Visual content is a major component of every marketers editorial calendar. According to a recent study highlighted by HubSpot, 37% of marketers said that visual collateral was the second most important form of content to their ongoing strategies today – barely being edged out by blogging.
Part of this is due to its effectiveness – people are not only more likely to remember information when it’s presented to them visually versus when they hear it, but it also makes it far easier to follow directions too.
However, many are left to wonder – does this type of thoughtful visual content have a place in today’s fast-paced social media world?
Marketers sure seem to think so, as 74% of them use visual assets in their social media marketing more than even blogs and videos.
If you want to make sure you’re making the best use of visual content for your social media marketing, you’ll need to keep a few key things in mind.
Never Tell, Always Show
The most important tip to remember when integrating visual content with your larger social media campaigns is that we’ve officially entered into an age when “show, don’t tell” is the new norm.
Think about it – Twitter users in particular (though they’re certainly not the only ones) rely on social networking for short bursts of information throughout the day.
It’s part of the reason why we’re also living in a “headline culture” where fewer and fewer people make it past the first paragraph of any particular news item each year.
You can use this fact to your advantage – or at least take it into consideration – by ALWAYS presenting ideas visually whenever possible.
Don’t write 200 words if you can sum up the same idea with a photograph or image.
Find Your Voice – Visually Speaking
One of the most important ways to differentiate yourself when it comes to marketing is to “find your voice.”
In the old days, this meant developing a signature style. Either through language choices or other design elements that instantly harkened back to your larger brand with every ad. Companies like Apple have long mastered this.
The same concept is true in terms of visual content for social media, only on a slightly different playing field.
These days you should be investing in things like professional graphic design and in-house training for photo editing to help come up with a look and a feel that is all your own. It’s just another great way to start attracting the right kind of attention.
“Visual” Doesn’t Mean “No Words”
Many people think that when they put visual content out into the world, this means literally visuals – meaning no text allowed. This is false, as it’s hard to write a “Call to Action” without them.
However, always remember that “brevity is the soul of wit.” Don’t allow the words to overpower your visuals. Instead, work hard to strike a balance between the two to convey your message in the most effective way possible.
The 2017 Content Marketing Conference
The increased importance of visual content, even in today’s social media world, is another of the many reasons why events like the 2017 Content Marketing Conference are so important.
You don’t just get to find out about all of the latest tips, tricks and best practices to help your own campaigns soar, but you get to find out WHY they work and how to use them to maximum effectiveness.
If you’re interested in attending the 2017 Content Marketing Conference, you can purchase tickets today.