Are you focusing on the use of visual content within your social media posts? Want to know how visual marketing can help you stand out online? Sure you do … we all do.
Because here’s the reality. If you’re not creating visual content marketing inspiration that captures audience attention, your competition is.
Related post: Social Media Platforms … The Magic Every Content Marketer Needs
Graphics can tell your company story, boost awareness, and drive additional traffic to your product or service. So how can you create content that helps you better connect with your fans and followers?
Join me in this look at 15 brands. I find them worthy of repeat visits for visual marketing inspiration.
Nike
Nike understands marketing on Instagram as well as the mentality of their target audience, and they use this knowledge to showcase their brand effectively.
The brand loves to post inspirational hashtags and photos showing everyday moments related to sports. The focus is on speaking to everyone who has a dream and encouraging them to ”Just do it!”
Volkswagen
Volkswagen claims that all people and all things have a story to tell, and you see this evidenced in each of their Facebook posts.
Across their Page are visual stories about VW automobiles and their customers. Whether you want to learn about VW history, understand the heritage of the Beetle or find your next car, Facebook is the place to do it.
Each image is designed to further the culture and experience around the Volkswagen brand. Watch (and learn) as they highlight important milestones within the company by weaving a powerful story into each post.
Starbucks
Starbucks has a presence on multiple social media platforms, each one successfully expressing what the brand is all about.
Their use of visual marketing is bursting with personality and originality, and although Starbucks often uses posts to advertise products, it’s done creatively and subtly.
This is a lesson many companies have yet to learn: Sometimes less is more… especially when it comes to visual content.
Bud Light
Bud Light has an active and vibrant Facebook Page ripe with visual marketing.
From colorful graphics to native video, Bud Light has created an interactive Facebook community through visual media.
And they’re not afraid to let their fans join in on the fun. They consistently invite followers to submit personal photos.
Whether a day at the beach or an event Bud Light is promoting, audience participation gives the Page a unique “small town” feel.
Target
Target uses several boards on Pinterest to market their store and products. Although each board exemplifies a different marketing strategy, all of them use engaging and informative graphics.
Target doesn’t just post photos of their products like many other brands do. They combine images with text to create fun and shareable images.
Grammarly Cards
Grammarly is an online proofreading and correction service with an excellent visual marketing strategy.
Their Pinterest page is filled with funny and engaging content that people enjoy and frequently share.
The humor and wit are coupled with attractive pictures the Grammarly Cards audience cannot ignore.
Oreo
Oreo knows how to keep an audience happy and actively engaged.
The visuals the brand posts have it all — including wit, culture, and parodies. They take any popular event or entertainment update and work their cookie right into it.
This makes Oreo posts fun and shareable.
The time it takes Oreo to react to an unforeseen event is phenomenal. The brand’s fast response to the Superbowl (“You can still dunk in the dark”) won widespread recognition.
Home Depot
Home Depot knows their audience, and the brand effectively markets to them.
Their posts are made for homeowners and those who love creating something practical and good looking.
Their Instagram page is full practical, original and creative ideas.
Visual marketing … Disney
The Disney brand knows better than most how to make their content appealing.
They have a talent for turning their creations into great visuals that are both attractive and fun.
The content they post on their web page and other social channels are proof that design is just as important a factor as written copy.
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola’s content marketing strategy is built on visual marketing. They provide their audience with fun, colorful and quirky visuals that are easy to like and share.
The company concentrates its efforts on interactive content to keep their audience engaged.
Coca-Cola also has uniquely designed animated gifs and plenty of brand memorabilia that reminds the audience whose page they’re on.
Aeropostale
Aeropostale knows its fashion-savvy audience and effectively caters to their tastes.
The brand posts simple, yet lovely, images featuring an ensemble of clothes and accessories that go together to create one distinct look.
Through this strategy, Aeropostale advertises its clothes (which are at the center of the composition) gives its audience ideas about what goes well with what and creates a definite brand look.
Whole Foods
Besides offering their customers healthy, organic foods, Whole Foods also provides followers with exceptional and informative visual graphics.
This is a brand that knows how to tell a story visually and make it appealing to all.
Although they have some product advertisements, most of their posts include great images combined with valuable advice.
Taco Bell
Taco Bell knows how to grab their audience’s attention and keep it.
The vibrant colors and artistic look of their graphics get their posts noticed.
Although some of the graphics they post on Instagram are advertising their products, most simply show off the product artistically and attractively.
GoPro
The very nature of the GoPro makes it the perfect brand for visual content marketing.
After all, no words are necessary to market their GoPro cameras – their photos say it all.
The quality of the photos and their extreme setting help these graphics get shared like wildfire.
Related post: 11 Updates to Starbuck’s Creativity and Innovation
Visual marketing … Honey Bunches of Oats
This cereal company has long figured out the secret of visual content marketing through social media.
All of their posts on Facebook are visual, and humor is their best weapon. Honey Bunches of Oats creates funny and memorable visuals that are easy to share.
Most of their graphics have the brand’s logo attached to it, so it continues to remind the users who are for the great photos and the witty humor (even if the graphic is taken out of context).
The bottom line
To be effective in this new era, we as marketers need to see our jobs differently. No more just focusing on metrics like clicks, video views or social media shares. We must successfully integrate our function with other business functions to create entire brand experiences that serve the customer all the way through their experiences throughout the business.
We can do better. Much better. But first, we need to stop seeing ourselves as crafters of clever brand messages and become creators of positive brand experiences.
There can never be enough focus on continuous improvement on brand marketing, independent of how well the business is doing. It seems these exciting brands are looking to take their success to a new level.
This is an excellent time to make a statement with their brand marketing. Changing before you have to is always a good idea.
Need some help in capturing more customers from your marketing strategies? Creative ideas to help the differentiation with potential customers?
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Call Mike at 607-725-8240.
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Mike Schoultz is the founder of Digital Spark Marketing, a digital marketing and customer service agency. With 40 years of business experience, he blogs on topics that relate to improving the performance of your business. Find them on G+, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Digital Spark Marketing will stretch your thinking and your ability to adapt to change. We also provide some fun and inspiration along the way. Call us for a free quote today. You will be amazed how reasonable we will be.
More reading on social media lessons from Digital Spark Marketing’s Library:
Visual Marketing … 15 Remarkable Content Examples
Best Social Media Campaigns … How to Improve with These Tips
How Small Businesses Win Benefits of Social Media Marketing
7 Favorite Social Media Examples to Learn From
What the Heath Brothers Persuasive Techniques Teach Us
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