Let me help you find the best free images to download for your website and marketing materials!

The images that you choose for your website and marketing materials can make or break the overall aesthetic of your brand. When hiring a full time photographer to supply you with appropriate and timely photos is out of the budget, most turn to using free stock photos. There are so many options to choose from when choosing where to get the best free images to download for your site, how are you supposed to choose?

Here’s a quick list of considerations when choosing which free stock photos and free images to download for your marketing materials:

1. Price
2. Usage License
3. Attribution
4. Modification
5. Fit

First, let’s talk about price.

Some of the traditional stock photo sources can cost hundreds of dollars for a single image with limited usage rights. Other sources are free, have zero limitations, and can be used for any purpose. For the purposes of this blog post we’re going to focus on the free stock photo sources that are truly, absolutely, 100% free.

Why? Because not every project requires the exactly perfect photo that costs an arm and a leg. Many blog posts, marketing materials, and websites are completely fine with using free stock photos.

Second, it’s time to cover usage license.

These free images you download, aka free stock photos, must be used based on their license agreements. Some sources say that you can use the images in any way you’d like, for whatever reason you’d like. One of the biggest differentiators is whether your project is commercial or non-commercial. Most allow you to use the images for any personal reasons if you are not generating a profit. Some limits may be imposed by sources if you plan to use the free stock photos for commercial reasons.

Wherever you choose to get your free images to download, be sure to check the license requirements BEFORE you actually use them. The last thing that you want to do is get your website up and running or marketing materials printed, then find out that you can’t use any of the free stock photos that you downloaded. That would be incredibly frustrating!

Third, what the heck is attribution?

When using free stock photos, one of the things that some sources require is attribution for the images. This means that you must give the photographer credit when you use the photos. For some things like blog posts, attribution is super simple. You just add a little link in there or a quick credit line beneath the photo. This isn’t as easy when you’re designing brochures or using images on the home page of your website.

If attribution is required for the free stock images that you want to use, you need to really do your homework and credit the photos properly or you may even want to find a new source. It depends on how good you are at paying attention to details and following the rules.

Fourth, modification.

Yep, always a concern when it comes to any type of photography. Once you’ve found these free images to download, you need to know what you can do with them. Some sources add limitations to how they can be used (no editing including cropping, changing the colors tc.) while others say have at it, do whatever you want.

Modification rights is something you have to keep in mind even if you hire a private photographer to come out and do a photoshoot for you, specific to the needs of the project. Some photographers will give you full rights to do as you please where as others will take major issue if you do any type of editing to the final images that they deliver.

Fifth, fit.

Are free stock photos the right fit for your project? The answer lies in the photos that you find and all of the considerations listed above. Before you start searching, you should have some type of vision in mind for the free images that you want to download.

Are you looking for a person, place, or thing? Should there be some type of action involved? What colors should the photo include in order to add to the aesthetic of your project? Having a vision in mind for what fit you need the free images to download for will help you find the right photos to do the job.

Ready to start looking for free stock photos?

We’ve compiled the ultimate list of sources for free stock photos, which is detailed below. Keep in mind that all sources are updated at different rates and include different licenses. You’ll need to sort through each to make sure that they work for your needs. Once you’ve found the perfect free images to download, get to work and create something beautiful!

The Complete List of Free Stock Photos Collections:

1. Pexels

All images included on pexels.com are absolutely free for commercial and personal uses.

Here’s a quick snapshot of their free stock photos license. Be sure to check their website for full details!

• All photos on Pexels can be used for free for commercial and noncommercial use.
• Attribution is not required. Giving credit to the photographer or Pexels is not necessary but always appreciated.
• You can modify the photos. Be creative and edit the photos as you like.

Pexels is my personal favorite, as I love the general aesthetic of the images on their site.

2. Stocksnap.io

Photos on Stocksnap.io are free, but governed by the Creative Commons license.

Here’s a quick snapshot of their free stock photos license. Be sure to check their website for details!

• The Creative Commons license that StockSnap uses is the CC0 license. Specifically, that license means you can do any and all of the following:
  • Download the image file
  • Publish, revise, copy, alter, and share that image
  • Use the image (as-is or as you’ve altered it), in both personal and commercial contexts
• Moreover, you can put StockSnap CC0 images to any of these usages without buying the right to do it, acquiring written permission from the image’s creator, or attributing the work to the image creator.

Learn more about the Creative Commons CCo license.

3. Shotstash

You are allowed to use photos for personal and commercial uses, but the copyright remains that of Shotstash.

Here’s a quick snapshot of their free stock photos license. Be sure to check their website for full details!

You can:

• Bundle in HTML/PSD templates & themes.
• Illustrate articles or blog posts.
• Print in t-shirts, phone cases and book covers.
• Post in social networks.
• Distribute in your design.
• Keynote or Powerpoint presentations.

4. mmtstock

MMT offers free stock photos and videos, along with premium upgrade paid options. For details on their license details and how they apply the Creative Commons license, click here.

This free images download resource also allows users to upload photos of their own for sharing.

5. Realisticshots

Here’s a quick snapshot of their free stock photos license. Be sure to check their website for full details!

• All photos published on Realistic Shots are licensed under Creative Commons Zero which means you can copy, modify, distribute and use the photos, even for commercial purposes.
• Attribution is not required, but appreciated.

The website mentions that new photos are added every week, which is very nice if you like the style of their photos and require new free stock photos to add to your blog or website regularly.

6. Foodiesfeed

Here’s a quick snapshot of their free stock photos license. Be sure to check their website for full details!

• Food photographers from all around the world share their photos under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license to help accomplish the ultimate goal of Foodiesfeed, to make the online space related to food more beautiful and eliminate all the ugly sterile stock photos that people still keep using.
• Whether you’re a hobby or professional photographer, food blogger, passionate foodie or there are just some food photos hanging in your cloud drive that could be used by other modern creatives, join the community and help us with our mission.

This collection of gorgeous free stock photos is a foodie’s dream! They have everything you might need and update the site regularly, so there’s bound to be something new you’ll love.

7. NewOldStock

If you’re looking for historic images and aren’t too picky about what you get, this may be the perfect opportunity for free images to download for you. The website says that these photos come from public archives and are free of any known copyright.

8. StyledStock

A super trendy option that gives you a handful of free stock images along with a plethora of paid options. Check their usage agreement for details on how you can move forward with using the free images you download from the site.

9. Burst by Shopify

This collection of photos was designed for Shopify stores but can be used for free for personal or commercial purposes. Usage terms are pretty detailed. Check them out here.

10. Gratisography

According to the website, you can do almost anything with the free images to download contained on their site for both commercial and personal uses.

Here’s a quick snapshot of their free stock photos license. Be sure to check their website for full details!

• You may use Gratisography pictures as you please for both personal and commercial projects. You can adapt and modify the images and get paid for work that incorporates the pictures.
• This includes advertising campaigns, adding your logo or text to an image, printed in any size print runs (e.g., book covers, magazines, posters, etc.), on your website, blog, or other digital mediums, and on merchandise as long as the picture itself is not the merchandise.

The free stock photos on this site are less traditional than others and may appeal well to personal blogs.

11. FreeImages

Here’s a quick snapshot of their free stock photos license. Be sure to check their website for full details!

• You may use content in digital format on websites, blog posts, social media, advertisements, film and television productions, web and mobile applications
  • in printed materials such as magazines, newspapers, books, brochures, flyers, product packaging
  • for decorative use in your home, office or any public place
  • or personal use
• The rights granted to you by FreeImages.com are:
  • Perpetual, meaning there is no expiration or end date on your rights to use the content.
  • Non-exclusive, meaning that you do not have exclusive rights to use the content. FreeImages.com can license the same content to other customers.
  • Unlimited, meaning you can use the content in an unlimited number of projects and in any media.

The collection includes a HUGE amount of free images to download for your marketing materials. The images seem generally vibrant and sharp. Lots of animals and architecture, along with many other free stock photos subjects.

12. Reshot

Known for being unique, non-stocky photos, Reshot is an excellent resource for bloggers and website designers who want a unique look and feel for the brands they are developing.

Here’s what Reshot has to say about the license for their free stock photos:

• All photos published on Reshot are free to use, both for commercial and noncommercial purposes. Go crazy!
• More precisely, Reshot grants you an irrevocable, nonexclusive copyright license to download, copy, modify, distribute, perform, and use photos from Reshot for free, including for commercial purposes, without permission from or attributing the photographer or Reshot. This license does not include the right to compile photos from Reshot to replicate a similar or competing service.
• Questions? Check out our FAQ or read the legal jargon in our terms.

