What is Image Submission?
Image submission refers to posting or uploading photos online. People share images on social media sites, photo-sharing websites, discussion forums, blogs, and directories.
Putting images online can be part of a digital marketing plan to promote a brand, product, or service. Images are good at getting attention, telling a story, and connecting with an audience. So they are useful for marketing.
Posting great photos connected to your field online can boost exposure. It can also move your website higher in search results. And drive more visitors to your site.
More exposure from good visuals can improve search rankings. Better search results bring more people to your website. So quality photos help attract an audience interested in your niche.
Importance of image submissions
Image submission can be an essential component of a digital marketing strategy for several reasons:
Increased visibility
Posting pictures in many places online helps more people discover you. It grows your audience.
When people browse for photos about topics they like, relevant images can pull them in. If those photos relate to your business, new potential customers notice your brand.
Sharing visual content makes you more visible. Interesting, quality images engage viewers. Together that exposure markets to more potential supporters.
Brand awareness
Consistent image submissions help more people become familiar with your brand. Using pictures related to what you sell creates a visual style customers associate with you.
Posting images frequently builds awareness of your business. When the pictures match your products and services, people remember your distinct look. Over time, customers connect your unique images to what you offer. This recognition appeals to ideal customers and brings in more business.
Improved SEO
Posting pictures optimizes search results, too. That drives more website traffic.
Images can be tagged and titled with keywords important to your field. Those words make posts easier to find. Then search engines list your content in results more often.
Adding descriptive, relevant words to visuals boosts search rankings. So when people look up terms connected to your niche, they see your images. That extra exposure means they visit your site more frequently.
Increased engagement
Images attract more interest than plain text posts. Quality, eye-catching photos encourage reactions and shares. That spreads your content and message.
Visually appealing pictures better grab the reader's attention on busy feeds. When images look professional and connect to your niche, viewers spend more time with your post. They also more often actively engage - liking, commenting, saving, and distributing what resonates.
Great visual content converts observers into participants at higher rates. When you consistently share images that impress your target audience, they’re more likely to keep interacting with your brand. Photos allow you to showcase your message from creative angles.
Essential elements of an effective image submission
A good image submission should contain the following aspects:
High-quality image
Choose clear, well-lit shots to showcase what you offer. Images should have good composition - the visual elements should be arranged nicely.
Crisp images in natural light help capture those initial seconds of viewer focus. Properly framed compositions direct that attention to the most appealing parts.
Relevance
Images should connect with where they're shared and who will see them. Photos matching the platform and audience get better responses.
If you post pictures on a food site, stay relevant. Show dishes, ingredients, recipes, restaurants, or cooking techniques. Niche sites and groups expect content tied to their focus.
Proper format and size
Images should meet platform requirements so they look good when shared. Different sites and feeds have their own best formats and sizes.
Before posting a photo, check the specifications of where it will go. Some may want landscape images that are wider than they are tall. Others may specify a certain number of pixels for smooth loading.
Appropriate tags and descriptions
Using appropriate tags means adding appropriate descriptive words about what the images contain. Complete, accurate tags allow more people to discover your posts.
Adding accurate and complete keyword tags when first posting saves effort. More importantly, inclusive language and details in tags provide better context. That helps images stand out among the millions online. The right tags invite ideal audiences to learn more.
Consistency
Posting images regularly in an identifiable visual style strengthens branding. When you’re consistent with colors, fonts, themes and composition, your posts become distinctly yours.
Establish visual brand standards like a colour palette and ideal framing approaches. Style all photos to match for instant recognition. Ensure any image represents your business as viewers scroll through feeds.
Unique and original
Avoid using generic or stock images. Try to create unique and original images that stand out and reflect your brand's personality and values.
Popular image submission sites
There are many popular image submission sites that you can use to share your images and reach a wider audience.
Here are some of the most popular ones:
One of the largest social media platforms, Instagram is primarily focused on image and video sharing. You can create a profile for your brand and share images that showcase your products, services, or content.
A visual discovery and bookmarking platform, Pinterest allow users to save and share images and links to websites. It is particularly popular for DIY, home decor, fashion, and food-related content.
Flickr
A popular photo-sharing platform, Flickr allows users to upload and share high-quality images. It also offers social networking features, such as commenting and following other users.
Imgur
A platform for hosting and sharing images, Imgur is particularly popular for memes and humorous content. It allows users to upload and share images anonymously or through an account.
Shutterstock
A stock photography website, Shutterstock allows users to purchase or license high-quality images for commercial or personal use. It also allows contributors to upload and sell their own images.
Unsplash
A platform for sharing high-quality, free-to-use images, Unsplash allows photographers to showcase their work and users to download and use images for personal or commercial projects.
Which image file formats should be used?
When submitting images, it is important to choose the appropriate file format to ensure that the image is displayed correctly and efficiently.
Also, when choosing a file format, consider the type of image, its intended use, and the platform to which you are submitting it.
