How to find the best image for your blog?

Old man focusing to take his best image.

The best image can be your secret weapon to get the attention of your readers in the competing sea of blog posts.

When you land on the blog what is the first thing that catches your eye?

It is a striking photo or engaging graphics, right?

Your audience or readers are the same as you, and the best image catches their attention when they land on your blog.

The best images you use in your blog set the tone, build curiosity, and pull readers into your content. Without the right and best images, even a well-written blog post can feel flat, disconnected, or forgettable.

But do you know what?

Finding the best image isn’t always easy.

You have to take care of copyright laws, the right styles and formats, and a lot more while selecting the image for your blog.

That is why, this blog post is written for you.

In this blog post, you will learn how to pick the perfect images that not only enhance your writing but also keep your readers coming back for more.

Whether you are looking for free resources, ways to optimize load times, or tips on using images on your blog post, this post has you covered.

So, without further due, let’s start to turn your blog into a visual experience that captivates and converts.

Why do you need images on your blog?

If you are a professional blogger, you may already know the role of the best images and visuals in your blog.

But if you are a beginner blogger, you should know the facts of why images matter in your blog.

The best image you have chosen can explain your complex ideas, support your points, and make your blog memorable.

The visuals including images draw your readers in your blog. It breaks up large blocks of text and makes your content easier to digest.

The most important impact of the best image in your blog is to help you connect emotionally with your audience and keep them on your page longer. If your images resonate with them, they are more likely to share your post, expanding its reach.

Here are some key reasons why images matter in your blog. The best image:

Makes visually appealing
Improves the engagement
Provides better comprehension and clarity
Makes more social sharing
Gives SEO Benefits
Breaks up the block of text
Provides potential for storytelling
Makes memorable

Bloggers who add more visuals get better results

Source: orbit media

Know the types of images to use on your blog

You have many choices of images you can use in your blog.

It’s up to you or your blog content that what type of image you use because each type of images fulfills different goals. Such as:

Stock photos work well for a relatable feel
Illustrations add creativity
Infographics make data more accessible
Screenshots show step-by-step guides
Memes add humor
And so on

That’s why, not all the best images are the same. You have to use the images in your blog post to know the purpose of your blog content.

But you should get better performance on your blog when you use a mix of types of images on your blog. Again, it depends on the type, purpose, and goal of your blog post and what kind of knowledge you want to convey through it.

Here are the types of images you can use for your blog

Stock photography
Screenshots
Hand-drawn images or illustrations
Graphs and charts
Infographics
GIFs and Animated graphics
Memes
Quote images
Presentation

Where to find the best image?

You may be thinking what kind of question is this?

Because in this day and age, you can find images everywhere on the internet as shown in the picture.

Resources to find the best image for a blog

But you need the best one, there are many steps to finalize the best image for your blog.

You have already learned the types of images you can use in your blog; other steps are coming down in this blog post.

You see, you have many resources of the images that some are free and some are paid.

Even though you have many choices, still you have to make sure that the images are relevant to your blog topic and resonate with your audience. You have to find the best image that helps you create engaging, visually appealing content.

Free images are great for beginners because they are budget-friendly, and don’t require subscriptions. You can also search by keywords and browse categories on such platforms.

But what you need to understand is, that those images are widely accessible and free, they may appear on other blogs too. To be unique and to stand out in your images, you need editing and a personal touch on those images.

On the other hand, if you have a budget, you can find the best images with a larger selection option on paid sources. The image of the paid one will be unique, polished look, better quality, and less common.

So, if you want to make your blog look more professional and exclusive, you can choose a paid option. They are available on either a per-image basis or through subscription plans. Paid images come with clear licensing agreements. So, you don’t have to worry about copyright issues.

How to search for images by topic or style?

You start with Specific Keywords.

You have to know what you want to convey in the image. For example, if you’re writing a blog post about productivity tips, a generic search for “productivity” might yield a mix of images that don’t match your style. Instead, you have to try more specific keywords like “minimalist desk setup,” “focused work environment,” or “organized workspace.”

You can experiment with different combinations to see what comes up—be specific but not too narrow.

Filters are great for Refine Your Search

Most image sites, whether free or paid, offer filters to narrow down your search. These filters can help you sort images by:

Orientation (e.g., landscape or portrait) – choose based on how you plan to position the image on your blog.