While I typically use Pexels, Reshot may be my new go to resource for free images to download for my blog.

13. Freestocks.org

Freestocks.org features a collection of images that are free to use under the Creative Commons Zero license. Here’s what they have to say about the use of their free images to download.

• All photos on freestocks.org are free and licensed under CC0 (Creative Commons Zero). You can copy, modify and use them both in personal and commercial projects. However, you can not sell the photos themselves.
• Please do not redistribute our photos on other free stock photos websites without our permission. Instead of doing that, you can use a thumbnail photo and simply put a link referring to our single photo page, for example: http://freestocks.org/photo/tie/.
• Remember to respect registered trademarks, intellectual and private property. It is in your best interest to use the photos in a lawful way.

14. Picography

Similar to other free stock photos sites, Picography has a use license based on Creative Commons Zero. Here are the details about how they say you can use the photos:

All photos on Picography come with a CC0 license, this means that you can:

• Use, copy, edit, or share that photo.
• Use it for personal or commercial purposes.
• And to do so without purchase, permission, or giving attribution to the creator of the work. While we do always encourage attribution, it is not required.

Their collection of free images to download includes a variety from moody to vibrant and everywhere in-between.

15. picjumbo

On top of offering a wide variety of free stock images, picjumbo also has a premium membership option that gives members exclusive access to even more stock photos (100+ premium collections) delivered directly to their Dropbox accounts each month.

Free images you download from picjumbo can be used personally and commercially, but they do ask that you respect registered brands and trademarks (as usual). Here are the details and FAQ for image use.

While there are many different options for downloading free stock photos, I absolutely love that the guy who created this did so out of need. He was rejected by other stock sites due to ‘lack of quality’ and decide to create this project (free stock photos download site) on his own. I’d love for you to support his work and download a few photos, maybe even sign up for a premium membership! Here’s a link to his story if you’re interested in learning more.

Location specific free stock photo collections:

Detroit Stock City

You guessed it. All photos of Detroit. Images on the site are available for personal use only, so be careful businesses!

Here’s a quick snapshot of their free stock photos license. Be sure to check their website for full details!

• The content from Detroit Stock City is free to use for personal, editorial, and other non-commercial use. Use it in articles, blog posts, school projects, as your desktop wallpaper – or plenty of other non-commercial purposes.
• The content found here on DSC is totally FREE, so spread the word.
• We simply ask that you…
  • credit the photographer and DSC collection
  • do not redistribute or host the content on your own page
  • do not use the content in any offensive or unlawful manner

There’s a full infographic created just for those trying to sort out whether or not they can use the photos from this site.

Throughout this post you’ll notice that we discuss a lot of what you CAN do and not a lot of what you CAN’T do. Please be sure to check the terms for each individual free stock photos website before you download and use the images. That way you can ensure that you won’t be in violation of their terms or use license. Please do NOT rely on the contents of this blog post as a way to find out if you’re using the images properly.

Free Stock Photo Resources Update

Last updated October 2018. We’ll continue to update this list as additional sources for free stock photos become available. If you know of something incredible that isn’t listed, please leave a comment below and I’ll be sure to add it.

The post 2018-10-03_17-35-29 appeared first on Atterbie.

15 easy ways to get your blog noticed.

#1 – Add a link to your blog to the intro section of your personal Facebook page.

You know that area under your name that you can fill with a line or two? Add a link to your blog here!

The nice thing about this area is that people can see the text whether you are friends or not. So if you want basic visibility when posting in groups and communicating with those you don’t know, a link here is ideal. If you have multiple projects that you want to share with the world, try using linktree. Install it once and never worry about changing your bio again. Update your linktree account and all of your profiles will be updated simultaneously. #Winning

#2 – Share a post on on your personal Facebook page’s timeline.

Copy and paste a link from your website to your timeline. It’ll automatically pull the meta description and featured image from that post, so be ready. When preparing to share on Facebook, you can also include a brief intro about the post or tag your friends and family who you think may be interested.

#3 – Does your blog have its own page? Share a post there too!

If you have created a Facebook page for your blog, you should be sharing your posts here!

There are a few ways to do it… First, publish a direct link to your page. Super simple. Second, write a post about your blog with no links (can sometimes help with engagement) and then add a link to your blog in the comments.

#4 – Tweet, snap, instagram it up. 

We’re talking about all the social things here, folks. I could have probably listed 15 individual social media actions here but I’m not going to waste your time. Go ahead and take advantage of every single social media platform you have available. Don’t forget about linktree when it comes to Instagram. Whatever you’ve got, send it out.

#5 – Ask your friends and family to share your posts.

A free and easy way to support you, friends and family should automatically share your posts but they likely aren’t going to do it unless you straight up ask them to. Be polite and kind and if they say no, brush it off. Your blog is not meant to start drama or stir the pot with strange family dynamics, just take what you can and be thankful.

#6 – Send out an update in your newsletter.

If you haven’t already started a newsletter for your blog, it’s time to do that well, TODAY. Seriously. A newsletter can be one of your most valuable marketing tools in the long run. Don’t worry if you only have two subscribes and one of them is your mom. It’s all good and sending out a newsletter on a regular basis is an excellent habit to get into.

Side note here, do NOT include your entire blog post within the body of your email. For one thing, it’s likely way too long for anyone to read within an email. And on top of that, the goal here is to drive traffic to you website. You’ll want to share a headline and/or image along with a brief description of what your blog post is about, then a ‘read more’ link that directs them to your blog post. Easy peasy.

#7 – Shout it from the rooftops!

I hate heights so rooftops are not going to happen for me, but the idea here is that when you’re out there being social in the real world with actual humans who speak and can hear – tell them about your work. Explain the topic, what you’ve written, why you chose that angle, etc. Then encourage them to go visit your blog to read the full article.

#8 – Post to Facebook groups.

Back to social media for a minute here. One super quick way to get the word out to a targeted audience about your latest work. The idea of Facebook groups almost makes me cringe because my first impression is simple – spam. But that’s not all they’re about. Facebook groups can be super powerful collections of brilliant minds who think similarly and what to share information.

Bonus points if you add your own group and are able to control the way your information is shared. Posting on a timeline can have a much more powerful impact than sharing in a long stream of comments that everyone who participates is required to comment on. Beware though, if you do not own the group and your post gets a lot of attention that may take away from a product or service that the group owner is selling – you’re likely to get ousted.  #ImJustSayin

There are total pros and cons no matter how you move forward with this one. You need to know what your resources are and take advantage of them accordingly. Facebook groups are wildly powerful when used properly.

#9 – Networking Meetings

Yep, these are still a thing! Created long before you could log onto the World Wide Web and connect with the hoard of people you’ve met over your lifetime, networking meetings were created as a way for professionals to meet and share their work.

Meetings are held in locations across the globe for every genre you can imagine. Just find the one that fits you best in a location that is realistic for you to attend and go! Bring along a business card and marketing materials for bonus points and you’ll be off to an excellent start.

#10 – Attend a conference or summit.

If you’re ready to up the ante from your local networking, do a quick google search for a conference or summit designed for bloggers in general or something that fits your specific niche. This type of environment will allow you to connect with a massive amount of people who are all on the same journey as you.

It can be empowering and inspiring and may just connect you with the right folks to help take your blog to the next level. If nothing else, it will definitely help you get the word out about your brand and share information about your work.

#11 – Ads

I’m only going to touch on this a bit because it’s a topic for another post of all on its own.

Buying ads is one of the most mainstream ways to go about building an audience for your blog and gaining traction. The thing is, it comes with its pros and cons. The pros are that you can get your message in front of as many potential customers as you can afford. The con however, is that when you stop paying – the ads stop running.

Good ad campaigns require A&B testing in order to figure out what will work best with your clients and to improve your overall conversion rates. If you are new to blogging, I highly recommend you hold off on this for a minute and focus on the other free aspects that you can work on in your spare time before you get to spending money on ads.

#12 – Create a freebie and collect email addresses in order to download it.

If you aren’t at all familiar with this strategy, the basic idea is that you create something really awesome that you know your target audience will be interested in. In order for them to get their hands on this incredible thing you’ve developed, they have to give you their email address and then they get to download your item for free.

Once you have their email address, you add it to your email list and in time you’ll have a nice collection of leads.

There are a zillion different types of services that will allow you to automate the process that range from super simple and free to wildly complicated and expensive. Figure out which one will fit your needs and don’t be afraid to start with something basic with a phase two plan of moving into something bigger as you grow.

