Adding photos to your articles provides both a better look and feel as well as additional content and information that you can share with your audience. While important, Google indexing also takes into account how a photo is implemented into an article which means if it is done incorrectly an article won’t rank as high in Google.
Finding a Photo
Unless you own the photo that you wish to add to an article, finding a photo to use in an article isn’t as simple as going to Google and downloading anything that looks appealing. Due to copyright laws, acquiring a photo to use is slightly more complicated. In order to avoid any copyright laws, it is best to go to a stock photo site, which allows you to purchase the rights of a photo as well as choose its size and dimensions.
Adding Photos
Step 1
To add an image into your article simply click the small, grey box that is next to the Upload/Insert text.
This step may be completed either before or after an article is written. However, it is much easier to implement photos once the article is written in order to correctly place the photos in the text.
Step 2
A box will appear that allows you to upload an image from your computer, a URL, or media library. It is smart to always upload images from your computer because this will allow you to have the most control over your images.
The gallery tab allows you to view and change settings for any previous photo that has been uploaded. Additionally, multiple photos may also be uploaded together.
Click Select Files under the From Computer tab.
Step 3
Once you select your image, you will be taken to the customization screen. There are two necessary steps that are needed for Google to correctly index an image, the Title and Alternate Text boxes.
The Title box simply allows you to name the photo that you just uploaded; the Alternate Text box, however, is required for the photo to be indexed by Google. If the Alternate Text box is left blank then Google will not index the photo and the article won’t appear as high as it would have in Google.
After the Title and Alternate Text boxes have been completed, you may enter a caption if necessary as well as change the alignment and size of the image. The alignment allows text to flow around your image and the size allows you to scale an image depending on what is necessary.
Once the desired settings have been chosen, you have the choice of clicking Use as featured image. The featured image is what is shown on the home page next to the brief descriptions of your articles. You can choose to skip this step if you only want a photo to appear in the article and not as the featured image.
Once everything is complete, click Insert Into Post.
Over time, your ability to get found as well as the depth of readership from having attractive photos will drive your lead generation.
How are you using photos in your articles to drive visits and readership?
