Most bloggers understand the importance and the value of creating original content. Most would be at least somewhat upset to see their own writing used on other sites without permission or attribution and many actively track their work for misuse.
[Read more…]How You Should Decide Which Images to Use on Your Blog
Because visuals can make or break a blog post, it is crucial that you choose the right images for each post. The photos’ subject, colors, size, and placement can positively impact your post’s success.
Usage
The most important part of any image is logistical over visual. Only choose images that you have the rights to use. For larger blogs, it may be worthwhile to invest in a stock photo site membership, like Shutterstock or iStockPhoto. If you’d rather go with royalty-free or creative commons photos, be sure you are using the right attribution and that you can use them. For example, some creative commons photos only let you use images for non-commercial use. If you use the image for a business blog, which counts as a commercial property, so you technically can’t use non-commercial creative commons images. [Read more…]
5 More Free Image Sources For Your Blog
We have covered places to find free and legal images in the past, but with a new year comes even more reliable sources for finding free image sources for your blog. As with any creative work, even though it may be free to use, be sure to use correct attribution and make sure that you are crediting the author in all ways necessary. Not doing so may lead to legal issues, as some images are free as long as bloggers follow the proper guidelines. [Read more…]
Is Blogging the New Short Story?
Image by KristinNador
Edgar Allan Poe famously wrote about the short story in his essay, The Philosophy of Composition. He highlighted the importance of one idea and the ability to consume the text in one sitting.
What with modern time’s insistence that everything is immediate and the pressure to absorb information at lightning speed, the parallels between Poe’s thoughts in the 1900s and the blogging of today is remarkably clear.
Each of Poe’s commandments imposed upon the short story can be used to explore it with regard to the technological future of this type of writing, as I am going to explain: [Read more…]
Blogger’s Guide to Creative Commons: In Pictures
Bloggers are inevitably obsessed with the topic of creative commons, and if they aren’t yet, they will be soon. Why? Well, if you have ever seen the cost of subscriptions for stock photo sights, you wouldn’t have to ask that question. They are expensive, often offer nothing special and in general don’t cut it for most casual bloggers that don’t want to spend cash on what is essentially a place for their thoughts.
Using public domain or CC licensed content is the perfect way around that. You can use photos and videos as you like, not worrying about the cost or being sued for copyright. Which is ever bloggers wost nightmare, thanks to the many horror stories we are subjected to on the web. [Read more…]