This brings me to another really important point… you do not need to spend a ton fo money in order to get your blog off the ground. In fact, you can start with something absolutely free and then move on from there. What you do need however, is patience and brainpower.

‘They say’ you can do anything with enough time or money and that’s absolutely true, but when you don’t have a huge development budget to blow through it is important to remember that you can do anything with enough patience and brainpower. It may take you hundreds of YouTube tutorials or finding an awesome cheap course – but you can do this.

#13 – Make sure your RSS feed is accessible.

An RSS feed is system that allows subscribers to get automatic updates whenever new content is published on your blog. This is super helpful for serious blog followers and those sites that aren’t equipped with an option to subscribe to a newsletter. Some folks just like RSS feeds and you should make it super easy for them to follow your blog. Enough said.

#14 – Search engine optimization, please!

I’m hoping you already know a thing or two about SEO (search engine optimization) but if you want to get your blog noticed for free, SEO is the way to go. Unlike ad campaigns, the effects of SEO will stick with your site for its lifetime.

I’ll link a few posts here later, but go ahead and click on the SEO category to start reading more. While many of these posts are geared towards a specific industry, don’t fret. The same principles apply to any website.

#15 – Publish new content on a regular schedule.

Publishing new well-written content is a wildly important in getting your blog noticed.

Once you use a few of the methods listed above and get visitors trickling into your site, you’ll want them to come back. If they do come back for a second visit and there’s no new content available, who’s to say they’ll come back again? Chances are that they won’t.

You’ve only got one shot. Make it count! Come up with a publishing schedule that you can commit to and actually follow through with. Whether it’s daily, weekly, or monthly – be consistent! Your audience wants to know that they can count on you and this is an excellent way to establish trust.

Do you have other methods to help get your blog noticed that you don’t see on this list? Leave your tips in the comments below! I’d love to hear your thoughts. Need help getting started with your writing? I can help. Fill out this form and I’ll be in touch right away.

The post How to Get Your Blog Noticed #OpenForBusiness appeared first on Atterbie.

Before you begin scrolling through the blog examples listed below, here are a few things you should consider when planning your blog.

• What is the purpose of your blog?
• Is it professional or personal?
• Do you plan to sell a product or service?
• Are you sharing your expertise in a certain field?
• Are you solving a problem?
• What topics will you write about?
• How often do you want to write?
• Will you monetize your blog?
• What social media channels will you utilize in accordance with your blog?
• What do you want your blog to look like?
• What impression do you want your blog to give to website visitors?
• Do you plan on tracking your site traffic?

These are just the basics to help you start creating a strategy for your blog to be successful.

From there, you’ll need to really dive into the details and bring your blogging project to life. Here are the materials that you will want to have ready when the time comes to begin building your blog.

• The site title
• A budget – will your website be on a free platform or is it a paid, self-hosted site?
• Your logo (if available, if not – text will do)
• Photos or graphics (have you tried Canva?)
• Words. And lots of them!

Don’t forget that like all projects, blogs come in phases. There are beginners, those who have been doing it for a while, and experts. While it’s hard not to compare sites to each other when you are looking at blog examples, keep in mind that some have had a few hours spent on them while others have had years of hard work from a team of people poured into them.

Here are 18 blog examples and notes from their creators to help you get started!

Check these blog examples out and don’t forget to take notes as you go! Jot down the things you love and move along if you find things you aren’t crazy about. We focus on the positive here, folks.  

“I’ve been blogging since 2016 (not really serious until the start of last year). I’ve been loving capturing my life through blogging, and seeing myself improve!”  – Noelle, Oh Happy Hotalings

“I’ve been blogging on and off since 2015 on a wordpress .com account, but after a long break (following hurricane Irma) I just started again in May of this year. Determined to make more of a go of it this time, I moved my blog to .org and completely overhauled it. I’m really enjoying showcasing the unique country that I live in, love documenting my adventures and I’m learning new skills every day! Blogging full-time one day would be the dream… ”  – Charlie, The Barefoot Angel

“We’re a gaming blog that aims to keep a positive voice and mindset. We formed shortly after Gamergate in response to all the toxic BS we saw out there, to remind people that gaming is supposed to be fun and for everyone. It’s been quite a journey, mostly self taught, as we grew our audience. Nowadays we get media passes for conventions and run local game days to help people find and learn about gaming.”  – Eric, Sprites and Dice

“I am just getting started and man it is a steep learning curve! I continue to learn so much as I hope to really get this blog going. I went from a working Pediatrician to a stay at home mom of 4. I have done many things in life that I didn’t think I would do, I hope that this can be a great new adventure for me!”  – Katy, Katy Ever After

“I’ve been blogging for almost 8 years…with the first few years intended only for me. It has grown and expanded since I started viewing it as a business!”  – Jennifer, Bachelorette Pad Flip

“Blogging can be a bit discouraging at times, but it’s all a learning process. I try to celebrate all of my tiny victories.”  – Alexis, It’s Simply Nichole

“Blogging has given my creativity an opportunity to speak not only thru writing but thru creating the website. It contains my soul’s expression in different ways!”  – Julia, Unbreakable Joy

“Blogging can be frustrating at times, but it’s so rewarding, and I love doing it!”  – Cheryl, Farm Girl Reformed

“Blogging has been a type of artistic outlet and way for me to share what I love. It has also connected me with so many great people. I often feel like I haves gained more from by blogging than I give to others even though I blog to help others.”  – Erin, Nusker HQ

“If you write what you’re passionate about, you will never have a shortage of content.”  – Sandra, Gluten Free Doll

“Blogging has been a great learning experience for me and has helped me get past writers block when trying to write film scripts by forcing me to write about separate topics.”  – Isabelle, Simply Izzy

“Life (and blogging) is a dance you learn as you go. Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow. Don’t worry ’bout what you don’t know. I’ve been blogging for about 8 months and I am constantly learning new things. I am enjoying the journey.”  – Jennifer, Contentment Questioning

“Write what you want to write and what not what you think people want to read.”  – Chardae, OMG It’s Just Dae

“I started blogging shortly after my daughter was born and I found myself up by myself at night. I didn’t realize how much I had learned about parenting until I had a place of my own to write it all down!”  – Stacey, Higgdons Happy Home

“My blogging is more a website for promoting my business. I love to post despite gaining followers. Hasn’t been a full year yet, so I am hopeful.”  – Janice, BebeStarr

“The web page was set up by me about six years ago to help parents with their developing children. In my six years I have grown and learned alot about what works and what does not and what does not. It has been a uphill battle to get interest in the site,one thing I learned is never give up and don’t be afraid to try new things.”  – Marcie, Marcie’s Caring Hands

“I am grateful for having this experience with blogging! It’s truly opened my eyes to finding purpose in writing and sharing with an audience. I’ve realized how much hard work goes into blogging and am incredibly proud to be part of this community.”  – Kimi, Kimi Was Here

“I’ve found blogging to be a wonderful way to inspire other women to achieve more. I love it when people tell me about how a certain blog post helped them through a tough time in their business.”  – Melitta, Melitta Campbell

Do you have a blog that should be added to our list of blog examples? Leave a link in the comments below! I’d love to check it. Don’t forget to check out my blog HERE.

Maybe you’ve always loved the idea of writing and these blog examples have helped inspire you to taking the next step – creating your own blog! Here’s how to get yours started in less than 9 minutes for only $3.95 per month. Ready? GO!

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Here’s your answer… a blog.

Here Are 10 Reasons Why Blogging Is Important For Your Business

Reason #1 – Blogging Keeps Your Website Updated

If your website looks like it was developed way back when the internet first became a thing, it’s probably hard for potential clients to tell if you’re still in business. While you could likely use a complete website make-over, publishing new content on your blog is the next best thing and it’s 100% free if you do it yourself. A consistent publishing schedule lets your website visitors know that you’re still relevant and ready to take them on as clients.

Reason #2 – Blogging Gives You An Opportunity to Add Content

Does your website have a super sleek design that you don’t want to clutter up with a ton of words? No worries. Blogging regularly allows you to plug all kinds of new content into your site without interfering with the design.

Blog posts are typically kept all together within one feed on a ‘blog’ page of your website. Super simple. Super clean. TONS of excellent content. If you don’t already have a blog, you should set one up today. You may not realize it yet, but blogging is important for your business! Keep reading…  

Reason #3 – Blogging Helps You Establish Your Expertise

Let’s pretend like you are a world renowned cat trainer. You create a beautiful website that provides contact information and cat training services. But now what? Without anything else, how are potential clients supposed to know that you’re freakin’ awesome when it comes to training cats?

