Hey there fellow blogger! Have you been struggling to find the perfect images to use in your blog posts?
We all know that images are key to creating an engaging post that people will actually want to read. But between scouring stock photo sites, hiring a photographer, or trying to take good pictures yourself, finding or creating images can be a frustrating process.
Fortunately, there's an easy solution: using AI to generate custom images for your blog posts. AI image generation tools have gotten crazy good recently, and can create photorealistic images from scratch or edit and improve images you already have.
In this post, I'll show you how to use AI image generation to quickly and easily get stunning, high-quality images for your blog posts so you can focus on what really matters — writing amazing content.
Why Images Matter for Engaging Blog Content
Images are essential for creating an engaging blog post that connects with your readers. Here are a few reasons why choosing high-quality images should be a priority:
Photos grab attention. Our brains process images 60,000 times faster than text, so including photos in your post will instantly capture interest and draw readers in. Eye-catching images also make your content more shareable on social media.
Images convey emotion. A single powerful photo can elicit an emotional reaction and connection with your audience. Choose images that evoke the emotion you want to convey in your post. Photos of people, in particular, help to establish that emotional bond.
Visuals enhance understanding. Complex topics or instructions are much easier to understand when accompanied by helpful images. Photos, graphics, charts, and diagrams can visually represent relationships, simplify complicated ideas, and walk readers through a process.
Images keep people engaged. Posts with relevant photos tend to keep readers' attention for longer. Studies show that posts with images have 94% more views than those without. Include photos throughout your post, not just at the top, to keep people engaged from start to finish.
By selecting powerful, high-quality images and including them throughout your blog posts, you’ll craft content that informs, inspires and resonates with your readers. Visuals are key to creating posts that people will not only read but also remember and share.
3 Things to Consider When Selecting the Perfect Blog Post Image
When choosing images for your blog posts, there are a few important things to consider. You want photos that are high quality, relevant, and help bring your writing to life.
Relevance
The images you choose should be directly relevant to the topic or theme of your post. If you’re writing about travel destinations, include photos of those locations. For a recipe, share images of the ingredients or final dish. Your images should enhance your writing, not just be decorative. Think about how each image helps to visually tell the story you’re sharing in your post.
Rights
Be mindful of copyright and make sure you have permission to use any images that are not your own. Some options for finding free images include:
- Stock photo sites like Unsplash, Pexels or Pixabay that offer royalty-free images.
- Your own photos. If you take the pictures yourself, you have the rights to use them.
- Creative Commons images with proper attribution. Search for images with a Creative Commons license that allows for commercial and modification use with attribution.
- Public domain images. Some museums, libraries and government agencies offer images in the public domain that are free to use without restriction.
Compelling
Choose images that are eye-catching and help draw the reader in. An interesting photo can capture attention and encourage people to read your post. Look for images with bright colors, interesting subjects, unique angles or styles. However, don’t choose photos that are overly distracting from the written content. The images should enhance your message, not overpower it.
Optimized
To optimize your images, start by resizing them. Aim for images around 600 to 1000 pixels wide. That's large enough to look good on most mobile screens, but small enough to load quickly. Additionally, you should serve your images responsively so they adjust to the size of the screen. Use code to specify different image sources based on screen width. That way, mobile readers will automatically get a smaller, optimized version of the image, while desktop readers can enjoy a larger size.
By keeping these tips in mind, you can select images that visually strengthen your blog posts and make the overall content more engaging for your readers. Images, when used effectively, can be a powerful way to share your message and connect with your audience.
Finding Copyright-Free Images vs Creating Original Images
When creating images for your blog posts, you have two main options: finding copyright-free images or creating your own original images. Both have their pros and cons, so consider which will work best for your needs.
Finding Copyright-Free Images
Scouring the internet for free stock photos is an easy way to find images for your posts. Sites like Unsplash, Pexels and Pixabay offer thousands of high-quality, royalty-free images you can download and use. However, the selection may be limited and the images generic. You’re also at the mercy of whatever images happen to be available, which may not match your vision.
Using images found through an image search can be tempting, but be very careful. Many of these images are copyrighted, and using them without permission is illegal. Only use images clearly marked as “public domain” or with a Creative Commons license that allows commercial use. When in doubt, it’s best to avoid using an image altogether.
Creating Your Own Original Images
If you want images tailored to your needs, consider creating your own. Using your smartphone camera or a basic digital camera, you can take simple product photos, lifestyle shots, or images of scenes in your local area. For blog posts about travel destinations or tourism, your own photos from a recent trip may be perfect.
Creating graphics or info-graphics from scratch using design software like Canva is another option. You can customize the colors, fonts, and styles to match your brand. However, if you have no design experience this can be challenging and time-consuming to learn.
Hiring a photographer or graphic designer is a great solution if DIY isn’t your forte. Explain your vision and they can create images to your exact specifications. While more expensive, the results will be high quality and tailored to your needs.
In the end, you need to weigh the pros and cons of each option for your own situation. Using a mix of copyright-free images and original images is often the optimal approach. With stunning, eye-catching images to accompany your content, your blog posts will capture attention and stand out.
