Turning Your Travel Photography into Valuable Backlinks
As a travel blogger, you capture stunning images that tell stories of the destinations you visit. But these visual assets can do more than just beautify your blog.
They can be powerful tools for building high-quality backlinks that boost your SEO.
Here's how to leverage your travel photography to increase your site's authority and visibility.
The Power of Backlinks: What the Data Says
Did you know that backlinks are a huge ranking factor for your website? But you don’t need to rely on shady practicing like buying crappy links. There are lots of other “white-hat” strategies you can use like guest posting, journalist outreach, podcasts, and really any kind of PR.
-All strategies that require a lot of work.
According to a comprehensive study by Backlinko analyzing over 11.8 million Google search results, pages in the first position on Google have an average of 3.8x more backlinks than those in positions 2-10, confirming that backlinks remain one of the most critical ranking factors (Source). The data clearly shows that backlinks aren't just helpful. They're essential for standing out in the crowded travel blogging space.
The Travel Site Advantage: Images as Backlink Magnets
But as a travel blogger, you have a unique advantage that other industries don’t.
You have lots of beautiful travel photos!
BuzzSumo's analysis of over 1 million articles found that content with at least one image generates 94% more total views than content without images (Source). This increased visibility directly translates to more backlink opportunities.
Further research from HubSpot reinforces this finding, revealing that content with relevant images gets 94% more views than content without visual elements, and articles with an image once every 75-100 words received double the social shares of articles with fewer images (Source).
As a travel blogger with a library of stunning destination photos, you have a significant advantage in creating highly shareable, link-worthy content.
These are some ways you can increase your backlinks leveraging these photos.
Image Licensing Strategies for Travel Blogs
Strategic licensing of your travel photography creates authorized pathways for others to use your images while ensuring you receive proper attribution and backlinks. By implementing these structured approaches, you transform your photo library from a personal asset into a backlink generation system that works even while you're exploring your next destination.
1. Create a Free Stock Image Collection
Curate a selection of your best travel photos and offer them for free use with attribution. Create a dedicated page on your site with clear licensing terms that require a backlink when the images are used.
Check out websites like Unsplash and Freepix that offer free stock photos with artist attribution.
2. Partner with Tourism Boards
Reach out to destination marketing organizations and tourism boards to offer your images for their promotional materials. Many smaller destinations struggle with quality visual content and would appreciate professional photos in exchange for backlinks and credit.
Tip: Tourism boards are also a great place to try to guest post!
Visual Content that Attracts Backlinks
Beyond standard destination photography, certain visual formats have proven particularly effective at attracting natural backlinks. These specialized visual approaches solve specific problems for content creators and travelers alike, making them more likely to be referenced and linked to across the web. By developing these high-value visual assets, you create content that other sites actively want to reference.
Don’t forget to optimize your photos and graphics for SEO when uploading them to your site!
1. Before/After Comparisons of Destinations
Create compelling before/after sliders of destinations that have undergone significant changes (renovations, natural events, seasonal changes). These unique visual perspectives often get picked up by travel publications.
Check out this example I found on Reddit of how Seattle’s waterfront has changed since they removed the Viaduct and built a huge park connecting Pike Place with the Piers.
2. Travel Photo Essays with Narrative
Don't just share beautiful images. Instead, craft visual stories that provide unique insights. Photo essays that tell compelling stories about lesser-known aspects of popular destinations are highly linkable. They also help readers fully immerse themselves in the destination.
Check out an example of how to tell a good photo story from JSL Travels.
3. Destination Behind-the-Scenes Photography
Share the reality behind iconic tourist photos. These "Instagram vs. Reality" style posts resonate with audiences and often go viral, attracting links from various publications.
Check out this example from the Solo Female Traveler Network.
Destination Infographics: Visual Data Storytelling
But even if you don’t have the best photos to use, you can also create your own graphics that are highly linkable!
Infographics combine the visual appeal of your travel photography with actionable data, creating highly shareable assets that convey complex information at a glance.
According to the studies cited earlier, visual content dramatically increases engagement, and infographics take this principle further by packaging your travel expertise into easily digestible formats that both readers and other bloggers find valuable enough to link to. Infographics remain one of the most linkable content formats when done right.
Here's how to create destination infographics that generate backlinks:
1. Data-Driven Destination Guides
Transform your firsthand knowledge into visual guides that combine your photography with useful data:
Cost breakdowns for different travel styles
Transportation maps with time estimates between attractions
Weather patterns and best times to visit
Crowd level indicators for major attractions by season
Check out this great example from Hello Tokyo Tours.
