Category Archives: Blogging

Blog images: favorite tips and free resources for bloggers

Living in the modern world, we’re all aware of the importance of visuals.  Blogging is definitely no exception.  All the advice I’ve read about blogging says to use great images on your blog.

After a year of blogging, I’m by no means an expert on the subject.  However, I have learned a lot about working with blog images.  Today I’m pulling out all my favorite blog image resources from my bookmarks to share them here.  I hope they’re useful for fellow bloggers!

Blog images: Tips and free resources for bloggers - AMerryMom.com

Image source

Photo editing and graphic design

When I started blogging, one of the issues I was most concerned about was finding free images with no strings attached that I could use in blog posts.  I didn’t want to accidentally commit a copyright infringement or an ethical faux pas with outside images.  For a while I just used my own pictures and created my own graphics.

PicMonkey quickly became one of my favorite free tools for editing my photos, including cropping, re-sizing, improving the exposure, adding text, and placing a watermark on the image.  I’ve also designed some basic graphics with PicMonkey.

Canva has become another favorite free resource for image design.  It has lots of fonts and free design elements, as well as a limited number of free pictures.  Canva has the added bonus that you can save your work and continue to edit it later.

I find Canva better for general graphic design and PicMonkey better for working with photos, so I use both of them extensively.  Both PicMonkey and Canva offer paid elements, but you can do a lot with just their free tools.

Free blog images

I was so happy to find some great online resources for free public domain images that can be used on blogs with no copyright infringement.

My favorite free photo resource is Pixabay.  I love this site!  It has an extensive inventory of beautiful pictures that can be downloaded at no cost.  Because they’re in the public domain, the images are available for commercial use with no attribution required.  Pixabay does, however, mention in its FAQs that a link back to the photo source is appreciated.

Pixabay has a WordPress plugin that allows you to search its image inventory from within the WordPress writing panel.  It’s a handy way to add images to posts with automatic (optional) image attribution.

All the photos in this blog post are from Pixabay, with a link back to the source in the caption.  Here’s a lovely picture inserted straight from the plugin with the image attribution below it.

Pixabay sunset image on AMerryMom.com

ThePixelman / Pixabay

Freerange Stock is a similar resource for free public domain images.  It requires free registration before downloading pictures.

Unsplash has a smaller collection of free photos that can be used for any purpose.  The site has 10 new photos every 10 days, which are delivered to your inbox when you subscribe.

The web has several other resources for finding free photos, such as the Creative Commons search and EveryStockPhoto.  Licenses vary on these sites, so you have to be careful regarding what is allowed and required for the images.

Advice about using blog images

It’s important to brush up on issues related to image copyright, license, model release, and acceptable use before posting blog photos that were taken by someone else.

These are some helpful links about blog images:

  • The Pixabay blog includes information about using public domain images.
  • Writtent has a post on how to properly attribute photos.
  • Amy Lynn Andrews has an excellent collection of information about using images on a blog.
  • The creative blog One Dog Woof has great tips on sizing images for your blog posts.

Image alternative text

Don’t forget to use the alternative text field to add information about the image.  The search engine optimization (SEO) experts recommended that you use your post key words in this field to help your post show up in searches.

SEO for blog images

geralt / Pixabay

The alt text shows up onscreen when the image is loading on your site or when you hover over it with your mouse in Internet Explorer.  The title text is shown when you hover over an image using Firefox or Opera.  According to Search Engine Journal, the image title is less important for Google.  You can also place key words in the title field but there’s no need to overuse either field by keyword stuffing.

In WordPress, you can add the alt text when you initially select the picture for the post or after it’s placed in the post.  Click on the picture in the post editing screen, select the pencil icon to bring up the image details screen, and then fill in the alternative text field.

This Google tutorial shows how to add a title and alt text to blog images on Blogger.

Blog images on Facebook

Many bloggers suggest that you post pictures to Facebook and Google+ yourself, rather than using an automatic function to post your new blog content to social media.  That can help to display the selected image best.  Sometimes it’s handy to let your WordPress blog automatically post new content, though.

