Statistics show that content with images get a whopping 94% more views than those without! Content with visuals is not only more shareable (Facebook posts with images get 87% more shares, Tweets with images get 18% more clicks, 89% more favourites and 150% more retweets), but they give your piece personality. They also break up long pieces of content that can be off-putting to a reader with little time. While you think your content may not have a suitable image to enhance it (so why bother?), even a quirky or funny image that has the smallest link back to your article, can be the difference in its success.
In a survey conducted by Buzzsumo, posts with an image every 75-100 words got the most shares across various platforms. Without counting the words of your blog and getting uptight about it, the general rule is to place an image right near the top of the post, one after every two or three paragraphs and an image in every section, especially if sections are broken up with subheadings.
Colourful images work better than black and white – like advertising, bright and bold visuals sell products.
If you have strong brand colours, try to incorporate these in with your content – it all goes towards strengthening your brand.
Use different types of images too, not just photographs. Pie charts, graphs, cartoon figures and infographics hold just as much appeal. Remember to use your logo if you are creating the visual – a good infographic is often one of the most shared images on social media. A good blend of entertaining and informative images is a balance to strive for.
When using stock or free images – which is most of us, since not many small businesses can afford a photographer or graphic designer to whip up the perfect visual whenever you need one – try to avoid the overused ones. Choose an image that conveys an emotion, however tenuous the link.
Finally, use keywords to optimise your images – this will help your search rankings enormously. Use the keyword(s) you are targeting in your image file names, as well as in the alt text field describing the image.
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