You blog! That’s how!

Blogging is important for your business because it allows the opportunity to provide your audience with information that will establish your expertise and set you apart from the competition.

Let’s go back to our cat training example. Here’s a quick list of the blog post topics I’d recommend that our beloved trainer begin blogging about right away:

• Experience with cat training.
• Different cat training methods, which ones work best?
• Cat training education – do you need a degree? What matters and what doesn’t.
• Case studies – how successful cat training has impacted the lives of clients.
• Can a cat really be trained? YES – of course!  
• Break down the services… how do you know what package to pick for each cat?
• What to expect during the training process.
• How do I know my cat is actually going to learn something?
• Can you guarantee success?

Alright, are you picking up on what I’m saying here? Each of the answers/responses to these questions will help our fave cat trainer share their message with potential clients without having to reach out to each one individually. You dig?

Reason #4 – Blogging Helps You Stop Answering The Same Old Questions

Potential clients are going to have the same basic questions. That’s just how life is. But you don’t have to spend tons of time answering that same question over and over again. Rather than writing yet another boring email, send that client a quick personal note along with a link to the blog post that will not only answer their question but talk about related issues as well.

Bonus points here. Make sure your services are linked well throughout your website and answering one of those ‘same old’ questions may actually help you sell your products/services!

Wondering how? That may be a post for another day, but long story short – every blog post should have a call to action (CTA) at the end. Whether you’re inviting someone to sign up for your newsletter, inviting them to your Facebook group, or selling a product – ADD YOUR CTA! Always. Done and done.

Reason #5 – Blogging Helps Build Your DA & PA

Yep, this is a little technical, but DA and PA are important and both can be improved by adding excellent content to your website on a regular basis (likely through a blog).

DA is your domain authority. It’s a search engine score developed by Moz that is calculated by evaluating a number of different factors including the number of links that connect back to your site.

PA is your page authority. It’s another score developed by Moz that indicates how likely a page of your website is to show up in a web results for a specific term.

So why do you need content for this? It’s all about the common word – authority. You want to build authority through excellent content that will then be linked by other websites. A link from an external  is basically a voucher saying that your site is legit. A big deal in the search engine optimization (SEO) world when you’re trying to get more organic traffic.

Wondering where you rank? Check out your DA and PA here: SmallSEOTools.com

Reason #6 – Blogging Gives You Something to Share On Social Media

Sometimes you just need a little more oomph behind a post than an inspirational quote. Rather than writing a SUUUUUUPER long Facebook post that people have to click into a new window to read, write it all down on your blog and then share a link on your social profiles.

You won’t want to do this for every post, but every now and then sharing a link on your social profiles can help boost the traffic that gets to your website. You worked hard to create it, might as well show it off – right?!?

By the way, something I’m loving lately is Linktree. For platforms like Instagram that only give you the opportunity to share one link, it’s a dream come true! Check it out and start gathering your favorite links now.

Reason #7 – Blogging Gives You a Competitive Advantage

When shopping online, potential clients are going to do their research when it comes to the options available to meet their needs or solve their problems. They’ll start by comparing the basics – services and prices. But then what?

They’re going to judge you. Whether you realize it or not, the decision on whether or not a client will hire you or purchase your products depends on way more than whatever it is you are selling. The decision to buy depends on their overall impression of you and your business/brand.

The biggest factor of this being your website. How it appears. How it functions. What message it gives. And yes, you’ve probably guessed where I’m going with this. Aside from the cornerstone content on your main pages, blog posts are the best way to communicate your brand’s message to your audience.

Reason #8 – It Gives You The Opportunity To Earn Money

Some brands will actually pay you to publish their content on your website. Yes, it’s true!

This is often referred to as a sponsored post. While these are not the easiest to seek out, if you get a website up and running with consistently published well-written content, the opportunities will find you. Just make sure that your contact information is easy to find on your website and you’re golden.

There are other ways to find these opportunities on your own, but more on that later.  

Another way you can make money with your blog is by selling ad space. Often placed in the side bar or within the body of a post, banner ads can pay big money if you get a good amount of traffic to your site.

Last but not least, blog posts give you a great opportunity to plug your affiliate links. If you aren’t familiar with affiliate programs, here’s the basic breakdown… affiliate programs are kind of like being a salesperson for a business. You share information about a specific product or services and if someone uses your affiliate link to make a purchase, you get a cut. The commissions can range from pennies to a serious chunk of change, depending on what you’re selling.

Reason #9 – Blogging Will Help You Improve Your SERP Ranking

When people ask me why blogging is important for their business, I will often ask what context they are considering in terms of ‘importance’. There are obviously a zillion reasons (10 of which are listed here), but one of the most popular is that content writing (blogging) is often one of the major factors in a search engine optimization strategy.

Every blog post gives you the opportunity to cram it full of wildly valuable content that your clients will devour and the search bots will use to rate your site. While most think that ranking is all about cramming keywords into your meta title and meta descriptions, that’s not at all true. Yes, keywords need to be there, but not in a spammy way. In fact, Google may even penalize those who just stuff keywords into their sites without adding relevant content to go along with it.

So how does a blog post help you rank on Google? Blog posts allow you to answer questions that potential clients are asking. Let’s go back to the cat trainer example. If someone does a search on Google for ‘how to train a cat’ – Google wants to provide results that will actually help that person figure out how to train a cat.

So rather than just plugging the words ‘how to train a cat’ into the cat trainer’s website, they’ll need to back up that title with real strategies for teaching people how to train a cat. This doesn’t mean that you can’t sell yourself, but for this example – the cat trainer might start with five different tips and then at the end of the blog post they’d go into a sixth tip of ‘hiring the right cat trainer’.

See how that works? Always. Always. Always. Add a call to action.

Always write real content that relates to your title and never spam. It’s not worth it. There’s no value and it may end up actually hurting your ranking in the long run.

Reason #10 – Blogging Lets You Control Your Content

One of the most valuable reasons why blogging is important for your business… unlike social media posts, you get full control over how your content is communicated on your blog. Do you want your photos to be giant or do you want them teeny tiny? Veritical? Horizontal? Whatever you prefer, darling.

While you might need a little assistance from a website designer, the world is yours.

You also have full control over the longevity of the content, so you don’t have to worry about some platform deleting your well thought out words just because they feel like it. Say what you want, how you want. And do it as often as you’d like! Publishing content on your website is a worry free zone that you should enjoy and take advantage of to the fullest.

Now you see why blogging is important for your business. Right?!

But wait.

You hate writing.

You can’t stand it.

It gives you anxiety looking at a blank page, watching the cursor blink at your.

Staring you in the face. Daring you to put words down. Judging you. Marking your typos with bright red lines and throwing in green marks for grammatical errors. Darn you

DO NOT WORRY.

I’ve got your back. I can handle this. Seriously.

I will write for you.

This is not a dream. No typos. You’re reading this correctly. I’m a ghostwriter. I write thousands of words each day and get zero public credit for it. No one knows it me, but that’s okay.

I love writing and am thrilled to be able to provide this services to businesses and brands around the world. Wondering what it costs or just interested in learning about how the whole ghostwriting process works? Let’s talk. Fill out this quick form and I’ll be in touch ASAP.

Want to just chat about why blogging is important for your business? Email me at amy@atterbie.com and I’ll get in touch right away. In the meantime, here are a few other posts you might be interested in:

• Are freelance writing services the same as ghostwriting services?
• What industries can you hire a ghostwriter for?
• How and why to hire a ghostwriter for your photography blog.
• What to expect when you hire a ghostwriter for your business.
• Find a ghostwriter for your business… now!

Let’s get personal for a minute. Are you someone who is building a brand? Maybe a mom who works from home or someone with a great idea that will help make the world a better place.

Here are six reasons why blogging is important for you on a personal level!

Reason #1 – There are no limits.

If you’re just getting started, blog away. Don’t worry about reading tutorials or how to do it ‘right’. Just get started. Get use to writing. Use your voice. Develop your style and learn along the way.

Reason #2 – Reach far and wide.

It’s called the World Wide Web for a reason. When you publish something to the web, anyone with an internet connection can access it. This is good and bad, because while you need to get a hang of writing you also must make sure that you don’t publish something you’ll eventually regret. Off topic is one thing, inappropriate is another. Be smart, peeps!

Reason #3 – Connect with your friends and family.

Do you love keeping your friends and family in the loop about your latest adventures? Blogging is ideal for you! Another reason why blogging is important for you on a personal level is that you still get to control the content and how it’s displayed 100%.

