Top 4 Free Websites for Stock Photos for Digital Marketing

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When marketing in a digital landscape, visual content has become a crucial part of success. A recent study proves that visual content generates 94% more views than text-only posts.

However, capturing and storing beautiful photos for commercial use isn’t that simple. Professional photographers, proper equipment, and photoshoot coordination are only several things to prepare.

That’s why stock photos exist to solve the problems. As the internet evolves, stock photos become one of the needs in digital marketing. Especially ones that are free and easy to download.

WHAT ARE STOCK PHOTOS?

Stock photos are pre-existing, high-quality images that are available for purchase or license. These images are shot by professional photographers for various themes and purposes. 

Although they are popular in the digital era, stock photos originated in the 1920s. In that era, many stock photo agencies began to emerge as a place for photographers to sell their work. 

Ever since then, stock photo agencies have evolved. Now in the digital age, they offer a wide range of photos with easy access through online platforms. And many marketers use these stock photos for digital marketing strategies. 

WHY USE STOCK PHOTOS FOR DIGITAL MARKETING?

To put it simply, so you won’t get sued for copyright infringement. One thing that many business owners don’t understand is not everything on the internet can be used for free. 

In this case, many images are protected by copyright. Using copyrighted images without permission may result in legal lawsuits and financial penalties. To avoid this, it’s essential to use resources that provide royalty-free or copyright-free photos.

WHERE TO GET STOCK PHOTOS?

There are plenty of stock photo platforms that you can find on the internet nowadays, such as Shutterstock or Death to the Stock Photo. These websites offer incredible quality stock photos for digital marketing with premium pricing.

On the other hand, there are also cost-free online platforms, such as Unsplash and Pexels. These two websites are widely known and used by many people.

But these platforms above aren’t the only reputable resources. There are 4 other options for free stock photos for digital marketing with high quality, and they only take one click to download.

• Pixabay
  Pixabay provides not only stock photos, but also a massive gallery of videos, gifs, music, and even sound effects.

• Freepik
  Mainly offering stock photos and videos, Freepik also comes with an AI feature. It allows users to generate AI images from text or rough sketches.

• Stocksnap
  Updated daily, Stocksnap also offers free high-quality images, especially in the theme of nature.

• Stockvault
  Curated directly by the community, Stockvault is also a great place for copyright-free images. 

How to Choose the Best Stock Photos?

With all the choices and alternatives, choosing the right photos that fit your message and intention can be challenging. These are 5 tips that you must consider in choosing the best stock photos for digital marketing:

• Relevance
  Ensure the stock photo is relevant to your brand and products. It should align with your brand's identity and resonate with your target audience.

• Emotion
  Choose images that evoke emotions and connect with your audience.

• Authenticity
  Opt for images that are realistic and natural. Avoid clichéd or overused photos that may feel cheesy or insincere.

• Quality
  Ensure the stock photos are of high quality, with sharp and clear images that are appealing.

• Licensing and Permissions
  If not free, ensure you have the licences or permissions to use the stock photos commercially. 

By following these tips, the photos that you choose will resonate with the audience and enhance your brand's image. Ultimately, they’ll boost the effectiveness of your digital marketing strategies.

To Wrap Up

Inserting images in marketing is proven to effectively engage customers. However, constraints exist as not every business has the personnel and budget to do a photo shoot. Not to mention that not every online image is legal to use. 

This problem is solved by understanding the importance of stock photos. You can buy their licences or use free copyrighted photos that are provided on many reputable online platforms. By doing so, business owners may execute marketing campaigns without worries of being sued. 

But remember, avoid picking stock photos randomly for your campaigns. There are things to consider in choosing stock photos for digital marketing. So you can find the right ones that will strengthen your brand and visually please the audience.

Need help with your digital marketing? Leave stock photo choices and creative to us, and we’ll create marketing that converts. Give us a holler, and let’s get the ball rolling.