But there is a lot to know about using images to ensure that you get the most from them on your blog.
Understand Copyright Laws
You can't just find any image you want by searching on Google and using it. It's important to understand about how copyrights work. Read the fine print no matter where you find the image, so that you get permission and give credit appropriately.
Where to Find Images
You can buy royalty free images from stock photo sites like iStockPhoto.com, and stockfresh.com, https://www.hudsonvalley360.com/obituaries/beverley-k-forsythe/image_64a4771b-cc61-5969-b7c6-13f14e581e87.html or you can find free images from morguefile.com. These are only a few examples. Royalty free does not mean an image is free; it just means you can pay one time, and if you use it according to the licensing agreement you don't have to pay per view.
Formatting Images Properly
You want to ensure that your images aren't too big to suck up bandwidth and make your pages load too slowly.
Ensure That Your Images Relate
Adding images to your blog posts will, if you choose right, make the blog posts come to life for your audience. If the image advances the story of your blog post, it's going to mean a lot. They say an image is worth 1000 words, and it's true if you choose well.
Add "ALT" Tags to Your Images
Many bloggers think that tags are old-fashioned and unnecessary, but if you want Google to index your images right, you'll need to add the alt tags as well as a good description, using keywords that fit your website and blog post.
Keep Pictures on Your Own Server
It's tempting to house images on another server because of space, but it's best if you house the images for your blog on the same server. If you use WordPress, just upload them in the media section to ensure fast loading of images.
Use Screen Shots or Make Your Own Images
Sometimes, the best images are the ones you create yourself using screen shots. This is especially true if you are creating a how-to post that needs images to help lead the blog post reader to follow the directions carefully. You can make your own images easily by taking pictures with your phone and using software like Canva.com to edit the picture for posting on your blog.
Be Consistent
It can be hard to be consistent about how your blog posts are laid out if you don't create a guideline for yourself (and others if you have guest bloggers). But, you don't want to confuse your readers by making your website look messy without any order. Try to place images logically on each blog post.
Guest blogging on popular blogs can help you spread awareness as well as help you build up your reputation as someone with knowledge and authority. But first you need to know the best way to approach a blog owner with your pitch. There are some pitfalls to avoid and some ways to frame your offer so that they can't refuse.
The first thing you want to do is send a personal email. The personal email needs to cover the following points of fact.
1. Have a Proper Salutation to the Owner of the Blog
You want them to know that you know who they are. Don't write to 'dear blog owner' or some other generic term. Do enough homework that you know who you're writing to. In fact, if you know you will have to email a gatekeeper first, address the gatekeeper directly.
2. Introduce Yourself
Let them know who you are and what your expertise is and how it relates to their audience. They'll want to understand how you can help them, not how they can help you.
3. Educate Them
Not just about you, but about what you know about them and their visitors. If they realize you know a lot about their audience, it will impress upon them how much you can probably teach their audience.
4. Promise Originality
The days of writing one guest post and sending the same post to everyone is over. Therefore, you should tell them that you'll write each post for them and only them.
5. Fill the Gaps
Every blog owner has a gap of content to fill. If you can identify that for the blogger, you'll be able to break in to blogging for them. If you're https://forums.janetscloset.com/member.php?action=profile&uid=9409 not sure, offer to guest blog within a certain topic where your expertise lies, but to their specific order.
6. Explain How You'll Promote the Blog Post
Explain to the owner of the blog how you'll promote the blog post that you write to your audience too. That will bring more visitors to their site since you share a common target audience.
7. Supply Images
In addition to a blog post, tell them you'll supply original images. Not just stock photos that may or may not be legal to use, but images that you have made or make yourself just for the post.
8. Offer an Affiliate Program to Them
Most bloggers who take guest blog posts also offer a biographical box at the end of the blog post where you can post a link to your website or sales page. Offer that the link can be an affiliate link where appropriate.
Finally, let them know that you will follow up with every comment on the blog post, and continue to promote it for a specific period of time. If you follow through with everything you say, it's more than likely they'll ask you to guest blog again and again.