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A Picture is Worth $1000 - or Where to Buy Cheap Photos!

Plain Text Can Be Just Plain Boring

Blogs, Real Estate Websites and articles - A photo or illustration thrown in here and there adds spice, adds interest. It's easier to keep reading with something to break up the text. But no fair "borrowing" photos here and there from the web either. Most of us have heard of "copyright" and would not want our stuff borrowed/stolen either.

Stock Photos - royalty free come to the rescue. I along with major magazines, newspapers and so on use stock photos - royalty free ones. Royalty free just means that once you buy it - it's yours and you can use it over and over as often as you want for your use only. Or if you are a web designer, ad agency then also for you to use for your clients.

Think you can't afford it? WRONG! One of my favorite sources is iStockPhoto.comYou can sign up for an account and buy credits. One credit costs a little over $1 Most photos are from 1 to 10 credits depending on the size. And the smallest is usually big enough for a website or blog.

They also have

Video clips, Flash, and illustrations available. They have a good search engine. Try typing in "real estate" and the choices will be mind blowing. Once you sign up for an account you can save images to a lightbox. I found dozens of images I just might want to use, but didn't want to buy them all at once.
House in shopping cart

So don't be trapped Trapped

by mediocrity

Set Yourself Free with lots of images! Freedom

(ok, so I got a little carried away. :)

Enough!

Posted by Eileen Begley, Monterey Real Estate on 10/23/2008 12:38 AM

Comments (16)

Royalty Free Photos in the Online Marketing Channel

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16 Comments on A Picture is Worth $1000 - or Where to Buy Cheap Photos!

OCT

2008

Thanks for giving me a smile tonight. You are a good example of what you're saying. Very illustrative pictures! I like using photos too, although I sometimes get going so quickly from one thing to another that I don't do enough jazzing up. I vow to do better!

Photo's catch the eyes. I need to use more in my posts. I think that I will visit that web site and see what's up.

I'm often looking for images and thank you for your post. I've bookmarked the site.

Aloha,

Richard

When it comes to copyright, it's best to be on the safe side. I will check out iStockPhoto.com. Thanks.

Good idea. For those who do not like or have time to take pictures, stock photos are the next best option.

OCT

2008

Eileen, you did a good job with this post. Thanks for sharing your thoughs as well as the information.

A video is worth even more: why not use your handheld device, email the video to your email, save it locally, upload it to Google Video, Youtube - or jut Veoh as we do in whihc case it automatically ends up on Google and Youtube - then embed it into a properly optimized blog, webpage, etc.

The way we do it, it is quick and easy, and video allows you to pitch the house as they walk through it, like a salesperson.

With the Photodropper plugin we use, you can use duty free photos automitcally from Google, and it automatically puts the credit and link to the photographer in one click! Free is a very good price.

See: http://www.photodropper.com/

Of course, your website should have a wordpress blog! (Also free!) and with other advantages:

http://socialmediasystems.com/blog/fast-wordpress-seo-guide-step-by-step-with-6-plug-ins/

OCT

2008

Israel - Thanks for the photodropper plug in info. Went to the website and had not realized there was that many creative commons licensed photos avail. Though imagine real estate use would be considered commercial so might not be as many for that use. Nice that it does the link back automatically.

Video is certainly a great way to promote a listing. But sometimes you just need a photo or two to illustrate something. I love both photography & video!

Thanks for the information. The photos really add to the blogs appeal.

Eileen - I agree; I just wish I knew how some of the bloggers on AR make such beautiful posts.

OCT

2008

Great information, thanks for the resource! I have recently realized that I need to be more careful with the photos I use.

NOV

2008

A blog without photos better be very short;I think most pass by without photos. I have used istockphotos, it is a great place to find what you need.

NOV

2008

Hi. Newbie here who just set up my profile. (Don't peek yet! I'm still setting it up).

BUT-- I have to agree regarding istockphoto. I use it extensively on my blog. Definitely perks things up and is incredibly easy to download/upload into my site.

I look forward to being part of the ActiveRain community--

Cece Blase
San Francisco, CA
www.sfrealestatebuzz.com

FEB

2009

Hi Eileen, Thanks for the terrific info. Your commenters are helpful too! I can't abide a wall of words blog post, so it's lots of phots (my own) for me. BTW, very smart to list your blog offerings on your profile. I like it. That's how I got here:~) PS- I've just subscribed to you!

FEB

2009

Hi Marian; Thanks for stopping by. Guess I better get busy and do some new blogs too!

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Eileen Begley, Monterey Real Estate

Carmel, CA

More about me…

Coldwell Banker, DelMonte

Address: 3775 Via Nona Marie, Carmel, CA, 93922

Office Phone: (831) 277-9939

Cell Phone: (831) 277-9939

Email Me

Eileen M. Begley

Coldwell Banker, Del Monte

484 B Washington #138

Monterey , CA , 93940 USA

831-277-9939

Monterey real estate

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