Reason #4 – A blog will remain as long as you maintain it.

Social media channels may not. All I have to say to explain this is one word… MySpace. Enough said?

Reason #5 – You can monetize a personal site.

You don’t need a business to make money online. If you have a self hosted site, you can monetize it.

Reason #6 – Age matters.

The length of time that a domain has been registered (age), is a serious factor when it comes to domain authority (DA). If you have any plans to monetize a personal site or build a business site in the future, register that domain today and let it start the aging process.

There’s no better time to start a blog than yesterday. You won’t regret it!

Ready to register your domain and set up your new hosting plan? Check out BlueHost!

I use them for this site and many others. They’re super cheap (only $3.95/month) and their 24/7 support is helpful. I should note that this is an affiliate link, so while it does not cost you any more to purchase – I earn a small commission if you end up making a purchase.

The post 23 appeared first on Atterbie.

Canva is a total powerhouse when it comes to digital design software that allows you to create gorgeous work in minutes. The platform is super easy to use and they make the design process even easier by providing a comprehensive library of amazing templates that are super easy to customize.

Their template types include; posts, cards, postcards, flyers, invitations, business cards, letterhead, social media posts, business documents, presentations, book covers, desktop wallpapers, photo collages, infographics, album covers, marketing materials, logos, menus, and so much more.

“I like the various templates that canva has. It allows me to create my own from scratch or I can choose from hundreds of templates and change it to fit my needs.”  – Sheryl Anderson, asmidgeofsouth.com

In addition to the standard templates that you can access through their main menu page, as a registered member (even with a free account) you’ll receive emails with custom templates that fit your brand and product design needs on a regular basis. While it sounds simple, I love the inspiration it provides.

The first thing you should know is that Canva is absolutely free to use. There are zero fees to use any/all of their templates and design elements, including a seemingly unlimited library of stock images. If you do decide to use elements that are not free, you will either be required to upgrade to a pro account ($9 per month) or pay a per-download fee (around $1 per element), which gives you permission to download that item for 24 hours.

“Canva is an awesome design and marketing tool that has become part of my photography business week in and week out. Not only are many of the options free, but it’s also extremely easy to use.  I use Canva for emails, newsletters, social media posts and even to design a welcome banner for my sister’s bridal shower.  There are tons of templates, but I can also design on my own so the options are virtually limitless.”  – Courtney Ucker, LovebugByCourtney.com

While there are a zillion reasons to absolutely love Canva, it’s not for everyone. Here are a few reasons that Canva alternatives may be a better choice for your graphic design needs.

#1 – You’re a professional designer.

If design is all you do and the majority of what you get paid for, chances are that you need a super powerful tool that’s capable of doing absolutely anything your creative heart desires. While Canva has gorgeous templates and a collection of stock images / illustrations, some Canva alternatives have more powerful editing tools that many pros require on a daily basis.

#2 – You need more file format options.

With Canva you get the choice to download a .jpeg, .png, or .pdf (print or standard). This is a solid fit for social meia graphics and general sharing, but if you plan on using these graphics for printing on a larger scale or just need other file formats, a Canva alternative like Photoshop will likely be a better fit.

#3 – You hate things that make life easier.

If you need work to fill your day and prefer to start every project from scratch, Canva is totally not for you. Their platform makes creating gorgeous graphics super easy and that will not help keep you occupied from 9-5 on the regular.

In this case, you’re better off signing up for a graphic design course and then picking a Canva alternative that doesn’t include any templates, stock images/illustrations, or video tutorials. Being forced to download the program on your computer and only access those designs from one place is a bonus for you, friend!

As you can (hopefully) tell, I’m a huge Canva fan but I totally understand if you are not. The world relies on options and there are plenty of Canva alternatives available to you – most for free!

If you’re on a super tight budget but still need incredible graphic design software to create gorgeous graphics that will properly represent your brand, there are many free Canva alternatives out there.

Most graphic design saas (software as a service) platforms provide some type of entry level account that gives you free access to the site. There are of course limitations on any of these free Canva alternatives, but I’m sure there’s at least one (if not more) that will fit your needs and help you create the graphics you need.

The one that stands out from this list is Photoshop Express. Something new that I actually added after this initial post was written, Photoshop Express is an app that you download to your phone for free. Unlike Canva and some of the other platforms, it allows you to do some serious photo editing right on your phone.

The major difference here though, is that like the paid versions include with Adobe suite, Photoshop Express does not include all of those gorgeous templates that we’ve grown to love throughout all the other Canva alternatives.

If you’re a pro designer or just a natural at creating images, this is no problem. Snap a photo, touch it up, and share. If you need the templates in order to break through that white screen of designer’s block, then you might consider using one of the other eighteen Canva alternatives included on this list. Most includes cute templates, stock photos and illustrations, filters, and fonts, that are available at your disposal to help you create the graphics of your dreams.

Back to the point here… while you may only have access to their intro level account types, something is better than nothing! Here are thirteen absolutely FREE Canva alternatives that you should try today.

1. Stencil
2. Snappa
3. Pablo (free with a Buffer account)
4. Aviary
5. Befunky
6. Crello
7. Visme
8. Google Charts
9. Venngage
10. Animaker
11. Visme
12. Fotor
13. Photoshop Express

Scroll down to see how each platform compares to Canva and why we’ve included them on the list of free Canva alternatives. There are so many options out there, this list will save you a ton of time!

Side note – if you know of other FREE platforms that should be added to this list, please share in the comments and I’ll get them added right away.

The reasons vary, but many bloggers out there are on the hunt for Canva Alternatives. Why? Because the ability to create beautiful graphics for your blog, website, or social media accounts is an absolutely vital factor in digital marketing.

“Love Canva as it is easy to use and has lots of designs that work with any social media platform and has beautiful/professional templates.”  – Sara Baqeri, www.lapislifecoaching.com

These carefully designed graphics help communicate your brand message to potential clients and improve the overall user experience. They help you create an incredible user experience for anyone who visits your site and extend that same impression throughout all of your marketing materials. Graphics are used for websites, brochures, social media, email marketing, and more.

Let’s be honest, everyone wants gorgeous graphics for to help represent their brand but that’s a lot easier said than done. Creating graphic packages is tough work! While some platforms like Canva provide you with an easy to use software with built in templates and inspirational designs, others are incredibly powerful with photo editors and as many customizing options as you can imagine.

So what do you do if you need an excellent platform to design on but for whatever reason don’t like Canva?

You look for Canva alternatives!

To help make things a little easier, I’ve compiled a list of 19 incredible Canva alternatives. They are all platforms that allow you to create amazing digital designs and most for free! Some focus on infographics where others allow you to design animated videos.

“I love Canva. I use it at least 3-4 times a week for my blog and many more for personal wants. I must’ve been using it for over two years now, and I create a weekly ‘quote of the week’, and it’s never failed me on running out of new design ideas. I guess the only downside is that you are limited to so much to choose from, due to their pro etc packages, although I completely understand why they do that, as we all need to make a living. For this reason, I’ve never experimented with other websites or apps like Canva, as it’s provided me with all I’m looking for and more!”  – Charlotte Rawlings, www.artyallsorts.com

Before you get started, take a quick inventory of what you’re looking for in a graphic design platform. Do you need a variety of stock images or are you interested in basic fonts and shapes? Think about the type of graphics you are trying to create. Would you like templates to help get the design process started? If so, should they be sized for social media or business documents?

Whatever your wants and needs might be, there’s a platform out there that I know you’ll love… you just have to find it.

Ready to start browsing? Here’s the list.

19 Canva Alternatives for 2018

#1 – STENCIL

The fastest way to double your social engagement.

How it’s similar to Canva: Stencil gives you an all-in-one platform to create beautiful images without having to be a designer with a technical background. The software is super easy to use and offers a wide variety of templates in 41 different sizes, a library of over 1,500,000 royalty free stock images, 2,300+ Google fonts, etc.

Why it’s on our list of Canva alternatives: Something unique to Stencil is that they include a library of quotes within their platform for you to utilize throughout your work. If you are creating something inspirational, this is a one stop shop! Another bonus is that they make it super easy for you to upload your own fonts. With custom handwritten fonts being super popular these days, this is an incredible opportunity to put a personal touch on the graphics you are creating.

Price: Free / $9 per month PRO / $12 per month Unlimited

#2 – SNAPPA

Create online graphics in a snap.

How it’s similar to Canva: Snappa is another all-in-one platform that allows you to create amazing graphics without photoshop or a graphic designer. They’ve put a lot of work into creating templates that will help save you time both in the initial creation of the image (as it’s already sized perfectly) and if you need it re-sized (they have a magic re-sizing feature). All of the royalty free stock images, Google fonts, graphics, and effects are included as usual.

