We are all familiar with content marketing, but do you know what visual content marketing is? Chances are, you’ve seen examples of visual content marketing without realizing the significance.
With the rise in popularity of platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, and Snapchat, businesses are starting to catch on to the power of using visuals in their marketing campaigns. When we are bombarded with content from every angle, it’s hard to break through the noise. The visuals help capture the attention of the audience and drive desired results.
But what is it, exactly? And how can you benefit from using visual content in your marketing strategy? Keep reading to find out.
What Is Visual Content Marketing?
Visual content marketing is a strategy that uses visuals (such as images, videos, infographics, etc.) to promote a product or brand. The idea behind visual content marketing is that people are more likely to remember something if they see it, rather than just read about it.
Think about it—when was the last time you saw an ad or a piece of promotional material and thought to yourself, “That was really well written!” Hardly ever, right?
On the other hand, you’ve probably seen plenty of ads that have stuck with you long after you’ve seen them. Most of us remember well-done ads we saw in our childhood and still feel an association with them when it crosses our eyes. That’s the power of visual content.
For example, one study found that using visuals in email marketing can increase click-through rates by up to 300%. Another study states that tweets with images receive 34% more retweets than those without images.
Humans are visual creatures, and we soak this form of content better than big blocks of text. Hence, visual content marketing can get your brand off to the races!
Top Ways Visual Content Helps Brands Reach Their Goals
Visual content marketing aims to add an extra layer of meaning and engagement to your marketing campaigns by breaking through the clutter and capturing attention.
When used effectively, visual content can be a powerful tool to increase brand awareness, drive website traffic, generate leads, and even close sales. Here are some amazing benefits this marketing tactic can bring to your business:
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Improved Engagement and Social Shares
People are likely to stop and notice when you include visuals in your content. Content with images gets 94% more total views than those without. You’re also more likely to get people to share your content.
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Greater Understanding and Retention
The human brain processes visuals 60,000 times faster than text. Studies have shown that people remember 65% of the information three days after hearing it if there is a relevant image associated with it, compared to 10% when there is no image.
Therefore, when you include visuals in your content, you’re essentially speaking the language of your audience. You also make it easier for them to understand and remember your content.
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Increased ROI
One of the essential benefits of visual content marketing is its ability to boost your brand’s ROI. Stats prove that visuals in your marketing can increase conversion rates by as much as 80%.
And even if you’re not looking to make a sale, using visuals can still help you achieve your desired outcome by increasing click-through rates by up to 42% over plain text links.
How You Can Benefit From Visual Content Marketing
Visual content marketing is a great place to start if you’re looking for ways to spruce up your marketing strategy. Not sure where to begin? We hear you.
To stand out from the competition, you must provide informative and visually appealing content. Here are five ways you can utilize visual content marketing to give your brand a boost:
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Use High-Quality Images
When it comes to visuals, quality is vital. Blurry or pixelated images will do more harm than good and make your brand look unprofessional. Consider purchasing high-quality images or hire a professional graphic designer to create visuals that accurately represent your brand.
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Create Informative Infographics
Infographics are a great way to blend a lot of information into an easily digestible format. You can use them to explain a complex concept, share data or research, or simply tell a story. Be sure to use clear and simple vocabulary, and don’t overcrowd your infographic with too much text or images.
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Utilize Video Content
Video marketing is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. It can engage viewers on an emotional level, promote your products or services, share customer testimonials, or give behind-the-scenes looks at your business. You can leverage platforms like YouTube or Vimeo to host your videos so that the viewers can easily share them across multiple channels.
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Live Stream Events
If you’re hosting an event related to your business, why not live stream it? This is a great way to engage with potential customers who may not be able to attend in person. You can also use live streaming as an opportunity to answer questions and address concerns in real-time.
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Leverage User-Generated Content
Lastly, don’t forget about user-generated content (UGC). UGC is any content—text, images, videos, etc.—created by someone other than your company or brand. This could include customer reviews, social media posts, or even blog articles written by fans of your brand. Encouraging customers and fans to create UGC helps brands build loyalty and trust while organically promoting their products or services.
For example, the #MyParachuteHome campaign of sharing Parachute products in different settings gave the brand a 35% higher click-through rate and a positive repo. Other popular UGC campaigns include #ShareACoke, #AsSeenOnMe, and #ShotOniPhone.
Rounding Up
When the average person’s attention span is shorter than that of a goldfish, ensuring that your content is high-quality and visually appealing is crucial.
Utilizing engaging visuals can help capture and hold your audience’s attention while promoting your brand in a way that resonates with them. Also, including visuals in your marketing doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming since you have some amazing stock photo sites and design tools at your disposal.
As you can see, the benefits, i.e., better engagement with your target audience, increased potential for shares and viral reach, and the ability to stand out from the competition, is worth the effort. If you’re interested in utilizing visual content marketing for your business but don’t know where to start, contact Swing Point Media—we would be happy to help!
SwingPointMedia is a marketing company focused on using content marketing, such as written articles, video and podcasts, to attract their customers ideal audiences. This approach has proven to attract higher quality customers while simultaneously reducing the sales cycle by as much as 70%.
SwingPointMedia serves local businesses in Southern California and can be reached by calling 760-422-5176.