Color – if your blog has a color theme, you might want images that match or complement it.

Style or Mood – some sites let you filter by styles like “vintage,” “modern,” or “happy” to find images that convey a certain feeling.

You can also check Related or Recommended Images.

You may have noticed, when you click on an image, the image sites will suggest similar images. This can be your great way to find even more options without constantly switching keywords.

Always look for Images that Match Your Blog’s Tone.

Think about your blog’s overall vibe. If you’re running a personal development blog, warm and calm images might suit your tone.

For a tech blog, clean, modern images may work better. Matching the mood of your images to your blog’s theme helps create a cohesive look and feel.

Experiment and Save Potential Images

You don’t rush to choose the first image that seems right. Instead, you can download or save several options so you can compare them. Sometimes, seeing different images alongside your text can help you decide which fits best.

Editing, Customizing, and Optimizing the best image

Now, you have got the best image for your blog knowing the types of images, where to find and how to find them by searching from the above points.

It is time to edit, customize, and optimize that image before using it on your blog.

This step is as essential as other steps in finding the best image for your blog. The editing and customization of the image make your blog image stand out and unique, and optimization makes it load quickly on your site.

Besides that, there are many reasons why you should edit, customize, and optimize the images before use:

Improve user experience
Faster page loading speed
Better SEO performance
Enhance social media sharing
Brand consistency
And a lot more…

Let’s dive into the editing, customizing, and optimization.

Editing and customizing your perfect image

You can use tools available either free (Canva or Pixlr) or advanced (Photoshop or Adobe) to edit and customize your best image. These tools offer easy options to resize, crop, and add text or graphics to images.
Adding a simple text overlay (like a title or a quote) helps you make your image stand out. You can choose fonts that match your blog’s style.
To give all images on your blog a branded look and consistency, you can use filters and adjustments provided by the editing tools. Such as brightness, contrast, and colors.
You can even use your logo or website URL on the image to create brand recognition without overpowering the image.

Optimization of image for fast loading time

Resize to fit your blog’s layout: Large images can slow down your blog. Resize your images to the actual size they’ll appear on your blog.
Compress the file size: You can use tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim to compress your images, reducing the file size without losing quality. Smaller files mean faster loading times, which keeps readers engaged and improves your SEO ranking.

demonstration on how optimized image affect on page load and thus in conversion

Source: Cloudflare

Choose the right file format: For most blog images, JPEG is ideal because it keeps quality high while maintaining a small file size. If you need a transparent background, PNG is the best option. You should avoid heavy formats like BMP or TIFF, which are too large for your website. For your reference, here is one illustration.

Source: french.ly

Preview and test: After editing and optimizing, preview your image on different devices (Desktop, tablet, and mobile) to ensure it looks good and loads quickly. This can help you catch any issues with image quality or alignment.

Licenses of Image you should know

Have you ever considered a license or copyright for the image you use in your blog?

Maybe not, right?

It’s because most bloggers use images that are accessible, free, and flexible or the original images of their own or taken by them.

Some professional bloggers used royalty-free images to make their exclusivity and professional aesthetic.

However, you should know about the license of the image before using it, even if it is a free image or it is from a search engine like Google. There is a way to use Google Image which you will learn down.

This is because there are lots of legal consequences for using copyrighted images without permission.

Consequences of using copyrighted images

You could face legal fines if copyright holders sue for damages. This can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars per image.
The platforms, you use for your blog like WordPress or social media might remove your content.
It can damage your brand, credibility, and professionalism.
Sometimes Search engines might penalize your blog, reducing its visibility.

Therefore, you must know the license of images so that you won’t get any legal trouble.

Licenses of images you should know

Public Domain

As the name refers, it is a creative material or image that you can use without permission because it’s not subject to copyright, trademark, or patent laws.

You can use them anytime freely for your blog. There are also no restrictions for modifying and sharing without attribution. Sites like Unsplash, Pixels, and Pixabay often feature public-domain images.

Creative Commons

These are the images that have a Creative Commons license. You can use the image for free but it needs to give credit to the owner of the image.

Because it’s free, it doesn’t mean you have the full right of the image. The creator retains the copyright to the image. That is why, there are certain ways to use creative common images.