Why it’s on our list of Canva alternatives: Sync your Snappa account with Buffer and share graphics instantly with your audience. You also have the option to pre-schedule your graphics to automatically post according to the schedule in your content calendar in order to save you tons of time! Plans are all inclusive based on the number of downloads you need each month and how many people are on your team.

Price: Free / $10 per month PRO / $20 per month Team

#3 – PICMONKEY

Everything you need to make your ideas come to life – photo editing, collage making, graphic design – PicMonkey’s got it. It’s never been easier to feed your creative beast.

How it’s similar to Canva: Picmonkey is an all-in-one tool that will assist you with any design project. Simply drag and drop your way to gorgeous images using their royalty free stock photos, pre-sized templates, design elements, and more. While the platform is pretty easy to use and doesn’t require much of a learning curve, PicMonkey offers tutorials to help you step up your game and take your graphics to the next level.

Why it’s on our list of Canva alternatives: Something unique to PicMonkey is that they give you built-in tools to edit your photos. Whether you want to apply a super simple filter or go in and touch up details within an image – they’ve got you covered. The opportunities to edit are much more robust here than many of the other Canva alternatives I’ve seen. I would even classify PicMonkey as a Photoshop alternative for those whose projects require more than a basic social media graphic.

Price: Free trial / $7.99 per month Premium / $8.99 per month Supremium

“Recently I switched from Canva to Picmonkey (Picmonkey is paid now). Why did I switch? First, Picmonkey is cheaper than paid Canva. Second, I like having a complete photo editor and graphic designer in one website. Third, my graphic templates look more professional. Since Picmonkey is now a pay only service, I don’t have to worry if a template I want to use is free or paid.”  – Gina Butler, www.ginaslibrary.com

#4 – PABLO

Design engaging images for your social media posts in under 30 seconds.

How it’s similar to Canva: Pablo helps you create amazing graphics in a very small amount of time. They offer basic formatting (template sizes, text, and filters) and provide over 600,000 royalty free stock photos to use for your designs. The platform is a little limited (not as robust as Canva) but covers any basic graphic design needs without having to download Photoshop.

Why it’s on our list of Canva alternatives: Pablo was created by Buffer and syncs seamlessly, allowing you to download and publish graphics at the same time. This keeps you working smarter and not harder while filling your social media feeds with gorgeous graphics.

Price: Free with a Buffer account!

#5 – GIMP

GNU Image Manipulation Program – Reimagine reality.

How it’s similar to Canva: Gimp provides you with tools to create beautiful high-quality images.

Why it’s on our list of Canva alternatives: The GIMP software is very sophisticated. We’re not talking about a simple drag and drop editor here. For those in the design industry who need something with serious power and are already familiar with tech speak, GIMP is the way to go. They allow you to maniuplate images that most platforms on the list do not – including the ability to adjust their framework using a number of different code languages. Their color management tools allow you to ensure that your work will look the way it is supposed to, no matter what media it is used on (digital, print, etc.) Another major difference is that you must download GIMP to your computer in order to use it. It is not cloud based and does not transfer files across platforms.

Price: GIMP is a free and open source photo editor.

“It’s a little fancier/more complicated, but I love GIMP. Downside: It doesn’t have stock photos like Canva. But it’s similar to photoshop and it’s free to download! I made my logo and watermark in the free version of Canva, but I was stuck with the white background. After watching a YouTube video, I was able to make both of them have transparent backgrounds in GIMP. It took less than five minutes each! I was even able to save both of them as “brushes” so I can add either easily to any future works.” – Ashley Harkleroad, createdtoglorify.com

#6 – ADOBE PHOTOSHOP

Create and enhance your photos, images, and designs with Adobe Photoshop CC, the world’s best imaging and photo editing software.

How it’s similar to Canva: Adobe’s Photoshop helps you create gorgeous images.

Why it’s on our list of Canva alternatives: This is not your teenager’s drag and drop photo editing tool! Adobe Photoshop ranks supreme when it comes to graphic design. It’s the gold standard for any professional designer, photographer, image manipulations of any kind. The tools seem unending and the power behind each is nearly unmatched. The difference here is that while you can do absolutely anything with an image in Photoshop, there’s a major learning curve. If you’re comfortable with the basics, you can always watch YouTube tutorials on how to do the rest. Adobe Photoshop is a software that you must download to your computer in order to use. It does not transfer files across platforms.

Price: $239.88 per year for the single app /$119.88 per year for Photoshop CC plus Lightroom CC Photography Plan / $10 per month for a subscription

“You have SOOOO many more options than with Canva or Pic Monkey. Pic Monkey is almost a light version of PS, so it’s a huge upgrade. There is a learning curve, but there are youtune videos that will teach you anything you want to know. Also, I like that I’m actively learning a new software when and if I go back to working for someone else that’s one more thing I can put on my resume.”  – Rebecca Higinbotham, BabesinBlogland.com

#7 – LIGHTROOM CC

Access, edit, and share your photos from any browser.

How it’s similar to Canva: Lightroom allows you to create beautiful images.

Why it’s on our list of Canva alternatives: The software that Lightroom provides is designed for photo sharing and editing. It’s often the go-to for natural light photographers who work mostly with straight out of camera images and don’t do much re-touching or what’s often referred to as ‘photoshopping’. Their platform is intuitive and automatically applies searchable keywords to your images so that they’re easy to find without having to manually tag each one. Lightroom is not ideal for creating graphics for social media.

Price: $239.88 per year for the single app /$ 119.88 per year for Photoshop CC plus Lightroom CC Photography Plan / $10 per month for a subscription

“This month I started to use Lightroom mobile to edit all of my images. You have a lot of control over the editing and you can save presets to create a more uniform look. You can then export edited images to Adobe Spark to add graphics on top of the image. You can even add animations in Adobe Spark. These are great mobile options when you don’t have time to spend in front of your computer.”  – Austin Krause, wunderkrause.com.

#8 – AVIARY
Photo editor mobile app by Adobe.

How it’s similar to Canva: Adobe’s version of an easy to use photo editor, Aviary allows you to fine-tune and embellish photos right from their mobile app. It’s simple, drag-and-drop formatted, and fun to use.

Why it’s on our list of Canva alternatives: Adobe has sophisticated tools that they were able to apply in a lighthearted way for their mobile app. Unlike Canva, you have the option to really dive in and edit your images. Brighten teeth, remove fine lines, erase blemishes and customize your images with their collection of embellishments. They offer tutorials on how to best use the app and of course, the ability to sync to your creative cloud.

Price: Free in the app store.

#9 – BEFUNKY

Free online photo editing and collage maker.

How it’s similar to Canva: You don’t have to be a professional graphic designer in order to create gorgeous images for social media and professional marketing documents like brochures, business cards, or flyers.

Why it’s an excellent Canva Alternative: They include a photo editor, something that Canva does not have outside of being able to crop an image and apply a filter. The editor is super easy to use and is full of features/effects to make your images stand out from the rest. All files are worked on in the cloud and can be accessed on any device by logging into your account. I love that they offer so many different collage templates, something that Canva seems to be lacking on a bit with their limited frames.

Price: Free / $2.91 per month Pro

#10 – CRELLO

Free graphic design software with a simple photo editor.

How it’s similar to Canva: Template central with a huge library of royalty free stock images and illustrations. All work is done in the cloud and saved online, so the images can be accessed from any device connected to the internet.

Why it’s on our list of Canva alternatives: The features offered are very similar to Canva with one exception. Crello gives you the ability to create designs for animated posts! Yes, that’s something pretty unique to this entire list. If your business is in need of eye-catching graphics that literally dance their way across the screen – Crello is the answer. Need some help getting started? Check out their inspiration page! Warning, it’s gorgeous and you’re going to want to start designing something right away.

Price: Free

“I recently found a website called Crello that I am getting used to. It has a lot of free stock photos that I like. It’s free to use although I think there is a paid version as well. I haven’t figured out how to get my logo in there so I can put it on my images but there’s probably a way. For now, I am creating some images there and then using Canva to apply my logo.”  – Heather Cates, www.findingourgreenlife.com. 

#11 – VISME

The only tool you need to create and share professional interactive infographics.

How it’s similar to Canva: Create amazing infographics on a platform that is super easy to use.