With my WordPress blog, I often let posts automatically publish to my Facebook page using the Jetpack plugin.  Unfortunately, it sometimes picked up the wrong image to post on Facebook, so I would have to go back and fix it.

Sizing blog Images for Facebook

Simon / Pixabay

I finally found a WordPress support page that clarified the issue.  The featured image must be 200×200 pixels or larger to show up on Facebook from the blog.  Also, the image height/width can’t be more than three times the size of each other (meaning, in more technical terms, the aspect ratio must be 3 or less).

In its best practices documentation for sharing images from your site, Facebook says the best way to display a full image in the news feed without any cropping is to keep the image as close as possible to 1.91:1 aspect ratio.  Facebook recommends a minimum image size of 600×315 pixels for the best display.

Knowing those parameters, I can size blog images appropriately when I want them to post directly to Facebook.

Happy blogging!

Thanks for stopping by!  You may also like this handy printable HTML cheat sheet.Basic HTML for bloggers with printable HTML cheat sheet

I shared this post at some of these link parties.

Guest Co-hosting the Merry Monday Linky Party #8

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Welcome to the 8th Merry Monday Linky Party!

  • Thank you to everyone that participated in last weeks Merry Monday Linky Party. We had another great party and fabulous link ups.
  • We have a new party host! Misty from The Lady Prefers 2 Save will be joining us each week for Merry Monday!
  • Going forward, the Merry Monday Linky Party will be introducing a new guest host bi-monthly. This week we actually have two guest hosts, which means your link up will be seen on 5 different blogs! For the next two weeks, Lisa from A Merry Mom will be our guest host. Remember, each host picks their own features, so make sure you visit their blogs to see if you’ve been featured!
  • All features will be pinned to the Merry Monday Linky Party Pinterest board, so follow along to see the top features of the party.

On to the Merry Monday Linky Party #8!

Meet the hosts of this party

*We would appreciate a follow in at least one of our social media platforms. Let us know you followed via Merry Monday so we can follow back!*

New June Hosts

Host Erlene @My Pinterventures ~ Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google+ Instagram Bloglovin Stumbleupon

Co-host Julia @Happy House and Home ~ Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google+ Bloglovin

Co-host Treana @House of Bennetts ~ Twitter Facebook Pinterest Instagram

Co-host Misty @The Lady Prefers 2 Save ~ Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google+ Instagram Youtube

On the Host’s Blogs

My Pinterventures

Pinterest Tested: Chocolate Cupcakes Resized Before and After Ikea Stool

Pinterest Tested: Chocolate Cupcakes vs Dark Chocolate Cupcakes ~ Ikea Stool Makeover

Happy House and Home

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Photo Canvas Tutorial ~ DIY Elevated Cheese Board

House of Bennetts

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Bridal Shower ~ Throwback Thursdays: Chore Chart for Adults ~ Help Treana vote for a new blog look

The Lady Prefers 2 Save

images spring_cleaning_tips_dust_swiffer 348s no-fleas

How to Freeze Fresh Blueberries ~ Tutorial Tues: Homemade Swifter Clothes & Solution ~ Ways to Save Wed: Petco ~ Homemade Flea & Tick Remedy


Meet Your Guest Co-host

If you’re interested in being a featured co-hosts for the party, please sign up! The party is booked until the end of August, so new openings won’t be available until September.

A Merry Profile-square

Guest Co-host Lisa @A Merry Mom ~ Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google+ Bloglovin

  • Lisa from A Merry Mom blogs about the everyday joys of home and family life. She loves to write about anything cheery and family-oriented, including crafts, DIY, food, holidays, and travel

On the Guest Co-host’s Blogs

A Merry Mom

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Book Review: Mom Made Us Write This in the Summer by Ali Maier



Feature Posts

Most Clicked

Colander-Planter-with-WM

No Strain to Hang – Vintage Colander Planter @Sadie Seasongoods

My Feature Pick

*Don’t forget to visit the other hosts to view their feature picks too.*

Homemade Ranch DressingHomemade Ranch Dressing with Greek Yogurt from The Kolb Corner

My family and I all love ranch dressing, and sometimes it’s the only way to get my kids to eat their veggies.  I’m always on the lookout for a good, light version, and this recipe is a healthier option with Greek yogurt.



