The Shift to Visual Social Media – 6 Tips for Business [Infographic]

Our focus has shifted from Social Media to VISUAL Social Media.  We are drawn to “visual content” online in more ways than ever before.  

The opportunity this provides for business is massive.  But there are some key concepts and strategies that you need to know in order to leverage the power of this shift towards using visual content in social media.

This post highlights our latest infographic, featuring:

• the shift to visual social media and how it developed
• what this means for your business or brand online
• 6 simple strategies for leveraging the power of visual marketing strategies for greater reach and engagement

The Shift to VISUAL SOCIAL MEDIA

There is no denying that a massive shift has happened in the way we communicate online, especially with Social Media.  We are now, in reality, using Visual Social Media to share our message.

What began with websites, became dynamic websites or “blogs”.  The humble Blog attracted interaction, comments and community-building around posts or articles of 500-1000+ words in length.  Then posts became shorter and we embraced Facebook, and then shorter again as 140 word “tweets” sprouted on Twitter and introduced a new way of communicating. We had moved from Blogs and Blogging to Micro-blogs.

We also made the shift from Tell to Show.  Facebook, Twitter and Blogs became more visual. Images were showcased everywhere.  Microblogs evolved into Multi-media Microblogs with sites like YouTube and Tumblr offering the rapid, visual transfer of information in entertaining formats.  These platforms allowed us to devour visual material quickly.

And so it was inevitable that we would reach a point where Image-based social networks such as Pinterest and Instagram have grown at exponential rates.  These Platforms are breaking all records.  Platforms where no words are necessary.  Where a picture really does say a 1,000 words.

What Does This Shift Mean For Your Business or Brand?

In short, it means that businesses or brands online need to take note of the stats.  In 2012 alone we have seen You Tube pass 4 Billion Daily Video Views and Pinterest become the 4th largest driver of traffic worldwide.

With Pinterest becoming one of the fastest growing networks, Instagram has matched this with massive growth and high rates of engagement. Instagram was recently reported by Dane Atkinson (CEO of SumAll.com as having as much as 10 times greater engagement than other platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Not bad for a little photo sharing site.  Is it any wonder that Facebook snapped it up for $1 Billion?

A Picture Really Does Paint 1000 Words.        Photo Courtesy istockphoto.com

We have reached a point where we are, literally, saying 1,000 words with just one Picture, Image, Photo or Video. The team responsible for popular Online Photo Editor PicMonkey.com reported to us that they are averaging 4.3 million images edited daily – an impressive result after just 8 months online.  But not surprising, given the visual shift that is happening around us.

For business, this means a massive opportunity for businesses who can leverage the power of visual marketing. If we can learn how to use images, photos, video, and other visual media in our online marketing, then we have a greater chance of reaching more people with our message. This then provides the opportunity for more exposure as visuals drive traffic to our websites products and services.

How Can Your Business Leverage the Power of  Visual Social Media?

In this Infographic, we have highlighted 6 Easy Actionable Tips that you can take now in your social media marketing to leverage the power of visuals online.  Scroll down to the end of the post for more detail about these must-do “visual” actions that will help you to stay top of mind with your ideal clients on social media:

6 Ways for Your Business to Leverage the Power of Visual Social Media

Try one or more of the following 6 Tips to start taking advantage of visual marketing in your business:

#1  Don’t TELL if you can SHOW

JustB is a lifestyle blog in Australia. Their team often use images to be the 1st way to convey a message on Facebook Posts. The text and links are there to provide context. Very clickable.  Anyone hungry?

#2  Create Original Visual Content

• Get some in-house training in basic editing for your team.  You will be rewarded with productivity and cost-savings when you and your team can create and edit your own images for use online.
• Use iPhone/smartphone photo apps like Instagram, Overgram, or Phonto to take relevant, original images, and to add filters and funky fonts.  You can read more about how to use apps to get professional looking photo effects here.
• Learn to use quality DIY editing programs like PicMonkey.com. I recently posted about my enthusiasm for the Monkey.
• Create one or more of the following types of “original” images:
  • Quotes
  • Checklists
  • Tutorials
  • Infographics
  • Videos
  • Slideshare presentations.
• Identify content where you should invest money in hiring an experienced designer or illustrator to create professional looking, original content. Some content is worth the extra “quality”, as it can be shared across many networks. This may be appropriate for:
  • a quality Facebook Cover Photo or a series of promotional images to be shared across platforms.
  • a quality checklist or tutorial/instructional infographic.
  • a slideshare presentation that is professionally designed or illustrated.
  • an animated, or professionally filmed and edited video to be featured on your website and shared to other social media sites.
• Think about what information you can provide that is useful/helpful or inspirational.  Information that Helps or Inspires is amongst the most shared content, especially on Pinterest.  Likewise, Quotes and inspirational messages are shared like wildfire on Facebook.  How can you and your team create some simple, shareable images that showcase what you do as a business?  

