Fall is just around the corner… not only is it time to indulge in everything pumpkin spiced, it’s also a time to reflect and pin point areas for improvement as we move closer to ringing in the New Year. The leaves on the trees are changing and so should your marketing strategy! It is important to check in each season to understand what’s working, what’s not, and what can be improved on to maximize online ROI.
One of the best things about social media is the ability to frequently update your look. While it’s imperative to keep your overall brand consistent across all platforms, it’s impactful to add seasonal images or branded touches to your online marketing. Simply updating your cover photo once a month or integrating eye catching graphics can attract significant attention. With that being said, your brand should be immediately recognizable across all of your social media platforms with the same editing procedure, same graphic templates/branded colours, profile image etc. When there’s a disconnect, it’s difficult for users to determine which profiles are official, or if they’re even following the right company.
Everyone at one point or another has heard the term ‘content is king’. This phrase still holds true but, as with everything, there has been minor tweaks and changes to what’s considered to be ‘top dog’. The reality is, stock photos just don’t cut it anymore. Millennials are craving authenticity and seem to live their life through pictures, being habitually visual. Don’t get us wrong, stock photos are certainly helpful in keeping up with the demand for fresh content, however, they’re not the best way to showcase your business. Why you ask? Simply because, they are not photos of YOUR business. When people visit your platforms, they want to get to know YOU and see YOUR product and/or service, or even members of your team in action, not generic photos and especially not photos they’ve seen on another brand’s page!
The new ‘top dog’ in town when it comes to content is personalization. Personalized branded content helps you stand out from competitors and allows existing and prospective customers to connect to your business on a deeper more meaningful level. These connections build the foundation of trust through authenticity and transparency that later leads to profitable long-term relationships (Huffington Post, 2018). Brands who implement professional photography and branded graphics online tend to receive higher engagement rates, higher conversion rates, and a larger more loyal following. Contrastingly, low quality, unprofessional photos can end up hurting your brand by turning consumers off through their assumptions that the product is of low quality.
Let’s face it, in today’s fast paced digital world, your first impression matters! According to AdWeek, “74% of consumers are influenced by a brand’s social media presence when making a purchasing decision”. When you have a social media account with a consistent brand present and professional eye-catching imagery, it strengthens your brand identity and makes your brand more competitive in the marketplace. Not to mention, social media platforms are rolling out features that allow you to sell your products right in your feed such as Facebook Marketplace and the Shoppable Instagram grid. However, what many brands fail to understand is that great content is a lot more than pretty pictures and takes a proper investment. The visuals you present online now help sell your products and make all the difference in how many of your followers click or choose to purchase.
When it comes to marketing and branding, visuals are everything. Your brand image can position you as a leader in your industry, build trust with your target audience and increase conversions. There is a difference between professional photography and professional social media photography. What might look good on your website or posters, might not look good on your Instagram grid. It’s imperative to curate content that is eye-catching, suitable for each platform, and resonates with your online target audience for optimal engagement. No matter how good the iPhone cameras claim to be, it cannot substitute for the quality and retouching capabilities of a professional photographer.
Whether you need social media content, food photography for your blog or updated banners for your social media profiles, Social by Nature has you covered! Our in-house creative director, professional photographers, graphic designers and social media experts offer the tools you need to create a unique visual identity for your business to help you stand out against competitors and bring awareness to your brand.
Click through our portfolio to see some of our work!
www.socialbynature.com/portfolio
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