The image you chose for your post will be the first thing that the reader notices. This image should pique their interest and make them curious about the post content, and selecting attention grabbing post images should be one of your first considerations once you’ve decided on the subject of your post.
When choosing a post image, it’s important that you don’t just chose an image at random. Your post image should be interesting and on-topic. (See the lesson on “Congruence”).
In addition to being interesting, your image needs to be easy to look at. Disturbing images or images that strain the reader’s vision are typically not good choices.
Keep in mind that the image should make the reader FEEL like he or she wants to open the post, not run away screaming (see the lesson on “Positive Post Images”).
Next, the image needs to be somehow relevant to the post content. This means, for example, that you wouldn’t pick an image of a roasted pig when your post is about a vegan cooking class.
Finally, it’s great if you can find images that are familiar to your readers. Pictures from around the office, job sites, and places where workers live or socialize often make great post images, as long as they support the subject of your post. A picture from last year’s staff party, for example, can make the perfect image for a post announcing this year’s party.
It’s often worth some of your time taking pictures of familiar settings and people. All you need is to wander around the office on your breaks and snap some shots with your smartphone or digital camera. Enlist your friends and co-workers to do the same. If your organization has a media or branding department, ask them for images that you can use.
If you’re really stumped for a source of images, just do a Google image search for your post topic and see what comes up. Look for images that are in the public-domain or are covered by a “Creative-Commons” license, which usually lets you use another person’s images as long as you give them credit for it.
Choosing great, attention grabbing post images will help get your posts opened and read, and will make them something readers look forward to seeing.