I did an article on my personal blog citing the decline and perils of stock photography but I got a few questions regarding the alternatives to Stock Photos. I thought I will share some alternatives on howtomakewebsite.ws
Why use an image in your post.
A lot of SEO gurus recommend using an image on your pages and posts to increase & perhaps extend the user engagement on your website. It gives your visitors an idea of what your content comprises of by painting a very quick picture encouraging them to stay on the page with an objective already painted in their mind. Some authors prefer not using a picture at all because they believe that the use of a picture might limit or impact the imagination of their audience.
All of us (who like to have an image on all pages) must have come across that situation where we do not have an image to go with our post. I have seen my ex-colleagues and friends instinctively go and buy it from stock photo websites. Not only is it an unnecessary added cost but this option is boring and off putting as hell. I have covered the perils of stock photos in this post on my personal blog. Here are a few alternatives to stock photos that are free, 100% original and might brighten up your post a little bit more than stock photos.
1. Charts
If your post contains some data why not create a visual representation of this data in forms of charts.
A visualization of my site’s referrals created using pages software on Mac
There are a lot of software that help you visualize your data beautifully. Some of them are:
- Microsoft Excel
- Pages (iWork)
- Open Office
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
There are a lot of other options that you can find and you can use whatever floats your boat.
2. GIFs
GIFs are becoming increasingly popular these days. Matt posted an article an article few days ago with a very self-explanatory featured image GIF. You can use one of the free online GIF maker website or a desktop software like Photoshop to create a GIF out of a video clip.
3. Quotes or Typography
I suggest quotes as an option for people who can’t think of anything to attach to their posts. In some cases authors are faced with the problem where they do not want to limit or impact their readers’ imagination. Excerpts out of the post in some cool fonts are a very good option. They are easy to share on Social media and people like to share influential quotes benefiting your website’s overall health.
4. Hand Drawn Characters and Artwork
If you’ve got a good hand, why not share your drawings with your readers. Hand drawn characters give your blog a personal touch and you get to show your true emotions. If you are a story teller and find it hard to paint a picture by your words this is a very good option. You can use a drawing app on your tablet or a professional tablet by wacom.
5. Self Shot Photos
Self Shot photos are always a very good option for posts discussing real life events but you can also use them as a replacement for stock photos. If you are a local business that is located on the beach area, you can step out anytime and take some shots of photos of the beach and use them on your website. Not only does this provide a personal unique touch to your posts but is also very appealing to the locals.
I would love to see your ideas on alternatives to Stock Photos so feel free to share them in the comment section below.