Here are some of the most common image file formats and when to use them:
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
JPEG is a widely used file format that is suitable for photographs and images with lots of colour and detail. It is a compressed format that balances image quality and file size.
PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
PNG is a lossless file format that is suitable for images with transparency, such as logos, icons, and graphics. It supports a wide range of colours and can be used for both web and print.
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
GIF is a file format that is suitable for animated images or graphics. It supports animation and transparency and is commonly used for memes and social media content.
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)
TIFF is a high-quality, uncompressed file format that is suitable for print and professional photography. It supports a wide range of colours and can be edited without losing image quality.
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
SVG is a vector-based file format that is suitable for graphics and logos that need to be resized without losing image quality. It is widely used for web graphics and icons.
Process of image submission
The procedure of image submission or sharing can vary depending on the platform or website you are using. However, here are some general steps that you may need to follow when submitting or sharing an image:
Choose the appropriate file format
Choose the appropriate file format for your image based on its type and intended use. Consider the platform or website you will be submitting it to, and make sure the format is compatible.
Edit or enhance the image
Edit or enhance the image as needed using image editing software, such as Adobe Photoshop or Canva. This can help improve the quality and visual appeal of the image.
Compress or optimize the image
Compress or optimize the image to reduce its file size without sacrificing quality. This can help the image load faster and reduce the amount of storage space required.
Choose the platform or website
Choose the platform or website where you want to submit or share the image. This could be a social media platform, a stock photography website, or an image-sharing site.
Upload the image
Upload the image to the platform or website by following the instructions provided. Make sure you follow any size or format requirements and add any necessary metadata, such as a title or description.
Share the image
Once the image has been uploaded, you can share it with your audience by sharing the link, tagging other users, or adding it to a gallery or collection.
Monitor and engage
Monitor the performance of your image and engage with your audience by responding to comments, answering questions, and sharing related content.
Optimizing images for better SEO
Optimizing images for search engines can help improve your website's SEO and increase its visibility in search results.
Here are some tips for optimizing images with good SEO:
Use descriptive names
Use descriptive names that accurately describe the image. Avoid generic names like "IMG_001" or "photo1.jpg." Use relevant keywords in the name, but don't overdo it like “top-5-digital-marketing-websites.jpg”.
Use hyphens
Use hyphens to separate words in the image name, rather than underscores or spaces. This makes it easier for search engines to read and understand the name.
Consider the context
Consider the context of the image and the page on which it will be displayed. Use names that are relevant to the content and purpose of the page.
Use lowercase letters
Use lowercase letters in the image name, as uppercase letters can cause issues with some web servers.
Keep it short
Keep the image name as short as possible, while still accurately describing the image. Long file names can make URLs and page titles look cluttered.
Use alt tags
Alt tags provide a text description of the image for search engines and assistive technologies. Use descriptive, keyword-rich alt tags that accurately describe the image.
Compress images
Compressing images can reduce their file size without sacrificing quality. Use an image compressor tool or software to optimize your images for web use.
Resize images
Large images can slow down your website's loading time, which can negatively impact your SEO. Resize images to the appropriate dimensions for your website.
Add captions
Captions can provide additional context for the image and include relevant keywords. Use descriptive, keyword-rich captions that accurately describe the image.
Use structured data
Structured data helps search engines understand the content on your website, including images. Use structured data to provide information about the image, such as the title, description, and creator.
What should be avoided?
When submitting images, there are several things you should avoid to ensure that your submissions are effective and well-received.
Here are some common pitfalls to avoid:
Poor quality images
Don't upload bad pictures that are blurry, fuzzy, or confusing to look at. Using low-quality or unprofessional-looking images works against what you want to get across. When photos are hard to see, people stop paying attention to what you share instead of absorbing your main message.
Copyright infringement
Never post pictures online without being certain you legally can. Only share photos you took yourself or have explicit rights to use from the owner. Uploading images made by others without permission breaks copyright law.
Overuse of filters or editing
Using too many filters or editing tools on pictures can make them look weird or fake. A little bit of editing can make a picture better, but doing too much editing makes it look strange. It's important not to over-edit photos.
Inappropriate content
Don't post pictures that show bad or offensive stuff, like hate, violence, or nudity. Putting up photos like that can make your brand look bad and get you negative comments.
Incorrect file format or size
Before putting up a picture online, check that it's saved in the right file type and size for the website or app. Saving it correctly will help make sure the picture shows up right for people and doesn't cause any technical problems.
Conclusion
Image submissions have become an increasingly common way for people to connect ideas across the internet.
There are so many places to post photographs - social sites, discussion forums, blogs, and more. Anyone can upload visual content to engage with audiences.
Uploading your own images or viewing what others post can be very fun and rewarding. However, you must consider potential downsides too.
Posting pictures responsibly matters if you want them seen. Relevant keywords in filenames and captions allow better search visibility. Alt tags are hidden text that describes photos if they don’t display right. Having all image details done correctly means more folks discover your creative posts.