At this point, we are pretty certain we do not have to tell you why you need photos for your social media campaigns. Any Internet marketing expert will tell you that the photos can spell a lot of difference in the way you communicate your message.
We know, we know. This seems really obvious but believe it or not, a lot of online businesses still fail to maximize the value of a photo.
Here are some visual tips from the folks over at Social Media Examiner. Make sure your Internet marketing expert reads this!
1. What’s the hook? Photos can mean many different things to many different people. In the same way that you plan out an editorial calendar for your blog, come up with a theme for all the photos that you will upload on your social media sites. It’s a great way to build or reinforce brand identity.
2. Make a story. Don’t rest on the fact that a photo in itself speaks a thousand words. Your Internet marketing expert should tell you that a good story is still vital to make any photo relevant. In case you are wondering, why a story? Well, a story is easier to remember. And a story will have more lasting impact on your audience as compared to just dishing out facts and figures.
3. Protect your photos. Remember basic copyright facts. Photographers own rights to their images so make sure they are protected. When using other people’s photos always ask for permission and always ensure that it is theirs to begin with.
4. Make your photos SEO-friendly. Don’t use random filenames. Even your Internet marketing expert will tell you that the filename is an opportunity to be SEO-friendly. Use keyword-based filenames and alt tags. Too technical for you? Well, that’s what an Internet marketing expert is for.
5. Ask others to contribute. As much as possible, social media should be a community effort. When it comes to sharing photos, invite your colleagues, your clients and customers and your business partners and friends to be part of the experience. It will help widen your reach and it opens up a lot of doors for interaction which in the world of social media can only be a good thing.