You may have heard that a picture is worth a thousand words, and that old adage still rings true! With the online world’s algorithms becoming more and more image-based, it’s a no-brainer to get your content and branding noticed. Visuals are also an important element of modern advertising, as images can be processed by viewers 60,000 times faster than text alone – so using images to sell your brand should be the next step you consider in your business plan.
Using photography and images to sell your brand is useful for several reasons. For one, it allows clients to understand your brand before they reach out to you. Your social media, website pages, and blog postings can use imagery to build your reputation as a modern, creative enterprise.
It also is an opportunity to broadcast who you are, what you do, and how you do it in a universal language. It’s been proven repeatedly that people do business with people, and well-chosen imagery helps inject personality into your brand and online presence. Bringing a human face to your business
helps you stand out from the crowd of your competitors and builds customer trust and investment in what you have to offer.
So, where do you go from here? Here are some helpful tips on making the most out of imagery-based branding when it comes to selling your business online.
Plan the story
This may seem like a really obvious step, but telling your story through photos is not just about grabbing a camera and taking pictures as the feeling takes you.
So, first things first – planning is key. What story are you trying to tell through the images you choose? What moment, emotion, or event are you capturing to share with your readers or customers? What emotion are you trying to spark with your viewer?
You also have to plan the more practical elements of capturing the images you want to use. What research do you need to complete to find the best image? Who or what is in the story? What equipment will you need? When and where will you shoot the shots that will tell your narrative? This might feel like a rubbish round of Twenty Questions at the moment, but they will help you save time and energy whilst telling an effective visual story for your brand.
Try these questions out on how you would tell the story of your business or even the story of your week. You don’t have to use the images you find or make during this exercise on a finished blog or social media post, but it will make the creative process easier when you turn these questions into the story you want to tell customers and viewers about you and your brand.
Telling the story
Now you’ve planned out the intricacies of your image-based story, it’s time to start planning how these aspects will come together in a cohesive narrative. As with any good story, you need an introduction, a plot, and a conclusion for the story your images are telling.
The introductory images will help put the following images in the story in context whilst setting a tone and grabbing the attention and interest of your intended viewers – which is probably the most important objective!
The main narrative of your story is the main canvas for you to explore ideas, experiences and emotions that you want to raise with your viewer. These can be explored through a range of creative themes, including:
Visual themes
Recurring colours (such as your brand colours), shapes, and objects (such as objects related to your business, e.g., florists and flowers).
Stylistic themes
Photographic techniques and styles, such as black and white shots or using non-digital means/traditional methods to take photos.
Locational themes
Photos with a recurring location in common (e.g., photos taken of individual allotments across the UK, or photos taken of marketplaces worldwide).
Relational themes
Photos or images chart a person or a place over time to tell your story (e.g., photos taken over a period of time to document the highs and lows of an individual’s travels)
You don’t have to tick each of the above themes off to have a compelling, image-based story – but it can help to think about each of these themes and what they can bring to your story, even if you cannot accommodate them all.
Your concluding image or images must live up to the idea that last impressions count. That doesn’t mean that the story has to be tied up neatly, but you need to consider what you want the reader to go away thinking at the end of the story you have been telling. What questions do you want them to be thinking? Or what actions do you want to inspire in your potential customers?
Words Behind the Image
Don’t forget words in telling your story! Whilst it is true that an image can speak a thousand words, well-written copy to back up the images is still a must. Strong imagery can tell your story or sell your brand, but a good caption can help put an image into context or help a viewer understand the story you are telling.
Don’t be too disheartened if it takes time to finetune your storytelling through images – as long as the images you choose start to reflect your brand and speak to your customers; then you’re on the right track!
If you’re thinking of taking your business in a new direction based on expert online expertise and beautiful design, Weave Studios is here to help every step of the way.
Weave Studios are a friendly, experienced team that can help you realise your website, graphic design, and SEO goals. Our team create clean, modern websites built to industry standards that are fast to load, hosted by Weave Studios, and mobile-friendly.
Need help with copywriting, image selection, audio editing, and website layout? We’ve got you covered there too!
We also offer assistance with graphic and branding design and have worked with many different businesses and organisations to build consumer awareness and loyalty. Eye-catching, consistent, and beautiful branding is part of our bread and butter – whether it is a branding refresh or a completely new venture, we’re here to make your ideas a reality.