Is there a right way to use images when marketing my website?
These days, it’s crucial for small businesses to know how to use images on their websites. Keep on reading to discover useful tips that will help you use images legally when marketing your site.
Importance of images in business
Marketing experts recommend to include quality photos and graphics on your website and in every piece of content you publish. However, you also need to have the legal right to use those images — the illegal use of photos can cause problems.
Most business owners when setting up their website don’t have a bank of unique images to draw from. No need to worry. Nowadays, there is an endless supply of original images one can use for free online. The only thing you need to learn is how to source and attribute those photos properly.
Why use pictures in articles?
According to research conducted by Skyword, articles that feature custom images attract 94% more traffic than those that include nothing but words. Photos make your content more appealing, which is crucial when you need to capture and hold the attention of web users. By including a well-thought pic that relates to the topic of your article, you can almost double your audience.
Finding suitable graphics for the website
Finding proper graphics for your site is not that simple as can seem. It’s way more than just typing words into Google Image Search and saving the photos you like. Even though some of these images are free to use, most of the time they are someone else’s property. Therefore, it’s recommended that you check whether they are free to use or not.
How to legally use copyrighted images?
Nowadays, anyone can find where their photos are being used by applying such tools as Google’s Search by Image and TinEye. It’s always advisable to play it safe where copyright law is concerned — if you use copyrighted pictures without permission, you are violating copyright law, and the owner of the image can take legal action against you.
The truth is that many content creators won’t mind if you use their photos, as long as you give them credit and provide a link that will help increase their website’s traffic. Generally, there are two primary ways you can legally use pics that are under copyright:
- Ask the owner for permission to use his image;
- If your use of the picture falls under Fair Use.
Note that even if you are permitted to use copyrighted photos, you should not alter them without permission. Also, avoid featuring them too often when marketing your site.
Best places to find copyright-free images
There are many sites on the web where you can find graphics that are free to use. Although there is no need to ask permission to use these images, you still have to check their terms of use. Here is the list of the best websites that host copyright-free images:
- Pixabay
- Librestock
- Creative Commons Search
- Public Domain Archive
- Flickr Creative Commons
Wrap Up
I hope you find this article useful. Market your website with quality pictures and see what happens to your traffic. If you know some other resources that host copyright-free pics, don’t be shy to share them with us. Marketing your website is not that hard if you know.
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