Image Link Building - Turning Your Smartphone Camera Into A Semi-passive Link SOurce

@ChrisCzermak #brightonSEO
Image Link Building -
Turning Your Smartphone
Camera Into A Semi-
passive Link Source
Chris Czermak | MacNaught Digital
SLIDESHARE.NET/ChristopherCzermak
@ChrisCzermak

I’m many things, and a PR expert
isn’t one of them.

But you don’t have to be a PR
expert to achieve links.

31% admitted to running
campaigns in the last 12 months
that generated zero links.
https://www.aira.net/state-of-link-building/content-led-link-building/

Perhaps it’s about problem solving
and providing a journalist,
publication, blogger… with
something they need.

That’s where image link building
comes in.

In essence, you provide the image
for someone else’s story, and get a
link in the process.

Creative Commons Licensing of
imagery lets people use them with
appropriate attribution.

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Here are a few examples:

rokokoposten.dk/2021/01/14/far-smed-soens-computer-i-havnen-i-protest-mod-problematisk-hjemmeskole/

voicemag.uk/blog/8961/toxic-productivity-and-hustle-culture-a-work-obsessed-world

businessinsider.fr/amazon-est-autorise-a-entrer-au-capital-de-deliveroo-fragilise-par-le-coronavirus-184349

https://cryptotapas.com/top-5-long-term-cryptocurrencies/

Image Link Building:
Step-by-Step

Image Research -
Finding the Ideas

Creating the right images is
essential. There are 2 key factors
to keep in mind:

Relevance
Demand
&

Identify images people need and
want, relevant to your
website/niche.

Think of which sites you would like
to acquire links from or where the
images might be used.

Start with topics, then decide on
the specific ideas.

Mind Mapping works great for
finding relevant image topics.

Is there demand for images
of that type? Check how
frequently similar ones have
been used.

Check out sites like...

A recent example...

Image Description
WFH 1 - Coffee Table Person working from home on a coffee table,
photo taken from the side.
WFH 2 - Bed Person working from home in bed, photo
taken from above.
WFH 3 - In Front of TV Person working on the couch, photo taken
from behind with the tv on in the background.
WFH 4 - On The Floor Person sat on a carpet surrounded with
papers and other props, photo from above.
WFH 5 - Children Person working from dining room table with
children playing in the background.

Sometimes, it’s more about
opportunity than demand.

Example of Opportunity

Image Production &
Distribution

Now, produce the images...

This can be done in a photo studio
or with a mobile phone and lightbox
setup!

Here’s what our setup looks like...

It can also be done outdoors...

A few things to keep in mind when
producing the images...

● Keep images simple
● Stick with a landscape
(horizontal) format
● Get it right in camera
● Avoid over-editing

You could even consider
outsourcing the photography.

Illustrations

Next, we distribute the images.

You could self-host them on your
own site...

https://developers.google.com/search/docs/data-types/image-license-metadata

We keep coming back to Flickr for
this, because of its simplicity.

Tested with Free image sites like
Unsplash, but it felt a bit like
tricking people and positive
responses were lower.

https://unsplash.com/license

Tracking, Chasing &
Converting

Then, find who uses the images
and request attribution in the form
of a link.

Ultimately, Google Reverse Image
Search works best.

Finding the image usages can be
automated, with tools like...

People tend not to attribute, at least
not correctly...
Attributed correctly including link 791
Credited Flickr (linked or unlinked) 4890
No attribution at all 1049
Brand mention, no link 3546
Other 145
Total 10421

So, we email them and request
attribution in the form of a link back
to our site.

Email Subject: Image Attribution Correction Request
Hi there,
We’ve just noticed you’re using an image belonging to our client on {insert link to article}.
Firstly, thanks so much for using it! I’m really glad you found it useful!
The image is distributed under Creative Commons, so we’re very happy for you to continue
using it. I just wondered if you wouldn’t mind updating the attribution on the image, as per the
original at {a link to original image and its attribution instruction on Flickr} to link to the owner of
the image at {insert website URL}
Any problems at all, please do get in touch.
And once again, thank you so much for using the photo.
Kind regards,
Chris

Finally, set up a spreadsheet to
keep track of it all.

And that’s it!

1
Image
Research
2
Production &
Distribution
3
Tracking &
Chasing

The images will continue to pick up
usage over time and all you have to
do is request attribution!

Scalable link building strategy even
on small budgets.

THANK YOU!

Image Link Building - Turning Your Smartphone Camera Into A Semi-passive Link SOurce

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