A picture can mean 1,000 words

A stock image can enliven an article. Photo: Seenit.co.uk
Stock images have long been a part of the online landscape and with good reason.

Such images help to clarify the point of a given article or entry and as such their value cannot be understated.

Any online article is made more attractive and informative when an image is attached to it. Having an image associated with a given website or blog also helps to make it more visible to search engines.

For anyone involved in composing a review for a film or television project, stock images can help to make things clearer for the reader. An actual frame from the project is not required to get the point across.

The words of the review may be livened up through the use of an image that relates to the topic in some way. In fact, the exact relation of the image to the article can be thought provoking or funny, depending on what the writer is attempting to convey. This type of technique can be especially helpful in writing reviews for a film or television project that has not yet been released.

If the film or television project in question is of a historical nature, the stock image to be used may be one depicting that particular era; if the project being written about relates to sports, one of the many sporting stock images may be utilised, while war-oriented series may be accompanied by any number of military-based stock images. These are just a few examples among many that illustrate how a stock image can add to the content of the article.

Of course, in addition to improving the look of an online review, stock images can also be used for many other purposes, including other forms of online text.

Just about any blog entry is made more vivid by having an image included and countless social media campaigns have been enhanced through the use of such images. Many students, even at the university level, draw on stock images in order to make projects and presentations clearer; the same is true for professionals in the business world.

There is more than one way to find affordable stock images online. Some agencies specialise in particular categories, while others are more comprehensive in what they offer. Though certain search engines offer stock images for free, they are almost always of a low quality, with a resolution that leaves much to be desired.

A number of search engine images also have spyware or viruses embedded in them, which makes downloading them a risky business. The possible copyright issues that may arise from using free stock images are even more reason to leave this sector alone. When trying to locate a source of free stock images, it is always best to do so with a legitimate image service.

Clearly, stock images are a valuable resource for any writer trying to make their material pop off the page. It is not difficult to find this visual material, which means that there is no excuse for posting material online without adding the flair of a colourful image.

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