5 Ideas For Creative Visual Content Marketing
Visual marketing is blowing across the Internet like a game-changing storm. You've seen
interesting
photos on social media, links to infographics on Twitter, and images
with QR codes in print media. You may even have seen television
commercials with stunning images but no words.
Creative marketers
will pay attention to this trend because people are word-exhausted and
ready for a change, and visual content is the balm that heals those
weary media consumers. Give them what they want. Here are five creative
ways to market with visual content.
1. Infographics. The
Internet is so saturated with words that it's easy to lose exhausted
readers. Infographics are the antidote for word saturation. A cleverly
done infographic can condense massive amounts of information and present
them in an interesting, memorable way. Expert educators tell us that
people remember about 20% of what they read, but 83% of learning occurs
visually. Not only will you be able to get your messages across, but
those who view it will remember the message better. Their minds will
have an image to grasp onto when they think about your product or
service. Infographics can be included on websites and blogs, and they're
ideal for posting on social media networks, especially on Pinterest and
Facebook.
2. Photos on Social Media. Does your product or service seem removed from humanity? Starbucks
solved this problem by posting photographs of employees, customers, and
community advocates participating in the Starbucks Global Month of
Service project. Not only will your Facebook fans see you in a more
personal way, but they'll share the photos, especially if they see
themselves in them. Does your business participate in local fairs or
events? Take photos at the event, and post them as soon as
possible--ideally while you're still at the event and can comment:
"Enjoying the sunshine at the County Fair with Mayor Cleburne and Girl
Scout Troop 2553!" I guarantee that every girl scout in the picture will
post the photo on her wall.
3. Images with QR Codes.
Producing physical visual content can be a way to move customers from a
locale to the Internet. Let's say you set a display sign outside your
electronics store with a stunning picture of a brand new gadget. No
words, no price, no description--just the image. The only non-image item
on the display sign is the QR code in the top corner. Out of sheer
curiosity, people will scan the QR code, and you will have moved them
from casual passersby to potential customers with an interest in your
product. On the website they're directed to, you can include details
about the product, videos, links, and store hours.
4. User-generated Content. A local sandwich shop, Which Wich,
found a way to get their customers to produce visual content for them.
Anyone who climbed a Fourteener (a mountain over 14,000 feet tall) and
took a picture of themselves at the top holding a Which Wich sandwich
bag would get a free sandwich. In addition, any customer at the shop can
draw a picture on a sandwich bag and hang it on one of the cable
clotheslines on the restaurant walls. Which Wich employees take pictures
of the best sandwich bag artwork and upload them to Flickr. Anytime you
get users to generate visual content for you, you have users with
vested interests in your products, and you also widen your social
networking reach.
5. Go for Bold and Glossy. Whatever
visual content marketing images you produce, make them beautiful. That
doesn't mean you have to use stock photos of people with unearthly white
teeth, but get a decent camera and learn how to use photo editing
software. When you're competing with millions of other websites and
social media posts, your visual content needs to stand out. If you're
posting product images, make your products look stunning. If you're
producing infographics, make them look bright, neat, and professional.
Humans love beauty. Give them some, and they'll pay attention to you.
Visual
content marketing is sweeping the Internet, so don't delay adding this
important component to your marketing repertoire. Begin today by posting
more photos and infographics to your company's website and social media
networks. Then make a plan for more creative and sophisticated visual
content marketing campaigns like the one used by Which Wich. Visual
content marketing takes more thought than resources, which makes it
perfect for new start-ups or companies who are operating their marketing
on a shoestring. Catch the vision, and watch your traffic increase.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
Comments