How to Add Images to Your Content Quickly

Everyone who creates content online knows how time-consuming it can be to find or create the right images for your posts. Adding visual elements makes your content more engaging, breaks up long sections of text, and genuinely helps readers stay on the page longer. But it doesn't have to take forever. Here are six quick and practical ways to illustrate your blog posts and content so you can hit publish faster.

If you're new here, hi! I'm a neurodivergent creative and digital designer writing about passive income, hobby businesses, and staying sane while running one. Welcome!

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1. Use Stock Photos from Websites like Pexels and Unsplash

One of the easiest and most accessible ways to enhance your blog posts is by incorporating stock photos. Websites such as Pexels and Unsplash provide a vast collection of stunning images that are free for personal and commercial purposes. Create an account on these platforms and save the pictures you like, making it convenient to find suitable photos for your blog posts later.

I think it can be such a pain to find a fitting image sometimes, especially if I'm writing about a more niche-type subject. I tend to do a quick search, and if I don't find anything relatively quickly, I move on to one of the other options. Although I love taking pictures and am a stock photo contributor myself, I prefer the quickest solution instead of taking my own pictures for blog posts. The only exception is if I already have an image that fits well in my portfolio.

2. AI Generated Images with Ideogram

This option has been a total revelation for my whole approach to content images. Ideogram is an AI image generator that is particularly good at creating beautiful text-based graphics and very realistic images, which makes it perfect for Pinterest pins and featured blog images.

When I look for images for my website, my first go-to are the stock sites, but if I don't find something I like, I just make something myself (and always note that it's made by AI, of course). I use it to create almost all of my Pinterest pin images now, and the quality is impressive. You can describe exactly what you want, including any text you want overlaid on the image, and it generates multiple options in seconds. For creators who struggle to find images that match their niche or brand aesthetic, this is a total revelation.

Try Ideogram free here and see what it can create for your next post!

3. Get Unlimited Resources with Creative Fabrica's Yearly Subscription

For a wide range of textures, clipart, and fonts, consider investing in a yearly subscription to Creative Fabrica, my favorite platform for design assets. It only costs $59 a year and gives you unlimited downloads of thousands of design resources like clipart and textures that can be easily integrated into your blog post illustrations. Browse through their vast library, find a visually appealing background, and add text or graphics to create eye-catching visuals quickly.

You can also get 10 products for free (with commercial use) by signing up for the free month's trial. When I need a quick illustration, I look through the textures I've favorited on Creative Fabrica, and just add some text. Like I've done in this post, by simply adding the word "free" to a beautiful texture. (I know it doesn't look great, my graphic design abilites have definitely improved over time!)

4. Create Custom Graphics Using Canva's Templates

I'm sure most of you are familiar with Canva, but if you aren't yet, Canva is a versatile online design tool offering a wide range of pre-designed templates for blog illustrations. Its user-friendly interface allows you to customize these templates to match your brand and style. Use Canva's templates to create good-looking graphics, infographics, or featured images that enhance the overall aesthetic of your blog posts. Using the pre-made templates can save you a lot of time.

5. Design Collages with Stock Photos or Clipart

Collages are a great way to combine multiple images into a cohesive visual element. Consider creating collages using free stock photos or the extensive picture library available in Canva. Mix and match relevant images to create visually captivating compositions that suit your blog post.

Collages are especially useful for showcasing a collection of products or changing up your old pictures a little. Maybe you can even use some of your pictures from your phone? Monthly or yearly round-up posts are examples of blog posts where collages fit perfectly. Here's a screenshot of a collage I've made with clipart from Creative Fabrica to illustrate a blog post:

6. Use Screenshots

Screenshots can be valuable to demonstrate your points visually if you are writing about a specific service, website, or software. Capture relevant portions of your screen and include them in your blog posts. Screenshots give readers a visual reference and allow them to understand your explanations or instructions better. It's a quick solution when you need to illustrate something, and you'll see I often use screenshots in my blog posts, including this one.

The Importance of Visual Elements

When we process information, images leave a more lasting impression than text alone. Screenshots, infographics, and other visual elements break up the text and make your content more engaging and accessible.

Good imagery can evoke emotions, spark curiosity, and convey complex information quickly and effectively. Incorporating it well improves readability, as readers can quickly grasp key concepts and ideas at a glance.

Remember, your images should complement your text, adding value and context to your content. Choose them thoughtfully and strategically, ensuring they align with your blog's message and resonate with your target audience.

Want more tips?

If you want to go deeper into the theory behind why some content grabs attention and some does not, here are a few books worth reading:

• Everybody Writes by Ann Handley (second edition, 2022) is the go-to guide for anyone creating content online. It covers everything from writing to visuals to making your content worth reading.

  
  

• Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller is not specifically about visuals but about making all your content work harder to communicate your message clearly. Very popular with online business owners and content creators.

Is there anything I missed that works well for you? Let me know in the comments!