The Creative Commons image had different types with specific permission to use:

CC BY: Free to use with attribution. You must credit the creator.
CC BY-SA: Same as CC BY, but if you modify the image, you must share it under the same license.
CC BY-NC: Free to use for non-commercial purposes only.
CC BY-ND: Use it without making changes. Attribution is required.
CC BY-NC-SA or NC-ND: These combine the above rules – non-commercial, no derivatives, and attribution.

Royalty-Free

You pay a one-time fee or subscribe to a platform like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock and you can use the image without ongoing payments.

Because the royalty-free images are high-quality, these images could be ideal for you to make your blog professional.

Right-Managed

These are the images that bloggers don’t use because it is very expensive.

It is the image that is subject to a copyright license that allows the buyer to use it under specific terms.

The image price is based on the terms of use, such as the region and whether the image will be used online or on a billboard.

Getty images are the fit in this category. These kinds of images are used mostly by ad agencies, corporate news agencies, and magazine agencies because images used by others may negatively impact their brand.

One more thing, you should know is – if you want to use the image for other use, an additional license needs to be purchased.

How to find the best image from Google search?

Whenever especially a beginner blogger needs an image for his/her blog, the easiest option would be Google.

Google has tons of images for every topic and keyword and it is free. Whatever keyword you search on Google, provides something.

You may already know that is because most of the content and articles are written focusing on SEO (search engine optimization) to be on top of the world’s largest search engine i.e., Google.

However, there is a way to use Google images on your blog. It is not like you pick and put on your blog.

As you are learning legal considerations on this point of this blog. Even if it is free on Google, you should consider that each image Google shows you is already on the web, used by other bloggers or content creators.

Before using the best image, you have to edit and customize the image to make it different and unique. But first, you need to find the best image on Google in the right way.

When you search “Kathmandu” on Google and click on images you can see a lot of images.

These images include all kinds of licenses and you don’t want to use them directly, right?

So, what you have to do is – filter the options provided by Google to find Creative Commons images by going Tools tab on the right-hand side.

When you click on the Tools tab, a new menu drops down.
Then you have to click on the Usage rights drop-down arrow. You will see there the option for Creative Commons licenses.
Click on it and you get the best image of your need without any trouble.

Finding the Creative Commons licensed images

Tips for using the best image effectively

General Tips

Credit the photographer wherever you can
Insert an image above the fold i.e., Use “hero image” (Large, striking visuals) at the beginning of your post to grab attention.
Resize images before uploading.
Use Alt tags properly
.Rename file names to include keywords

Placement and Formatting Tips

Position images near relevant text to create a clear connection between visuals and content.
Use captions evenly and effectively, especially to highlight key points or add context.
Center-align images for a balanced and clean layout, particularly in full-width designs.
Ensure mobile responsiveness by using responsive image settings that adapt to different screen sizes.
Avoid overcrowding your post with too many images; focus on quality over quantity.

Visual Branding Tips

Stick to a consistent style (e.g., minimalistic, Modern, Vibrant) that reflects your blog’s tone and brand identity.
Incorporate brand colors into images through overlays, borders, or text for a cohesive look.
Use templates for headers, social media, and infographics with your logo or blog name to reinforce branding.
Maintain uniform image sizes and alignment across your blog to create a professional, polished appearance.
Preview your blog to ensure all visuals align with your branding and look harmonious together.

Legal Consideration Tips

Always check the license terms for any image you use, even from free sites.
Provide proper attribution if required (e.g., “Photo by {Creator Name} from {Website}’)
Keep documentation of licenses for paid or royalty-free images
When in doubt, create your images or use trusted sources with clear licensing policies

Final Words

Now, you know that images are not just decorative elements. Images are powerful tools to captivate readers, convey your message, and strengthen your blog’s brand.

You can enhance your content’s impact by selecting the right types of images, understanding licensing, and using trusted free or paid sources.

Consistency is key whether it is maintaining a cohesive style, sticking to a color palette, or using templates that showcase your unique identity.

You can transform your blog into a professional, engaging one that readers trust and remember. For that, you have to thoughtfully place and format the best image you have found. This will help you make your blog visually appealing and easy to navigate.

Therefore, what you should understand is – when using the best image on your blog, you are not just adding images; you are creating a lasting visual impression. Your images on your blog amplify your blog’s message and keep your readers coming back for more.