6 Reasons Why Every Article You Write Needs to Have a Feature Image

Build authenticity and keep your reader longer.

If you migrated here from my recent post on customizing your feature image, welcome! Let’s dig deep into why every single piece of written material you send out into the wide web must have at least one image. No if, and’s, or buts!

We get it, you’re a writer. Why should you have to waste time on finding the right image? Especially when the perfect pic is lost in a sea of endless images… Shouldn’t your phenomenal writing should be more than enough to capture and retain a reader?

You’re right, but unfortunately, that’s not the case. And it has nothing to do with your writing.

It doesn’t matter if you are the best writer in the Universe (I am dramatic, this is old news.) You need to have at least one image in your piece.

Let’s talk about four aspects of the modern-day reader of content online:

The overarching primary issue is…Shortened attention span: a result of

1. overstimulation
2. wildly increased screen time
3. FOMO (fear of missing out on other content) on a subconscious and conscious level
4. increased social media usage that is brightly painted with an abundance of colorful images, videos with quick cuts, reels, and constant ‘new-ness.’

At a previous job, I was told to keep the blog posts to a 5th-grade reading level. My boss even ran my work through a readability analyzer each time before I hit publish because that’s how important it was. I was confused by this but soon realized that if you make people think too hard, the majority will leave. How does this relate to images?

I Want it Now

Images are a helpful way to break up the text and keep the reader wanting more.

People search for something on Google or elsewhere for one main reason — they want/need an immediate answer to their question or concern.

They also want the information as fast as humanly possible without any interuptions and without having to think too hard about it.

Images are a supporting tool that helps bring the life out of your words. They keep users engaged by giving mini ‘brain breaks’ that we might not even realize we benefit from.

6 Things You Should Know About Images and Writing

1. Images break up the text. They separate points and can be alternated with dividers, subtitles/headings, quotes, etc. This is especially true when looking at long walls of text. To the reader, it could just feel like too much work…almost like an assignment devoid of personality. How many images should you use? Some say one image per 150 words. Personally, I just eyeball it and do what feels right.
2. You should be using clear images. Whether it’s a personal photo (which I recommend) or something you edited on Canva or elsewhere (which I also recommend doing), making sure your image is clear gives it that professional-looking edge that will keep readers longer. If you can’t be bothered to find a suitable image, then how can the reader trust you actually care about your written work?
3. Getting creative with your feature images is the key to the success. In this article, I dive deep into how stock photos compare to customized photos in terms of SEO Google ranking.
4. User-generated content can help bridge the gap between you and your reader. When you use your own photos, it provides another level of personalization.
5. Use explainer images. Each image should have a purpose. Each image should help convey something that may be unclear, appeal to a visual learner, and highlight the main ideas you want the reader to leave with as their takeaway. Every image should improve the user experience in some way, big or small. Ideally, the combination of components should leave your reader wanting to come back for more. If the image does not add value, then leave it out.
6. Remember to include alt images. If your picture doesn’t load, the alt image will. Google uses alt images to crawl, meaning the alt image is indexed by search engines. Stay tuned for a thorough break-down blog on alt image.

There is so much more to learn about the role that images play in how well our blog posts rank on Google. I hope this introduction jumpstarted the learning process for you on the best way to utilize images.

Have questions on things I didn’t cover? Let me know and I’ll make a post about it!

Check out these free writer resources I have compiled from many hours of blood, sweat, and tears. I promise you will gain something.

Thanks for being here. Your support means the world.

Sincerely,

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