphs and pie-charts
and other explanatory material

5. Why use images?
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
It makes posts visually memorable
• Your readers are more likely to remember
an image rather than words
• It helps your readers recognise which post
they want when searching your archives
• Also, thumbnail images that accompany
your post listings can help or entice readers
to click and read

6. Added benefits of images
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
Images encourage social media sharing
• Research has shown that an update on social
media with an image receives the most likes,
comments, shares and a higher reach
• Platforms such as Pinterest, Flickr and
Instagram are now easily integrated with other
platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter
• Using humour, animals, food or beautiful
scenery also helps gain interest and interaction

7. Added benefits of images
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
Images help sell a product
• Customers need to clearly see what they
are going to buy
• An image should make your product look
attractive, compelling, enticing and inviting
• It’s the same with a service: customers
need to see who you are, and who will be
helping them, to make it easier to form a
business relationship with you

8. Added benefits of images
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
Enhances how your blog looks
• Images avoid blandness when used within
a theme or blog design, by adding colour,
vibrancy and interest
• You could consider other locations for
images other than the banner, such as the
contents of the sidebar
• Images provide visual reference points to
help with navigation, so visitors can recognise
which department or section they are in

9. Added benefits of images
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
Images also help with SEO
• All images should have an alt tag, which
should contain the relevant keyword
• The keyword should also be found in the
title tag and image file name
• These help the search engines to locate
and index the image, which could bring in
more traffic resulting from a relevant
search request

10. How to add an image to your post
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
Put your cursor in the place where you want your picture to
be, and click on the ‘Add Media’ button above.
You will be directed to your Media Library
for you to choose an image you’ve already
used before.
However, if you want to upload one from
your computer, click on ‘Upload Files’

11. How to add an image to your post
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
Click on the ‘Select Files’ button, which will
bring up your computer’s files.
Find the image you want,
select it and click the ‘Open’
button.

12. How to add an image to your post
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
You will see your image being
uploaded into the Media
Library.
On the right sidebar
you will have an
opportunity to
optimise your image
before you insert it
into your post.
I will show you how in
the next slide.

13. How to add an image to your post
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
This is your image’s URL
This creates that little yellow tag that
appears when you mouse over the
image, it needs to be descriptive
Here is where you add the caption, if
necessary
The alt text creates the alt tag, which
is necessary for the search engines. It
also needs to be descriptive
You don’t need to add a description

14. How to add an image to your post
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
Alignment allows you to place the
image to the left, right or centre,
with the text running around it
You can choose
whether your image
should link to its own
page, an external link
or even no link at all
You can select a different size if available.
When you’re ready, click on the ‘Insert into post’ button

15. How to add an image to your post
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
Clicking on your image will bring
up options for re-alignment and
the editing icon is the little pencil
This will allow you to add a caption
or alt tag if you haven’t already, and
to link your image to somewhere if
applicable

16. Increase your image performance
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
Are you using the correct resolution?
• Images used in blogs and websites should
have a low resolution. This needs to be between
72 to 96 dpi (dots per square inch)
• If the resolution is too high, the image will
take too long to download on your webpage,
causing a big delay for your readers
• Be aware most cameras take images at a high
resolution, which is not suitable

17. Increase your image performance
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
Make sure your image is RGB
• The web uses ‘light’ colours: red, green and
blue. It is not the same as images for printing
Take care in cropping and presentation
• Home in on the most important elements in
your image, to focus the eye accordingly
• Eliminate any unnecessary material or
background that may detract from your reader’s
enjoyment or understanding

18. Use images in other ways
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
Have a go at creating an infographic
• These are visual explanations of a subject
using images to present data, learning points
and references
• They can come in any shape or size, and
contain as much or as little information as you
choose
• People like infographics as they provide an
alternative to words

19. Use images in other ways
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
Here’s some websites that could help
you to create exciting infographics for
free:
• Canva.com
• Visual.ly
• PicMonkey.com
• I make mine using Photoshop, but you could
use any application that suits you

20. Quick guide to legal issues
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
Copyright on images
• You can’t use any image from the internet
• Always assume pictures are protected, even
those that say Royalty Free
• You need to seek permission for use, and
merely acknowledging the source is not enough
• Exceptions are Creative Commons images,
those from the Public Domain, and your own
images you created yourself

21. Quick guide to legal issues
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
Creative Commons
• Images with a creative commons licence
provide permission for usage without the need
to ask
• Flickr.com is a source of creative commons
used by bloggers. Click on the ‘Some Rights
Reserved’ link to see what you are allowed to do
• Compfight.com is a Flickr search engine; select
creative commons and safe search, and use the
images offered below the line

22. Quick guide to legal issues
Attract Readers; Gain Impact
Free images websites
• morgueFile.com
• photopin.com/free-photos
• pixabay.com
• kaboompics.com
• magdeleine.co
• freerangestock.com
• freeimages.com
Pay once for multiple use
• iStockPhoto.com
• shutterstock.com
• fotolia.com
• ghettyimages.co.uk
Public Domain Sites
• commons.wikimedia.org
• flickr.com/commons