IMAGES
Before you throw yourself into a frenzy of sharing anything and everything, bear in mind that effective use of images requires a fair bit of consideration, creativity and effort. The one-size-fits-all approach does not work well here!
So, what TYPE of images should you be sharing?
Try the following for starters:
- Screenshots –what better testimonial to the quality of your product or service than a screenshot of a happy customer’s comments?
- Behind the scenes – taking your customers backstage gives depth to your business and can build loyalty and “humanises” your brand.
- Text images: don’t underestimate the power (and shareability) of a good quote! Use quotes from customers as well as famous people; slogans, tips, and statistics work well too.
Keep an eye on quality and size
Fuzzy, confusing images will NOT serve your brand well: use good quality images and get the size right – there are number of free tools available to help you resize and edit images so there’s no excuse not to use the correct image size for the respected social media platform.
Mix it up
Use different images for different purposes and platforms. Knowing why your fans follow you on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn, will enable you to give them the image that is most relevant to them on that network.
Upcycle
Slight modifications can make the same bit of visual content workable across different platforms: edit an Instagram post to suit your Facebook audience, and again to include it in your blog or on LinkedIn; it’s a question of being aware of the differences across platforms and adapting your images accordingly. This gives your images great mileage whilst retaining sensitivity to the characteristics of the people on each platform. Canva is a great tool for resizing images and changing text overlays.
Include your logo and or web address
Reinforce your online presence by ensuring that your images are identifiable with your brand. Use your brand’s colours and fonts where possible.
Use images that stand out
Your images need to engage your fans and stand out from the rest of the feed; consider paying for images if you really want to stand out from the crowd.
Your customers usually only see your finished product, but using images of your journey from conception to completion is a fantastic way to generate interest and create a buzz about your products or services. Instagram and Snapchat are brilliant platform for your to use real time images and up-cycle onto different platforms.
There are SO many ways to incorporate visual content including images, videos and live streaming and the fun comes from experimenting, getting creative and using your imagination. As long as you are clear about your message and your content reinforces your core values, you should be able to produce material that really resonates with your audience and enhances your business’s influence and presence online.
(I will be sharing some info with you about how to get more visual with videos and live stream very soon)
Watch this space, in the meantime you can more visual marketing tips by downloading a FREE copy of my 52 tips to grow your small business online…
