Alternatives to posting your own photo on your blog

How about a fiverr caricature?

As Parker said try fiver, or check out the warriors for hire section there are some really neat designers who do caricatures and mascots. Slightly more expensive than the graphics you would get on fiver but in my opinion the quality is a lot better.

There are gender specific animated facial images on google. Some look very real. I use one of those on my own blogs.

Having real human photo instead of caricature helps in your identity displayed along your blog in Google Search (Authorship) and this is a + for SEO.

Why not stock photos, there are millions of wonderful face stocks, I don't think her entire audience will recognize it "from somewhere else".
I've gotten by just using free stock too, so you can definitely get away with paid stock.

"I'm working with a person who wants to keep her face and identity private on her blog."

Why is she building a blog then? She would be much better writing to herself in notepad, really the idea of a blog is to put forth your ideas or agenda, for anyone to take her blog seriously, she needs to come out of the closet. I suggest you explain that to her, but if you really need the money, just take it and let her languish in autonomy.

I don't even become friends with faceless people on Facebook, no icons dog pics caricatures, there is a reason they call it Facebook, more and more sharing is done on blogs with such social media, sooner or later that lady needs to come out of that closet... unless of course she is a scammer, spammer, or ashamed of her content,plans, or desires

So don't put her photo up.

Not only is this complete garbage, but you have a caricature for your WF avatar. Were you a court jester in your passed life? I ask because you just made a fool of yourself.

Having a real human photo doesn't do anything but fill in space on your blog. Do you really think your readers give a shit about what you look like? They are reading your blog to learn.

Also... How can a personal photo add to SEO? Wait... Why would you care about SEO! Search Engines wont join your list, buy your products, or click your links. It's PEOPLE that you need to focus on, not Search Engines.

The truth is, if she doesn't want her photo on the blog, DON'T PUT IT ON THE BLOG.

You come here asking what alternatives you can do, but the reality is that you should stop worrying about details that don't help your readers. Does her image help her readers? Does it teach them how to solve their problems? Will it make them come back to learn more? If you said no to any of those, then you should have your answer.

Guys, that isn't a caricature - it's a likeness and it is probably fairly accurate! A caricature is defined as such:

(from Webster's Dictionary)

Definition of CARICATURE

1
: exaggeration by means of often ludicrous distortion of parts or characteristics

2
: a representation especially in literature or art that has the qualities of caricature

3
: a distortion so gross as to seem like caricature

There is nothing distorted about his image.

To bring my post back to the point, I think a caricature in the (defined properly) is an excellent idea for your client. So is using stock images. I have gone the stock face image route in the past.

katherine, good move on the likeness. That's how I go about adding a personal touch to my stuff. That's also the type of picture I use for my Fiverr profile.

I use my logo as my avatar or I turn off avatars. its just something to show that a different person is speaking and it identifies them so any unique picture works, so I use a logo

Have her face cartoon then maybe distort, also if no one knows its her - then no one knows what she looks like...

I believe stock photos of other people have legal repercussions, and could be construed as fraud.

You could also try obscuring a photo. Go to fotoflexer and play with the filters. Or reveal only a part of the face. I used Photoshop for mine:



You can get some authenticity but you don't have to sell your soul to Zuckerberg.

Trust is a feeling, you earn it by helping the people or otherwise to be the best in your field and other recognizes you, by getting in touch with you or word of mouth. So yes, picture does matter but that's not the only thing. It's more about the quality content you provide then the picture comes at a very later stage. When everyone is anxious to know more about you. Don't worry, keep providing quality content and you'll do great.

I would go with the cartoon/caricature. I have seen marketing data suggesting it substantially increases your response rate. Also see Dan Kennedy - he has a great cartoon of him on a bull that he uses frequently.

Alternatively the walk on the beach silhouette type thing also could work.

Logo or nothing.
She can use (well-made) logo for all her sites and/or products.