2. Themed Comparison Infographics
Create visually striking comparisons that help travelers make decisions:
"Beach vs. Mountains: Two Ways to Experience Costa Rica"
"Tokyo Neighborhoods: Finding Your Perfect Match"
"Food Tour: Regional Specialties Across Italy"
Check out this example from Life in Italy.
3. Travel Hack Visualizations
Transform your travel tips into visual flowcharts or decision trees:
"How to Find Authentic Local Restaurants" (decision tree)
"Packing Guide for Multi-Climate Destinations" (visual checklist)
"Photography Spot Map" with best times for lighting
Check out this example from Travel Fashion Girl.
Outreach Strategies for Your Travel Photos
Creating outstanding visual content is only half the battle—strategic promotion ensures your images reach the right audiences and generate valuable backlinks. These outreach approaches help you maximize the visibility of your visual assets while maintaining control over how they're used and attributed across the web.
1. Targeted Pitching
Research sites that regularly feature travel photography or infographics. Craft personalized pitches highlighting how your visual content adds unique value to their audience.
2. Create Embeddable Collections
Package related images into thematic collections (e.g., "Sunrise Across Southeast Asia") and make them easily embeddable with proper attribution.
3. Reverse Image Search Monitoring
Regularly perform reverse image searches on your popular photos. If you find sites using them without attribution, reach out politely requesting proper credit with a backlink.
Tools to Maximize Your Visual Content's Reach
The right tools can dramatically streamline your visual backlink strategy, helping you create professional-quality visual assets, track their usage across the web, and protect your work from unauthorized use. This tech stack forms the foundation of an efficient system for turning your travel photography into a consistent source of high-quality backlinks.
Canva or Adobe Express for creating professional infographics
Image tracking tools like Pixsy to monitor unauthorized usage
TinEye or Google Image Search for reverse image searching
Hotlink protection that redirects image traffic to your license page
Final Thoughts
Your travel photography is more than just content for your own blog.
It's a valuable asset that can build your site's authority through quality backlinks. By strategically creating, packaging, and promoting your visual content, you transform your travel memories into powerful SEO tools that work for you long after your trip has ended.
Remember, the goal is to create visual resources so valuable that other sites naturally want to link to them. Focus on quality, uniqueness, and presentation to maximize your success.
BTW I loooooove working with travel bloggers. Check out my travel blogger packages and book a call to see if we are a good fit!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a professional photographer to use these strategies?
No, you don't need professional-grade equipment or training. While high-quality images perform better, authentic travel photos taken with a good smartphone camera can be valuable assets if they're well-composed and showcase unique perspectives of destinations.
Won't giving away my images for free devalue my work?
When implemented strategically, free image licensing with attribution requirements actually increases your work's visibility and value. You're trading direct payment for valuable backlinks, increased domain authority, and expanded audience reach, which are assets that typically generate more long-term value than one-time image sales. Plus, you’ll often get paid on these sites! Bonus!
How do I protect my images from being used without attribution?
Use watermarking (subtle enough not to ruin the image), metadata embedding, and regular reverse image searches to monitor usage. Include clear attribution requirements with downloadable images, and use tools like Pixsy to track unauthorized use.
How many images should I offer for free use with attribution?
Start with a curated collection of 20-30 high-quality images that represent diverse destinations. Quality matters more than quantity. Offer enough variety to attract different users while maintaining standards that reflect positively on your brand.
Should I use the same images on my blog and in my free image collection?
It's best to use a mix. Include some of your published images and some exclusive photos. This gives users incentive to link to your collection while also driving traffic to your existing content.
How do I approach tourism boards with my images?
Research the destination's current marketing campaigns and identify visual gaps. Reach out with specific examples of how your images could enhance their marketing efforts, along with statistics about your blog's reach and audience demographics.
What's the best file format for sharing travel images?
For web use, optimized JPG files work best for most photography. Provide medium-resolution files (around 1500-2000px on the longest side) that are large enough for web display but not print-quality, encouraging users to link back for higher-resolution versions if needed.
How can I track which images generate the most backlinks?
Include unique tracking parameters in the backlink URLs for different image collections. Use Google Analytics and backlink monitoring tools to identify which images and collections drive the most referral traffic and generate the most valuable backlinks.
How do I create infographics if I don't have design skills?
Tools like Canva and Adobe Express offer templates specifically for travel infographics that require minimal design experience. Start with these templates and customize them with your data and photos. Alternatively, consider partnering with a designer for more complex projects.
Is it worth hiring someone to create destination infographics?
If you have the budget, professional infographic design can significantly increase shareability and backlink potential. Consider it an investment—a single well-designed infographic that generates dozens of quality backlinks often provides excellent ROI compared to other link-building methods.
What strategies have you used to leverage your travel photography for backlinks? Share your experiences in the comments below!
