With the use of social media, photography, and videography have increased in popularity. Whether your social media pages are for personal or business use, adding high-quality visuals will grab the attention of most (if not all) of your followers.
In both cases (personal and professional), you’re doing it all to engage with your audience, increase shares, clicks, and likes, and ultimately boost your social media strategy.
Why Social Media Visuals Matter
(Image Source: Pixabay)
People scroll fast, and you have mere seconds to grab people’s attention. According to HubSpot, over 36% of marketers use original graphics, while nearly 34% use stock photos.
How about videos? The videos are doing great! In fact, Product London’s research shows that Tweets with videos produce 10 times higher engagement numbers than text-based tweets.
Visuals break through the noise, stop people from scrolling, and make content memorable. In a crowded online world, strong social media visuals help brands stand out. They also enhance brand recognition and improve information retention. An inspiring image or a well-produced video can linger in the audience’s mind long after moving past the post.
Boosting Engagement With Stunning Images
Visuals will make or break a post, especially high-quality ones. According to Email Audience, our brains process visuals 6–600 times faster than text. That means your audience will understand a visual almost instantly.
Bright colours, bold fonts, and unique designs work best. Faces drive more engagement than objects. Adding text overlays makes key messages pop.
Always go for high resolution. – Blurry images hurt credibility.
Additionally, storytelling through images makes a bigger impact. A photo that tells a story connects emotionally with viewers. Lifestyle images showing real people using products tend to perform better than generic stock photos. Authenticity is key.
Why Video Content Is King
Video is taking over. WebFX says that 91% of businesses would rather use videos in their marketing campaigns than other visuals. Social platforms push videos higher in feeds. Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts are proof.
People watch videos longer than they read posts. Tutorials, behind-the-scenes clips, and customer stories work best. Keep it short, engaging, and mobile-friendly.
With short-form videos gaining traction, brands need to focus on keeping their videos dynamic. Adding subtitles helps improve accessibility and engagement.
Including a strong Call To Action (CTA) ensures that the audience knows what to do next, whether it’s visiting a website, signing up for a newsletter, or making a purchase.
How to Create Scroll-Stopping Social Media Visuals
You should always strive to create engaging visual content. But creating scroll-stopping visuals isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Here’s what you should do.
(Image Source: Adobe Express Instagram)
1. Use Bright, High-Quality Images
Blurry or dull images won’t cut it. You should use natural light, high resolution, and sharp details. Apps like Canva and Adobe Express help refine visuals.
Color psychology also plays a role. Some colors can evoke different emotions. For instance, red conveys energy and excitement, while blue represents reliability and trust. Picking the right color scheme can reinforce brand messaging.
2. Keep Videos Short and Snappy
Attention spans are short. Hootsuite says that 7–15 seconds is the best length for Instagram Reels. Shorter videos get higher completion rates.
Pacing is important. Rapid cuts, engaging visuals, and strong opening hooks help capture interest. A compelling first few seconds can determine whether someone watches until the end or swipes away.
3. Add Captions and Text Overlays
A majority of Facebook users watch videos without sound (around 85%), according to Vidico. Users should understand the video’s core message even with the sound off.
Use bold, readable fonts and keep text concise. Highlight important points or key benefits. Adding captions boosts engagement, while text overlays highlight key messages.
4. Stick To a Consistent Brand Style
Use the same colours, fonts, and filters across all visuals. This builds brand recognition. Some of the best-known brands, such as Nike, Apple, and Coca-Cola, do this well.
Brand style consistency makes a company’s social media look polished and professional. It also creates a sense of familiarity. When audiences see a post, they should immediately associate it with the brand without needing to read the caption.
5. Test Different Formats
Try GIFs, memes, carousels, and infographics. All these different content types will appeal to different audiences. Ensure you track results to see what works best and know what to focus on in the future.
Analyzing data will help refine your strategy. Look at insights from platforms like Instagram and Facebook to see which formats generate the most likes, shares, and comments. Adapting based on data ensures continued success.
How Brands Are Winning With Social Media Visuals
Brands invest a lot in their marketing strategies, research, and research and follow trends. Without following current trends, getting great results from your marketing campaigns won’t happen. At least, not at the scale you want.
Here are some examples of brands doing amazing things with their visual marketing campaigns.
1. Airbnb’s Stunning Travel Photos
Airbnb’s Instagram is filled with breathtaking travel shots. Their images transport viewers and inspire bookings. Airbnb uses user-generated content (UGC) as it helps boost engagement efforts.
UGC provides authentic visuals while also pushing customers to engage with the brand. When people see real guests enjoying Airbnb properties, they’re more likely to book their own stays.
2. GoPro’s Action-Packed Videos
(Image Source: GoPro Instagram)
GoPro’s social feeds are full of exciting, user-shot footage. Their strategy? Let customers create content. It’s a perfect move as this type of content is authentic and drives massive engagement.
By showcasing content shot with their cameras, GoPro highlights the product’s quality while making customers feel part of the brand’s adventurous community. This fosters brand loyalty and increases trust.
3. Gymshark’s High-Energy Reels
Gymshark nails short, engaging workout videos. Their Reels show real people using their products. In turn, this makes their brand relatable and aspirational to many.
Their visuals not only highlight fitness apparel but also promote a lifestyle. Their approach keeps their audience motivated and eager to engage with the brand.
4. National Geographic’s Storytelling Images
The visuals they produce always tell very powerful stories. Whether it’s wildlife, travel, or culture, each image sparks curiosity and emotion, keeping followers hooked.
National Geographic uses a mix of high-quality imagery and compelling storytelling. Their captions often educate, adding value beyond the visual appeal.
5. Wendy’s Hilarious Memes
Wendy’s stands out with funny memes and roasts. Did you notice how their visuals always perfectly match their witty brand voice? Humor helps their content go viral.
Humor works well on social media. Funny content can make a brand more relatable and encourage shares, ultimately increasing brand awareness.
Final Thoughts
Great social media visuals drive engagement, boost brand awareness, and increase sales. They grab attention in a fast-moving digital world.
Always use high-quality images, and short videos, and be consistent with branding. Don’t forget to experiment with different formats and learn from top brands to keep improving.
Want more clicks, shares, and followers? Start creating better visuals today! Social media is a visual-first world, and businesses that master the art of compelling visuals will always have the edge.
Author bio:
Guillaume is a digital marketer focused on handling the outreach strategy at uSERP and content management at Wordable. Outside of work, he enjoys his expat life in sunny Mexico, reading books, wandering around and catching the latest shows on TV.
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