The value of creating visual content for social media should not be underestimated. By changing its doodles every day, Google gives a strong reason to visit its landing page and use the search engine. LinkedIn posts with images have an average of 98% more comments. Tweets with visual substance are multiple times bound to get the commitment. Facebook posts with photographs get more likes and remarks. Visual effects also tend to leave more imprints. We are 65% more likely to remember information if it contains an image. Solid visual substance via web-based media has a similar impact. It gives people a reason to follow, like, comment, and ultimately make a purchase. Our experts picked out 10 expert tips for creating great visual content on social media.
Table of Contents
Make visuals part of your social media strategy
You have to make visuals part of your social media strategy and operate your business social accounts in a thoughtful, measured way. Your promotion may follow best practices, however without a reason, narrating, timing, and other vital components, you will not succeed. All companies have a corporate identity and visual language on social media – it’s just that some are more fluent on social media than others. Every effective strategy should include thorough audience research. Take the interests of your audience into account and think about what kind of visual content they would like to see. Consider how you ought to adjust your visual procedure for every friendly channel. Make sure to post visuals on social media during peak hours. But think about the big picture too. Click here to learn about the most effective visual techniques in advertising.
Learn the image editing basics
To create great visuals for social media you should learn the image editing basics. It is usually best to have one focal point in the image. Remember the rule of thirds. With a few exceptions, it is best not to center the object perfectly. Use natural light. If your image is too dark, it will be more difficult to see. But don’t overexpose your images either. Make sure there is enough contrast. Choose additional colors. Get to know the color wheel. Keep it simple. Ensure your visual is straightforward. Don’t edit too much. Resist the temptation of using all filters and features. Increase saturation carefully.
Take advantage of free tools and resources
It is quite often best to employ a photographic artist or visual originator to make customized content for your image or business. But if you’re on a tight budget or need a few additional tools, there are countless free tools and resources.
Consider the copyright rules
It is not always easy to find images, especially when it comes to copyright. But this is important, especially when there are serious consequences for misuse. Read everything in small print using stock photos, templates, and illustrations. If something is unclear, check with the owner of the image or on the website for details. The same goes for licensing and contracting. When drawing up contracts with artists, it should be clear where you intend to use the creative, who owns the rights, etc. Some companies even use contract agreements in this context.
Check out image size specifications
One of the most serious mistakes you can make when posting images on social media is using the wrong size. Images with the wrong aspect ratio or low resolution can be stretched, cropped, and disproportionately compressed – all of which will hurt your brand. Always strive for the highest image quality. This includes pixels and resolution. And don’t ignore the aspect ratio because some platforms automatically crop preview images based on the aspect ratio.
Add your logo
If you plan on sharing your visuals, it might be worth adding a logo. Good branding is noticeable but not intrusive. This usually means placing a small logo in the corner or on the outer border of the visual. If your logo color is out of tune or makes the visuals too busy, choose grayscale or neutral. Context is everything here. For example, not every post on Instagram might need a logo. If your Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook avatar is your logo, you might not need it on your cover either.
Integrate text with visual content
Text in your visuals should always be clear and concise. Ensure there is sufficient differentiation between the content and the foundation. The text should always enhance, not obscure your creativity. Make sure it adds value to your message as well. If this is just a statement of the obvious or a description of the visual, you don’t need it. Triple check spelling and grammar. Choose your text wisely. The font can affect both tone and legibility. The text length must be short. Look for abandoned words. Vitalize the content to make it stick out.
Animate your images
More than 95 million posts are posted on Instagram consistently, so a little liveliness can make your substance stick out. GIFs and recordings are an extraordinary method to add development and narrating to your visuals. They can range from high-quality IGTV movies to subtle photo animations.
Mind your digital accessibility
While creating a visual for web-based media, make it available to whatever number of individuals and settings as would be prudent. Accessible content allows you to reach a wide audience and even outperform your competitors. More importantly, it helps you earn respect and customer loyalty. Creating Visual Content on social media may include alternative text descriptions, subtitles, and descriptive transcripts.
Optimize for SEO
Your visuals should always be optimized for a search engine. Especially as visual search is growing in popularity with tools like Amazon StyleSnap, Google Lens, or Pinterest Lens. Googlebot cannot “read” images, so you have to use alt tags. Pinterest can be the most important platform when it comes to SEO optimization. As with other search engines, it is important to include the correct keywords in visual descriptions and alternative tags. Instagram and other platforms use hashtags for keywords. Don’t forget to add geotagging and extended captions as they improve the results of browser search.
