Successful Social Media Engagement Requires Branded Photos
Kim Brundage Photography 2020 - self portrait
Social media marketing is a part of pretty much everyone’s marketing plan now, and if it isn’t, it should be. If you’re not convinced that social media is where your ideal clients are hanging out, I’ve got a few statistics that might just change your mind…
There are now nearly 4 billion users on social media
57.6% of the world (4.55 billion people) now uses at least one social platform
Globally, there are 5.29 billion unique mobile users, which means that more than two-thirds of the world’s population now has access to a mobile phone
On average, people spend two hours and twenty-seven minutes per day using social media
54% of social media browsers use social media to research products
There are expected to be at least 3.9 billion people using social media worldwide in 2022 which is a 4.8% increase from 2021
For all of the above statements, you can replace “users” and “people” with “my clients.”
So online is definitely where you want to be engaging people. And in order to engage people, you need to catch their attention visually.
Photos get attention
The question is, are the photos you’re sharing of yourself in your quest to connect with your ideal clients online representative of your brand? For many of the clients I work with, the answer is “not really.”
Kim Brundage Photography 2018 - Shannon Loy, owner of The Social Ginger using emoji pillows.
Important Questions to Ask Yourself
Here are a few questions to ask yourself to determine whether or not it's time for new branded photos to use online.
Are the current photos you’re using of yourself online older than 2 years?
Have you changed since your current photos were taken (your hair color is different, you’ve lost a significant amount of weight, etc.)?
Are your current photos warm and engaging? Are you smiling? Do they make people want to stop and engage? Do they draw people in?
Do your current photos take into account your brand colors? Is the background brand appropriate?
If you answered yes to the first two questions and/or no to the second two, it’s time to get new branded photos taken!
A good brand photographer will help you determine how best to communicate your brand in your photos, focusing on the clothes and colors you wear, the environment where you take your photos, and the poses you use. Branded photos make people more inclined to want to do business with you, because they more accurately communicate who you are, and that engenders instant trust.
If you have more social media questions, Shannon Loy of The Social Ginger is a great resource.