14 tools to create better visuals

Time is spent brainstorming the content, gathering information and then finally writing the perfect post. The fun doesn’t end there—as the perfect post often requires the perfect visual to go with it.

Maybe you’re lucky enough to be an excellent photographer, or at least have one on your team. For those who need help, I’ve taken some of Amanda Hicken’s excellent suggestions and added a few of my own for this list of 14 great—and free—design resources for bloggers.

1. Creative Commons Search: Creative Commons licenses make it easy for artists to share their creative work and for bloggers to look for content that can be used freely and legally. Although Creative Commons content is all over the Web, search.creativecommons.org is a great resource that allows users to specify which CC search service (options include Flickr, Wikimedia Commons, and the Open Clip Art Library) and what license parameters to use.