Did you know the average person has an attention span of less than nine seconds? Indeed, that’s attention span of goldfish.* That’s why imagery is so important in your social media marketing. Human brains are visually wired and can recognize a familiar object in just 0.10 seconds!
So how do you find attention-grabbing images for your social media?
Real-life photos are best because they’re authentic (circular logic duly noted). But good real-life photos aren’t always handy when you need them. That’s why stock images, in moderation, can help.
Now, we’re not talking about cheesy stock photos of 19-year-old models wearing Jos. A. Bank power suits, shaking hands like they’re conducting some important business. Instead, we’re talking about images that are either realistic or so stunning that it’s okay they’re not real.
Also, we’re not talking about just any stock image you find on the Internet. Copyright laws exist, and some large entities have been known to sue even the smallest businesses for using their copyrighted material. Your safest bet is to tap into websites that offer stock photos which are free from copyright restrictions—and free of charge! While most photos in these sites don’t require attribution, you should review each site’s policy to be sure.
Most sites will also tempt you with “sponsored” (i.e. not free) stock photos. If you see these photos, just scroll down till you see the free photos for your social media posting pleasure.
Here are our favorite sites for free stock images!
Through these sites, you’re sure to find excellent photos that appeal to humans and goldfish alike. Happy posting!
*Thankfully, we’re superior to gnats, which have a mere attention span of 3.4 seconds.