Why it’s on our list of Canva alternatives: One main area of the site is for creating gorgeous infographics, where the process is set up into three simple steps. Choose your template or pick which type of ready-made blocking you want to use, visualize your information using graphics and tables, and then edit/customize. Their other areas of expertise are with creating presentations, charts anreports, and social media graphics.d

Price: Free / $12 per month Standard / $20 per month Complet

#12 – GOOGLE CHARTS

Google chart tools are powerful, simple to use, and free.

How it’s similar to Canva: Charts are graphics, which can be super helpful when creating any type of graphic to support your business.

Why it’s on our list of Canva alternatives:  Charts are powerful, especially when they’re powered by Google. The best thing about this tool is that it allows you to display live data. This means that when set up properly, your website (likely the application where you’d use this) is being constantly updated to reflect real-time data. How awesome is that?! It’s a feature that I’ve not seen anyone else offer and considering that Google is the keeper of most data – it’s supported well and accurate.

Price: Free

#13 – VENNGAGE

Make infographics that people love.

How it’s similar to Canva: Cloud-based software that allows you to create beautiful graphics using their robust collection of templates that are designed for specific applications. They have personal, business, and education based template options to fit your needs.

Why it’s on our list of Canva alternatives: Another three step infographic maker. This platform is super simple: Pick a template, add charts/visuals, and customize your design. They teach you how to stand out from the crowd and be a ‘data hero’ with their easy to use software and super informative blog. The best thing is that they’re totally focused on helping you increase conversions and grow your business, not just create graphics. Loving the business focus here! Oh, but wait – they support educators by providing custom templates and customer service is available 24/7. #Bonus

Price: Free for students / $49 per month for businesses / $19 per month for the premium plan

#14 – ANIMAKER

Animated videos, done right.

How it’s similar to Canva: It’s not really. Just being honest!

Why it’s on our list of Canva alternatives: Sometimes your design needs to beyond creating beautiful graphics. If you are in need of animated videos, Animaker should be on the top of your list for platforms to check out. Everything is saved on the cloud (I supposed this is similar to Canva) and can be accessed from any device. Beyond that, their software is easy to use and doesn’t require prior experience or formal training. They have a super informative blog and offer tutorials as well, in case you’re a total newby who needs to cover each of the basics in depth.

Price: Free / $12 per month Personal / $19 per month Startup / $39 per month Business

#15 – VIZUALIZE.ME

Visualize your resume in one click.

How it’s similar to Canva: You get to make things pretty on a cloud-based platform. Canva does provide templates for creating beautiful resumes.

Why it’s on our list of Canva alternatives: If there’s a stack of resumes sitting on an HR rep’s desk, what would you want yours to look like? 1 of a million or 1 in a million? Vizualize.me is an excellent way to help your resume stand out among the other applicants. Their slogan is ‘visualize your resume in one click’, so while I’ve not used it personally, I get the impression that it’s pretty simple and can be done by someone who has zero design experience. Looking at the examples on their site, this type of graphical resume is an excellent way to showcase your strengths.

Price: Free

#16 – FOTOR

Free online photo editor.

How it’s similar to Canva: Use Fotor’s cloud-based software to create fun infographics and social media graphics that your audience will love and interact with.

Why it’s on our list of Canva alternatives: Fotor includes photo editing options that far surpass those offered by Canva. They actually describe themselves as an online photoshop (interesting!?) What sets them apart is the ability to do portrait retouching with beauty effects like makeovers, radiance, highlights, etc. Their frames and templates seem a little more diverse than Canva’s, which is super refreshing.

Price: Free / $3.33 per month for Pro

#17 – PIKTOCHART

Easy to use everything maker.

How it’s similar to Canva: Create infographics, presentations, and flyers on their cloud-based platform that allows you to access your files from anywhere. PIKTOCHART does not offer graphics for social media, so if that’s what you have in mind – stick with Canva.

Why it’s on our list of Canva alternatives: The world of graphic design goes far beyond the need for social media graphics. Sometimes you just want to focus on amazing graphs or formal reports and prefer not to be bothered by the rest. The design software is easy to use and is there for the purpose of helping you tell a story. There are specific templates and plans tailored for the education world, which is a total plus.

Price: $12.50 per month Lite / $24.17 per month Pro / $82.50 per month Pro Team

#18 – WORD SWAG

Cool Fonts on the App Store.

How it’s similar to Canva: Create social media and blog graphics with the app that magically turns your words into beautifully designed graphics.

Why it’s on our list of Canva alternatives: This app is super affordable and easy to use. In addition to social media graphics, you can create stylish quotes, announcements and flyers, caption your photos, and give your words the designer look they deserve. The app includes 60+ fonts and 1.3 million background options. How can you go wrong?

Price: $4.99 to download, available in iOS and Android.

“I loooove Canva! It’s so quick and easy and eye catching for groups, instagram, business pages and even emails! They have both a site and an app and it’s so easy to use! I make my graphics on there all the time! I have also found that I love the Word Swag and Over apps as well. Pic monkey is another alternative but not one I’m super in love with. Canva and Word Swag are where it’s at honestly I use both on a weekly if not daily basis! They save me so much time!”  – Cassie Trebar, www.blushbloomboudoir.com

#19 – PHOTOSHOP EXPRESS

Free image editing and collage making app by Adobe.

How it’s similar to Canva: Easily edit photos right on your phone and create collages using their pre-defined and sized templates.

Why it’s on our list of Canva alternatives: Adobe’s Photoshop is the leader in photo editing. Their mobile app directs all of the power of the downloaded software straight to your phone. Do the typical ‘photoshopping’ things like removing red eye, crop, straighten, and rotate your images. You can also add text and do one touch white balancing, among other editing functions. Another feature that money love about Photoshop Express is the fact that you can share images with a simple click. Once set up, it’s super convenient and steps up your photo sharing game.

Price: Free download in the app store.

“Photoshop Express is pretty good, there’s a Windows 10 app and mobile apps. It has images sizes for every social network.”  – Roland Waddilove

Do you know of other Canva alternatives that should be added to this list? Please get in touch! Leave a comment below or shoot me an email and I’ll add get them added right away. Hope this list was helpful. Feel free to share your gorgeous graphcis in the comments. 

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The post free canvas alternatives appeared first on Atterbie.

Some folks decide to have a hyper focus on limited topics and define a ‘niche’. In this case, they typically do not go outside of the box and only cover one or two things. This often happens for one of two reasons. First, they may be focusing on personal passions only. Second, they may have heard from Facebook groups or succes coaches that this is the only way to succeed. That if you define a passion and dive in, you must maintain focus and you’ll find success. While this may be true and it’s generally possible for you to do well in any topic (no matter how focused you might be), your ‘success’ could be lightyears down the road.

So what should you do? What are the most successful blog topics?

Let’s start by defining what success means to you.

If you want to blog for the purpose of sharing your thoughts and feelings, move ahead and do not look back. Choose whatever topics you’d like to write about with no pressure because your only goal is to share your opinion. You’re not worried about selling a service or product and affiliate income is way off your radar. #ThumbsUp – you’re good to go.

If you want to make money blogging and find the most successful blog topics in terms of generating income, you need to take an entirely different approach. In this case, it is still important to find something that you’re passionate about, but be sure that the topic you choose is also something that other people will want to follow.

Here’s the thing, blogging about your passion is amazing – but if no one is interested in reading your work and in the end will not buy anything either through you directly or for an affiliate that you are advertising, you’re out of luck and will not generate any income.

You have to think about it in terms of what people want. In general, people want to be better.

• To be smarter.
• To be stronger.
• To grow their influence.
• To have a prettier home.
• To build a more successful business.

You get it. They love envisioning better versions of themselves and those around them. 

This translates into all kinds of services and products that you can either talk about or sell on your website or blog to make money.

For example, if you are a home decor company and are trying to sell your services, you can talk about all the zillion things that someone can do to improve their home. Think about the list of topics you could cover with actually trying to sell something…

• Seasonal design trends
• New technology for the home
• The latest in kitchen appliances
• What you can do to improve the general safety of your home
• How to babyproof your home
• Pillow options – are goose feathers the right fit for your space or do you need hypoallergenic alternatives?
• How to choose the best mattress for a good night’s sleep
• Talk about all of the furniture and decore manufacturers, why their products are superier or less than acceptable
• How to create a ‘green’ home
• How to naturally clean the air within your home
• What to do if you suspect there’s a mold issue within your home
• Eco friendly home building options
• Best flooring for families
• Kid proof paint
• DIY decor

The list could seriously go on and on and on. None of which screamed, “Buy this from me!” and each of these being topics that the general public would find interesting and likely read an entire article on. Ready to move forward?

