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To-Do List Item #469 - Get Inexpensive, Quality Clip Art Source for Blog

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with www.GoSimplyTexas.com TX Lic 0530037

I've heard for some time now about the importance of not stealing clip art on the net for your blog. As luck would have it, I'm not a cleptomaniac. No problem for me. So, I did what every other blogger does - I write a great blog post, I go to Google and search "Free clip art ________". In the blank I would put whatever I'm looking for...House, Four-leaf clover, money, girl, you get the idea. And boom - a page of a handful of free clipart sources you could cut and paste into your blog. Free.

Or I'd go to Flickr. Every now and then I'd get crazy and go to Image Chef...they have fun stuff. But no real system in place for attractive graphics. And if you're telling yourself that graphics in blogs don't matter, then it's like saying that Blog headlines aren't important either. They're important.

I have never been crazy about my methodology so far. When possible, I like to include photos that I have actually taken, but again isn't very realistic for me. I'm lucky to remember to bring my camera to my own kids birthday parties. Mother of the year, right?

So today was the day that I said ENOUGH IS ENOUGH with this. I need systems in my life that work. And it might have to cost me....but only $34.95 for 12 months of access to $7.8 million images at iClipArt.com. That's less than $6 per month. I could swing it - even in this economy.

What I would say to my fellow bloggers who are scavenging for good clipart to throw in their blogs to make them the masterpieces they are - go to iClipArt.com and be done with it. Cross that item off your list and move on things that are worth being worried about.

Disclaimer - I am not affiliated with, nor am I being paid to advertise for iclipart.com.

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comment

Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA
Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD
301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

Good for you. . I should try the same

Mar 12, 2009 08:40 AM
Clint Miller
Real Estate Pipeline, Inc. - Missoula, MT

Im an istockphoto.com guy, myself. :-) But, I will check out this site also!

 

Mar 12, 2009 08:43 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Lots of different choices out there Kim. Sounds like you found a good one.

Mar 12, 2009 08:44 AM
Tamara Perlman
Referral Network Inc. - Truckee, CA

Thanks Kim--I used to have a clip-art program, but with moves, remodels and a student needing it for school projects, it's long since disappeared.  :-(  I am curious about the flickr images... I've seen a number of them that are copyrighted, so useage??? I used to be married to a photog/cinematographer and copyright infringement was a big deal... 

I like the iClipArt.com solution.  I'd imagine they are updating all the time and you don't have to worry about finding the right thing with nearly 8M images!!!  Thanks again.

Mar 12, 2009 08:44 AM
Zac Hill
Resident Lending Group, Salem, OR - Salem, OR

Excellent help for a new blogger.  I've been wondering about this.  Thanks for sharing.

Mar 12, 2009 08:51 AM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Thank you Kim! I will be running over there to check it out when I get home! Great tip. You can NEVER have enough clip art or shoes....

Mar 12, 2009 08:52 AM
Connie Goodrich
Keller Williams Realty - McKinney, TX
CRS ABR (McKinney Realtor)Texas

Kim - you perfectly described my search and post writing.  Free clip art - google adventure.  Trying out phrases to see if anything fun comes up, etc.  Thanks for the heads up to the site!

Mar 12, 2009 09:01 AM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

I use Microsoft clip art online - if you have MS word you can find it by using the insert photo from clip art button.

Mar 12, 2009 09:36 AM
Jenn Neumann Deer
RE/MAX Southern Shores - Surfside Beach, SC
Surfside Beach Real Estate

Thanks for sharing.  I try to use pictures I have taken since I've been warned about ganking pictures from online which I didn't take, but it's not always plausible.  I don't have many pictures that fit into my blog entries.

Mar 12, 2009 09:59 AM
Elizabeth Bolton
RE/MAX Destiny Real Estate Cambridge, MA - Cambridge, MA
Cambridge MA Realtor

Hi Kim ~ I signed up with Iclipart just after I started posting. Love it! I think it's very reasonable. I have paid credits at istockphoto as well but the ability to download whatever I want whenever I want at iclipart can't be beat.

Liz

Mar 12, 2009 01:11 PM
Tony Fantis
Fantis Group Real Estate - Salt Lake City, UT
Realtor,Principal Broker - Salt Lake City

Good ideas.  And I like to see that some people are actually paying for their artwork.  And some of it is free, too!  No need to beg, borrow, and steal online.  =)

Mar 12, 2009 04:56 PM
Norma Brandsberg
Marks Realty Co. Inc., Lynchburg, VA, 540-586-9496 - Forest, VA

Interesting post. Like to get them for free though if I can.

Mar 12, 2009 08:46 PM
Irene Tron
Valparaiso, IN

Thanks for the advice.  Always looking for ways to improve!

Mar 12, 2009 11:47 PM
Monica Bourgeau
Portland, OR
Business Coaching

We like iclipart also and sometimes use bigstockphoto.

Mar 14, 2009 01:15 PM