Features will be pinned to the Merry Monday Linky Party Board

Follow Erlene Amat | My Pinterventures’s board Merry Monday Linky Party Features on Pinterest.

If you were featured, grab the Merry Monday Linky Party feature button and display it on your blog, feature page, or sidebar

My Pinterventures
<img src="http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab20/ErleneA/NewMerryMondayFeatureButton150_zpsbc5e0f2a.png" alt="My Pinterventures" style="border:none;" />

Permalink back to the blog: http://wp.me/p3UxXD-1iW

 


 

Party Guidelines

 

  • Link up to 3 family friendly posts that teach us crafts, DIY projects, recipes, a tip/trick (gardening, cooking, crafting, beauty, party planning, travel tip, etc…). Link parties and giveaways are also welcome.
  • DO NOT link up posts you have linked to a previous party, personal shops (Etsy) or things you are selling, posts that do not teach us one of the items in the first guidelines – these links will be deleted.
  • Linking your posts gives us permission to share your link up on your host/co-host’s various social media platforms.
  • By linking up, you give us permission to add your email to the Merry Monday Linky Party mailing list. You will receive an email once a week for this party only.
  • If you do not wish to be added to the list, leave your email blank when linking up.
  • DO NOT link up and run. Please visit at least two other fellow party link ups and comment/share.

 


Help Grow this party.

Grab our party button and place it on your sidebar, party page, or link post.

My Pinterventures
<img src="http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab20/ErleneA/401cdad4-0c84-4db7-a6aa-34af413d80b7_zps23c665f6.png" alt="My Pinterventures" style="border:none;" />


Time to link up!

Sharing is caring! Tweet the party Tweet

***Your party hosts will be busy sharing your link ups on either Twitter, FB, Pinterest (some to several group boards), Stumbleupon, and Google+, so follow us and see how we’re promoting your link ups. One or more of us will visit your blog and promote your link up on at least one of our social media platforms.***

An InLinkz Link-up


Guest co-hosting the 7th Merry Monday Linky Party

Merry Monday Party Logo

Welcome to the 7th Merry Monday Linky Party!

  • Thank you to everyone that participated in last weeks Merry Monday Linky Party. There were lots of new faces last week and we hope you had a chance to visit some new people.
  • Your party hosts were busy sharing your link ups on either Twitter, FB, Pinterest (some to several group boards), Stumbleupon, and Google+. We want to help get your posts out to as many people as possible and would appreciate if you share the party and help us out too. Tweet

  • Going forward, the Merry Monday Linky Party will be introducing a new guest host bi-monthly. This week we actually have two guest hosts, which means your link up will be seen on 7 different blogs! For the next two weeks, Lisa from A Merry Mom AND Misty from The Lady Prefers 2 Save will be our guest hosts. Remember, each host picks their own features, so make sure you visit their blogs to see if you’ve been featured!
  • All features will be pinned to the Merry Monday Linky Party Pinterest board, so follow along to see the top features of the party.

On to the Merry Monday Linky Party #7!

Meet the hosts of this party

*We would appreciate a follow in at least one of our social media platforms. Let us know you followed via Merry Monday so we can follow back!*

Horizontallogo2

Host Erlene @My Pinterventures ~ Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google+ Instagram Bloglovin Stumbleupon

Co-host Julia @Happy House and Home ~ Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google+ Bloglovin

Co-host Marilyn @Marilyn’s Treats ~ Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google+ Instagram Bloglovin Stumbleupon


Co-host Treana @House of Bennetts ~ Twitter Facebook Pinterest Instagram

 

On the Host’s Blogs

My Pinterventures

The Blog HobnobEncourage Summer ReadingPinterest Tested: King's Hawaiian Bread vs Easy Hawaiian Rolls #2

