A Beginner’s Guide to Image Link Building Strategies

Last Updated on 20/12/2025

Most SEOs and link-building “experts” will enhance anything that has even the slightest chance of making sense for gaining links. One such strategy is image link building.

The best thing about image link development is how hands-off it is for gradually building backlinks. You can easily develop graphic materials, and if done well, they should help build links for years.

Over the past decade, images have become a significant component of the internet, as they clearly add value to browsing by enhancing the visual experience and helping to define information and web-based content.

It’s straightforward to gradually increase the number of links by creating images with links. Understanding image link-building and how to optimize your photo visibility can significantly improve the effectiveness of your link-building plan.

This blog will serve as a resource for answering!

What is Image Link Building?

Building image links is a delicate art. It involves employing photos to build backlinks to your website. Creating links that redirect to your website consists in using images on your website, blog, or social media platforms.

It’s the best form of passive link development and an excellent strategy for gradually building natural, high-quality links.

To increase your website’s authority and search engine rankings, create visually engaging, shareable photos that encourage users to engage with your content.

Using a photo generator can streamline this process, allowing you to produce captivating images tailored to your content and audience effortlessly.

The great thing about using images for marketing is that it’s one of the most effective ways to develop brand recognition and also, a custom logo can raise the brand exposure and obtain natural mentions/links to a website because it can easily stimulate interest in its audience (especially if the image is really compelling and/or visually appealing) and is very easy to disseminate.

Why Is Image Link Building so Important?

One of the essential SEO techniques used by experts to boost online traffic and webpage visibility is image link development.

Despite claims that it is no longer as relevant as before, image link building remains a crucial SEO component that keeps operations running smoothly.

Over the past few years, the strategies and procedures that make image link-building effective have evolved significantly.

Additionally, because a picture is often worth a thousand words, it helps illustrate a point in an article or blog.

Writing about a specific cat breed?

Of course, you want to show one. Describe your favorite dish from a local restaurant. Again, without a photo, it wouldn’t be much of an article. There are opportunities with photographs, regardless of your website’s topic.

Simply put, high-quality photographs are more valuable and in greater demand as web content. If you have access to, or can produce, high-quality images for your website, you have linkable assets that can be used on other websites. After that, creating a link to you as the image’s owner may be a quick and easy process.

Readers who struggle with complex information benefit from visual aids. Additionally, if they attract people’s attention, they encourage them to stay on your website longer. According to some recent figures,

• 52% of online publishers say that “link development and brand mentions positively affect organic search rankings”;

• The top website in Google’s search results has 3.8 times as many backlinks as the following nine sites in the rankings.

• Informational pictures draw users’ attention more than the page’s text.

Which Images Receive the Most Links?

Creating links from photos is a strategic process. Pictures that attract the most links are always in high demand. Images can be used in various ways and for multiple purposes, reaching your audience in numerous ways. These include:

1. Infographics

Infographics are visually appealing representations of a large amount of information. They may help you develop links to your website and are very shareable.

As users perceive infographics as a more engaging way to read a webpage’s content, their use in some blog articles is effective.

For various reasons, people continue to love infographics. It likely indicates why “infographic link building” has been a thing for well over a decade.

However, attractive, well-designed ones can still earn a significant number of permanent backlinks, even if they’re no longer as common as they once were, mainly because individuals have used them excessively in the past.

As shown in the example below, infographics make information clear and concise by using eye-catching, captivating images.

There are various strategies to secure high-quality links for infographics, and most require intensive content promotion before the infographic can attract organic links and social mentions. The following are a few ways to advertise this kind of content:

• Manually contacting bloggers to see if they’d be interested in sharing the infographic with their audience

• Social media outreach to Google+, X, and Facebook influencers

• Using sponsored links from Reddit or StumbleUpon to advertise

• Supplying embed codes to make connecting blogs easier

2. Reverse Image Search

In addition to finding and tracking your original images that other webmasters may have used without linking back to your site, using Lenso.ai, Google’s Image Search or Tineye can also be a very effective method for finding link prospects by locating the websites that use your competitors’ images (logos, infographics, product images, etc.).

Reverse image search can help you identify new opportunities for your link-building strategy and websites that have previously used your photos. This will help you establish a strong link-building relationship that benefits both parties.

3. Charts and Graphs

Data can be presented clearly and simply using charts and graphs. They are very linkable and can generate backlinks.

To enhance their content or analytics, many content marketers often use visual statistical graphs. Because the data must include a link to the source whenever it is used, your page will receive more traffic as a result of being recognized as an authoritative source.

4. Maps

People will always require directions, and if you have an excellent navigational image that is optimized for discovery with pertinent alt text, you’re sure to create links.

5. Use Memes

Memes are humorous images that are extremely popular online and can generate significant traffic. Memes have become highly marketable and have helped websites and pages go viral for an extended period, even if, for some individuals, it may seem like an odd strategy.

