It’s no secret that content marketing can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Just adding visuals like stock photos to your blog posts and videos can increase engagement by 94%.
But let’s face it – finding high-quality images isn’t always easy…or legal!
That’s why we’re here! This article will show you how invaluable stock photos are for content marketing and how to choose the right ones. Pairing relevant images with your content can help your audience retain 65% more information about your brand.
So, let’s uncover what makes a great stock photo for content creation!
Benefits Of Using Stock Photos In Content Marketing
Using stock photos in content marketing is a great way to grab the attention of potential customers and inspire an emotional reaction. Whatever you’re trying to convey or sell, there is always a perfect photo to express it! So, why wouldn’t you choose stock photos as part of your content marketing strategy?
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Browse Our List →1. An Affordable Way To Improve The Quality Of Your Content
Stock photos are an affordable way to instantly improve the quality of your content. With stock photography, you can add eye-catching visuals without breaking the bank. Unlike hiring professional photographers or creating custom images, stock photos come at a fraction of the cost. You can even get free stock photos from reliable sources.
2. Add Visual Interest
Stock photos are a great way to add visual interest to your website or blog. You can easily draw people in and get them interested in your content through relevant visuals such as videos, infographics, and images.
This allows you to engage with customers more personally, making them feel part of the conversation. Interestingly, posts with images produce 650% more engagement than text-only posts.
3. High-Resolution and Versatile Resource
Stock photos are shot by professional and expert photographers. Moreover, stock photo agencies properly assess each photo contributed to their website to ensure the highest quality standard. And since the pictures come from different photographers, you can expect a versatile selection of pictures when it comes to niche and style.
4. Easy To Find And Download
Stock photos are also easy to find and download from stock photography websites. This makes them a great resource for content marketing. You can quickly search for the exact images or videos you need through the available filters and start creating your content immediately. This makes the entire process convenient, time-saving, and cost-effective.
5. Most Stock Photos Are Editable
Most stock photos are editable, which means that you can customize them to fit your website’s design or brand. Using stock photos in branding helps create a cohesive look and feel throughout your content while giving it a more professional edge.
6. Various Licensing Options
Stock photos also come with various licensing options, which makes them an even more attractive option for content marketers. This allows you to use images and videos in a variety of ways. With a relevant license in hand, you can use the stock photos without worrying about copyright infringement.
How To Choose The Right Stock Photos For Your Content
Choosing the perfect stock photos for your content can be tricky! You need to consider both the aesthetic and message aspects at play. The key is finding natural-looking pictures that fit your narrative and enhance it without overshadowing the text. Other important tips include:
1. Choose A Photo That Is High Quality
When choosing a stock photo for your content, it’s important to ensure the image is high quality and relevant to your topic. Poorly chosen images can detract from the overall message of your content, so it’s essential to pick something that resonates with your audience.
The pictures you use should also be high-resolution. For content marketing purposes, it’s generally recommended to use photos with a resolution of at least 1080 pixels, as this is the standard size for most online platforms.
2. Use Photos That Are Licensed For Commercial Use
To protect yourself from legal issues, using licensed photos for commercial use is important. This allows you to legally use and distribute the images without running into any copyright infringement problems. Fortunately, there are several places where you can find high-quality photos that are very affordable and available for commercial use.
Once you have a licensed photo, you can use it for your content marketing freely as long as it adheres to the terms of use. It’s important to read the license agreement before using any image, as some licenses may restrict their use in some projects.
3. Avoid Using Stock Photos That Have Been Used Before
Using stock photos is not difficult, but in this day and age of social media, it isn’t easy to stand out from the crowd. Try using unique images that are tailored to your brand and message. You should also look at competitors’ websites to ensure they are not using the same pictures that you have selected.
Besides a manual scan, you can always use online tools, such as Google Image Search or TinEye, for reverse image search. Overused photos are usually less visually appealing and may even be detrimental to your brand’s identity.
4. Do Not Use Cliché Or Generic Photos
It’s important to avoid using cliche or generic stock photos. Although they may be easier to come by and less expensive, they can give the impression that your content is not unique or original. Try to find something interesting or unexpected to make your content stand out.
For example, photos like a woman laughing with a salad bowl or abstract 3D elements have been widely used. Avoid these generic images and find something more creative and eye-catching.
5. Choosing Location-Specific Photos
If your content is related to a specific location, try to find images that reflect the area. This will help create a more authentic experience for your audience, as they can easily recognize the place depicted in the image.
For example, if you are creating a travel blog post featuring a destination in Italy, choose photos of iconic Italian landmarks or scenery to truly invoke a sense of the Italian culture and atmosphere. Such photos have a chance to touch the hearts of readers and become memorable.
6. Add A Human Or Emotional Touch
Adding human or emotional photos can make them more engaging and relatable. The human touch in your content marketing can help create an emotional connection with your audience. People are more likely to identify and relate to such photos.
This could be as simple as choosing a photo with a human face or capturing an expression of joy or surprise that adds context to the image. Research shows that human photos have a 48% more conversion rate than general stock icons.
Conclusion
Stock photos are an excellent tool for content marketers. By using them effectively, you can create visually appealing content and still save the extra pennies. And with an array of high-quality stock images, you can easily find the perfect image to complement your content and web design. Plus, with different licensing options available, you can rest assured that your content is legally protected.
