This can apply to images that we use online:
A picture is worth a thousand words.
~ unknown
We have all heard that saying, but it can be hard to put it in to practice with our small business websites & social media marketing. And of course, some areas lend themselves to images better than others. (I myself have not always done well here. If only I had a cake business, I would have tons of pictures!)
Why to Use Images
Here is a reminder of why it is so important to use images (from the helpful article from the Buffer folks):
- 63% is visual on social media.
- 94% more views with images.
- 150% more retweets with images.
And of course, we only have a couple seconds to catch client attention & an eye-catching visual helps. Lastly, not only are images more fun & appealing, but they also can help with comprehension & retention. Visuals get results, meaning more traffic & engagement.
What to Do with Images
OK, so we know we want to do better with images, but what does that really mean? Just pasting in some stock photos is not going to do it! Original content that is entertaining & useful is ideal. Visuals can help explain, emphasize, show, summarize and connect better. And it could be in various formats:
- Images with quotes
- Charts
- Screenshots
- Videos
- Infographics
- Slides
- Maps
And then there are some things to consider to really do this well . . .
1) Copyright – just taking an image that is online & using it could get you in trouble. Ways to stay in the clear:
- Use your own original images
- Use public domain pictures (image resources here)
- Ask permission
- Pay the licensing fee for an image
2) SEO – the name of the file, alt, title & caption matter! Google can’t see an image, so you have to be sure to tell it what information is there. Lots of image SEO details here.
3) Speed is more important than ever, especially for mobile, and we have to worry about Retina now too, so you want to optimize those images.
4) Different sizes are required for different social media.
There is a lot to keep in mind to do this well, but it is worth it to get more traffic & engagement.
Next Steps
Depending on where you are with images now, you might have different goals for what you can do to improve. At the very least, make sure each blog post has a good visual that is optimized for speed and SEO. And then if you are ready to take it to the next level, having a variety of images for social media is a good strategy.
Want help with this? Let’s talk about it!