The average person has an attention span of 8 seconds according to recent national research. If you think that’s alarming, consider this: A goldfish has an attention span of only 9 seconds.

Education experts tell us that there are different types of attention spans—focused attention lasting about 8 seconds and sustained attention lasting up to 40 minutes. So, even if our focused attention span is shorter than that of a goldfish, it most likely does not mean the end of our ability to learn and communicate. However, it does pose a problem for digital marketers as people are inundated with information on the Internet.

People Understand Images Quickly

This is why using images is important in marketing. Whether you are writing blog posts, using social media, or designing landing pages for your agency; using images can help you capture the attention of your audience quickly. Experts agree that people are drawn to images. The human brain is hardwired to process visual information 60,000 times faster than text. But you don’t need research to show you that. Just look at the messages below and determine which you process first.

Finding Images

There are a growing number of lawsuits centered on using images without permission. With that said, it is very important to recognize that most images are protected by copyright laws and you must obtain permission to them.

When in doubt, assume that you do not have permission to use the image. That said, it doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming to find images.

Here are 3 easy and affordable (or free) ways to acquire images:

1. Take your own photos. According to Pew Research Center, 56% of US adults own smartphones, so if have one, get clicking. Simple images such as a stop sign or a birthday cake can be used in your posts. Once you start taking photos, you will recognize the potential of a simple scene or object to be useful as visual content.

2. Use paid stock photo websites. These websites have high quality images taken by professional photographers. Many sites have illustrations and video you can purchase as well. There are a variety of ways to pay (often by the download, credits, or monthly fees). After purchasing the images, you have permission to use them in most instances, but be sure to read the fine print and check out the FAQ before using. Two favorites are: iStock.com and gettyimages.com.

3. Use a free stock photo site. You can find excellent quality images on many of these sites. The downside is that you may not find what you are looking for at the time you need it. It is a good idea to review these sites regularly and download images you may need in the future. Many of these images do not require any attribution to the photographer. However, it is important to review the fine print before posting stock photos. Some favorites are: unsplash.com and pixabay.com.

Remember: There are several elements to a successful blog post – images included. Now that you have some tools, get started today.