I’ve been blogging for many years. I write to encourage, educate, and inspire. I love to hear from readers. I like to know my words are getting out and making a difference!
Over the last year, Pinterest has revolutionized my blogging. Blogs that used to get a few hundred readers get readers in the thousands or tens of thousands. Most of these readers come from Pinterest and Facebook.
Readers are inspired, educated, and encouraged by my words, but the first step to getting readers is creating graphics that capture their attention. Here’s how to do that easily.
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1. Create a watermark
This is my most recent watermark and matches the branding on my website. Watermarks are your blog’s branding. That simple watermark will represent you. Readers will start looking for it!
You can also make your own watermark. One easy way is to use PicMonkey.
PicMonkey is my favorite, and it’s free. (Although I did upgrade for more features. To upgrade is only $5 a month!)
Trish a Mom on Time Out explains how to create your own watermark here.
2. Find Stunning Photos
If you’re a great photographer you can take them yourself.
I use some of my own, but I also love photos from Thinkstock.com. I found a special deal where I got a 30-day trial for $99, and I was able to download 25 photos a day. I was faithful to download every day! That’s 750 photos!
Places to get FREE photos:
Pixabay: http://pixabay.com/
Pikwizard: www.pikwizard.com
Morgue File: http://morguefile.com
Compfight: http://compfight.com/
Creative Commons: Free Picture Pool
CreationSwap: http://www.creationswap.com/
Unsplash: unsplash.com
Check out Canva’s great list of websites with free photos, too!
Non-expensive options:
Dollar Photo Club: http://www.dollarphotoclub.com/ <– This is my new favorite! Click the image below to sign up!
And for non-cheesy Christian photos, Lightstock: https://www.lightstock.com
3. Use Picmonkey.com to create graphics
With Picmonkey you have four options:
- Edit photos you have.
- Design with their tools (no photo necessary)
- Create a collage
- Touch up your photos
The easy way to edit a photo
Click EDIT
Download photo
For the most attention on Pinterest, crop the photo it so it’s tall, not wide. This takes up more space on Pinterest.
Click Text to add words
Click Effects to add drama
Add your watermark
Then SAVE your finished graphic!
I love these tools. They making creating Pinterest-worthy graphics easy! The best part is that I’m able to connect with even more readers to inspire, educate and encourage!
What about you? Do you have any tips for great graphics?
I have to say be careful on free photo sites that you read their licensing very carefully. Some of them have tricky wording. I prefer to take my own or purchase from sites that allow for commercial use (if you’re selling anything from your website, ie books or plan on it later). Bigstock has great photos with licensing friendly for bloggers and using as e-book covers. Also, for PInterest close up photos are best and like Tricia said, vertical do better as well.
Awesome reminders, Melissa!
Great information, Tricia! You’re a blessing. Thanks.
You’re welcome!
You always have good advice to share with your readers! Thanks! 🙂
Hugs to you, Rhinda!
Thank you! Great info and I’m going to use it.
What a wonderful and informative post. I always love your pictures Tricia. Nice to have the tips!
So glad I could help!! Create away!
Thank you, Tricia for this fun information! I have wondered about adding photos or having my own watermark logo being a newbie at blogging. I really enjoy your blog!
Thank you, Sharon!
Another (free) photo editing program that I love is Photoscape. It has so many great functions, but it can also be downloaded on your computer. I prefer to work from my computer rather than online when editing photos. Photoscape is a really versatile program that doesn’t take a lot of photography/editing/graphic design experience to use. (I was even able to remove a big blue dumpster from a photo of a VW with a Christmas tree on top.)