How to Create Great Images for Your Blog: A Complete Guide

Blogging is not just about words—it’s also about visuals. In fact, articles with relevant images get 94% more views than those without. Whether you run a personal blog, a niche site, or a professional business page, the right images can transform your content from ordinary to extraordinary. But how do you create stunning, engaging visuals if you’re not a professional designer? Let’s break it down.

Why Images Matter in Blogging

Grab Attention – Readers are naturally drawn to visuals before text.
Improve Readability – Images break up long blocks of text, making your blog easy to skim.
Boost SEO – Optimized images (with alt text, size compression, and proper filenames) help your blog rank higher.
Increase Shareability – Posts with eye-catching images are more likely to be shared on social media.

1. Understand Your Blog’s Visual Style

Before creating images, decide what style fits your brand. Ask yourself:

Do I want my blog to look professional and sleek or fun and casual?
Should I use real-life photos or illustrations and icons?
Do I need a consistent color scheme that matches my logo?

A consistent style makes your blog recognizable and builds trust with readers.

2. Choose the Right Tools

You don’t need Photoshop to make great images. Here are some easy-to-use tools:

Canva – Beginner-friendly with templates for blog graphics.
Figma – Perfect for collaboration and custom designs.
Adobe Express – Simplified creative editing with professional quality.
Free tools like GIMP or Pixlr – Great alternatives if you’re on a budget.

For quick stock photos:

Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay – Free, high-quality photos.
Shutterstock, iStock – Paid libraries for exclusive visuals.

3. Create Featured Images That Stand Out

The featured image is usually the first thing readers see when your post is shared on social media or displayed on your blog homepage.

Tips for a strong featured image:

Use bold text overlays with your article’s headline.
Stick to 1200 x 628 px (perfect for blog + social media sharing).
Add your brand colors or logo subtly for identity.

4. Use Infographics to Explain Complex Ideas

Infographics are powerful because they combine data + design.

For example: instead of writing a 300-word explanation of “SEO ranking factors,” you could create a simple infographic listing the top 5.

Benefits:

Easy to understand at a glance.
Highly shareable on Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

5. Optimize Images for Speed & SEO

Large images can slow down your blog, hurting both user experience and Google rankings. Here’s how to optimize:

Resize before upload – Don’t upload a 5MB photo when 200KB will do.
Compress images using tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim.
Use descriptive filenames (e.g., blog-image-tips.jpg instead of IMG1234.jpg).
Add ALT text for accessibility and SEO.

6. Incorporate Original Visuals

Stock photos are useful, but original content gives your blog an edge:

Screenshots (for tutorials, guides, or reviews).
Charts/graphs (using Excel, Google Charts, or Canva).
Custom illustrations or doodles.
Real-life photos (even from your phone, edited nicely).

Original visuals show authenticity and make your blog more trustworthy.

7. Stay Consistent Across All Posts

Your images should follow a consistent theme so your blog feels professional and cohesive. That includes:

Using the same font style on overlays.
Keeping a consistent color palette.
Maintaining the same image size ratio.

8. Accessibility Matters

Not all readers will see your images clearly. Some rely on screen readers. That’s why adding alt text is crucial. Example:

Instead of writing:

alt="image1"

Write:

alt="Person working on a laptop while designing blog images in Canva"

This way, your blog is inclusive and SEO-friendly.

9. Test and Analyze

Once you start using images, monitor your blog analytics:

Do posts with infographics get more shares?
Do posts with original screenshots get better engagement?
Do optimized images improve your loading time?

Use tools like Google Analytics and PageSpeed Insights to measure results.

FAQs: Creating Great Blog Images

What size should blog images be?

For most themes, 1200×800 px works well. Use 1200×628 px for social/OG images, and size consistently to your theme’s content width.

Should I use JPEG, PNG, or WebP?

Use JPEG for photos, PNG for graphics with transparency/text, and WebP for best overall compression and quality (serve WebP with JPEG/PNG fallback).

How many images should a blog post include?

A good rule is 1 image per 300–400 words. Use more if you have steps, data, or examples.

How do I optimize images for SEO?

Compress before upload, use descriptive filenames, add concise ALT text, set width/height, and enable lazy loading.

Where can I get free images legally?

Use royalty-free libraries like Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay—check each photo’s license. Avoid random Google Images.

How do I make a standout featured image?

Use bold headline text overlay, brand colors, consistent typography, and 1200×628 px. Keep it readable on mobile.

What’s the best way to create infographics quickly?

Use Canva or Figma templates. Keep 3–5 key points, strong headings, and plenty of white space. Export as PNG/WebP.

Do captions and image placement matter?

Yes—captions can boost engagement. Place images near the relevant paragraph; avoid stacking too many images back-to-back.

Final Thoughts

Great blog images aren’t about being a professional designer—they’re about being consistent, creative, and thoughtful. By using the right tools, sticking to your brand style, and optimizing for speed and SEO, you’ll make your content not only look better but also perform better.

So next time you hit “publish,” make sure your images tell a story as powerful as your words.