It’s true that people come to your site for your content, but
you will also need images to help keep them there. After all,
the first thing that meets the eye on your page or post is the
images. Using the right images on your post can create
curiosity, mystery, and grab attention as well as a host of
other emotions that will make them stay glued to your content.
Using unique images will help you tempt your visitors into
reading your content even if the headline is not captivating. A
great image used with a mediocre headline or content will
attract more visitors than a mediocre headline on its own.
However, there are several tricks about the use of images with
your content to maximize the effect. Here are ten things you can
do.
1. Use At Least One Image in Every Post
Every post should have an image placed above the fold. And if
you have a detailed post, consider adding images in between your
posts to break the monotony of written text. They help provide
breaks to your reader by giving them some time to digest what
they have read. Images also serve to entice your readers to
continue reading your content.
2. Look For Images That Spark Emotions
Using images that illustrate your story will not be of any great
use to your post. If your post is about how to prevent a car
accident, you might think it is a good idea to insert an image
of a car involved in an accident. But ask yourself – will the
image capture the mind of your reader? I bet it won’t since you
are portraying someone who has experienced a loss without saving
anything. Therefore, it is best to look for images that spark
emotion rather than ones that illustrate your story.
3. Use Images in Your RSS Feed
An image can get your content read or ignored. So think about
using an image combined with the headline as your book cover,
with the post serving as the content. Just like books, people
judge their feeds by their covers, and they also do the same
when looking for feeds.
4. Use an Image with Several Faces
Studies show that readers pause longer at an image with at least
one face. If your post doesn’t suit the use of images with
faces, then look for something spectacular or provocative that
makes the reader pause to know more and think about it for a
while.
5. Take Your Time to Find the Best Image for Your Post
You should invest almost the same effort you put in compiling
your posts when looking for an interesting image to use in your
content. Using captivating image in your content will help you
create a good first impression and will help you attract more
internet traffic. That’s why spending more time searching for
the right image is well worth the effort.
Also, you can consider purchasing images. Spending a buck or two
to get better images will actually boost your chance of getting
your post read by more people. You can find far better images
when you are willing to pay a little bit to get them, and you
will find a wide variety of them.
If you are on a tight budget, consider using Creative Common
photos. They are free to use, but generally, you must give the
photographer credit or attribute. A couple of great places to
get these free images is Flickr or CreativeCommons.org
6. Never Fail To Use One
Even if you fail to find the right image, be sure to add an
image anyway. Adding images might sound obvious, but the fact is
that they increase the time your visitors spend on your site.
One marketer reported that adding images doubled up the time
people spent on her website.
7. Consider Using Your Own Images
If you are an outgoing person, take as many images as possible.
Using your own photos will help you personalize your website,
and also build a deeper connection with your audience.
8. Use Pictures to Build an Entire Post
Pinterest has proven to us that you can actually get traffic by
simply combining different images. So why not build a post that
is based on nothing but images? Maybe in the best places to
visit in your country or the best memes, etc…
9. Make Use of Alt Tags with Your Images
This can help your site rank higher in search engines, thereby
bringing in more traffic for you.
10. Have Fun
Images not only can captivate your audience but it also makes it
fun for you to compile them as an author.
