Blogs are a super-important part of your overall SEO strategy. They’re a chance to build an ever-growing library of content that answers potential clients’ questions, build your authority, and showcase your best work. And (bonus) every single blog you post is another chance to rank for keywords that will help your ideal clients find you online. However, while readers (and search engines) love words, the secret to really getting readers’ attention and keeping them engaged on the page is in the images you sprinkle throughout the blog.
So, if you’re wondering how many images to add in a blog for SEO, this post is for you! We’ll talk about the best number of images for blog SEO and our top SEO tips for using images in blog posts, as well general best-practice blog image guidelines and optimization.
Why blog image SEO strategy matters
You might be wondering why you need blog image SEO strategy at all—after all, blogs are about writing and using keywords on the page, right? Well, yes…but that’s not all they’re about.
Images in blog posts for SEO also matter. Why? Because breaking up your blog posts with well-placed, high-quality images enhances user engagement. Images help people spend more time on the web page where your blog post lives. They draw readers in, help them understand what your post is about, and keep them interested in what you have to say.
They can also add extra context that makes your blog post incredibly helpful. For example, a how-to post can go from good to great with detailed screenshots that show people each step vs. by just typing out each step for visitors to ready.
How does that tie back into SEO strategy? Google wants to provide readers with the most helpful content about a given topic. And when readers spend more time on your website, engaging with your blog content, that tells Google your content is helpful.
What’s the best number of images for blog SEO?
That all depends on the length of your blog post (and the type of content in the post—more on that in a minute.) Here’s a general guideline to the best number of images for blog SEO:
- Short blog posts (500-800 words): Include 2-3 images
- Medium blog posts (800-1500 words): Include 3-5 images
- Long blog posts (1500+ words): Include 5+ images
How to use images in blogs for SEO optimization
The “right” number of images for blog SEO can depend on the post. But in general, aim for one image every 200-300 words to keep readers engaged. You can go up to 500 words between images. But remember, most people don’t read every single word you type in a post—they’re skimming down the page, and images help them gather information at a glance.
However, that can all change based on the type of post. If you’re having trouble finding images that “fit” with your post, it’s better to have fewer images than to use anything you can find for the sake of hitting the “right” image count
Most of all, think about the topic you’re covering in the post and what your ideal client will want to see when they click on the page. If you’re talking about small business marketing trends for 2024, you’ll probably only have a few images at the most. But if you’re talking about modern living room paint colors or wedding photography, clients will want to see MORE images.
Choosing images in blog posts for SEO
When choosing images in blog posts for SEO purposes, always prioritize quality over quantity. Every image you choose should have a purpose. Ultimately, you want to choose images that amp up reader experience and help them “get” what you’re talking about in the post—and avoid unnecessary visuals that distract readers and slow down page load times.
Here are some examples of good blog image SEO strategy:
- Photos of real-life interior design
- Examples of family photoshoot pose ideas
- Canva graphics with bullet-point takeaways
- Images of your ideal client succeeding
- Design aesthetic collages
- Custom charts and graphs
(Pro tip! Many of these double as great images for Pinterest, which is another great way to drive traffic to your website. Read more about how to use Pinterest here!)
Which images you can (and can’t) use
It’s very important that any images you use on your blog are available for public use (and not copyrighted by someone else) or that you have permission to use them. Don’t pull images straight from Google results and assume that because they’re on the internet, it’s okay for you to put them in your posts. That could actually get you in a lot of legal trouble (and fined a lot of money!)
So, how can you be sure if something is available for public use? Anything you’ve created yourself—so, photos, Canva graphics, and screen captures or videos—is original content and definitely good to go. Gifs are generally okay to use, since they fall under fair use rules and are commonly used around the internet for adding humor or emphasis to posts.
However, sharing someone else’s original content (like photos, graphics, etc.) without their permission or giving credit is a no-go.
While photographers, realtors, and interior designers usually have a lot of original images on hand from their projects and clients, it might be harder for solopreneurs or small teams to come up with that many original images. If that’s the case, we recommend a custom brand photo shoot combined with a stock photo site. Our favorites are Styled Stock and Haute Stock (read more about using stock images on your website here!)
How (and where) to use images in blogs
So, now that you know how many images to add in a blog post for SEO and which types of images you should include, let’s talk about where to put them on the page.
While a lot of image placement depends on the post content, there are three common places to use post images.
The feature image goes at the top of your post (and is also displayed in your blog thumbnail or post preview.) In-content images are the infographics, screenshots, diagrams, and photos you use to illustrate posts you’re making throughout the post. Call-to-action images are banners, icons, or pop-out design elements that encourage readers to take action, like downloading a resource, checking out another blog post, or filling out your contact form.
Most of the time, images will fit into a logical flow on the page. Talking about the best exterior paint colors? You’ll want to show photos of the colors in action. Taking readers through a recipe? Show photos of each step, so they can follow along with every chop, sear, and stir. Mentioning a resource on how to prep your home for showings? Pop a call-to-action image after the text to get more downloads.
Image optimization for blog SEO
When it comes to image guidelines for blog SEO, there are a few things you should keep in mind: file names, image descriptions & alt text, and file size.
Image file size and loading speed
Large images can really drag down your site—and long loading times mean your SEO will take a hit. Use Tinify or another image compression service to optimize your images for quicker load times and a boost in SEO performance!
Naming images for SEO
Before you upload any image to your blog, take a minute to rename it! Swap out default camera codes and screenshot.jpg with descriptive, keyword-rich files names. Search engines sift through these names to understand and rank your content. So, instead of “IMG_12345.jpg” try something descriptive “disney-packing-list.jpg.” This clarifies the content and makes it more aligned with Google’s algorithm, so you can rank higher in search results.
Alt text is important, too
Alt text is important for accessibility and it’s another chance to boost your SEO. Clearly describe what’s in the image to help visually impaired users and search engines understand what’s in the image. For example, “Modern minimalist living room with large windows and white sheer curtains” is so much more inclusive and descriptive than “living room.”
Want more tips on naming images? Read our full post on naming photos for WordPress here!
Now you know how many images to add in a blog for SEO!
Images are such a great tool for helping readers understand and engage with your post in ways that can majorly boost your SEO—especially if you make sure to choose quality images and optimize them for search engines. Here’s a handy checklist of the do’s and don’ts of blog image SEO strategy:
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