The Ultimate Keyword Guide: Part 1

The Ultimate Keyword Guide

Hello there 123RF contributors! Check out what we've come up for you with the aim to enhance the accuracy of keywording and description for 123RF Submissions. Here we are sharing a series of guides for you to follow that will lead to a better 123RF for everyone.

This time around, we'll cover descriptions and how to write accurate descriptions before covering the complex stuff such as keywording! Description is an important part of your image submissions as well because our search engine also searches your descriptions for results!

1.0 Description

1.1 Write a concise but detailed description of what you SEE in the image

e.g.,

GOOD: Three business people having a discussion

NOT SO GOOD: Three young business people wearing light business outfit looking at document and smiling

Note: We can always cover what specific items are there in the image within the keywords itself.

1.2 Leave out on any terms that refer to a model's ethnicity or nation of origin

e.g.,

GOOD: Man drinking coffee

NOT SO GOOD: African American man drinking coffee

Note: The reason why ethnicity is left out is because we will add that information in the keywords section. In addition to that, if an image contains people with multi ethnic backgrounds it will be quite a task to fit everyone's ethnicity into the description.

1.3 However, it is alright to describe food or objects using national terms.

e.g.,

Woman enjoying Japanese food

Note: Again, the specific food type as in our case here can be covered in the keywords. As you can see, this is just one food type, if there are several, the person describing the image will be hard pressed to come up with a suitable concise description.

1.4 Trademarked words SHOULD NOT appear in the description

e.g.,

GOOD: Man playing wooden blocks

NOT SO GOOD: Man playing Jenga

Note: Your images and keyword list should never have brands such as Apple, or iPod or Dell, keep it generic such as, desktop computer, laptop computer or MP3 player. It must never endorse a certain brand.

1.5 Give the exact name if the geographic location is an important aspect of the image

e.g.,

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal park in Utah

Note: If you know exactly what you're photographing, it always helps to add it into the description, once again, not too long please!

1.6 Describe what you know to be factual or are extremely confident of

e.g.,

Cute little Yorkshire Terrier puppy

Note: Here, if we have a group of dogs, it would be more prudent to have a description that says, "A group of dogs ..... etc." as its description instead of listing down, "A cute Yorkshire Terrier puppy running in the park with a beige adult Labrador etc etc."

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So, remember folks... when you're describing images, keep it clear, concise and accurate. You can give out the exact location name and what you know to be factual as long as you're very confident about it. Then again, trademarked words and model's ethnicity are a definite no-no.

And lastly do remember, don't copy the entire paragraphs from Wikipedia as your description!

e.g.,

The Great Pyramid of Giza , also called Khufu's Pyramid or the Pyramid of Khufu, and Pyramid of Cheops, is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering what is now Cairo, Egypt in Africa, and is the only remaining member of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is believed the pyramid was built as a tomb for Fourth dynasty Egyptian pharaoh Khufu (Cheops in Greek) and constructed over a 20 year period concluding around 2560 BC.

We have the National Geographic or Discovery for those! :-)

All right folks, these is just a little teaser for what we will have for you in about 2 weeks time where we will produce the more exciting keywording guide.We hope you've benefitted from this article and will stay tuned to our next installment!