The importance of a relevant, crystal clear image to head a piece of content is massive. So much so, that marketers have taken the use of images to the next level in creativity, quality and the use of different formats and publishing platforms.
Just finding a stock image that vaguely represents what you’re writing about is a fool’s move. Simply by using Social Media yourself, you should have realised by now that the image is the bait. Black and white text does not draw you in the way that an image does.
I’m writing today to highlight the importance of a great image to accent the most useful and popular form of content on the internet: blogs.
So why are images so important?
The fact that Social Media posts convert better when there is an image attached, is exactly that. A fact. The reasons why this is the case will be explained, by myself, in further detail below.
Purpose
Seriously, have a think about it, how many images do you see online that truly support what’s been communicated in the post? How many images genuinely stand out in the endless stream of content you see on the Facebook news feed or your Twitter timeline? (I’ll wait…). You can’t just attach an image and hope for conversion. The image must be relevant, crystal clear, and ultimately represent what you’re trying to convey to your audience.
Stand out!
Content overload is an issue you will have to contend with. It’s inevitable. To stand out, you really must do exactly that. Stand out! Putting good time into sourcing great images is by no means wasted time, in fact, I would say it’s the absolute opposite.
Picture yourself scrolling through any of your feeds. The same old memes, videos and tweets about “#goals”. What draws your attention? If you’re a fan of a popular TV show, it would most likely be a teaser on an insight into the next episode, yes? If you’re a fan of a Premier League football team, a sneak peek at your team’s jersey for next season would send you into meltdown. Marketing departments are paid in abundance to source and create these stand out images, and clearly for good reason.
Consistency
Take retail giant Amazon, as an example. When you see that all too recognisable orange and white text, you know what you’re getting. It may appear boring and repetitive to the untrained eye, but in reality, it’s a fantastic marketing strategy, that has effectively carved the name “Amazon” and their brand theme into our brains.
So basically…
Your images should stand out, help tell a story, provide context and ultimately, represent you in a light that is appropriate and relevant to your overall brand image.
