I Tested Over 70 AI Image Services for SEO. These Actually Work

Hi, I’m Julie, an editor at code.market. I’m in charge of publishing all the code.market articles, and I hope you noticed that the images in them look pretty awesome, subjectively speaking. 

When we brainstormed content strategy for code.market, we absolutely agreed on SEO content as one of our key priorities. Even though a lot of the time these texts are seen quite words-oriented with visual excellence as an accidental surplus, I decided to put some time into making the reading also a pleasant experience for our eyes. 

In this text, I wanted to share some tips and tricks from my personal and professional experience on the instruments I personally use to create illustrations after rounds and rounds of testing. They are quick, intuitive, and effective, no matter how advanced you are in AI tools or artistically talented. 

Benefits of AI image generation for SEO

Visuals play a crucial role in enhancing the effectiveness of your SEO articles. Engaging images not only improve user experience but also increase the visibility of your content in search engine results. One innovative solution to enhance your SEO articles is AI image generation.

AI-generated images offer several advantages for improving your SEO strategy:

1. Enhanced user engagement: Visually appealing images capture the attention of your readers, leading to increased engagement and time spent on your articles.
2. Unique and original content: By generating custom images tailored to your articles, you can reduce reliance on stock photos and offer unique content to your audience.
3. Improved search engine visibility: Search engines prioritize articles with relevant, high-quality images, leading to better rankings and more organic traffic to your website.

How to use image generation tools effectively

To make the most of AI image generation tools, it's essential to craft effective prompts that guide the AI in creating the desired images. Here are some tips for writing good prompts:

• Be specific: Include details about the subject, style, colors, and any other relevant attributes.
• Use descriptive language: Incorporate adjectives and verbs that convey the mood or action you want to depict.
• Provide context: If applicable, give context or a scenario to help the AI understand the intended use of the image.

I love using style catalogs, like this one. When knowing the topic of the article that needs visuals, I explore categories to find a couple of style references to try out, which makes the generation environment more controllable and predictable, shortening the polishing stage. 

Prompt examples for specific styles

Although they are a good source of inspiration, you don’t have to go into these catalogs. Stylistic prompts can be simplified to target a general direction of the result you want to get. For example, try these ones:

• Realistic Look: "A high-resolution, photorealistic image of a [subject] in [setting], with [details] and [lighting]."
  Example: "A high-resolution, photorealistic image of a golden retriever puppy playing in a sunny park, with lush green grass and a clear blue sky."
• Cartoon Style: "A cartoon-style illustration of a [subject] in [setting], with [details] and a whimsical, playful tone."
  Example: "A cartoon-style illustration of a family of penguins picnicking on an iceberg, with colorful baskets and a playful, happy atmosphere."
• Vintage/Retro Look: "A vintage-inspired, sepia-toned image of a [subject] in [setting], with [details] and a nostalgic feel."
  Example: "A vintage-inspired, sepia-toned image of a classic car parked on a country road, with rolling hills and a nostalgic, timeless feel."

AI Image generation services

To help you find the right tools for your needs, I’ve compiled a list of the best AI image generation services across various categories, tried and tested on my own time and patience.

1. General image generation

Free AI tools

1. DALL-E 2: A cutting-edge AI system that generates stunning images from simple text descriptions, allowing users to create original and lifelike visuals. Truly a great beginner tool.
2. Craiyon: Formerly known as DALL-E Mini, this tool quickly generates images from text prompts and is accessible for casual users.
3. NightCafe Studio: A versatile platform that uses neural networks to create art from text, offering multiple styles and an easy-to-use interface.
4. DeepAI: Generates images from text prompts with various styles and customization options available for users.
5. RunwayML: A creative suite for artists and designers that includes AI image generation tools, video editing, and more for innovative multimedia projects.
6. Artbreeder: A collaborative tool that allows users to blend images and create new artworks through genetic algorithms, focusing on creativity and exploration.
7. Pixray: An open-source image generation tool that transforms text prompts into images, providing flexibility and customization for developers.
8. StarryAI: An AI art generator that creates images from text descriptions, allowing users to customize styles and outputs easily.
9. Deep Dream Generator: Uses neural networks to create dream-like images from user-uploaded photos or text prompts, emphasizing artistic expression.

