by Molly Jo Realy
Twitter: @MollyJoRealy
Instagram: @MollyJoRealy
Photos can’t replace words for informational learning, but let’s be real: Visuals are a big part of our world today. Our attention spans are shorter. If you want someone’s attention you need to grab it immediately and a photo can do that ohsomuch quicker than text.
Recognition comes before cognition. This means our brains will say, “Wait a sec. That looks familiar.” And then our eyes read the words that follow for more. It can be a photo of someone we know, food we like, or a place we’ve been researching online. Or we see something completely unexpected. Something beautiful, gross, shocking, lovely . . . you get the, uh, picture.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : NOLA research
This is why logos are so important to brands.
We “know” who a popular company is without thinking about it.
Whether you’re a writer, a painter, a home improvement DIY-er, visual postings will increase your followers.
I mean, I can tell y’all about my Lizzie Cat. But unless you’ve seen her photo, you don’t really know how beautiful she was. Am I right?
Frankly, My Dear . . . Lizzie Cat
Photos are great on a sidebar, as a Tweet, on Instagram, and of course, Pinterest. Look at Facebook: How many posts do you scroll through that don’t have a photo? Not too many any more.
You don’t need to be a pro-photographer, but you do need to know a few basics.
Here’s a few tips I learned through trial and error:
- If you’re posting to your professional or public sites, make sure it’s something your audience cares about
- Take a few photos and post the best one: clear, in focus, good display
- Use photos to enhance your story, not tell it for you
- Don’t drown your viewers in twenty photos of the same scene
- DO share multiple views that capture the enormity of your surroundings
- Before-and-After posts are great for home and yard clean ups, holiday decor, parties, and announcements
- Coffee and foodie photos are always da best.
- And cats. Always, always, always cats.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Berry Sunshine enjoying the last licks
Depending on which media site you’re posting to, hashtags are also useful in describing and enhancing your visuals.
How do you use photos to draw an audience?
TWEET THIS: When Your Photo is Worth a Thousand Words @RealMojo68 #socialmediasaturday
With a smart phone camera and a watchful eye,
Happy seeing!
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
I tend to be mindful that my first photo has to be an attention grabber- plus, if it’s done as a vertical shot, has to end up looking decent on Facebook, which crops to the top half of a vertical shot.
Cute kitty-ness!
William Kendall recently posted..Imagery
Those are great photo tips, William. Thank you.
And the cats say thank you meowy much.
Molly Jo Realy recently posted..NOLA Update: September 25, 2017