Do you wish to see more engagement with your social media posts? Are you looking to reach more people through your content? Integrating visual content into your social media accounts can increase engagement by up to 51 %.
Visual content is also an effective marketing strategy since it includes videos, photos, and infographics. This kind of content can help consumers to process information 60 times more quickly. Please don’t do it by creating visual content solely to make a point. When creating visual content, it’s;
- Relevant
- Inspiring and
- Correctly formatted.
This article will help you learn how to create visually appealing content that can help to achieve your marketing goals.
Does Visual Content Matter?
When discussing the significance of visual aids to content marketing, many people wonder whether it’s really important. The Truth? Yes, it is.
Scientists have proven that visual images reach the brain a staggering sixty times more quickly than text. We don’t know for sure what causes this. The possibility is that it has something to do with how our minds process language in written form.
In the end, you can look at an image and comprehend what it signifies instead of needing to read a text to change it into thoughts in your brain.
This is why including visual elements in your digital marketing or social media advertising is essential to achieving the success of your campaign.
If your readers can view an image accompanied by your message, they’re more likely to react quickly or take action before going on to another thing. Adding images to your social media posts is essential to improve overall engagement and responses.
Why is Visual Content Effective?
We’ve previously discussed the biological reasons why visual content is so efficient on social media. But we’ll look into some additional practical reasons — that ultimately boil to a crowded market.
Your followers and your target audience are bombarded by digital noise regularly. Every time they log on to their favorite websites, they’ve got thousands of bits of content available to view in a matter of seconds.
That’s a lot of competitors for your posts, you think? If all you’re posting is a text without any visual element, you will be overlooked in favor of an excellent video or photo.
They know this. You require an effective visual strategy to remain competitive and expand your brand. However, it’s not the sole reason to choose this type of approach to marketing content.
Images aid in increasing the efficiency of the visualization of data. Cartoons and memes provide an entertaining approach to serious issues. Images of the product make it simpler to decide on purchasing an item. They are just a few examples of how various types of media can generate an enthusiastic response from your customers.
Simply put, visually appealing content draws your audience’s attention and increases the likelihood of making a purchase or passing the information on to other people.
How Has Social Media Changed in the Last Two Decades?
Like other aspects of society, social media is always evolving.
When platforms upgrade to the latest and better formats or change their algorithms and continuously strive to provide an improved experience for their users, the method we all use digital content on these sites and apps also changes.
For instance, just under two decades ago, having a MySpace profile or Livejournal blog seemed like a novelty. Then came Facebook and Twitter, which made socializing with this type more common.
Then we added Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube, all of which are obvious social media sites that rely on video and photos. Now? The practice of streaming live using apps like TikTok and Twitch is growing more well-known.
The major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and even Pinterest are looking for ways to assist users in transitioning from pictures to video. The whole industry is moving towards a position where this content will be essential for businesses looking to establish an online presence.
Why is this happening?
Technology has dramatically improved over the last two decades. Smartphone cameras are as good as larger digital formats, which makes it easy and simple to make video clips and modify digital photos at the touch of a button.
It’s also fascinating that specific social media sites are looking toward taking their tech capabilities even further by incorporating virtual reality features, such as the Facebook Oculus and YouTube’s VR. Can you imagine a day when producing content for your intended users creates an interactive environment?
Based on the recent trends, we could be headed in that direction. Based on the current trends, and that’s why the need to implement a visual strategy today is essential in the digital marketing world.
What Types of Visual Content Are Popular These Days?
In the present, when visual content is the most common way of developing a social media presence, Let’s take a look at a handful of the most popular kinds.
Video
In terms of video videos, videos are nowadays an integral component of making your audience engage and engage with you. However, don’t be tempted to think that this must be polished. Sometimes, just a glimpse into the workings or events in your workplace can be noticed on social media.
Live Streaming
Live footage that makes viewers thrilled. For all we know, TV news channels, as well as reality shows, have been betting on this type of format for many years.