Paid/limited access AI tools

11. Midjourney: An innovative AI image generator that creates stunning artwork based on user prompts, typically requiring a subscription for full access. This one is, expectedly, my absolute favorite, with a subscription allowing mass-production. 
12. Adobe Firefly: Adobe's AI tool for generating images, allowing users to create personalized stock photos with a focus on commercial safety and ethical use.
13. Zyro AI Image Generator: A straightforward tool that generates images from text, with basic features available for free and advanced options requiring a subscription.
14. Pikazo: An app that transforms photos into artwork using AI, offering both free and premium features for artistic customization.
15. MagickImg: While primarily an image manipulation tool, it offers AI capabilities for generating and editing images, with some features requiring payment.
16. AI Picasso: An AI tool that generates artistic images based on user descriptions, with a freemium model offering basic and advanced features.
17. Lumen5: A video creation platform that uses AI to generate marketing videos, offering free access with limited features and paid plans for advanced capabilities.

2. Image customization and editing

• Adobe Firefly: Customizes AI-generated images for brand-specific adjustments.
• Canva: User-friendly platform with AI features for image creation and editing. Good for short and simple tasks.
• Fotor: AI-powered photo editing tool that offers templates and customization options. I really enjoy this one to polish my generated images and add a bit more ‘pazazz’. 
• Pixlr: Provides AI-enhanced editing tools for quick adjustments and enhancements.

3. Infographic and data visualization

• Visme: AI-powered tool for creating infographics and visual data representations.
• Piktochart: Focuses on generating infographics that enhance SEO articles with visual data.
• Infographic Ninja: Offers templates for creating interactive infographics and charts.
• Infographix: Specialized templates for creating engaging infographics.

4. Hyper-localized content creation

These are exceptionally useful if you create content that is distributed on geoservices or work with maps.

• LocalAI: Generates images that resonate with local audiences for better local SEO.
• GeoImage: Creates location-specific images to enhance relevance for local search queries.
• Mapify: Generates custom maps and location-based visuals for content.
• Placeit: Offers mockups and templates that can be tailored to specific locations.
• Locally.ai: Focuses on generating content that connects with local markets.

5. A/B testing and performance optimization

• Optimizely: Integrates AI-generated images into A/B testing frameworks for effectiveness.
• VWO: Tests different image variations to boost engagement and conversion rates.
• Crazy Egg: Provides heatmaps and A/B testing tools for image performance analysis.
• Unbounce: Offers landing page testing with the ability to swap out AI-generated images.

Tips for using AI-generated images effectively

To ensure the success of your AI image generation strategy, keep these tips in mind:

1. Align images with content and keywords: Choose images that are relevant to your articles and incorporate keywords to improve SEO performance.
2. Regularly update images: Refresh your articles with new, relevant images to maintain interest and engagement.
3. Monitor performance: Track the performance of your AI-generated images using metrics like engagement, bounce rate, and conversions to optimize your strategy.

Conclusion

Incorporating AI image generation into your SEO article strategy can significantly enhance user experience, increase engagement, and improve search engine visibility. However, no matter how cool they look, don’t forget to fully optimize your images for SEO by considering these additional requirements:

• Add alt text: Use descriptive alt text for each image to help search engines understand the content of the image and improve accessibility for visually impaired users.
• Optimize file names: Use relevant keywords in your image file names, such as "golden-retriever-puppy-park.jpg," to enhance SEO.
• Choose the right format: Use appropriate image formats (e.g., JPEG for photographs, PNG for graphics with transparency) to ensure fast loading times and quality.
• Compress images: Optimize image sizes to reduce load times without sacrificing quality, improving user experience and SEO rankings.
• Use captions: Consider adding captions to your images, as they can provide context and improve user engagement.