Blog Discussions
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Created: March 07, 2008 18:43 / Edited: Never Does an image improve a post?I can't make up my mind about images. Sometimes I include an image at the top of a post, usually it has nothing to do with the subject I'm writing about. Sometimes I just write a post without including any images.Why use irrelevant images?Even an irrelevant image can do a good job of splitting up your posts. While I'm not too keen on images that don't relate to the subject, a blog about blogging and website tips doesn't have a lot of choices when it comes to finding an appropriate image.Screenshots are different.A tutorial with screenshots is not the same as a blog entry with an image or two. The screenshots serve a purpose - they make the article easier to follow.A great image can work wonders.It jumps out at you. The reader's attention is drawn to the image. On the other hand, a poor image will not help a reader to determine what a post is about. I do read a couple of blogs that use images that don't relate to the post, mainly because the content is good.Image-only posts.Every week, I look at lots of different blogs. I've noticed that a number of them post a "Wordless Wednesday" entry with just a photo. Sometimes this can work if the photo is good and it's relevant to the blog.It doesn't work so well when the photo is not that great or it's totally irrelevant. Why not write a proper blog entry, and put your photo posts into a separate gallery? An image can get someone's attention.But it won't usually keep their attention. You need good content for that. Some of my best posts have been free of images, and people still enjoy them and comment on them. Do I need to use images unless they actually add something to the post?What do you think?Do you use images in your posts?Are they relevant to the content? Does it make a difference to you if other blogs use images? Do you still read if they don't? Tags: images, graphics, eye candy, screenshots, photos |
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Created: March 07, 2008 22:08 | Permalink
I don't mind to read posts with no images. When I write though I like to insert images but they have to be of relevance to the post. Maybe because I'm a short-post-writer. hehe
I think its a bit silly to insert images with no relevance, it might be draging the post rating down. |
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Created: March 07, 2008 22:44 | Permalink
Thanks for the comment, Oyvind. Maybe if I can find a relevant image, I'll use it. I just can't find many that fit with my blog.
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Created: March 07, 2008 22:52 | Permalink
I think images are good for (a) illustrating a point (b) attracting attention (c) breaking up large slabs of text, ie I think pages and pages of text gets quite boring on websites.
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Created: March 07, 2008 23:25 | Permalink
Thanks for commenting Ian. Good points. But what if you can't find a decent image? Flickr is an option, but is there a good image for every post?
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Created: March 08, 2008 01:15 | Permalink
I try to find images on http://www.freeimages.co.uk/ , http://www.freefoto.com/ , http://openphoto.net/ etc. And if I can't find an image I use to create an image with a relevant text to it, with fancy fonts for instance - in my preferred width and height to fit the post.
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Created: March 08, 2008 02:51 | Permalink
I write my articles first. Then I try to see if there are any good images to add. I use iStockphoto, and some of the images are really good. If I couldn't find any, it's still fine, because I'm already satisfied with my articles.
You're right about screenshots. A tutorial article works better with screenshots (I'm a visual person, so I'm biased). Probably even better with video. |
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Created: March 08, 2008 03:37 | Permalink
When I first started blogging I tried to tie images into my posts to give some visual variety from just plain text. I'm not really into banner ads, so I didn't care about taking anything away from advertising with pictures in posts. The pictures were relevant somehow to the post and were not things like photos of hot chicks tied into my articles on root canals...
Now, I'm not so rigidly fixated on photos. Most of my regular readers are subscribed and tend to come on over based on title or first paragraph. My dental posts will draw my dental readers over if they have relevant photos of xrays, etc, but I'm finding that I'm not going out of my to hunt for a picture of a fax machine when I do a post about dentists communicating with each other via fax. That's my 2 cents... Nice blog BTW, I've been dropping on you for a short time, but always end up stopping to read. Thanks! |
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Created: March 08, 2008 10:41 | Permalink
I don't do all that well when it comes to using images UNLESS they're my own that I've taken specifically for the blog. Why? I'm a slack blogger - too slack to go looking for an image.
I think the way you break up your posts with headings is just as effective as images Ben. This is an area I find hard with a personal blog as it doesn't lend itself to headings quite the same. To me, what really attracts me to the blog is the writing style. Although I do like at least an occasional image just for interest sake. Does it always need to be relevant to the post? I don't necessarily think so. I can see your dilemma here. What about the occasional image of yourself, a keyboard, a laptop...that kind of thing? Congrats on your ranking in the Top Australian Blog Index!!! And I just noticed you're in the top 100,000 for alexa as well. You're doing well Ben - which doesn't surprise me at all. :) |
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Created: March 08, 2008 13:29 | Permalink
I like Oyvind's idea about using typography in place of another image, if you can't find something that suits and/or adds value to the post. Words are the main point, after all: why not make them into the visual element to lighten a post?
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Created: March 08, 2008 16:24 | Permalink
Oyvind, thanks for the tips. I'll have a look at some of those soon.
Vincent, thanks to you too - although I think iStockPhoto could get expensive if I used an image per post! Still, it's another option to keep in mind. I might just ask someone to help... Periapex - first post? Welcome. Thank you for the comment. :) I seem to go back and forth with images, sometimes I use them, sometimes not. I just need to figure out what I'm going to do with them in the long-term. All of the comments here have helped me a lot, so I'm well on the way now. Thanks again. Lightening - I'm glad you noticed my use of headers. I didn't want to spell it out in the post but I'm glad someone commented on that. Your image ideas are yet more good suggestions to add to my list. I'm really pleased with these comments. Also, thanks for the congrats - I didn't expect to rank quite so high in the Top 100 on my first appearance there. Long may it continue! Jen - thanks for reinforcing Ovyind's idea, it sounds like a good option when I'm really stuck for an image to use. Thanks for all the comments, I always appreciate them. :) |
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