Written on April 20th, 2005 at 03:04 am by Darren Rowse
Using Photos in your Posts
Arieanna asks her readers if they are influenced by pictures in posts? She writes:
‘I notice quite often that I scan blog posts quite quickly to pick up on one of two things: keywords in the title or pictures. One or the other has to catch my eye to stop my scroll down the page.’
I’m a big believer in catching the attention of readers by whatever means is needed - picture, keyword, intriguing title, promise of free gifts (ok - not that one - yet).
I got to look at some Eyetools results for one of my blogs recently and was intrigued to see how pictures inside a longer article can actually help to draw readers eyes down the page. Very useful strategy.
It’s all part of making your blog scannable - drawing your reader in - grabbing their attention.
Do you use photos in posts? What’s your strategy? Do you think it works?
PS - why did I pick the above photo for this post? It was the first one I found in iPhoto - of a few of my mates who watch me blog all day.
12 Responses to “Using Photos in your Posts”
TurboBlogger.com » Oohhh…Pretty Pictures!
April 19th, 2005 11:38 pm
[…] lack of choice key phrases (two separate issues, granted). Darren Rowse has picked up on Arieanna’s post at ProBlogger. He has added some great perspecti […]
TurboBlogger.com » Oohhh…Pretty Pictures!
April 19th, 2005 11:38 pm
[…] lack of choice key phrases (two separate issues, granted). Darren Rowse has picked up on Arieanna’s post at ProBlogger. He has added some great perspecti […]
Tris Hussey
April 20th, 2005 12:02 am
I don’t use pictures often on my own blog, but I do on some other blogs I write for. I think pictures help break up long posts…make the text flow better. I alternate between align left and right to make the text snake nicely.
I think I’m going to have to start doing picture experiments.
Rob :-)
April 20th, 2005 4:35 am
I have used them on my new blog, as that’s the main point of it, though I do have one problem.. how do you wrap the text around the picture, just as you did here Darren?
Is it to ask?
I think the pictures have a more lasting imprimt on the mind, so it may be a great “anchor” to have.
Well I am not going to forget the “gnomes” now am I? ;o)
Looking at my blog, the pictures can’t fail to imprint themselves. They are so unique so it helps in that way for me. Though I will also improve it if I can wrap the text around the smaller pictures.
I would be most grateful if one could let me know how I do that.
Take care.
Rob ;o)
Lisa V.
April 20th, 2005 5:05 am
I always think a photo, image, or logo within a blog post really makes a post stand out and attract interest, even more than a title can.
One of my recent blogs is a photoblog I set up to share the pics I was taking with my new camera. I started it to share sample photos with other people searching for information before they purchased the same camera, but it has become a handy way to share photos with friends and family and anyone else who surfs in. Before I’d make a new html page with the photographs and then I’d have to email around the new link, but a photoblog is so much easier.
I’ve been experimenting with layout and I like the thumbnail with the ability to click through to a larger image so people don’t have to wait for larger images to download within the text.
Darren
April 20th, 2005 10:51 am
Rob - if you want to take a look at the source code of this page feel free to (use the ‘view source’ option in your browser menu).
Basically you can wrap text simply by inserting the - align=”left” - or align=”right” - code into your image tag.
There are tutorials on this here and here (as well as many other places online).
Hope that helps
Rob :-)
April 21st, 2005 12:58 am
Cna no one let me know of that?
The wrap around text. :)
Craig
April 21st, 2005 8:29 pm
Rob,
img src=”image.jpg” alt=”title” align=”left” /
with <> at either end.
Rob :-)
April 22nd, 2005 8:48 am
Thank you for that.. One question Craig.. the last sentance.. with at each end lost me a bit..
Sorry, I will try this on next post. :)
Take care,
Rob
Craig
April 24th, 2005 9:19 am
There were meant to be some greater than and less than characters there. Unfortunately they’ve disappeared when I posted. It was just meant to ensure you close the img tag, thats all.
Using Images to Take Your Posts to a New Level
November 13th, 2007 8:23 am
[…] Using Photos in your Posts […]
Richard Rinyai
November 13th, 2007 10:57 am
I have to admit that I too stopped and had to look at the pictures of the gnomes. This is a great idea.
I noticed that quite a lot of sites use pictures within their posts and I am more inclined to read them if they have some sort of visual attraction.
Thanks,
Richard Rinyai
http://www.theprofessionalassistant.net
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