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Best Image Types to Get You Noticed

Catchy headlines and intriguing content grabs the reader’s attention. But, does it keep it? The best way to capture and harness your audience’s attention is with a captivating image. On LinkedIn, for example, posts with images get 98% more engagement. A good image convinces the reader that the article or ad they are about to click is worth their time. However, using the same type of media on your posts will dwindle your audience down. We will break down various types of images to use and the most efficient way to use them.

 

Know your image types

Don’t be afraid to try new things! Try a variety of mediums; from photographs to poster designs, to just simple icons. Be mindful of your color palette as well – stick to your brand’s theme. Be mindful that some use their devices in dark mode, so their screen will be dark grey/black. The basic image posts on social media sites tend to be photos taken by camera or via digital design with text on it. Consider image subject. Do you want a stock photo of your team or an artsy photo of your product? Collages are best when there are many aspects of your work that you want to showcase. If you’re creative, draw or design pictures that best capture what you and your business are about! In short, make fewer posts with stock media, like Unsplash. And post more customized media, like Canva or Adobe. To that point, stock media can be modified and revamped in design programs to make it more engaging.

 

So, you’re not a designer? That’s ok! There are tools and templates on the above-mentioned programs to help you. It’s always a good rule of thumb to search design tips. One easy to remember guideline is The Rule of Thirds. It states, “If you take a canvas and divide it into three equally sized horizontal sections and three equally sized vertical sections, the resulting grid provides a sort of “roadmap” that helps you choose where to place your design elements.” Ever noticed that you can turn on the grid feature in the settings of your iPhone’s camera? That’s a great tool for implementing the rule of thirds.

 

What about video?

So, let’s get a little more in-depth on image types and talk about rich media. Hootesuite describes rich media as “a digital advertising term for an ad that includes advanced features like video, audio, or other elements that encourage viewers to interact and engage with the content. While text ads sell with words, and display ads sell with pictures, rich media ads offer more ways to involve an audience with an ad.” This type of media can increase your engagement rate by 6%. With that being said, video is considered to be the most trending rich media currently. But, keep in mind engagement must be generated within 10 minutes of the video. So, try using highly-engaging videos under 15 seconds.

 

What is your goal?

Besides getting noticed, what else are you trying to achieve with your post? What action do you want your reader to take after they read your post? You want your graphic to match your message!

• Sale/Product Promotion. If you just released or upgraded a product, take a professional, clearly detailed photo of it. Have your background contrast the product to make it pop out more. Add minimal text on the photo or let it speak for itself.
• Raising awareness. Show your audience that your company cares about local-to-global issues. A concert/movie-like poster design would be best. You can either feature a photo of the issue (if appropriate/with permission) or a digitally designed graphic and accompany it with text.
• Casual post about yourself/the company. When you want to show off how your company operates or when you want to give a shout-out to a team member, then show it with a professional photo of yourself/employee/co-worker(s) either in the office or at home. During COVID-19, team member photos out of the office make the most sense. When you give your audience a glimpse of behind-the-scenes, it indicates authenticity and that your heart is with the company and not the money. If it takes away from the subject, save the text for the caption.
• Important news (about the company). For updates like new hours/location/operation method, a text-dominated image would be most fitting.
• Motivation. Pictures are the best means of motivation! Whether you’re motivating your readers to have a good day or to work towards your company’s goals, use an image that will resonate with them. This would be a good time to use a collage/photo montage to give your reader multiple means of inspiration.

 

In conclusion

Remember, these are just suggestions. Choosing an image/media type to pair with your message is easier said than done. It’s your business and your post. The possibilities are endless! To reiterate, you don’t have to be a graphic designer! Check out Canva. It’s great for creating images to make your post stand out. Finally, consider a few more components like the time of the year. Make sure your posts are season/holiday-appropriate. And each platform is different. Be sure to study their algorithms. Knowing that LinkedIn native videos are prioritized or that autoplay is a unique feature to native video is invaluable!

 

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