Digital spaces are a two-edged sword for anybody trying to get the word out about a company. On the one hand, you have a broader reach than ever before, but on the other, so does everybody else. Getting your brand noticed through the high content density can be tricky.
Visuals are there to help. Images speak volumes about your product, company, and mission, and people are likely to pay attention.
Let’s briefly examine this marketing type and see how you can make the most of it in 2021.
Developing a Strategy
With the amount of visual content out there, barely anybody has the time and patience for poor-quality, weak image advertisements. Even if you already use some visuals for your marketing, it could be best to start from scratch to develop a well-rounded campaign.
Go back to the drawing board and find a way to incorporate what you have into a plan that drives sales. These general steps can significantly facilitate the process.
Start With SWOT
The SWOT analysis is an enduringly favored tool. The acronym stands for:
- Strengths
- Weaknesses
- Opportunities
- Threats
Essentially, it breaks down a brand into its core components, helping you determine what works and get rid of the rest.
In the context of photographs, you should ask yourself what worked in the past and what proved ineffective. If you’re a startup fresh on the market, check out the competition. Employ these general pointers during every following step.
Determine Value Propositions
Your value proposition defines what you’re offering to customers that nobody else can. Once you discover the answer to this question, use evocative visuals to send that message across.
Analyze Your Audience
Your customers should stay in the heart of everything you do, including photography. Your vision of the perfect ad might not align with what your target demographic likes best, and in that case, their inclinations come first.
If you sell primarily to big-shot businesspeople, they’re likely to prefer slick, minimalist aesthetics. Flowery imagery works for teens and adolescents. Always keep their preferences in mind while brainstorming creative photo ideas.
Staying aware of these concepts makes the actual picture-taking process a breeze, letting you move to the next step.
Get Creative
Once you develop a plan, you can let go of rigidity and start playing around with your photos. Authenticity isn’t many companies’ forte, but if you can bring a sense of originality into your product photography, you’re already two steps ahead of competitors.
For instance, you might’ve discovered that your lifestyle product sells best when represented in practice. Why not let your models get creative with how they use it?
A skin-care morning routine doesn’t have to happen in a crisp, white bathroom. It can be a mom washing her face while the kids run around, and people will find themselves connecting with the brand.
User-Generated Content
You could also push your customers to produce images with the items they purchased and award them for the effort. User-generated content is transparent, efficient, and more capable of raising brand awareness than traditional marketing. Demo videos will also help customers understand the features of the product you are selling. Some ideas include:
- Tagged photos. Organize a giveaway for the most creative images of your content.
- Unboxing videos. Send free boxes to small influencers, and they’ll open and review the product in return.
- Artwork. People love showing off their creativity, especially when there’s a reward attached to it.
Be sure to ask the participants to tag you in their posts, and you’ll see rapid, organic growth.
Share for Visibility
The key to perfect product photography lies in getting your audience interested. Still, even the highest-quality visuals are ineffective if few people see them.
Choose your platform(s) wisely. Your e-commerce website is the best spot for straight-to-the-point images that display the product. However, social networks let you reach broader demographics. Covering all the bases is your best bet.
Instagram is a go-to in this respect. It’s a platform where people go for photography, and brand promotion won’t seem out of place. It’s also perfect for sending potential customers to your website. For example, visit Sked Social to learn more about how the link in your bio can become an ideal call to action.
Networks like Facebook and Pinterest also come with toolsets to facilitate marketing. Do your research to make sure you’re not missing out on any valuable potential.
The Bottom Line
The takeaway is simple but vital – your visuals need to represent your company well to succeed.
From the colors to the sharing strategy, every aspect of the images you use is a part of your marketing cycle. Employ high-quality photos, don’t be afraid to get weird, and get social with your advertisement. Your brand will flourish in no time.
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