All the gurus say it: “Include a quality image with your blog post.”
And with the rapidly growing popularity of Pinterest, many authors have created a Pinterest business account. They pin attention grabbing, irresistible graphics that drive traffic to their blogs, market their books, and build their platform.
I agree, but I am neither artistic nor versed in Photoshop. What’s a person to do?
Keep reading because I’ve found an answer.
New resources are constantly popping up on the web for creating attractive graphics with ease. The image to the left I created at Canva.com. Yes, it’s goofy, but I had a lot of fun doing it. (Expect to see a lot more of Buttercup, my new mascot).
Quality images along with valuable content can make a difference in your posts going viral.
Make Irresistible, Viral Graphics with These Tools
Below are three sites that will allow you to create amazing graphics in a variety of ways. Be sure to add your web address, or your logo if you have one, to the bottom of the graphic so people will begin to recognize your work, your website, and your name/brand.
Canva.com https://www.canva.com/about (Thanks to Christina Hills for putting me on to this one.) I’m loving this site with its wide variety of layouts, pics, and shapes, etc that you can choose from and its ease of use. Allows you to upload your own photos. Saves your image as you work.
The site also includes design tutorials that incorporate hands-on practice of their tools. I highly recommend working through these quick, but educational exercises. You’ll learn oodles about how to manipulate all the items while also learning what constitutes great design.
The site is free to use, with premium items available (usually $1). They offer an extensive free variety.
PicMonkey.com http://www.picmonkey.com/ At PicMonkey you can edit and touch up photos in a variety of ways, then add text, special effects, overlays, and more.
This site does many of the same tasks Canva allows, but lacks Canva’s variety of special free items. PicMonkey’s strength is in the editing and photo retouching you can do that you can’t do at Canva.
This site is also free to use. A Royale subscription of $4.99 a month or $33 annual membership opens up a larger variety of options (as of 5/17/14 running a free week trial).
Infogr.am https://www.google.com/#q=infogr.am Strictly for creating infographics, not pictures. Includes the ability to upload your own data files. I have an account but have not yet used the software to know how easy it is to use.
Free with option to upgrade to premium account ($18 per month). Coming soon, a video infographic creator.
Where can you find spectacular free pics for creating all these compelling graphics? Here’s a post from Bufferapp.com that lists 53 sites: http://blog.bufferapp.com/free-image-sources-list
Because my son and brother are photographers, I use a lot of their photos. But when I don’t, I use Morguefile.com and FreeImages.com I can edit my photos in PicMonkey then shift over to Canva to work more magic.
Now that you have *free* resources that enable you to create compelling, captivating, and charming graphics, go do it. Be zany. Be serious. But be relevant to your content.
Have you Liked my Facebook page? Just click the Facebook graphic to head on over. I’ll be posting inspirational pics daily, and Buttercup noses her way in too. I created those graphics at Canva.com.
But before you leave, Buttercup would like to know how you like her hat (see first graphic). Please give her your opinion and suggestions in the comments below.
Debra L. Butterfield © 2014. Buttercup photographed by Matt Van Hook of GregRon Photography, © 2004, used with permission.
Great hat Buttercup. I hope you switch them out often. With your cheekbones you’ll look good in a wide variety. And please tell Debra I appreciated her post.
Jeanie, I’m glad you liked my hat. Debra is not a fashionista, so I will be sure to pass along your advise to buy me lots of hats (and that you liked her post.) ~Buttercup