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Get a Grip on Visual Content

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By Lisa D. Jenkins

The saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words” is cliche for a reason.

It’s no secret that images receive more engagement on Facebook than their text only counterparts. The growth of audiences on Pinterest and Instagram, even Tumblr, supports the notion that at our core, we humans are a visual bunch.

And now there’s a whole lot of talk going around about visual content and its rapidly increasing influence online.

So, what exactly is this visual content all the cool kids are talking about? Let’s agree to set jargon aside and not make this harder than it has to be. We’re talking about images; photos, videos and graphics. Visual content uses all types of imagery to communicate and support your messaging clearly and quickly. As a delivery medium, visual content is perfectly suited to social media because it’s easily consumed and shared.

Lowe’s uses Vine shorts like this one to give helpful life hacks to their customers who then share the hack and extend Lowe’s reach and visibility.

From video to photos and infographics to animated GIFs, marketers are using visual content to their advantage in pursuit of goals such as establishing market authority, gaining share of voice, driving higher CTR’s and contributing to the bottom line.

One of the most attractive things about adding visual content into your online, digital and/or social marketing strategies is that you can include not only brand generated content but user generated content as well. With some forethought, your content creators get a break, and your fans get a nod from a brand they’re passionate about.

This collection of #sharelove images from Starbucks fans generated over 26k Likes, 200 Comments and 600 Shares – that’s a lot of news feed visibility, and we all know how hard that is to come by these days.

Starbucks visuals

If you want to learn more about what’s out there and how you can apply it to your own marketing activities, come back here every other Tuesday. I’ll share some examples of visual content from brands, give you some ideas for implementation and execution, and throw in a helpful tool or two to get you started.

What do you most want to learn?

For today, I’m just going to say thanks for dropping in and leave you with this infographic from On.com that explains how we got here.

The Growth of the Visual Web - On.com
Author’s Bio: Lisa D. Jenkins is a Public Relations professional specializing in Social and Digital Communications for businesses. She has over a decade of experience and work most often with destination organizations or businesses in the travel and tourism industry in the Pacific Northwest. Connect with her on Google+

Tabblo

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Create Books, Posters, Albums

Great Find: Tabblo

Permalink: http://www.tabblo.com/studio/

Target Audience: Anyone interested in sharing photos!

Content:

Tabblo logo

This site is another great way to share your photos and add words to make “tabblos” (web pages). There’s also a lively community. Here’s a Tabblo called Creation at its Best! (Click photo to see the page.) It’s easy to upload photos or import them from Flickr and Picasa. Click this screen shot or the next one to check it out.

I’m not sure what I like better – the original Tabblo or the photo cube. You can select any five photos for your cube. There’s easy-to-follow directions. Then just print it out, make some cuts, and fold it up.

And, they have a printing service, so you can order a copy of your latest creation! Check it out yourself and let me know which is your favorite.

See you next time!

–Sandy, Purple Wren

Related
Sandy’s Great Graphic Find: CoolText
Sandy’s Great Graphic Find: Pixel Ruler
Great Find: PictureTrail

Color in Motion

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An Interactive Experience of Color Communication and Color Symbolism

Great Find: Color in Motion

Permalink: http://www.mariaclaudiacortes.com/

Target Audience: Anyone interested in color!

Content:

This site was created by Claudia Cortés as her thesis for the Master of Fine Arts degree in Computer Graphics Design from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Color in Motion

I’m not sure what’s more fun – the Stars, the Movies, or the Lab. I really like the Movies because it’s such a nice visual way to learn the symbolism of color. And the music is terrific. So many ways that color communicates.

Check it out yourself and let me know what part is your favorite.

See you next time!

–Sandy, Purple Wren

Related
Sandy’s Great Graphic Find: CoolText
Sandy’s Great Graphic Find: Pixel Ruler
Great Find: PictureTrail

Sandy’s Great Graphic Find: The One Million Masterpiece

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There’s still time to join in the creativity!

Great Find: The One Million Masterpiece

Permalink: http://www.millionmasterpiece.com/

Target Audience: Everyone!

Content:

This project has been underway for some time. There’s artistic contributions from almost 24,000 people in 174 countries. And they have raised over $17,000. Check out the charities that will benefit and the sponsors and supporters.

Here’s a picture of what it looks like.

And this is a close-up of my square. It’s a ‘work in process’ with just the eye and beak of the Purple Wren as a placeholder.

Why are they doing this? You have to browse the site and find out. Follow the news on the blog.

You can zoom in on any of the squares to get a close-up view. There are some amazing works of art out there – and some that are very simple. You can send the artist an email. This is our community.

So don’t worry about how artistic you are. Just join in!

I still get goose-bumps when I’m part of the larger projects going on with the new web. The ways we can connect with others is truly powerful.

Check it out and spread the word. If you can and you feel moved to do so, contribute a little cash.

I found this project quite awhile ago and have had it on my ‘to blog list’ ever since. This is good timing because they are now about to release a new version of the site with "significant upgrades."

Here’s a few random links you gotta see:

Some of the graphics are posted with a live replay feature so you can see how the picture evolved. It’s like an art lesson! And it’s fun to see the profiles – age, location, and about the author.

There’s so many great things about this project that I can’t stop talking about it – but I will. Go check it out yourself.

Don’t be shy – leave me a comment and let me know what your favorites are and where your square is.

See you next time!

–Sandy, Purple Wren

Related
Sandy’s Great Graphic Find: CoolText
Sandy’s Great Graphic Find: Pixel Ruler
Great Find: PictureTrail

Mini-Session 2: The Importance of Visuals in a Post

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Guest Speaker: Sandy Renshaw

Graphics! Why do we need ’em?

Don’t underestimate the importance of visuals in a post. More than 60% of us are visual learners. A well-placed graphic can express your idea quickly.
They

  • Break up the text
  • Make life interesting
  • Extend meaning

How do graphics impact you when you are visiting blog sites?

Thank you,
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Visit Sandy’s blog, Purple Wren, where discuss visual images as part of life and the tools and techniques used to make visuals that communicate effectively.. –ME Strauss
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Let’s open the Q&A . . .

I’ll go first, Sandy, how do you decide how many and which visuals to use?

During the Virtual Conference today, you can take $100 off registration to SOBCon 07.