The reason that images work so well online is that our brains are able to process visuals much faster than text. We also know that online, images work better. Twitter for example shows a 94% increase in retweets with an embedded image on pic.twitter.com. Now that image use has become more common we have to find a way stand out from other brands. In this post I share with you why honesty and credibility when using images in business will make you a winner with your customers every time.
We, the consumers, are becoming more conscious about our health as well as our planets. We want our brands to care about the same things as we do. Thanks to crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter, we can now fall in love with brands when they are just ideas and help build the brands we love from the ground up. Trendwatching coined this – ‘Pretail’. Being encouraged to buy into a brand before it goes to market, means that brands have to be open and honest in all aspects of their conduct. Image use is no different.
So how can your business show its personality honestly and credibly online? Here are some tips to get you started.
Tips to Using Images Online
It’s important to remember that one shoe doesn’t fit all, every business has a different image so be aware of the type of client you’re trying to attract. Luckily there are some tips that you can follow on how to remain honest and credible while still keeping in tone with your brand.
Copyright
First and foremost, make sure if you’re using images elsewhere on the web, you’re honest about where you got them. We use Photopin because it gives you a handy bit of code which credits the owner of the image. You can also try Flickr and look for photos with the right licence.
Social Media
Social media is a much faster environment, images come and go quickly so you most probably haven’t got the money to pay for professional photos for each of your Tweets! Instead of this, you can use memes and infographics, take behind the scenes photos on your iPhone, share other people’s photos or create your own images using free services like Canva.
Product Images
If you’re advertising a product that you sell, make sure you do not over edit the image. You don’t want someone to buy your product expecting something they didn’t get!
Stock Images
B2B businesses might have a need to use stock imagery in their blog or their website. There is nothing wrong with this but you should be looking out for images that are boring, being used elsewhere on the web and not reflecting the tone of your brand. Studies show that using images of attractive people and babies’ works well, who knew?
Stock Images – Cheat Sheet was created by firstsiteguide.com
Profile Photos
This is an important picture online because your face is your brand and your brand reflects on your business’ brand. Take Joe Pulizzi for example, Content Marketing Evangelist. He has had professional photos taken and maintains them on each of his profiles.
Staff Photos
One way many business have started doing this is by showing off their staff in photos online and using social media. Look at this great example of the Wistia Team.
Sharing your personality doesn’t have to be hard but it can ensure that your customers trust you and keep coming back to you each time.
This post was written by Natasha Aidanyantz from Live and Social.
