The Google Icon right in front of your nose that will bring you so much ease

Pssst.  Have you ever been tempted (like gobbling up this plate of doughnuts) to use a picture or an image that you found online that you’re not sure you have the right to use? And, not sure about the Images copyright?

It’s a common conundrum

You’re in a hurry and need a good image for a report, a picture for a newsletter, or a colourful graphic for a blog post.  And you find the perfect one.  It’s the right colour.  It fits your needs perfectly.  It’s really nice.

But…

You either don’t know if you have the rights to use it (Images copyright) or you haven’t even thought about it. (Spoiler alert: not all images on the internet can be legally used!)

Have I got a Simple (with a capital S) tech tool for you.

And it’s been hiding in plain sight this whole time.

How to easily get great images and photos you can legally use in the blink of an eye:

1. Head over to a blank Google doc

2. Click on the little gray icon in the lower right corner (see what I mean about it hiding in plain sight?!) When you click on it, it will say ‘explore.’
3. In the box that will pop up, enter a subject you’re looking for (e.g. climate change) and hit enter.
4. You’ll see three options: Cloud search, web, and images. Click on images.
5. Et voila! A host of pictures and images will pop up that you are legally allowed to use. Click on the one you want and it will appear on your screen. Note the usage rights are in tiny font at the bottom, e.g. “Image is labeled for commercial use with modification”. Only select images that you have confirmed you have the license to use.
6. If you want to use it, click on ‘insert.’ If you want to keep on searching click on the back arrow (top left) and try another image.
7. Once you click ‘insert’ it will appear in your Google doc. Want to use the image somewhere else other than a Google doc? No problem, just copy and paste it where you want it.

Here’s an example of an image from my search with the term climate change

And there my friends is a super-fast, easy way to get pictures you’re able to use legally.

By the way, if you’re not a Google fan check out this post for three other ways to get pictures easily, quickly, and legally.

Wow your friends and colleagues with your next PowerPoint deck, blog, report, newsletter, and more with this simple technique.  High five to easy, effective tech tools and to you.

Now go on and learn, laugh and lead

Learn

• Try your hand at finding an image using the Google icon with this link.

Laugh

• The best life hacks make life a little easier and a little more fun, just like the Google explore icon and this brilliant woman who puts peanut butter on her head to trim her dog’s nails.

Lead

• Now that you’ve practiced finding an image, go ahead and use your newfound skill in your next report, newsletter, blog, etc.

P.S. Let’s stay connected. Free weekly coaching by email on how to use humanity and humour to problem solve, right here.