Dear Bill,
I would never be the first person to call you an oaf, but since that judge had it legally declared last month down in Tucumcari, New Mexico, you're an oaf. However, that doesn't change the validity of your question about why we don't use dumb stock photos and stupid opening lines.
Stupid Photos
You know the ones I'm talking about. Like, we create a post about content marketing and blockchain so of course the only three pictures that would make sense to use is a bunch of people sitting around a conference table, a closeup of a bunch of diverse hands arranged in a weird clasp, or some matrix-looking design that probably has a reference to bitcoin hidden somewhere in it.
How do those help you, Bill? They don't. They certainly don't provide a more in-depth understanding of whatever content strategy or blockchain topic we're talking about.
I know, Bill, you're politely thinking to yourself that we still use photos, and this blog is proof.
Why We Don't Use Stock Photos
You're not wrong, Bill. 4Track definitely uses photos, but we don't use crappy, unrelated stock photos. We use interesting, unrelated photos we took ourselves. Why? Because they're usually pretty. But more than that, we can guarantee that by using our own photos, we're providing an entirely unique experience on the internet.
It's not earth shattering, it's not Anselm Adams, but it is different.
We're not professional photographers, but we have been around the world and seen some cool things.
Finding Great Original Photos
Now Bill, I'd never advocate for putting up crappy pictures of stupid things. But I'd bet you a tuna filet any day that you'd be surprised at how easy it is to get great original pictures.
First of all, your phone probably has some decent shots. Easy on the filters there, Bill, they never look that great when they're blown up bigger than a phone.
If you're not into photography yourself, no worries. It's a safe bet that if you have a more than 2 employees, someone is going to be an amateur photographer.
Ask family and friends if they have things sitting on a hard drive they wouldn't mind being shared. Of course Bill you should give them credit.
So there you have it -- a case against stock photography. It's usually weird, not that helpful, and definitely not an original experience.
Feel free to ask any questions you have, Bill, about content marketing, blockchain, strategy or even stock photos.
4Track Jack
jack@4trackcontent.com