June The Blog Hobnob ~ Encourage Summer Reading ~ Pinterest Tested: Easy Hawaiian Rolls #2 vs King’s Hawaiian Bread

Happy House and Home

*Julia’s coming back from a mini motorcycle vacation and healing from a back injury ~ we hope you feel better soon!*

fireman's prayer

Fireman’s Prayer Sign and Tutorial

Marilyn’s Treats

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Confetti Colada ~ Star Spangled Mixers ~ Perfect Pina Colada ~ Pina Colada Sorbet

House of Bennetts

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Gardening for Dummies ~ The 10 Things You Need For Painting (Plus Two Bonuses) ~9 Nightstands Under $300 from One King’s Lane



Meet Your Guest Co-hosts

If you’re interested in being a featured co-hosts for the party, please sign up! The party is booked until the end of August, so new openings won’t be available until September.

Juneweek23cohosts

Guest Co-host Lisa @A Merry Mom ~ Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google+ Bloglovin

  • Lisa from A Merry Mom blogs about the everyday joys of home and family life. She loves to write about anything cheery and family-oriented, including crafts, DIY, food, holidays, and travel

Guest Co-host Misty @The Lady Prefers 2 Save ~ Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google+ Instagram Youtube

  • A site that embraces whole living, through budgeting, couponing, stockpiling, upcycling, and healthy menu planning.

On the Guest Co-host’s Blogs

A Merry Mom

Summer fun

Summer fun: free or inexpensive activities for kids

The Lady Prefers 2 Save

Blueberry Butter Pecan Pancakes Homemade Taco Seasoning Rebate Roadtrip

Freezer Cooking Session & Recipe: Blueberry Butter Pecan Recipe ~ Homemade Taco Seasoning ~Rebate Roadtrip: How I Saved 75% off at CVS, Without Coupons!



Feature Posts

Most Clicked

how-to-review-products1

 

How to Review Products On Your Blog @Joyful Reviews & Giveways

My Feature Pick

Mailbox Makeover with Duck Tape and Paint - from Joyful Daisy

Mailbox Makeover with Duck Tape and Paint from Joyful Daisy

I love this cheery mailbox makeover from Amy at Joyful Daisy!  What a fun way to add some character to a standard mailbox.  It would make me smile to see this whimsical mailbox each day!



 

Features will be pinned to the Merry Monday Linky Party Board

Follow Erlene Amat | My Pinterventures’s board Merry Monday Linky Party Features on Pinterest.

If you were featured, grab the Merry Monday Linky Party feature button and display it on your blog, feature page, or sidebar.

 

A Merry Mom

 


              

 

Permalink back to the blog: http://wp.me/p3UxXD-1gD

 


 

Party Guidelines

        • Link up to 3 family friendly posts that teach us crafts, DIY projects, recipes, a tip/trick (gardening, cooking, crafting, beauty, party planning, travel tip, etc…). Link parties and giveaways are also welcome.

 

  • DO NOT link up posts you have linked to a previous party, personal shops (Etsy) or things you are selling, posts that do not teach us one of the items in the first guidelines – these links will be deleted.

 

  • Linking your posts gives us permission to share your link up on your host/co-host’s various social media platforms.

 

  • By linking up, you give us permission to add your email to the Merry Monday Linky Party mailing list. You will receive an email once a week for this party only.If you do not wish to be added to the list, leave your email blank when linking up.

 

  • DO NOT link up and run. Please visit at least two other fellow party link ups and comment/share.

 

 


 

Help Grow this party.

Grab our party button and place it on your sidebar, party page, or link post.

My Pinterventures

 

<img src="http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab20/ErleneA/JuneMerryMondayLinkyPartyButton_zps9200e9b5.png" alt="My Pinterventures" style="border:none;" />

              

 


 

Time to link up!

* It’s not a party if you link & run. Please visit at least 2 other party link ups.

* Sharing is caring! Tweet the party Tweet

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