A Picture Really Does Paint A Thousand Words
A picture really does paint a thousand words, it is often said and it is one of those things that just about everyone can relate to.
The big question is why? It is one of those strange English language-idioms. I guess in my mind it is about broadcasting an idea by using a single image, in this scenario, it conveys the meaning or essence more readily than a written description.
The interesting thing, is and the penny drop moment for me looking at the image above, it does paint a picture, a story. Viewing an image, the emotions or memories invoke a whole story line it maybe from observations or from times past or from the text that you are reading, it does create either in our heads or hearts.
If we add an image to some written content it really adds value especially if it is congruent with the theme if the text. On the flip side of the coin, where the image doesn't flow with the words in the content, it doesn't fit, it kind of detracts from the message.
"At the end of the day, the message or instruction is the only thing that counts, I kind of realized at that moment, content is a mixture, where the written word is but one vector."
Today was one of those out of the blue learning experiences, I have folks coming from overseas and the standard procedure is to always to have a vehicle ready for visitors to use, it is one of those now who borrowed that one last and more to the point where on earth is it vehicles, well a few phone calls later and it was tracked down along with a broken drivers side door handle, the part is available but the technician who can fix it and make it work is still on holiday. Not a problem, I am not sure what we did before YouTube and Google. I watched some videos and downloaded some how-to diagrams and we are good to go. It may be the way my brain works but if I can see in a visual diagram then I can usually figure out how it goes
A visual is really worth a thousand words never thought of it like that one before. .
See the difference, a simple presentation, but it stands out and grabs your attention. So images convey emotion and visuals like this one can convey instruction or present ideas in an easy to understand way. I would have used the diagram but it is covered in oil, I think you may get the point.
I have not thought about it like this before, I think that we can fall into the trap of making the words we write work very hard, I know that is one of my faults.
There is a value-add way where we are working smarter not harder, giving our words a little breather, I think that I will be trying to show folks by using more visuals.
So rev up your content using well-written text, enhanced with images and now my very new friend visuals.
Combining the notion of telling and showing.
I think there is some mileage in this one.
Alex.
Recent Comments
41
"Telling and showing" - perfectly put Alex!
I believe all our brains love visual stimulation so combination of both words and images to match is the ideal way to go.
I do come across people who post images indiscriminately however and which have little or nothing to do with the content. This puts me right off, never to return again.
Mark
Hi Mark, you have raised a really valid point, I guess we can follow the flow and the flavor is to add images the question we seriously need to ask is do they add value but more importantly are they congruent with the content.
Unrelated images almost go hand in hand with click bate titles if not they are first cousins.I think just pausing before we hit the publish button can be really helpful and is we ask usually we know the answer. I have been known to change images on reflection you wonder where your head was.
You have reminded me of something, earlier in my writing I added an image to a post, it was a young mum she looked really edgy, attractive, tattoo on her arm and soulful and reflective glance in her eyes, the comments were flowing in a certain direction, so I changed the image for a young mum on the couch with a child sitting either side they were looking at a tablet, it had a powerful effect on the theme of the conversation.in the opposite direction.
That made me so aware of the power of imagery, on the flip side do folks actually read and comprehend what they are reading or are they glancing, scanning and assuming I am always thinking about that one, images are critically important in our content creation.
My breakthrough is that had just lumped them all together, I think that we need to link images and visuals to the outcomes we are seeking with our content.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts much appreciated.
You're right Alex, the piece you're writing about can be enhanced by a certain photo and vice versa.
Hi Dean, Thank for stopping by our content can be enhanced with the addition of imagery. the thing for me is that I looked at it as one category. But I can now see real value in separating it out and even mixing and matching. I think it will have real value moving forward.
* Images
* enhanced images with overwriting.
* visuals, diagrams, infographics etc.
I think the things with visuals is that we could make them downloadable and shareable. I have seen this used to good effect where the website owner has included the code with the visual in the post. they have extended their reach as the visual was branded.
