You have a great blog idea. You’ve done all your research, came up with a catchy title and just know it will bring in the masses. But before you publish, check your post one last time for pictures. Do you have any? Articles with a featured image are more likely to be clicked on than those without. Below are a few of my favorite tips on choosing the perfect blog image.
- Creativity Counts: If you are writing about a forest, by all means pick out a picture of pretty trees. It really can be that easy. For the rest of us though, image selection may not be as obvious. Instead, you get a chance to be creative, while still remaining relevant to your topic. The goal is to intrigue potential readers, not confuse them.
- Size Matters: There’s a fine line to walk between have an image file size too large or too small. If the picture is too large, it may cause your page to load slower, causing an impatient reader will lose interest and click away without reading anything. A picture that is too small, however, might show the individual pixels, especially when stretched on different platforms. My suggestion is to play around with different file sizes to see where the happy place is for your site.
- Put a Keyword in the Name: Before uploading your image, check the file name. Search engines seek out the keywords in the name, even though it is invisible to the reader. This simple move can significantly help attract your desired audience.
- Always Have At Least One Image: This probably goes without saying, but it doesn’t hurt to reiterate it. It’s not great to have a post that is cluttered with pictures, but you do need at least one. Preferably, place it above the fold (or the “read more” link).
Images are easy, painless, and make a huge difference to the both the success and aesthetic of your blog.
For more tips on improving your site, take a look at these posts:
How To Write Great Blog Articles That Get Opened, Read and Shared
A Simple 3-Step Blog Post Formula Anyone Can Follow
How to Improve Your Mobile Website