Maddening. That’s the only word in the English language to describe trying to find that guy wearing the striped sweater and hat in those Where’s Waldo books. Amiright?!
Interestingly, this is the same feeling we often experience when attempting to find perfect images to go along with the new website content or blog post we create. After all, the photo needs to capture the essence of the content while fitting your brand. It needs to capture your audience’s attention, without being too over the top.
This sounds like a recipe that even Madam Mim couldn’t cook up.
Here at CCS, we’ve discovered some tips and tricks for finding the perfect images for any type of content we conjure up. We’re here to share them with you.
5 Tips for Finding the Perfect Photo
1. Think Outside the “Stock”
Sometimes a literal image is just fine. Other times, it’s best to think outside of the typical stock photo. For example, a blog post about writing can very well showcase a photo of someone scribbling. Yet, we challenge you to think outside of the box. Go for an image that illustrates the bigger idea, instead of sticking to what’s generic.
2. Know Where to Look
Knowing where to look can streamline the photo finding process. There are so many online galleries chock full of free photos (yes, free) you can use. Some of our go-to’s include:
3. Be Specific in Your Search
If you visit one of those websites and type in “cat,” you’ll find literally thousands of results. And unless you want to spend hours searching through pages of cat images, you should be more specific.
For example, what kind of cat are you looking for? What color is it? What do you want the cat to be doing? Where do you want the cat to be? Using “cat lounging on a windowsill” will get you the result you’re looking for much faster than “cat” will.
4. Consider the Tone of the Piece
Think about the emotion you want your piece of content to inspire in your audience. For example, do you want your reader to walk away feeling informed? Or, would you rather simply make them laugh? The image you choose should reflect the tone you’re going for.
5. Choose Text-Friendly Photos
This tip is for those images you want to add text to, such as those for your blog. Make sure the image you choose isn’t so busy that your text won’t stand out. Go for low contrast images that are more simplistic or have large areas of white space.
How to Create Your Own Images
Can’t find exactly what you’re looking for? You can create your own images fairly quickly. Plus, creating your own images can help you stay true to your brand by using your own brand colors and typography. All you need is an idea and a tool. Here are some of our faves:
- Canva: Canva allows you to create any type of image you can possibly imagine, from Facebook posts to banners. Plus, they offer thousands of free images to choose from and the ability to add shapes, text and more.
- BeFunky: Need to make a collage? Want to edit a photo to fit your brand? BeFunky is an online tool that can do all of that and more.
- Piktochart: Infographics are great additions to your content. Piktochart helps you create informative and inspiring infographics quickly.
Are You Stuck in a Creative Rut?
It takes time to write the content and then even more time to find the perfect images to go along with it. By following the steps above, you’ll save time and your sanity. But if you find you’re still having trouble finding the right images for your content, it could be you’re struggling creatively. We can help.
To learn more about creating both visual assets and website content that fit your brand, send us a message.