I’m going to breeze right past the folks who want to blog for fun. That’s great and all, but there are literally no rules and there’s no reason for you to be reading this post. Just keep on keepin’ on and have fun!

Let’s assume that you are focused on the most successful blog topics because you want to make money blogging.

If you haven’t already established a blog presence, you should check out this quick list of the five most successful blog topics. Please remember that you do not have to focus on one thing alone. It can be a combination of whatever makes your world go round. Just be sure to listen to your audience along the journey.

The #1 Option – How to Make Money Blogging

Isn’t this what everyone wants? If you’re going to pour your heart and soul (and countless hours) into a project, wouldn’t you love for it to generate some income? I know I would!  

The thing here though is that most people don’t blog about making money until they’ve actually made money. It’s hard to gain credibility without having some kind of proof. If this is the thing you want to focus on but you aren’t quite there that, you have to spin it a bit. Talk about the process or the journey that you are on while “trying” to make money blogging. Detail the steps you follow and discuss whether they’ve helped or hurt you along the way.

If blogging about something you haven’t done yet isn’t the answer for you, here are a couple other ideas.

Option #2 – Personal Finance

Managing your money is just as important as making it!

One of the biggest influencers in the money management world is Dave Ramsey. His has a unique take on all things money related, including his own methodology on how to make your own financial situation better (it all comes back to self-improvement in the end!) Some of his methods are controversial. Not in the way of being illegal or way off base, but rather determining if his approach will work for you.

His blog includes many personal stories from ‘regular folks’ who have followed his suggestions and come out on top. You can follow his website, blog, or buy his books – which gives him access to all generations.

Another site that I see come up on my FB feed all the time is The Penny Hoarder. They talk about quick ways to earn $500, life hacks that save you money, and all kind of random money related things. Their bottom line message though is that you have options outside of your 9-5. If you find yourself falling short, hustle a side gig and you can get ahead.

If you’re a money pro or at least proud of where you’re at, this may be the answer for you!

Option #3 – Health and Wellness

We talked about creating a blog that will follow your journey, but this is a topic where the journey can really help you find success. People are all about losing weight and getting healthy, so if that’s on your to-do list then you’re already a step ahead of the game.

In this case, your site could be something as simple as a daily journey of your progress. Start by introducing yourself and then follow each step along the way. Post photos of yourself, take note of all your personal details and write away. Folks generally like to know two things when it comes to health and wellness: First, they are not alone. Everyone struggles, you’re just going to put your story out there so others can relate.

First, they are not alone. Everyone struggles, you’re just going to put your story out there so others can relate.

Second, there is hope. If you can do it, so can they. Right?

Let’s not kid ourselves here, this is a super competitive area. New blogs pop up every day, but that’s okay. Your personal community (friends and family) can serve as the catalyst that gets your audience to grow. Yes, that means that people who truly know you in person are going to be reading about your weight or lifestyle habits. Be sure that you’re ready for this before you commit!

Option #4 – Beauty or Fashion

Totally not my jam, but it may be yours. If you enjoy getting all dolled up and taking selfies, dive in. People love seeing  inspiration for what they could look like (and effectively feel like, right?) with the right makeup and clothes.

Skip any kind of body shaming, add in a little self-love, and you’re golden.

Option #5 – Lifestyle

This is when you write about anything and everything. Don’t be confused though, this is not your personal diary. If you’re trying to make money blogging, you need to define a clear message that you want to convey no matter what topic you’re writing on.

Go ahead and share personal experiences but don’t just ramble on about your day if you aren’t sharing that info for a reason. For example, let’s say you went to your 10 year high school reunion and want to blog on it. Rather than writing paragraphs about the snooty girls you use to go to school with and how you still don’t like them, focus on what you did to get ready for the event. How you styled your hair, what you wore, who you touched base with first. Give people action steps that they can follow or at least be inspired by.

Always add photos! Stock photos are amazing and I use them all the time, but they aren’t always the best fit for your blog. If you’re talking about something unique or personal or trying to sell a specific product, skip the stock and take the time to get a great photo. It’ll be more than worth it in the end!

Ready to get started? Here’s a step-by-step post on how to start a blog in 9 minutes. It’s easy peasy and only costs $3.95 per month when you set up hosting through BLUE HOST .

Need help brainstorming a list of blog post ideas? I can help! Check this out… BLOG POST IDEAS!

The post What are the most successful blog topics? appeared first on Atterbie.

First, let’s talk about freelance writing services. This is when you hire an individual person in order to complete a writing project. This could be any type of project; a blog post, an article, a report, a book, you name it – freelance covers it.

All freelance writing services should have very clear expectations on both ends. Here are the factors you’ll want to consider when hiring a freelance writer:

• How much will it cost?
• How long should the writing project be?
  Define length by a very specific number of words. There’s nothing clearer than clarity and no happier client or freelancer than when their expectations are being met.
• What topic needs to be covered?
• Are there keywords that you want to focus on?
• What keyword density would you like maintained throughout the piece?
• Are there any specific formatting standards that should be followed?
• Is there a hard deadline on the submission date?
• Will there be time for comments and editing after the project is submitted?
• Who is the contact person in case there are questions regarding the project?

These basic factors are the same for when you hire a ghostwriter. Here comes the difference…

When hire someone for general freelance writing services, compensation for the project may include:

• Cash (of course)
• A byline – listing the author’s name as the actual writer of the piece
• A link back to the writer’s personal website or social media platforms
• Royalties (depending on the project type)

When you hire a ghostwriter, things are a little different. The only thing a ghostwriter receives as compensation for the project is typically cash. They get no recognition or acknowledgment as being the author for the piece. In fact, the person who hired the ghostwriter will typically claim all writing credit for the piece that is submitted.

Once you’ve found a writer that you mesh well with, hold on to them tight! Even if the project takes an unexpected turn. Most freelancers who offer writing services will also entertain requests for ghostwriting services and vice versa.

Wondering what the cost is to hire a freelance writer or a ghostwriter? I’d love to chat with you! Email me at amy@atterbie.com and we’ll set up a time to discuss your writing project and how I might be able to help you knock it out with excellent content.

The post Are freelance writing services the same as ghostwriting services? appeared first on Atterbie.

When it comes to making an impression with your blog, consistency is a key factor that often gets overlooked!

Often there is a direct correlation between how often you blog, and how much traffic – and ultimately leads – your website is generating for your business.

However, it is not enough to simply blog more – the quality of the content has to be high because Google will always want to see quality over quantity.

I’ve been working as a professional photographer since 2008, but I did not start blogging consistently until 2012. Before then my blogs were sporadic at best and did not have a focus.

Then I made it a point to start blogging consistently 5 days a week, and I saw a spike in my traffic, which led to an increase in brand awareness and new clients booking with me! My business schedule has changed a bit since then, but I still focus on consistent blogging and produce new blog posts 3-4 times a week.

It’s interesting to look at internal stats because if I don’t blog on a certain day, or take a break, I always see a decrease in my overall site traffic because there is no reason for visitors to come to the site.

Another way consistent blogging helps your website is that it positively impacts your SEO. It creates new content for those search engines and increases the chances for you to rank for specific keywords.

Another big plus is that it positions you as an industry authority, creates a credible brand, and sets you up as someone your clients can trust and look to for guidance.

Getting on a regular blogging schedule will also hold you accountable and make it less likely that you don’t post on the designated days. I definitely recommend planning out your blogging topics at least 4-6 weeks in advance. If you already know the topic you are supposed to be blogging about, it is much easier to flesh out the topic and get it published on time!

How Often Should You Blog?

The simple answer: as often as you can! Simply put, the more you blog, the more index pages you create, and the more content you have for those little Google bots to crawl for new content so you can pop up in search engines.

Unfortunately, the “blog when you have something to say” approach does not work. If you want to build a tribe and draw people to your brand, you need to have a set schedule for adding fresh content to your blog.

If You Need Blog Content Help, Start Here: 

• Keep a running list with potential blog ideas/topics that you can pick up and expand on at a later time.
• Answer Frequently Asked Questions – is there something your clients ask over and over?
• Industry Trends – what is hot right now in your market?
• Share Personal Information – what got you into this industry? What is your motivation? What does “a day in the life” look like?
• Customer Success Story – it’s always encouraging for new clients to see how happy current customers are.
• Review a Product/Service – this won’t be one of your products/services, but instead a related item your customers might want to learn about.
• Go Behind the Scenes – show your clients an insider’s look at the daily operations of your business.

Photos provided by Judith Soule of Fresh Look Photography.

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