Need More Clicks on Your Images? 3 Ways to Dangle the Carrot

Memorable images stop us in our tracks. They catch our attention and some even evoke emotions like an image that captures a historic occasion or a heartbreaking moment. These are the types of images that stay with us.

Research has shown that the brain processes visuals 60,000 times faster than text. Other studies have shown that users retain 65 per cent of visual information compared to only 10 to 20 per cent of written information. So what are the implications here as a business owner? That visuals are incredibly powerful and have a major impact on marketing campaigns.

Here are some key statistics to consider:

• Content with visuals get 94% more views

• Facebook posts with images get 2.3 times more engagement

• Tweets with images get 35% more retweets

These statistics prove the value of visual content. Let’s also not forget that Instagram is built entirely around its users sharing images and videos. One of the best investments you can make then is adding more visuals to your posts.

It sounds simple enough. But to get the most out of your visuals we’ve put together some tips that will help your images get more clicks.

Research Which Images Resonate With Your Audience

To capture more clicks, you’ll need to figure out the types of images that are getting likes and shares. On Instagram, you could search for a relevant hashtag and browse some of the top posts. Here’s a small selection of the top posts based on the #fashiontrends hashtag:

Each of these posts have received hundreds of likes. Based on this small sample we can quickly identify some patterns – The images are high quality and highlight new, colourful clothing trends. You can even take this a step further by clicking each image and reading through the comments to see what others think.

This tip isn’t just limited to Instagram. You can search for target keywords based on your industry on other networks like Facebook and Twitter, and quickly see what others are sharing.

Share to Other Social Networks

Instagram may be one of the most popular social networks with a billion active users. But you’re limiting your reach if you only post on this platform.

Drive more clicks by sharing your newly created visuals on other social sites. Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest are other popular networks to consider. Use the correct format for each platform to prevent cropping out any useful information. Be sure to adhere to any restrictions before posting. For example, if you have a caption with your image, you may need to cut it down to fit Twitter’s 280 character limit.

You can even take your visuals one step further by creating a video from your images and uploading to YouTube or using them to create infographics for your blog. The possibilities are endless as you can leverage multiple channels to drive more clicks.

Advertise on Social Media Networks

To get more clicks you’ll need to reach as many people as possible. But that’s not always easy especially if you’re just starting out on social media and barely have any followers. You could post images and still only generate a few clicks for each.

Advertising on social platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow you to use its targeting capabilities to reach your ideal demographic. And with these networks, you can spend as little or as much as you want.

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Author’s Bio

Kym Wallis, the founding director of Higher Ranking has over 15 years of advertising sales, digital strategy, and business development experience. He is currently working as Digital Adviser for Bioscor.