Images in Blog Posts: 11 Powerful Reasons & Benefits to Use Them in Every Article
Having a blog packed with content is great, but adding images to blog posts takes your content strategy to a whole new level. If you’re here, you’re probably already creating high-quality articles. But here’s the truth—visuals aren’t just extras. They’re game changers.
Let’s dive into the top 11 reasons why every blog post should include visuals, and how doing so can supercharge your SEO, engagement, and reader retention.
1. Improves the Reading Experience
A wall of text can overwhelm even the most enthusiastic reader. But when you sprinkle images throughout your article, it breaks the monotony, enhances comprehension, and adds a refreshing touch.
According to the 2018 Social Media Examiner Report, people retain 65% of information paired with visuals versus just 10% from text alone. Dr. Lynell Bookmark, an expert on visual literacy, reinforces that images help process ideas faster and more effectively.
Bark Post proves this beautifully by inserting photos of adorable puppies into their content—making it not just informative, but also fun and memorable.
2. They Are Visually Appealing
Let’s face it—nobody enjoys reading a sea of text. People are naturally drawn to visually stimulating content. A study shows that 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual, and the brain processes images in just 13 milliseconds!
MailChimp nails this by using custom illustrations that enhance their blog’s vibe and communicate their message clearly and creatively.
3. Improves Your Blog Post’s SEO Rankings
Adding relevant images to your content can directly impact your SEO performance. When readers stay longer to absorb content (thanks to images), your page’s dwell time increases—a strong signal for search engines.
By optimizing images with relevant alt text, descriptive filenames, and compressed formats, you make it easier for search engines to understand your content contextually.
Keywords: SEO rankings, dwell time, alt text
4. Boosts Social Shares & Engagement
Visual content gets noticed—and shared. Articles with images receive significantly more engagement on social platforms. Tweets with images get 150% more retweets, and LinkedIn posts with visuals have a 38% higher click-through rate.
Infographics, in particular, are highly shareable assets that extend the life and reach of your blog content. Andy Crestodina’s posts on Orbit Media regularly include infographics to maximize shareability.
5. Creates Link-Worthy Articles
Want more backlinks? Images make that happen. Custom illustrations and infographics add depth to your content, making it a valuable resource worth referencing.
Sites love to link to visual explanations that break down complex ideas. When others cite your visuals, you increase your chances of earning quality inbound links.
6. Appeals to a More Diverse Audience
Not every reader learns best through text. Some absorb information visually or may not be fluent in the article’s language. In such cases, images bridge the gap by offering universal context and clarity.
Carla’s chlorophyll-rich diet article used images to showcase each green food, making it easier for readers to understand at a glance.
Keywords: diverse audience, visual learners, language barrier
7. Ranks on Image Search Engines
Did you know your images can appear in Google Image Search, driving extra traffic to your site? All it takes is proper optimization—alt tags, filenames, and descriptions.
Ranking in image search is a smart SEO strategy, especially in competitive niches. It opens up another avenue for discovery and visibility.
8. Substantiates Claims and Builds Credibility
It’s one thing to make a bold claim—it’s another to prove it. Adding screenshots or photographs validates your message, making your article more trustworthy and credible.
For example, Aaron Orendorff used screenshots of his bylines on major platforms to reinforce his authority and give readers confidence in his content.
9. Repurposable Visual Assets
One good image can go a long way. Repurpose blog visuals into Instagram posts, LinkedIn carousels, or YouTube slideshows. This saves time and expands your content’s reach across platforms.
Gary Vee’s strategy of turning cartoon-style graphics from his blogs into social media content is a perfect model of efficiency.
10. Increases Sales Conversions
When used correctly, images can influence buyer behavior. Showing your product or service in action builds emotional appeal and trust—essential ingredients for conversions.
Gold Silver uses high-quality product images that increase interest and push readers toward a purchase decision.
11. Guides Readers Through Complex Ideas
Tutorials, how-toss, and explainer posts benefit immensely from visual guidance. A simple diagram or annotated screenshot can eliminate confusion and help readers grasp concepts quickly.
In-depth topics like sales funnels or technical setups become digestible with a well-placed image—saving you words and your readers’ sanity.
A Picture Is Truly Worth a Thousand Words
By now, you understand that images aren’t just cosmetic upgrades. They are powerful, strategic tools that improve content readability, engagement, SEO, and trust.
And remember: “If you can show your audience who you are, you don’t have to waste time telling them over and over.”
Looking for where to start? Here are 20 best royalty-free photo sites to kick off your visual content strategy.