Semalt Recommends 10 Visual Marketing Trends You Should Be Using In 2021

  
Visual content marketing is quickly reshaping the dynamics of content strategy. Gone are the days where text alone was required. These days, your audience demands more effort in making your content more visually attractive. 

Marketing today has changed significantly from what it was five years ago. Better still, it is almost unrecognizable from what it was a year ago. The pandemic was indeed a wrecking ball. Covid-19 forced us into the future we had only started preparing for. 

The quarantining, social distancing and the need to be more conscious about our health have not only impacted our mental health but also the way consumers view, interact and shop from brands. 

How Has Covid-19 Impacted Society?

Covid-19 has impacted how consumers view and hold brands accountable. Today, the Society:
  • Wants to interact more with brands they patronize. 
  • Pays more attention to brand trust and ethics. 
  • Looks for ways to help small businesses grow. 
This is very different from what we experienced in the past. The problem, however, is that most brands are yet to understand how these trends influence content strategy. Visual content marketing has become the new standard, and if you aren't practicing it, you are falling behind. 

Why Is Visual Content So Important To Your Audience

In simple terms, visual content forges more intimacy between brands and their consumers. It builds the foundation for more authentic connections so that consumers could feel closer to the brands they patronize. 

The Edelman Trust Barometer says that about 70% of consumers believe that trusting a brand is more valuable than it was in the past. Having video content on your site gives your brand a unique opportunity to connect your brand with its audience on a deeper level. It is almost as valuable as a face-to-face encounter with the brand. 

Coupled with the strain of social distancing, visual content goes a long way in filling the void. It's no surprise that about 91% of marketers now agree that video is more important to brands. 

Without further ado, let's show you some visual trends you should follow.

Using Authentic Stories And Content

Say bye-bye to fluff. Consumers are no longer interested in the brand alone. There is a pressing need to see the people behind the brand. Consumers now need real-life stories and real-life people. 

You can put a face to your brand by:
  • The CEO discussing the roots of the business.
  • A behind-the-scenes documentary at the CX team so people can see who they've been speaking to over message or on the phone. 
  • Creating a blog post that shows the employees making a product.
There are so many ways you can give real-life content on what goes on in your business. Social media also makes things a lot easier. Instagram Reel, stories or even short video documentaries give your audience original and amazing content they will enjoy. 

Today's consumers are hardly impressed with whatever fancy fluff you've cooked up. The effects of perfectly stilled photoshoots, perfectly scripted product advertisements and using models are dwindling. Consumers want something original, something that represents them.

Instead of spending so much on hiring models and top-rated photographers for gimmicks that won't have a real impact, it is better for your brand to develop new ways to talk directly with your audience. The best way to get the spotlight on your brand today is to connect with your consumers on a more personal level. 

Consumers want to see that your business is open, unafraid to share its perspective on societal issues and has human emotions. 

Convert Your List Into Visual Graphics

When you convert your list into graphics, you make a more interesting read. Your content becomes more visually appealing when you convert it to graphics. It also helps your readers remember the information better and more accurately. 

Our brains are wired to prefer visual cues. In fact, the human brain processes visual signals 60,000 times faster than it processes text. Having more visual content on your site makes it easier for your readers to understand the message you're trying to pass across. It also increases engagement and dwell time.

Optimize Your Branded Visuals To Be Understood By Google

Creating your own graphics, visuals, and data helps solidify your place as an authoritative website to both Google and your audience. Doing this also greatly increases your chances of getting links and citations. 

Optimizing every original branded image with an alt tag makes it easier for Google to understand. This means your images get indexed and optimized in Google search and Images. Other search engine users and publishers can find these images, use them and link to your website. 

It is also a great idea to optimize every image and graphics you create for your brand assets. This way, all your content formats show up in Google images. Google likes it when web owners give it a little bit of everything. By feeding it the right information on every bit of visual content you upload, you put your brand in a position where it will rank everywhere. 

Live Stream Video Content

Audiences are disregarding heavily edited and too-perfect content because they don't feel authentic. This is something we must bear in mind when creating content for our clients.

Consumers want real-time answers, real-life scenarios. Live video streams are more convincing because they are more natural than prerecorded videos. 

With live streaming, you create a sense of immediacy that looks more natural to the audience. Viewers feel a stronger connection to what you have to say because it is happening in real-time. Thanks to technology and the evolution of virtual events, it is easier for your audience or representatives of your audience to ask questions and get feedback immediately. 

The ease of communication is one of the reasons why live streaming is so important for a brand today. Users are often able to post comments, ask questions or discuss with the host directly. This creates a deeper connection and breeds more engagement between viewers and the host. 

Animations And GIFs

Many of us love using GIFs and other forms of animations like emojis and stickers in our chats. On your content, GIFs and animations can be used in a number of ways, like breaking down the steps of a process, spicing up images, or adding some fun and laughter to your content. 

Luckily for content creators, there is a GIF or animation for every situation. We can also create a branded version for your post when needed. 

360° Visuals

Audiences find it thrilling that they can now visit a place and control what they see virtually. With a slide of their fingers or by dragging their mouse, they can control their environment. The ability to explore a business space in this many is engaging and brews curiosity. 

Coming from an e-сommerce perspective, this feature displays products from every angle, so customers have a better understanding of what they are buying. They can turn a box to see the ingredients, manufacturer, expiry date etc. this takes the online shopping experience to a whole new level. 

This type of visual content on your website opens up a lot of new opportunities. 

Conclusion

At the end of the day, you must pick up visual content if you plan on remaining relevant to Google and your audience. Visual content directly influences your: 
  • Authenticity
  • The amount of engagement your site enjoys 
  • And trustworthiness
These are what modern-day consumers desire in a brand.

If you plan on growing your online presence, you must meet these expectations. And one effective way to do so is by using more visual content on your site. 

Interested in SEO? Check out our other articles on the Semalt blog.