The guiding philosophy in blogging tends to be the idea that content is king. While it remains true that quality content is essential, today’s bloggers need to consider other elements of their digital space to gain traction in an overcrowded market. Blogs can be effective tool for relaying information, developing a loyal customer base, creating a platform for your freelance work and asserting yourself as an authority in your field. However, to achieve any of these goals, your content must be seen by the right people. The creation of eye catching images is an effective method to help you get noticed. Keep reading to discover why your blog needs visually appealing graphics. 

Even if the purpose of your blog isn’t commercial, it’s still in your best interest to create a personal brand. Your brand is the feeling or message people get when they see your blog. For example, if your niche is all about makeup, you’ll want to consider the kind of image you wish to portray. You could aim to portray yourself as a high-end, sophisticated cosmetics expert or aim for the vibe of a fun, eclectic instructor. You would then determine the colors, typography, symbols, logo and other elements that lend themselves to creating such a feel.  By using these elements consistently when you post anywhere online, you are building brand awareness. Each time that someone sees your sites or products and are exposed to these visual representations they will begin to recognize that as you.  That is called branding.

Adding graphics that incorporate elements of your brand also makes your blog look professional. Be sure to choose high-quality images, rather than blurry photos or ones that appear overly promotional. We’ve all seen graphics that contain photos that are clearly outdated, generic stock images but there is no need to use those when there are plenty of sites that provide access to free images that are beautiful and well-done. If they allow commercial use and modification, you can add your own special touches such as overlays and text to customize them. Make sure you check the licenses to see exactly how you can and can’t use the images.

Social media posts that contain a visual image are shared far more than those without. People relate to photos. Quotes elicit emotion. Infographics provide easy to digest content in a quick, visual manner. It makes sense that such images would be shared more readily than simple text. Social media is one of the quickest ways your content can spread, and attention-grabbing graphics will surely boost the sharing. This is particularly true for a platform like Pinterest that relies on images. 

Hopefully, it’s clear to see why you need images and/or some type of graphics for your website. The right images will not only help you get noticed but help others identify you with your brand. 

There are tons of ways to spice up your blog images. Stock photos, paid or free, are a popular option. In fact, most blogs you see today use photographs in some form, either standalone or incorporated into a design. What you may not realize is that you can find a wide array of other types of visuals for use in your images such as illustrations, icons, textures, vectors, patterns and fonts. 

Here are some suggestions of where to find graphics, fonts and more for your blog. Some of these offer free resources, while others are retail sites. When choosing free elements, be sure to read the terms of use, as some sites require that you give attribution to the source. 

Creative Market is by far one of the best-known names for high quality design assets. A wide selection of graphic artists set up pages here to showcase their offerings. You can find practically any type of asset you need at Creative Market, from fonts to photo filters. Each month, you can purchase a highly-discounted bundle of assets, as well. This is a great way to grow your library. Sign up for their mailing list, and you can even get free design goodies each Monday. 

Design Cuts is like Creative Market in their offerings, along with the fact that they offer an affordable monthly bundle. However, this online retailer represents a select group of artists, meaning their inventory is smaller, but you know you’re always getting the best quality from extremely talented designers. What’s especially wonderful about Design Cuts is their discount program. The more you buy, the more you save. 

The site is a fantastic free option for graphics like patterns, templates and icons. To get access to a larger selection of assets at a price that’s more affordable than purchasing individual items elsewhere, you can choose one of their paid membership options. 

If you like designing with vectors due to their versatility in customization, you’ll want to check out Vecteezy. Here you’ll find a large assortment of vectors that can be resized and customized with your choice of colors. You must have a vector design software like Illustrator to make these changes, though. Vecteezy has a tremendous number of free offerings or you can upgrade to their paid premium package. 

Font Squirrel is the place to go if you’re looking for quality free fonts. There are many unique choices here from well-known type foundries. Do take care to read the terms for each one, though. Some are only for use in personal projects. 

While there are hundreds of other places online to find blog design assets, these are trusted sources. Even on a zero to small budget, you’ll have no problem finding fantastic graphics, fonts, patterns, photo actions and other elements to make your blog stand out.