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| photo credit: Darwin Bell via photopin cc |
That's the point, isn't it. Every blogger wants there to be actual blog readers. We want someone looking at what we've written.
But to make that a reality, more than ever, we need visuals to entice and keep the attention of ever impatient internet users.
But you don't just need visuals, you need good visuals.
For years, sxc.hu served as the place for free, quality stock photos. For the last few days, however, the site has been "closed for maintenance." Who knows if Getty Images, which owns both sxc.hu and istockphotos.com, will bring the free site back.
For those looking for options, particular now that sxc.hu is down, here are four places to find free graphics and stock photos for your blog or website, along with one bonus site for photo editing.
1. RGBstock.com
According to their website, "Rgbstock is a fast growing and totally independent stock photo site with more than 85,000 stock photos online. And still growing fast! All photos are free for personal and business use."
I use them fairly regularly and can usually find a photo to fit my post – it just may take a little bit of searching to find the right one.
From the website: "The term 'morgue file' is popular in the newspaper business to describe the file that holds past issues flats. The purpose of this site is to provide free image reference material for use in all creative pursuits."
Very similar to RGBstock, in fact, they share a lot of the same photos. If I don't find what I want at one, I search the other.
This is the most recent site I have started using. Like the others, it may take awhile to sort through images that are not really relevant to your post, but I have found some great photos there.
I use them fairly regularly and can usually find a photo to fit my post – it just may take a little bit of searching to find the right one.
2. morgueFile.com
Very similar to RGBstock, in fact, they share a lot of the same photos. If I don't find what I want at one, I search the other.
3. DeviantArt.com
Known as dA, DeviantArt is a bit different from RGBstock and morgueFile. It is an online community designed for users to share their work, some of which is open to use on blogs. Just check the availability of an image you want to use.
You can find some extremely interesting graphics and photos there. You can also find some really bad work and some extremely objectionable work. Make sure the mature filter is on.
4. PhotoPin.com
Photo Pin uses the photo sharing site Flickr and combs through the images that are free to use on your blog.
This is the most recent site I have started using. Like the others, it may take awhile to sort through images that are not really relevant to your post, but I have found some great photos there.
Bonus Site: Fotor.com
If you don't have access to graphic design programs like Photoshop and InDesign, this is one of the best websites that gives you the ability to edit photos, including adding text.
A recent trend in blogging, which I have started using myself, is adding the title to the featured image of the article. Sharing the photo on social networking sites with a link to the post can be another way to drive traffic to your site.
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What photo sites and free online resources do you use for visuals on your blog?
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