I would first like to introduce myself as the new intern here at SEMZEN. My name is Kaitlyn and I will be working here throughout the summer while working towards my marketing degree.
As a 21 year old, I am usually updated on social media while using it on a daily basis. There are always new trends coming out but it's definitely easier to stay updated while having a smartphone, that's for sure. Not only do I have an iPhone but all of my friends do too so we can show each other what's new and cool. I primarily use my phone for social media because there is so much to keep up with throughout the day. Nowadays there's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Considering social media is at its prime right now, businesses should take advantage of it while they can.
Right now, visual inbound marketing is hot with sites like Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube. Visual inbound marketing is a great way to catch others attention and hold it for a longer period of time. According to an article from Socially Sorted, "we only remember 10% of what we hear, 20% of what we read and about 80% of what we see". Therefore, if you want to capture your target audiences attention right away and keep them interested I would encourage using visual marketing through social media.
Instagram was launched in October 2010 as a free photo sharing program for your mobile device. This program allows users to take a photo, add a digital filter, and then share it through social media sites including Instagram.com itself. Instagram was recently bought by Facebook making it more popular than ever. Not only is it a site for individuals but it is also used for many businesses. It is a great way to promote your business or your product by taking pictures and advertising them yourself. It's free advertising for your company and takes only a few minutes to create. Once users see your posts it will most likely spark their interest in your company which could eventually lead to new customers.
Another social media site that involves images is Pinterest. Pinterest lets you take all of your favorite images and "pin" them onto catergorized boards. This allows you to keep all of your favorite images organized and in one spot. This is a great marketing tool because once someone "pins" a picture onto their board it will automatically show up their friends homepage. What's great about Pinterest is when you can click on the picture it will bring you right to the website that it came from. For example, if you were to pin a picture off of a blog you wrote for your website it would go right to it. This can attract customers not only to your company but right to your website. Customers will actually learn what your company is about right then and there. You don't want to keep your customers guessing and Pinterest will definitely keep them from doing so.
Not only does visual inbound marketing include social media with images but also social media with videos. Most people would much rather watch a video about something than read about it. It catches people's attention much more and keeps it for a longer period of time. Visuals attract the eye because of the creativity involved and the way it is being told to you. For a fact, I would much rather watch a video about something than read it. A really long article could end up being a short video. I don't know about you but I'd much rather watch the short video. My advice is to take some time and put together a video describing your company. Take the viewers for a tour around the office and show them what the atmosphere is like. Everyone puts images in their heads and if you give them the right image they will be forever yours. Show the viewers what your company is up to nowadays while keeping them informed with visuals.
When trying to grow your buisness you want to give your audience what they are looking for. As a consumer yourself, I'm sure you know that the most creative and visual marketing techinques work great. Don't be afraid to use these social media sites and become comfortable with the newest trends. Once you take on these new visual social media marketing techniques check out our previous blog, "5 Ways to Measure Social Media Marketing Success" to see how well it's working.