TIP: Did you know that SlideShare Presentations and YouTube Videos play from right inside the Pinterest Newsfeed? …yet they are still under utilised on Pinterest. Think about how you can be original and different.

#3  SHOWCase Your Story

Images = Emotion and Connection.  There is no doubting that we respond quickly, and emotionally to images.  Use this to your advantage.  Showcase your story, the “why” behind your business, with images, wherever possible.

Aromatherapy and Organic Skincare Company, Twenty8.com, use images to showcase their “story”. They believe in self-care, so tips and advice is presented on a memorable image that evokes emotion. It isn’t just about their products. They walk the talk in terms of promoting “self care” in all aspects of life.

Or in this example from the team at Twenty8.com, they include a How-To Image to Showcase their Story. Again, note that it is not about their products per se but about the culture and message behind their brand.

#4  CrowdSource Visual Content

CrowdSourcing refers to the act of outsourcing tasks, traditionally performed by a business, employee or contractor to a large group of people.  The more recent “buzz” use of this word refers to the act of completing a task or finding a solution to a problem by asking your online “network” or community to help you out.

If you are an ice-cream company and you “crowdsource” your community to suggest a new flavour, you receive exposure online if the “conversation” is shared from friend to friend. Why not do this visually?  The concept, extended, can be relevant to activities where you engage fans to:

• Create and share images relevant to your business (therefore showcasing your brand)
• Connect with and promote your brand visually
• Contribute to photo and video competitions, promotions or events.
• If you can involve your community to help you “solve a problem” such as the name of your new product, or content to share online – they will be more than happy to help you!  If you can bring videos, images or photos into the mix. They will help you in a way that will share your message wider and quicker.

#5 Add Back the Words

Images are powerful in conveying a message. But the message can be ambiguous if the image or picture is not obvious. I don’t advocate completely removing words from the equation. A combination is best. In fact words can really pack a punch when combined with a great image…or even alone as a text-based image.  Try some of these Add-backs:

• Add captions and descriptions to words and images
• Overlay a “Call to Action”

Chantelle (aka blogger Fat Mum Slim) is a master of visuals + all things instagram photography. Here she uses a call to action (in fact 2 of them) to ask her community on Pinterest to join her Instagram photo competition – using a #hashtag to reference their photo entry. Adding words back is also important!

• Add keywords and hashtags to image descriptions
• Include a watermark or website url on original images

Words and images together are a powerful combination. The trick is finding the right balance. Just remember that unless the image really stands alone and conveys the powerful message that you want, you may need to add back some words!

“Without graphics, an idea may be lost in a sea of words. Without words, a graphic may be lost to a sea of ambiguity”. Mike Parkinson.

#6 Mix it Up

There are many ways to integrate the use of images or visuals in your social media marketing. Don’t just limit your ideas to adding images to Facebook, making a few new videos or pinning images to Pinterest. Try some of these ideas for mixing it up:

• Overlay text on Instagram photos.
• Tweet images (not just text!) as well as your Pinterest Pins on Twitter.
• Pin Videos or Slideshare presentations to Pinterest boards

Slideshare presentations on Pinterest add some Pop to the newsfeed. And they open up on the page! Add a slideshow or a Video and stand out from the crowd!

• Use more images on Facebook. Change out your Timeline cover photo regularly. If there are important dates in the history of your business, add them as “milestone” images on the Facebook Timeline.
• Include quality images on your Blog Posts.
• Refer to Tip No 2 for ideas about how to do all of the above.

It’s Your Turn. Had you noticed the shift to Visual Social Media? Will you be using more visuals in your social media marketing now? I would love you to comment below if something has worked in your business when using images or visual content to engage with your community.

Donna Moritz

Donna Moritz is a Social Media Strategist and Visual Marketing Specialist – and founder of Socially Sorted, in Queensland, Australia. Donna loves to help small businesses and companies use visual social media strategies to get more reach, referrals and results for their business. She has been a contributing author for Entrepreneur.com, Social Fresh and Amy Porterfield and has been featured on Forbes and Yahoo Small Business. Connect with Donna on Google+ and other social media networks below.