You may make and modify your own memes using a variety of tools, such as Photoshop and the Meme Generator. Social media is the ideal platform for disseminating memes, as it both accelerates your ability to reach your target audience and increases the meme’s popularity.

By continuously sharing, reposting, and hosting images, memes help generate links. Your website could see more traffic and greater awareness if your content goes viral by earning links from reputable sites.

6. Product Photos

Images of your products can be an effective way to earn backlinks if your website sells products. Images that link back to your website can showcase your products’ distinctive qualities.

7. Logo

Did you realize that a great link-building opportunity might be attracted to you by using your logo? It’s present in several places on your website.

Second, it may appear on other websites, particularly if you have published a guest post or done business with another organization. For this reason, keep an eye out for potential locations where your logo can appear and ensure they link back to your website.

How To Build High-Quality Links Through Images

The best approach to determine what types of photographs are both relevant and popular is to conduct thorough keyword research and trend analysis.

It’s essential to conduct thorough research on the search terms your target audience uses, as this will make it easier to create effective alt text.

Here are some tips to help you create high-quality connections using images:

1. Create Eye-Catching Images

The first step is to produce compelling photos that align with your website content. Ensure the graphics are eye-catching and distinctive to draw attention effectively.

Keep the information basic and the graphics easy to understand. Images that provide information, instructions, advice, or quotes often receive the most engagement.

Instead of using photos from Google or other websites, it is always preferable to generate your own original images. Create your graphics using one of the many available editors, such as Canva or Adobe Photoshop.

Instead of using photos from Google or other websites, it is always preferable to generate your own original images. Create your graphics using an online photo editor, such as Picsart, Canva, or Adobe Photoshop.

2. Use the Trust Formula

From previously used photographs, one might claim many backlinks. Yet you might attract a larger audience by providing fresh, original pictures. Using the TRUST Formula is the best method to approach this.

Let’s start with the formula:

a. Trending Topics

Look for themes that top bloggers have written about a lot. One of the finest resources for finding trending topics is Google News. To see all popular blogs and articles on a particular topic, perform a relevant keyword search.

b. Research and Analysis

Collect relevant data, analyze it, and generate new insights on the topic. To gain a deep understanding, conduct thorough research.

c. Unique

Uniqueness is essential; therefore, always use original, attention-grabbing content. Do not duplicate others’ photos, as they often link back to their websites.

d. Simple Visuals

Use headlines, backlinks, catchy titles, or even a compelling image description to make your content more appealing.

e. Tactical Promotion

When you’ve finished creating your picture, be sure to promote and share it on social media and other relevant platforms.

3. Use Keyword Tools

Make use of a variety of keyword tools, such as Google Trends, Semrush Keyword Tool, Keyword Surfer, Keyword Anywhere, and others.

When creating a link-building plan for your photographs, Google makes it simple to discover what’s popular.

They provide you access to the most recent information on trending subjects, the most popular searches right now, and the ability to look up specific keywords connected to your company to discover how relevant they are to the searches of your target audience.

You can compare keywords using Google Trends to discover which terms are more popular and, therefore, more effective to use. As shown in this case, the term “Child” is preferable to the keyword “Kid.”

The SEMRush Keyword Tool is another excellent resource that provides much more detail on keyword research. In their keyword overview, you can compare up to 100 keywords at once and receive suggestions for integrating keywords into your photographs to simplify them.

Backlink Analytics, one of SEMRush’s link-building tools, allows you to examine how many backlinks other well-known sites have in your target region.

Optimize Your Images for SEO

The next step is to optimize the image for use on your website once you have found the ideal one, whether it is a picture, illustration, or chart. So, there are a few things you should consider before adding your image:

a. Choose the Right File Name

To optimize images for search engines, use keyword-rich file names. Your image files should have new names that provide precise descriptions of the image contents and are keyword-rich.

This increases your chances of ranking higher in search results by helping search engines understand what your image is about.

b. Resize Your Images

Your website’s performance may be affected by large, uncompressed image files, which could lower its search engine ranking. Reduce the size of your picture files without compromising quality by using an image compression tool.

File size and image size are not the same. The dimensions of a picture are referred to as its size (e.g., 1024 pixels by 680 pixels). Storage space is measured in terms of file size (e.g., 350 kilobytes).

High-resolution, large-sized images significantly slow your page load times. Although they are effective for printed materials, they must be reduced and scaled down for the web.

c. Choose the Right Format

There is no single ideal photo format; it depends on the image type and intended use.

• JPG is preferable for bigger images or drawings.

• If you want to keep the image background transparent or change it, choose PNG.

• Instead, use WebP in place of JPEG and PNG. Smaller file sizes will yield high-quality outcomes.

