As any SEO or SEM copywriter or blogger will attest, images offer a valuable addition to any written content they produce for the Web. The images add a referential depth and improvement to the engagement and experience of any blog or Web site copy. It is crucial that quality, relevant images are used to make any site more visually appealing and dynamic. Unfortunately, it is getting more difficult to find free images to use that are not under license or protected by professional imaging companies.
The process of getting permission for licensed images takes too much time, especially to the new standards of the Internet. Content needs to be created daily, and getting permission can takes weeks. Google has added a filter to their advanced search on Google Images that lets you factor in “User Rights”, allowing the filter the results based on creative common licenses for reuse, reuse with modification, commercial use and commercial use with modification. This adds a valuable addition to Google’s repertoire of tools, and assists its users in the prevention of professional image misuse.