Social media response increases with photos and images

The big three — Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter — are the most-used social media channels. In the last month all three have made significant changes to add bigger images and encourage more visual storytelling within their feeds. Stats show audiences like and share more posts with visuals than just text.

2x more likes on Facebook with photos or graphics

According to 3M Corporation, 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual. Studies of Facebook prove there are at least twice the shares when a photo or image is used. Videos are shared on Facebook 12x more than text posts and links combined.

Twitter’s new design adds large header and profile photos. It’s easier to attach pictures and video to tweets. LinkedIn has introduced a new personal “Premium” Profile with a big cover photo, too. With success, it will roll out site-wide.

All three have recognized the value of more and bigger visuals to increase engagement.

Use visual storytelling to increase response

Sites like Pinterest and Houzz are growing fast because they’re built around pictures. Successful marketers are incorporating pictures, infographics and graphic elements into all of their posts to get more likes and shares.

How can this work for you? A few ideas:

• When you have new photos to add to your website, repurpose them for social posts, with a quote or link in the image.
• Answer your customer’s questions on your blog with a picture, graph or video rather than a description.
• Turn statistics into graphs or charts and post them on social channels.
• Create a series of funny or offbeat images and quips that relate to your business (did you see the H&R Block #hipstertaxes campaign?).
• Refresh cover photos on Facebook frequently and use memes to share ideas, rather than straight text.
• Incorporate seasonal or “real-time” pictures (connected to current news) into posts and cover photos.

Update your pictures to the new sizes

As noted above, the big three have recently redesigned their formats. Check the channels you use and update your images to the new sizes. We’ve created a handy reference for you. Download it here.

Wondering if social media is a good fit for your business?

Talk to us. We’ll help you choose which channels are right for your audiences. It takes persistence and consistency to get results. It can be challenging. Yet you don’t want to ignore how social media can boost your business, either.

We’ll dig into social media a bit more in our next issue. Questions? Just reply to this this newsletter. I’ll be happy to answer!