• For icons and logos, use SVG. You may manipulate graphics in SVG format, for example, and resize them without losing quality, using CSS or JavaScript.

d. Choose the Right Compression Rate

Both file size and picture quality are influenced by how effectively an image is compressed; the smaller the file, the worse the image quality.

To determine the optimal compression rate and file format for each image, experiment.

A save-for-the-web option is available in several image-editing programs, including Adobe Photoshop, that automatically reduces file size while enhancing image quality through upscaling.

e. Use Alt Tags

When an image cannot be displayed, alt text appears in its place. An excellent alt tag offers context and benefits people who are blind as well.

The fact that search engines can read alternative text to determine a page’s ranking is particularly advantageous when a bug prevents an image from loading. More information beyond the file name should be included in the alt tag.

f. Include Captions

Picture captions, or the text immediately below photos, could not have an immediate influence on SEO. Even so, captions are visible and can enhance the website experience, unlike file names and alt text.

Enhancing user experience and engagement metrics can indirectly improve SEO by adding captions.

g. Use Sitemaps

With a sitemap, you can inform Google and other search engines how your website’s content is organized. Here is how Google defines a site map. It is, in other words, a file that includes a list of the contents of your website.

Since they inform search engines about your pages and website structure, site maps are a crucial component of SEO.

Please include them in your sitemap to ensure search engine crawlers can index all images, including infographics, memes, photos, and video thumbnails.

Promote One-of-a-Kind Visual Content

While using ready-to-use photographs, consider creating your own to demonstrate your brand’s value, rather than giving credit to other websites.

Transform the information you provide on your website into engaging visual content. Your backlink profile will improve if you create your own photos.

a. Choose a sort of image that may be promoted, is useful, and appeals to your audience

Make photos that your users will find visually appealing. You may be tempted to publish a plain photo you think is attractive, but your audience may not be looking for that.

By offering guidance on how to address a potential issue, you can enhance your client’s experience. Examples of extremely engaging material include fun facts, advice, and how-to manuals.

b. Unpaid Promotion

Embedding codes to make connecting simpler

• Use the settings in the article to produce the embed code, then navigate to the website you wish to embed. You can occasionally even alter it.

• Copy the embed code by highlighting it.

• In your content management system, launch the HTML reader.

• Click “Ok” or “Save” after pasting the embed.

Publish your infographic to online directories.

Although it may seem obvious, don’t forget to create high-quality infographics to distribute. The quick, straightforward step is to submit your work.

You can contact various directories, including the most popular ones, as well as the Infographic subreddit, Visual.ly, and Infographics Showcase. Additionally, hiring an event photographer can help capture high-quality images of your event.

Email outreach to bloggers manually

Reaching out to bloggers who may find the infographic beneficial for their readers is a practical strategy to build a strong backlink profile, though there may be a fee for this service.

c. Paid Promotion

Marketing using Instagram and Pinterest

The most well-known photo-sharing websites, Instagram and Pinterest, are the best places to publish your visual material. Almost 1.3 billion people use Instagram daily, while nearly 500 million people use Pinterest monthly.

You can create advertisements to reach customers likely to engage with your content across social media platforms. Many firms place a high focus on Instagram advertisements, but don’t overlook Pinterest!

With fewer stages from discovery to conversion, Pinterest marketing converts more customers more quickly. With your marketing plan, continue to use both platforms.

Reddit Marketing

You may either use a sponsored post, which appears in your feed as a regular post with a light blue background and the tag “promoted,” or a display ad, which is more expensive and requires a higher budget (starting at $30,000).

Sponsored posts may contain text or link advertising. Text ads link to a different Reddit page, whereas link ads direct you to an external URL. Display advertisements provide individualized analytics data and dynamic campaigns.

Monitor Improper Image Attributions

With a reliable backlink monitoring tool like SE Ranking, which is simple to use even for beginner marketers who want to regulate their backlinks performance and monitor image usage, you can keep tabs on the websites using your photos.

It’s relatively easy with SE Ranking:

• Fill out the tool with your backlinks.
• Make routine checkups.
• Get email alerts whenever something changes.

Contact the webmasters of any sites where your photographs are being used without permission. Legally, you have a right to provide a link or mention.

You should be assertive and convincing when emailing the webmasters, as the goal is to secure that backlink. They can erase the picture if you’re too dangerous.

Conclusion

Image link building is a beneficial and effective strategy for improving a website’s search engine rankings, expanding its online presence, and driving traffic.

Since they can be embedded, images provide an effective means of creating linkages, and because they are visual, they also make it easier to communicate complex concepts.

Businesses and website owners can enhance their online presence and attract more prospective customers by using relevant, high-quality images, optimizing them for search engines, and linking to them from reputable websites.

To avoid penalties or negative impact on the website’s rankings, it is essential to employ ethical, sustainable image link-building tactics and stay current with search engine algorithms.

Frequently Asked Questions