Do Stock Images Affect SEO?
Chances are your content strategy for your blog or website included stock images at some point. It’s something we’re all guilty of doing. Millions of websites use these images to support their content. Whether you’re using a free or licensed image, stock images can come in handy to bolster the impression with your target audience. But do stock images affect your SEO strategy and how well your site ranks in searches? The last thing you need to do is hamper the results of your SEO work, so should you ditch the stock images and look for an alternative?
Do Stock Images Affect SEO?
Sensible Approach To Stock Images
You may be wondering if you are damaging your ranking opportunities by using stock images. But, do Google and the other web search engines even care if you use them? The consensus is that using stock images on your web page doesn’t have a negative impact on your SEO results. There is no link between the two, so you won’t be penalized for adding them to your content.
In fact, many of the top-ranking sites include stock images in their content. So, that’s a clear sign that the search engines don’t care about them and the impact they make on your audience. If Google were to penalize the use of stock images, many business websites would tumble down the rankings.
However, using stock photos in content may impact image-based search results. If the same stock image appears in multiple locations online, it’s harder for the user to find what they’re looking for. Ultimately it can potentially impact users’ search experience.
The strategic use of stock images in content strategies is the most sensible approach to the situation. The primary goal of adding photos to your content should be to enhance the user experience. Keep them on the page where they can convert into customers.
Why Avoid Stock Images If They Don’t Affect SEO Results?
If there is no negative effect on SEO results, why use other media resources? Here are a few reasons why you should consider an alternative in your content strategy.
Weakened User Experience
Appearances matter when creating a positive user experience on-site. Using stock images can sometimes create a cheap look for your site or blog, increasing bounce rates and lowering page dwell times. Some images lack high quality and you know the photo is obvious stock. Images that do not come across as authentic can affect conversions.
Google takes this community experience seriously, and it results in damage to your ranking efforts. According to Google’s John Mueller, in some cases such as websites aiming to sell specific goods, authentic photographs rather than stock images are key.
Using stock images might reduce the uniqueness of your site or blog. The result is a poor user experience that feels canned and stale. Conversely, using original photos increases uniqueness and improves the user experience.
Copyright Issues
We assume that stock images are free; after all, you can find them online in thousands of locations. However, many of these images require licensing, especially for commercial purposes. Failing to secure licensing can result in copyright infringement, setting your online business up for a cease-and-desist order or legal action.
What Are the Benefits?
While original content seems to be the better choice for your website, there are cases where stock images can produce good results. If you’re new to digital marketing or your company has a limited budget, stock images can provide a conduit to filling the gap you have with your original content.
Stock image search is easy to access, and there are millions of options to choose from to add to your site and content strategy. The result is a saving on your marketing budget and improved results for your site when bootstrapping operations.
Here are a few other reasons you might want to consider stock images for your content strategy.
- Budget-friendly
- Readily available and easy to use
- Save time and resources
- Suit a variety of different content niches and topics
- Improve SEO results by adding an image to your on-page content
- Professional image quality
- Editable to suit your branding goals
- Available for commercial purposes for free
What are the Drawbacks?
Adding stock images to your content strategy may seem like a no-brainer, especially when starting up. However, using these images on your site can have a few drawbacks.
- They’re generic and unappealing.
- They lower trust levels with visitors and consumers.
- They don’t have a personal touch.
- They present a case for copyright infringement.
- They might not align with your brand values.
- The quality can vary between providers.
Key Takeaways
Using stock pictures on your site won’t damage your SEO results, but they can hurt your online efforts via other means. Using them occasionally is fine, but original images should always be your first choice for your content strategy.
Original content sets your site and marketing efforts apart from the competition, creating an authentic feel for your content strategy and the user experience on your site.
Additional Reading: How Can I Improve My Website’s Ranking in Google?
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