In this second post of Visual Advantage series. The various social channels are critical to increasing your engagement. These are treasure troves being harvested by media outlets everywhere. If you are not already posting your content on the various social channels that are relevant to your audience, you need to start immediately!
Images improve social engagement
You might be asking yourself, is it really worth the trouble of including images within our social media posts? Leaning back on the data, let’s take a look at this infographic I put together:
With an average of 150% increase in Twitter Retweets, 230% increase in Facebook Engagement, and a whopping 650% increase in LinkedIn Engagement, it’s hard to deny the importance of images in social media marketing!
This data is not only compelling but also confirmed by many studies across the interwebs. Just like the images within your article, the social share images need to be compelling and relevant to have the most impact on user engagement. In a future post, we’ll do a deep dive into the types of artwork as well as optimal image sizes.
What makes for good social media art?
When it comes to social media posts, the same principles for good artwork apply as in any other form of digital publishing. High-quality images that are relevant, visually appealing, and aligned with your brand’s message and tone are key to engaging your audience and enhancing your digital presence. However, there are a few additional factors to consider when creating artwork for social media.
First, it’s important to consider the platform you’re posting on and how your images will appear to users. Each social media platform has its own set of guidelines and recommended image sizes, so be sure to do your research and optimize your images accordingly. For example, square images tend to perform best on Instagram, while vertical images work better on Pinterest.
Another important consideration is the use of text overlays and other design elements to enhance your images and make them more shareable. By incorporating catchy headlines, calls-to-action, and other visual elements into your social media artwork, you can create posts that stand out from the crowd and drive engagement. Your goal is to get a conversation started!
Your goal is to get a conversation started
Overall, the key to creating effective social media artwork is to understand your audience and create images that speak to their interests and needs. By using high-quality images, optimizing your posts for each platform, and incorporating eye-catching design elements, you can take your social media strategy to the next level and achieve greater success in the digital landscape.
Where should I start?
The first step is always the hardest! If your team is not already including images in your social media posts, you need to start there! This will get your team in swing of finding or creating relevant artwork. Remember, the key is relevant and engaging!
A good place to begin is to start by using the featured image from your post. From there, it really is a matter of knowing your audience and the things that engage them.
I know this can feel very overwhelming at first. My hope is, with a bit of practice and few of the tools above, you will be well on the path towards embracing imagery in your content workflow.
If you are interested in a bit more than just my written words, feel free to reach out, I would love to offer a free 30 minute consult on this or any other digital publishing topic!
