It’s time to hop off the hammock and shake up your marketing routine with visual storytelling. Why? Well, it’s a great way to engage your customers and grow your business. So if you’re up for a new challenge, consider running your next campaign primarily using images.
Before diving into the how-tos, let’s look at three important facts underscoring why you should do it.
- 36 percent of all links shared on Twitter are images.
- Facebook posts with photos received 104 percent more comments than posts with only text or links.
- And when it comes to Pinterest, one in five users have purchased something they’ve seen on the site, spending an average of $80 per purchase.
Since the odds are good you’re not the only business in Chicago that’s gotten wind of these facts, here’s how you can outsmart the competition.
Change your cover photo to reflect your new campaign. Be creative and consider making a collage of your products, featuring your customers, showcasing what makes your business different, or including an action shot.
Also, think about running a campaign that inspires your fans to post their photos and tag themselves. This way you can engage them while also spreading the word about your business to their friends.
Business
Create a new campaign-specific board and promote it to your customers. You can do this by sharing one of the great images from your Pinterest board on Facebook, Twitter and in email. Just be sure you include a link back to the Pinterest board.
You can also create a contest that encourages and rewards customers that pin great images to your board, including their own photos.
Email
If you send weekly emails during the campaign, only include one eye-catching image along with brief text and a single, specific call to action.
Remember, since more than 50 percent of consumers view emails with a preview pane, test out how your email looks before you send it to your contacts. As you’re testing, don’t forget that 43 percent of email is opened on a mobile device.
Newsletters
Avoid a cluttered look and and increase readership and social sharing by including one, possibly two fantastic images and pithy content promoting the campaign.
By telling your story visually, you leave an indelible print in your reader’s mind. This positive image can be reinforced when you combine email and social media marketing.
Steve Robinson is Constant Contact’s small business expert in Illinois and Wisconsin. A knowledgeable marketing expert with 30 years of experience, Steve has helped thousands of small businesses, associations, and nonprofits develop and implement effective email marketing, social media and online survey strategies. A popular speaker and educator, Steve gives small businesses and nonprofits the tools, techniques, and strategies they need to grow and expand their business and to maximize the power of relationship marketing. Steve’s experience in small business ownership, business development, sales, and fundraising help associations, small businesses and nonprofits achieve success.
