Creating Linkbait Graphics with Stock Photos [How Would I Do This?]

Apr 8, 2008 by Patrick Winfield | Design


For this round of the ‘How Would I Do This…’ I am looking at an article on CNN called ‘How do you know your love is real? Check Facebook’. I am also going to tie in my previous post on the overuse of stock photography.

The article from CNN is a news story that is generating 100’s of comments and opinions from people expressing how they deal with relationship status on Facebook.

The photo used is great. I think it conveys right away the feeling of being watched while on your computer. But I would have pushed it one step further and incorporated the Facebook logo on the computer where there is a blue space on the back of the monitor. It seems so obvious to me and would add that extra bit of information to the photo to make it almost tell the story.

Pushing the idea even further I added symbols of love and breakup, hearts and broken hearts. The message is getting even more clearer and now not only backs up the story, but tells it.

Finally I would insert a pull quote from the article that either makes the reader want to read and get pulled in, or expresses a main idea. These things are fairly easy to do and require a little extra time, but can push the run of the mill stock photo that much further and make it unique.

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12 Responses to “Creating Linkbait Graphics with Stock Photos [How Would I Do This?]”

  1. Gab "SEO ROI" Goldenberg on April 8th, 2008 8:43 pm

    Another classic on linkbait from 10e20 :D .

    One other idea: If you go the Flickr route, you might tell the photographers whose material you’re using about your article. They could promote it (“As seen in XYZ publication/blog etc.”) and link too.

  2. Linkbaiting With Images on April 8th, 2008 10:08 pm

    [...] Creating Linkbait Graphics with Stock Photos [How Would I Do This?] | 10e20 Blog [...]

  3. spostareduro on April 8th, 2008 10:12 pm

    Short and sweet. I love it. Most people that know me, know that I am a photo friend on my blog. Good stuff..thanks. *-)

  4. socialmedia1.com on April 8th, 2008 10:22 pm

    Creating Linkbait Graphics with Stock Photos [How Would I Do This?]…

    Creating Linkbait Graphics with Stock Photos [How Would I Do This?]…

  5. Patrick Winfield on April 9th, 2008 9:55 am

    @ Gab- Great idea. Thank you for contributing.

    @ spostareduro- Glad you loved it! Thanks for writing.

  6. Link Building this Week (15.2008) | Wiep.net on April 11th, 2008 10:36 am

    [...] Winfield has been busy this week. He not only explains how you can turn a stock photo into a unique picture that says more, but he also mentions how you can improve your linkbait headers. Using his tips will make sure that [...]

  7. Malte Landwehr on April 12th, 2008 5:28 am

    Those hearts might be a bit too much but the idea with the Facebook logo is great!

  8. Patrick Winfield on April 14th, 2008 9:18 am

    Malte you a good point, I may have pushed it too far with the hearts. Thanks for writing!

  9. Building Link Targeted Content That Works: Step 2 of 3 - Creating Content & Preparation | Wiep.net on May 7th, 2008 3:23 pm

    [...] and to digest. Try to avoid the most common stock images, though, or try to make them look differently in [...]

  10. Interview with Gab Goldenberg, 21 Year Old SEO Consultant of SEO ROI on May 19th, 2008 6:02 am

    [...] Chris Winfield, Danielle and the gang at 10e20 regularly publish premium content. Their post on linkbait graphics were a fresh look, and on and on like that. I’d like to take this moment to [...]

  11. VirtualOffice on February 23rd, 2009 10:08 am

    I love the idea of image. It really speaks about the article.

  12. shaun judy on July 14th, 2009 3:26 pm

    Great job with the Facebook logo. Looks real clean

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