Utilizing Facebook, Instagram, or even Twitch to stream live is an excellent method to give your audience an insight into the work of your business. It is also helpful in teaching questions, displaying the latest products in their launch phase, and much more.
Quizzes
Interactive content that demands viewers to take a decision or take action is always a great method to increase the amount of engagement. Tests are highly well-liked and even within an eCommerce setting. For instance, you might ask a customer questions that will help them identify their preferred flavor or color from your inventory list.
Bite-Size videos
In addition to this list of top visual types of content are bite-sized videos. We are referring to images that are less than a minute in length that provides something of an educational or entertainment value. TikTok and Instagram Stories are good examples of how this could be utilized to create content that your viewers love.
Maps and Charts
Sometimes the content can be somewhat dry — particularly in the B2B environment. It does not mean that you shouldn’t use images as a method to boost your social media profiles.
LinkedIn can be a great place to share charts, maps, or similar visuals that help narrow in on the specific idea you’re trying to convey through your article or information you’re presenting.
GIFs and Memes
Of course, there is always a chance that the world could have laughter. It is said that humor is the thing that unites us all, and that’s why memes and GIFs are becoming increasingly popular on social media. These animated pictures or still videos can be a fantastic method to personalize, express, and maybe even some humor.
How to Effectively Choose Your Visual Content
Naturally, selecting the right content for your images to include on your social media accounts is also important. It’s not wise to put up any old photo and claim it to be the one you own.
In the same way, you should ensure that your branding and visuals are consistent with your distinctive brand’s voice, color scheme, and overall style. Here are a few more suggestions to think about:
Remember the importance of diversity.
When choosing images on your social media accounts, incorporate diversities. This means you will get various pictures of people of different ethnic, races, gender, social, and background.
A lot of big companies have found the significance of this over the past few years. This is why your business should be extra careful when choosing an array of people for different photos.
Be aware of what you’re posting.
Have you ever witnessed a business share a post on social media only to think that the marketing team wasn’t putting effort into thinking before posting? Don’t be that business.
Instead, consider all the possible ways your potential customers might react to what you’re saying to incorporate into your social media profiles. Check to make sure that you’re not making a mistake in the facts or adding something controversial.
Stay with your brand Aesthetic.
In case you weren’t aware that your brand’s aesthetic includes the fonts, colors, and the style of the digital publications your business publishes.
It is vital to make sure that customers know who you are when they view your content on any platform. To facilitate this to make this easier, create a branding guide inside the company’s internal files. This allows everyone in the team to use the same tools in creating visual content.
Prepare for Upcoming Events
If you decide on visual content to post on social media platforms, ensure you plan for events soon. Product launches, big events, celebrations, and many more are good reasons to post additional visual content on your social media accounts for your business.
Where Exactly Should You Search for Visual Content?
Now that you know the importance of visual content and the various types of content in demand let’s examine how to locate it.
Naturally, you wouldn’t intend to copy other websites using their graphics and images. This is a bad idea and could later lead to an expensive copyright lawsuit.
Be sure to look for sites that grant permission to share their data or the owner’s permission first. You may also outsource this process to a graphic designer who is a freelancer or any other agency.
The Rock Content’s Visually can assist create amazing multimedia content that gets your customers’ attention. What if you needed just a sharp image? Text on a beautiful background created using the Canva application is good.
It would help if you also considered at minimum one visual element to complement your message to ensure that you’re receiving interest from your viewers. Then, you might want to consider taking pictures and videos by yourself.
Many smartphones nowadays are equipped with excellent cameras. A myriad of free apps allows for a few visual editing in a matter of minutes. If you’re in a particular area where stock images aren’t an alternative, it’s an excellent idea.
Wrap Up: The Importance of Visual Content in Social Media
Today, companies can’t rely on posts written in text to gain a lot of attention through social networks. Visuals such as maps, videos, charts, or even photos are the best method to make people talk regarding the content you’re giving them and motivate them to take action.
Of course, if seeking more information about how to accomplish this rock content Interactive Marketing Handbook is a good way to begin. Learn tips, tricks, and the best methods to make your posts visible on social media and across the web.