Social media is a fantastic environment for businesses everywhere because it puts brands of all sizes on the map and creates strong connections with an audience. When done right, social media marketing and better photos can help increase sales, bring more customers to your website, and get people talking about your products and/or services.
However, you’re not the only one trying to reach the same base of customers. Your competitors are also hard at work, so you need to know how to stand out from the crowd. This is where good, creative, and exciting pictures come into play. And you don’t even need expensive equipment or high-end editing software to succeed.
Nowadays, all you need is the basics of photo editing, a few tips and tricks, and lots of creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.
We can help you with the first two, so make sure to keep reading:
1. Focus on Original Photos
Sometimes you can rely on stock photos, but make sure not to turn it into a habit. Some recent studies show users glide over stock photos and are not engaged by the content accompanying them.
Plus, original photos are on every list of SEO tips because they have the potential to help your content and your website climb the SERP. So brush up your photography skills and use as many original photos as possible even if they don’t look as good as you had hoped.
2. Use Editing Tools to Make Your Photos Look Their Best
Not all of your photos will be masterpieces, but you can still save some of them with a few editing tools. The good news is that you don’t need to invest in high-end editing tools; you can make do with a few basic ones.
For instance, you can use an online tool to get wrinkles out of pictures, fix blemishes, and adjust the lighting (among other features). These tools are handy and easy to access whenever you need them.
3. The Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds serves as a guideline for beginner photographers and teaches you how to frame the subject in your images. However, it does not apply to product photography, portraits, canvas prints, or any other types of photography where the subject needs to be in the center.
This rule works well for landscape and casual photos because it creates a sense of space and direction for the viewer. Plus, once you learn how to use it correctly, you also learn how to break it for more creative and edgy shots.
In a nutshell, the rule of thirds divides the photo into nine equal squares or three vertical and horizontal areas (top, middle, and bottom). This way, you’ll know where to place the subject – often on the right or the left of the photo. As a result, two-thirds of the photos are open and include the landscape.
4. Play With Different Angles
The framing of your subject usually changes with different angles and, as a result, the message can also change. So try playing with angles to see which ones work best for your type of content.
Also, there are a few studies that showed users follow the subject’s line of sight (when the subject is a person or an animal). This means you can use photos of people and animals to direct viewers’ attention toward a specific section on your page (or a product).
On social media, odd angles allow your pictures to stand out from the crowd because almost everyone uses the rule of thirds or centers the subject.
5. Try To Be Consistent
When it comes to online content strategy, consistency is one of the essential elements. However, the same applies to social media content even if you mainly work with visuals.
So what does it mean to be consistent in your photos? It depends on your approach. For instance, you could find creative ways to include your brand or brand colors in all the photos. Also, it helps to use similar backgrounds or have the same style of photography.
Of course, this doesn’t mean all your photos should look the same. It’s just a way to combine consistency and originality.
What Types of Photos Work Best for Social Media?
Now that you know how to take and edit your photos, let’s have a quick look at the most successful types of images on various social media platforms.
In the first place, you’ll find candid shots and product images. People like to see pictures of other people, especially if these shots are of people representing your brand (members of your team). When you post candid shots, you humanize the brand and bring it closer to customers.
Next are behind-the-scenes photos (launch preparations, how a product is made, teasers for an announcement, and so on). And on the third place, you’ll find user-generated images. The last ones are amazing for customer recognition and can start quite the word of mouth when used correctly.
And finally there are funny memes which can be created using a free meme generator.
In a nutshell, original images are the most appreciated by online users. So, even if your photo is a bit crooked or needs retouching, don’t hesitate to use it!
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