ProBlogger: Image Tools You Can Use to Help Your Blog Look its Best

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Image Tools You Can Use to Help Your Blog Look its Best Posted: 09 Jun 2016 07:00 AM PDT This is a guest contribution from blogger Rosemary Richings. You've probably heard the cliché saying: "content is king." Although it's true, your content also needs at least one photo to attract readers, and be successful, from an SEO perspective. Blog posts that feature high-quality, relevant photos get 94% more views. If you're still haven't found the perfect photo-editing tool, google a variety of photo editing tools, get to know their features, and pay close attention to how much they cost. Image Tools You Can Use to Help Your Blog Look its Best You're probably wondering what's out there. Today we’re going to compare and contrast some of the most popular photo editing tools. Ideally, this will make the decision-making process a lot less overwhelming.  Online and app-based photo editing & graphic design tools Editing your photos doesn’t have to be a challenging process. Currently, there are a wide variety of options available for bloggers that either have a tight budget, have no background whatsoever in photography, or both. Option one: Befunky Befunky is a tool that’s online and smartphone app- based. It’s also a photo-editing tool for creative professionals and bloggers. The best part of Befunky, especially for bloggers, is its graphic design interface. Special features include its blog image design and infographic design tools. Befunky's only catch is the premium plan. You only have access to a limited amount of options unless you’re willing to pay the yearly or the monthly fee.  Depending on the look that you’re going for, Befunky’s free options might not be enough for you. If money is an issue, and you don’t like Befunky’s free options, you might want to give Canva a shot. All you need is Internet access, and you'll have immediate access to a wide variety of filter options and lighting adjustment tools. Canva has a graphic design interface, but you can't access it unless you sign up first. Canva's graphic design tool also doesn't offer blog design features. They do have extra visual options for a small fee. Option two: PicMonkey PicMonkey is a photo editing, graphic design, and collage creation tool that’s available online. They’re also working on a smartphone app version, which is coming soon. In the meantime, you can also download the PicMonkey photo-editing tool via Chrome. The Chrome version allows users to upload and edit Google Drive photos. If you stick to the free version of PicMonkey there are a lot of ads. If that bothers you then you might want to consider the Royale Monthly or Annual plan. Both Befunky and PicMonkey have a graphic design interface. Befunky’s design interface has special features that are a lot more applicable to bloggers.  PicMonkey's design interface is an ideal choice for special events and marketing. Special features include the Facebook header, invitation, and greeting card design tools. Quick Fixes that aren’t reliant on the internet Having a photo-editing program for quick fixes is important. Common quick fixes include cropping, lighting adjustments, and red eye. Quick fix programs help you fix small but important details in a hurry. They’re also useful backups when you’re having problems with the Internet. Option one: iPhoto, or Google Photos, if you’re a PC user  If you have a Mac, you’ve likely experimented with, or have at least seen iPhoto before. iPhoto is available on Mac computers, for no extra cost. Sorry Windows users, Apple has not yet developed a PC- compatible version! If you’re looking for something similar, and you have a PC, you might want to try the Google Photos app. The Google Photos app is accessible via the internet, and there's also a Smartphone App option available. It’s also a great, on-the-go, quick fix option, for both Mac and PC users. iPhoto and Google Photos are great options if you know what the problem is, and you know how to fix it. Are you a photography novice? If so then Befunky and PicMonkey are likely a better option for you. Both Befunky and PicMonkey have a visual interface. The visual interface makes photography 101 terms accessible to anyone. Visual diagrams show the reader how the interface’s special features will effect their photos. Option Two: Adobe Photoshop & Lightroom (both tools are available as a Creative Suite package) Photoshop is one of the most well known photo editing tools available. It’s also considered to be one of the world’s leading graphics editing programs. Photoshop also comes with Lightroom, which is a handy, photo management, sorting, editing, and processing tool. Lightroom also allows user the opportunity to upload their images online. Photoshop offers a wide variety of photo touch-up and editing tools. It also has design features that are extremely blog friendly. Special features include everything from text editing tools and effects to photo blending options. Photoshop has two crucial setbacks, the cost, and the amount of time that it takes to master it. If you’re on a tight budget this may be a deal breaking part of the Photoshop experience. Users  pay $9.99 per month for Photoshop and Lightroom. If you want the entire Adobe Creative suite, you pay $49.99 per month. If you’re a Photoshop beginner, you can take Photoshop courses online. Sites, such as Lynda.com and Alison.com, provide users with 24/7 access to professional development. Final Thoughts… All it takes is a patient trial and error process to find the perfect photo-editing tool for you. No matter what, always treat your photos like an important part of the blog post editing process. What's your favourite photo editing tool, and why? Feel free to comment below. Rosemary Richings is a copywriter and blogger that offers freelance web and blog content writing services to local businesses.  Rosemary’s work has appeared on websites of all shapes and sizes. Publication credits include the Yellowpages Canada website, befunky.com, Author Magazine, and more. For more info about her work visit her website: www.rosemaryrichings.com. Rosemary also maintains a weekly writing blog entitled Rosie Writing Space. Feel free to also follow her on Twitter for recommended reading material, updates, etc. The post Image Tools You Can Use to Help Your Blog Look its Best appeared first on ProBlogger.       Related Stories 12 Bloggers to Follow on Snapchat Right Now How (and When) to Register a Trademark Without Hiccups

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Shoemoney - Skills To Pay The Bills

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Udemy Hacked Usernames & Passwords Captured (Irresponsible Response) Posted: 08 Jun 2016 09:00 AM PDT This morning Udemy employee, Company Director Veronica Spindler  sent out an email to Udemy users.  The Subject was “Media Docs” and contained a link appearing to go to what normally looks like a Google Docs button. When you clicked on the Google Docs looking button it took you to a Google login page (same as you would see with Google Docs). If you put in your credentials hackers would have access to your account.  I tested this with one of my throwaway gmail accounts and it told me password invalid.  In fact no matter what I put in it said invalid password. This is a slick trick hackers use because they not only have your email but now they have every password you think you would use…. This is incredibly valuable data (and sold frequently on the darkweb) because now they can mass attempt to log into bank accounts, social media accounts, and anything else you can imagine. A few hours later a “Caution” email was sent out by Udemy Director – Veronica Spindler, saying her account was hacked. This was a VERY bad and irresponsible response by Udemy because…  Well see below as I will explain. This is the most irresponsible… or incompetent response from a company that was hacked then I have ever seen for several different reasons: Using the word caution in the subject? caution is in understatement.  How about *IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED. Companies get hacked.  It will happen eventually… but companies encrypt passwords, plus this is an easy fix because you can force people to change password on next login (after notifying them), this is MUCH more serious. Really they say YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER changing passwords if you use the same one other places?  Really? You may want to consider?  wtf??? The bullshit thing about checking your Google account to see if someone logged in from another device… obviously they never even really dove into this or they would know it never even logged into Google. No explanation of exactly your risks… 3 days until you notify your users? Really? You can bet your data has been sold six ways to sunday on the darkweb. Unbelieveable. If you fell for this change every password. Don’t “consider” it like Udemy suggests. I saw on TechCrunch they just raised another 60M.  They are going to need it if they are found culpable in legal action from users.

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