What are your best sources to find good pictures? I use pixabay a lot- are there others?
Hi, Anne, there are sources of images all over the internet just do a search. I use a chrome extension called Tin eye which can help to determine ownership and license status of images. so it is really useful.
I don't know if you are using site content the image integration there is extremely helpful and one that I am making good use of.
Even do a search here in WA with the term images, or free images there is a lot of training and blogs about it.
I use an app called pablo.buffer.com it is a real cracker because you can create altered images and share them to your social media or download them and it is free to use.it is a really good source of free images.
What I would like to do is to use original images, so I am looking at doing my own, I am not a good picture-taker so that one is a work in progress, giving my self a year to bring that into play.
Hope this helps
I really like that Mike and it is something that I had not thought about, it is so true words can certainly bring forth those memories and create that instant picture thanks for the insight.
I think this really is a good one
I haven't been able to figure out where to get the pictures from yet but the idea of the pictures make a big difference.
Hi, Sylvia pictures make a really big difference to our content and it is something that can be a work in progress for us.
If you are just starting out I would suggest that you check out site content you can access that through Site Rubix the blue button on the left-hand side of your WA home page. Images are now integrated into the editor and the content created, so check it out.
If you are looking I would suggest that you do the following searches, use the little white box in the top menu bar of your home page, it says ( hey Silvia search for help here), search for these terms.
* images
* free images
* who owns this image
there will be enough information to get you going.
All the best, if you struggle just reach out.
I really love this, Alex. You have me thinking about my site and using this to improve my writings. I think people nowadays are scared away by mountains of text, even baby boomers have been converted.
You are on to something here.
All the best and more!
David
I am one so I agree 100%, David, even here in the community folks that use imagery in their post get way more engagement with their posts when combing text with images.
A definite work in progress, for me this was a breakthrough I had looked at images as being one category but I now see there are so many different ways of utilizing images in our content creation thank you for sharing your insights. Much appreciated.
Good stuff Alex, the words and images should walk hand-in-hand to convey the fullness of our message. Every Picture Tells a Story (Rod Stewart, 1971) :-)
Far out that is stepping back in time there Bob back in the days of LP's great song. I like how you have expressed that words and images do go hand in hand, My ah-ha moment was that I had just lumped them all together and had kind of ignored that value of incorporating visuals int content creation an oversight to correct. thank you for passing by much appreciated.
Good points. I love finding images that correspond with what I'm trying to say ... and sometimes I put off writing because I'm using up my time image searching. So, it's a good procrastination tool.
Still, images add value, so ... ah, now I'm just trying to justify my procrastination. :-)
Classic so easy to get sidetracked, I have found that writing in site content first then adding the images when the writing is done works for me I can relate, probably spent the best part of three hours looking at an image software today and little to show for it, as well as working on the car lol one of those days I guess..
I have to agree with you Mishael, images and visuals do make a difference
See more comments
Alex, do You know if the images in pablo.buffer.com are free to use on our websites?
Hi Randall, the app is a free application and it is one that I use to good effect. I think that if you read the terms and license it may answer your question.
https://pablo.buffer.com/license
The images are through unsplash form memory and carry a creative commons license. but it always pays to check for yourself.
I got caught out earlier in the piece pre WA days using some stock images, I was just not aware, I didn't even think about, it was just a lack of knowledge but like in real life ignorance is no defense. Folks can get a bit angsty and I just had to abandon ship.It was lucky that they looked at me like I was a garage man from garage land.
As a backstop I use an app called Tin Eye it sits in your browser as an extension if you are using chrome, what is basically does is a reverse search on the image and defines other instances of it online and it can help work out ownership and license status.
I wrote about it here in WA. Who Owns That Image The more that I think about it site content and the image integration here at WA is the way to go. So streamlined.
Hope that you find this helpful.
I will read up on it thanks Alex
RP