SOCIAL MEDIA ADVISOR Popularity of Photo-Based Social Media BY JESSICA CLARK
IN THE LAST YEAR, photo sharing on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest has become an increasingly popular method of social sharing. Facebook's recent purchase of Instagram indicates that it's only going to get more popular with consumers. Now is the time to get on board with these platforms if you are interested in connecting with your online audience on a more personal level. In case you need more of a reason, consider this: messages depicted by pictures penetrate the brain more quickly and with greater impact. If you want someone to buy a
product, don't just simply tell them about it, show it to them. Whichever platform you choose for your business, follow these tips to achieve a greater visual presence online: 1. Take some photos of your products or share photos of how your services help your customers and post them on your social networks. Service- based businesses can use lifestyle shots to connect their audiences to the essence of what they do. Post the photo and include a few words about the product: the text becomes a caption.
2. One way to create trust and build relationships is to help your customers connect with your business. Show your customers the friendly faces behind your business by posting photos of them on your social networks. That helps custom- ers connect with your staff, and therefore, your business.
3. You don't need to use an expensive camera—your iPhone will work perfectly. Just remember to fill the frame with your image. Most images uploaded to social media sites will be viewed in a thumbnail-sized box
first, so the subject of your photo needs to be clearly visible, even at a small size.
The more impactful your visuals, the more meaningful the interactions you'll have with your customers online. Clean that camera lens and get to it!
Jessica Clark is an eight-year marketing veteran in the optical industry with a recent focus on social media. E-mail me at:
jc@visioncareproducts.com.
4 november 2012
totallyoptical.com