What You See is What You Get in Social Media

When posting content to social media sites make sure that you use image rich material. It is scientifically proven that our minds process visual information 60,000 times faster than text. If your social media posts are all text based, it is time to change your strategy and focus on images. You can also use video marketing to provide information in a user friendly way.

A picture can say a thousand words, and that has never been so true as with social media. People scroll through postings at a rapid pace and only stop when they see something that may be interesting. You can use images to share information so that people get an idea of what the story is all about without needing to read the entire thing.

Use Visual Strategies to Make Your Posts More Effective

• Tell a story. You can use an image or a collage of images to tell a story about your brand or the consumers that use your brand. For example, if you sell children’s toys, take pictures of the child opening a box, one pulling it out with a smile, and one or two with the child playing with their new toy. These photos tell a story of a child enjoying using your products and may inspire other parents to buy the toy for their child. You can use this same strategy to capture your mission with visual images.

• Use text to comment on up to date information. If something happens in your community, use an image to share your version of the story. For example, after a big snow storm you could show your staff shoveling snow and helping clients in the door with a big “We’re Open” sign. If own an ice cream shop and the local Little League team won a big game, you could post a photo of their baseball hat next to a big bowl of ice cream with your promotional text underneath. The key is to make sure that your business name and promotional text are imposed onto the photo. There is a lot of free software that will allow you to do this including an app called PicCollage.

• Use video marketing. Social media marketing is not complete without video marketing. This often underutilized tactic can promote your company by providing information in an easy to view format. Many people find it difficult to read through in depth instructional manuals or to dig for specific product information. You can make it easy by using video marketing to show consumers everything they need to know about your product. You can also have satisfied customers give their testimonials on video to enhance your online reviews.

• Share interesting quotes. Impose a quote onto an image for people to view and share. People enjoy sharing quotes and with the right image they can go viral. Make sure to use a relevant image that translates back to your brand.

• Engage the community. Ask your fans and local community members to upload their own images. This can be from a local event or people using your products. Be as creative as you like. This should be fun!

You can increase your fan engagement and get more exposure by using images and video marketing to improve your overall social media strategy. It’s easy so start today!