How to Use AI Image Generators to Create Custom Graphics
AI image generators can help you quickly create custom graphics for your blog posts. By typing in keywords, you can generate beautiful images tailored to your content within seconds. Read this blog to learn how AI image generators work in detail.
Use Free AI Image Generators
Check out free AI image generators like HypoArt. All you need to do is:
- Go to hypotenuse.ai and create a free account.
- Complete the onboarding and navigate to HypoArt.
- Type in detailed keywords related to your blog post topic, like “an astronaut floating through space beside a giant jellyfish made of stars and nebulas”, and select the aspect ratio and image size that is best for your blog.
- Click “Generate” and the AI will create images from scratch based on your prompts.
- Choose an image you like and download it to use in your blog post! The images are free to use commercially and non-commercially.
- You can keep generating new images until you find one that fits your vision. The more keywords you provide, the more tailored the results will be.
Pro tip: Try experimenting with unusual prompts to see what visual metaphors and connections the AI makes. You may discover novel angles to approach topics or generate graphics that illustrate abstract concepts in a tangible way for your readers. The more creative you get with your prompts, the more creative your AI-generated images have potential to be.
Further Customizing AI-Generated Images
For more control, you can download the AI-generated image and edit it further in an external editor like Photoshop or GIMP. This allows you to:
- Apply advanced adjustments to colors, tones and effects
- Retouch or remove unwanted elements
- Add complex graphics, icons and illustrations
- Combine multiple AI images into a single composite
The results can be highly customized and professional looking. However, this requires more skill and time investment on your part.
Ultimately, the right approach depends on your editing experience, the complexity of changes you need and time constraints. But with some experimentation and AI assistance, you can create truly remarkable visuals to engage and inspire your readers.
Optimizing AI-Generated Images for Your Blog Post
Using AI to generate images for your blog posts is a great way to boost engagement and search engine optimization (SEO). When choosing AI-generated images, keep these tips in mind:
Focus on High-Quality Images
AI can generate generic stock photos, but for your blog you want high-quality, relevant images. Use a tool that allows you to specify details like subject matter, color palette, and style. The AI will then generate multiple options for you to choose from. Select images that match your blog’s theme and complement the tone of your content.
Optimize for SEO
AI can automatically generate image with captions optimized for search engines. Alt text describes the image for accessibility and SEO. A good caption or filename includes your target keyword or keyphrase. For example, if your post is about growing organic tomatoes, image filenames like “organic-tomatoes.jpg” or alt text like “A basket of ripe organic tomatoes” would be ideal.
Pay Attention to Image Resolution and Format
As a general rule, choose images with at least twice the resolution you need for your post. This allows for resizing without the image becoming grainy or pixelated. For example, if your blog column width is 500 pixels, look for images that are at least 1000 pixels wide.
JPEG, PNG, and SVG formats all work well for web images. JPEG is good for photos, while PNG is better for graphics with text or logos. SVG is ideal for vector images since they scale well and have good compression.
By optimizing your AI-generated images for SEO, choosing high quality and relevant images, using proper image sizes and formats, and highlighting key points visually, you can create stunning images that boost traffic, engage readers, and enhance your blog posts. The creative options are endless when you harness the power of artificial intelligence.
FAQs
So you want to use stunning images in your blog posts but still have some burning questions? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
What image format should I use?
For blogs, JPG, PNG and GIF are the most popular options. JPG is best for photos, while PNG is good for graphics with text. GIFs are ideal for images with animation or transparency. As for size, aim for 720-1080px for the width. This ensures high quality while still keeping load times fast.
How do I cite images?
Always cite the source of images you don’t own. Below the image, include:
- Image source: [Website name]
- Link to source (if applicable)
- Creator/photographer name (if known)
- License type (if specified on source website)
Properly citing images establishes your credibility as a blogger and avoids thorny legal issues.
How do I choose awesome images?
Images should enhance your content, so pick ones that:
- Are high quality and eye-catching: Focus on images that are well-composed, lit, and capture the subject in an interesting way.
- Match your topic and tone: Choose images that strengthen the overall theme and complement the mood you want to set. For a lighthearted post, use fun, casual images. For a serious topic, opt for more professional photos.
- Are licensed for commercial use: Only use images you have permission to publish on your blog. Many sites like Unsplash, Pexels and Pixabay offer free commercial images. Or take your own photos!
- Have alt text: Use the alt attribute to describe your images. This helps with SEO and accessibility for visually impaired readers.
Generate Quality Custom Images with Hypotenuse AI
In recent years, AI tools have made it easier than ever to produce professional-looking images, even if you're not a designer. With a bit of practice, you'll be creating eye-catching images to illustrate your posts in no time. And when you combine powerful images with compelling content, you'll have a winning combo to engage your readers and spread your message.
For a fuss-free blogging experience, why not try HypoArt? Sign up for a free Hypotenuse account today and witness the magic for yourself. No credit card required!
