More Blogging How-To’s: Fair Use for Photos and Joining Blogging Communities!!
If you are a new blogger like I am, then it is imperative that you join a blogging community! You will learn incredibly important information from your peers that will be vital to your success as a blogger. For instance, last weekend, while perusing my various networks, I learned something that terrified me – you can get sued for using photos off the web without permission!!! What?? Yes!!!
Roni Loren wrote a vitally important post on her blog for fellow bloggers who need to be educated about fair use for photos. After reading it, I went through all of my previous posts and deleted any photos I didn’t own. Then, using the networks she suggests in her post (you can’t use just any photo you find online – it has to be approved for use), I found photos to replace some of the ones I had taken down, and attributed them to their original authors in the “alt text” line under the photo’s properties.
I wouldn’t have known about any of this if I hadn’t joined a blogging community where I could be exposed to important posts like Roni’s. If you are a new blogger and haven’t joined a community yet, I suggest you start at The SITS Girls and Blogher, then look for something local to you as well. Trust me on this – I wouldn’t know half of what I do without my networks!
I’ve never thought about the photos, but I always link to the website I got it from. Looks like I need to do some house cleaning.
I had never thought about it either. There are so many things I wish I’d known on the first day I started – I’m just glad I learned before I had been blogging for too long!!
Thank you for this link. It is very helpful. I will take a look back at my blog and see what needs to be removed.
No problem – thanks for stopping by, Busy Mom of Twins!
Scary I know. I try to use all of my own. But Problogger (Darren Rowse) has a lesson on how and where to use images that are not yours. I’ll try to dig it up!
I love Problogger!! He has so many great posts on how to get your blog where you want it to be!
Isn’t it wonderful that there are so many resources out there? I’d be a floundering mess without help!
Thanks for visiting Snapshots!
Absolutely! Thanks for stopping by, Morgan!
What a helpful post! I joined SITS blogging community and I really love it. It has helped me out tremendously and I have met some wonderful bloggers through it as well.
Awesome! Thanks for stopping by Lucy!
That’s why I only post my own recipes
I love all the blogging communities online, they are great resources!
Good advice!
It’s so important to have those resources. I am so thankful for our local So Cal Lady Bloggers group. Incredible women with incredible knowledge.
Me too!! I love our So Cal Lady Bloggers group – I’ve learned so much from them!!