Summary

This is a link building tactic that leverages online photo and graphics distribution channels and requirements for credit under copyright laws to drive new, inbound links to a page. In this link buildng tactic you will create a unique photograph, vector illustration, or other graphic and freely give it away if the parties using or adapting your unique work agree to give a link providing credit back to a specific page or document.

Current Status: Recommended

How to Perform Photo Credit Link Building

This link building tactic can be done several different ways. Below are a few example methods.

The Free Stock Photo Website Method
There are several websites on the internet where journalists and bloggers go to look for stock photography for their content. In this method we are going to create photos relevant to the target website or document we want links to and will distribute them on these websites.

Step 1. Create an account on one or all of these sites; Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay.

Step 2. Use the search feature on these websites to look for stock photos that match a target page or subject matter for your website. Ideally you are looking for only sponsored results in the listings. This means that the paid stock photo sites (iStock, etc…) see value in these photos but there are not any free variations or are very few free variations.

Step 3. Once you have all of these identified you want to make the stock photos. You can hire a local photographer to do this for you, take the photos yourself on a decent phone/camera, or hire someone from a freelancer marketplace like Fiverr to make them for you. Note: If you have someone else make the graphic for you make sure they state in writing that you are the copyright owner of the photo and not them. This is to avoid future headaches with copyright as it is initally bestowed upon the creator of a work.

Step 4. After you create the photos submit them to the platform(s) of choice from Step 1 making sure to give them good tags so they show up in related searches. When bloggers and journalists go to find graphics they may download your photo. When downloaded the platforms always ask that users consider linking to a user profile on their website as attribution, but tell them it is not required.

Step 5. Routinely run a reverse image search using Google Images or TinEye. When you find a website using one of your images reach out to them, thank them for using your image, and politely ask that they credit your creation of the photo by linking to your website. In your outreach make sure you are able to prove the copyright is owned by you in some way. We often do this by showing the stock website profile with our website link to assure the target that we are the rights holder. If they refuse your request there is not much you can do except move on and ask the next website for a link.

While this process sounds a little cumbersome, it can produce great results. Especially if your photo ends up being used by a news organizatin or a well-known blog. Those outlets tend to be more cautious and will provide whatever credit is required by the copyright holder.

The Stock Photo Giveaway Method
Almost every topic on the internet has search volume for stock photography, graphics, images, and icons. In this method we are going to create these graphics and link to them from a directory inside of the target website or on a subdomain. Users downloading the images will see a notice requiring a valid hypertext link for proper attribution.

Step 1. Use a keyword research tool like the Google Ads Keyword Planner, Keyword Guru, Moz Keyword Explorer, or other similar tools to find keyword ideas that match your target industry. If the tool you use does not have search volume data, take those keywords you find and place them in a tool to discover the search volume for each one.

Step 2. Create a variety of images, photos, and illustrations that match the target industry needs. To help ensure their visibility you can even use these on your own website with a caption that mentions they can be freely used by others.

Step 3. Build a directory page to house all of the graphics you have created. For example if your target is about stock bunny photos you will create an entire page filled with your bunny photos that are free for others to use. Make sure you only post thumbnail or small to medium sized photos here for page load speed and place a small description next to each one.

Step 4. At the top and bottom of the page make sure to explain your attribution requirements (i.e. a valid hypertext link). You may even provide this on a popup modal when the image is downloaded.

Step 5. Routinely run a reverse image search using Google Images or TinEye on these stock photos or graphics. When you find a website using one of your images reach out to them, thank them for using your image, and politely ask that they credit your creation of the photo by linking to your website.

Step 6. If the website using your photo or graphic does not agree to link to your site for credit using a valid hypertext link, you do have the right to request they remove the image or to submit a DMCA complaint to Google, Facebook, and other various places where the graphic may appear. Be careful using this tactic to drive links however, it should only be done if you believe the party is not using your imagery in good faith.

The Ecommerce Photo Method
In this method we are going to try and gain links to product pages by luring in potential linkerati with fun, engaging, or searched for graphics.

Step 1. Define the products you want to gain links to.

Step 2. Think of fun, engaging, or interesting ways you can take photos of your products. Consider current trending topics or internet standards like cats, dogs, and Star Trek. Also consider looking for search queries that include your product types or brand names. Create photos and graphics that match these ideas or search queries and place them on your related product pages.

Step 3. Create a page on your website about photo credit rules allowing journalists and bloggers to reuse your images of products but only if they provide proper attribution in the form of a valid hypertext link to the product page (only one page if you place the photo on more than one product) where the photo is located.

Step 4. Routinely run a reverse image search using Google Images or TinEye on these product photos. When you find a website using one of your photographs but not providing proper attribution then reach out to them, thank them for using your photo, and politely ask that they credit your creation of the photo by linking to your product page.

These three photo credit link building methods are highly effective, but they do take a considerable amount of time and effort in finding opportunities for photo or graphic creation, developing mechanisms to get the works used by others, and in scouring the internet to find new link building opportunities.

Photo Credit link building is a great way to passively grow quality inbound links by making a small investment in photography or graphics design. This harks back to the very beginnings of the public internet where freebie websites ruled and giving away digital items was a way to drive word of mouth marketing and website traffic.