The visual face of your website serves as so much more than a pure introductory appearance. The images should provide viewers with a robust, compelling, and beautifully engaging experience that draws them in. The more interested your visitors, the more likely they will be to linger on your site, click around, and ultimately convert.

When it comes to content marketing, visual content reigns supreme. Considering today’s most popular social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, people are driven by visual interest. Visual content is aesthetically pleasing or images that tell a story to add a splash of intrigue that increases the efficiency of any marketing strategy. If you’re looking to positively impact your performance metrics and transform engagement into conversion, it may be time to invest in your visual content.

The state of the current marketing sphere is a mad-dash to stay relevant. Inundated with constantly changing trends and strategies may make it difficult to stay at the cutting edge, but if there’s one thing that continues to stay true it’s that content is king. Should you hope to stay relevant to the times and your target audience’s needs, perfect your visual content marketing strategy.

Curious to know how visual content can improve your conversion rates? We’re here to break it down for you.

What is Visual Content?

Visual content is online marketing content that’s primarily image-based and designed to convey valuable information to viewers. The ultimate goal of effective visual content is to attract visitors and convert them into customers.

Common forms of visual content include:

• Infographics
• Diagrams
• Charts
• Pictures
• Videos
• Memes
• Slide decks
• Screenshots

Why is Visual Content Marketing Important?

According to PR Daily, visual content gets viewed 94% times more than text-only content. In order to take advantage of consumers’ interest in images, you need to have a robust visual marketing strategy in place. On a scientific level, the human brain processes images exponentially faster than it can process texts. Additionally, the ways in which we react to images versus text couldn’t be more disparate. A photo of a person smiling yields a completely different emotional reaction than simply reading the word “smile”.

Therein lies the importance of visual content marketing. You want that emotional investment and you want to capitalize on people’s attraction to visuals. Think of it this way; when people visit a website for the first time, the first impression is made within the first 50 milliseconds, and that first impression is entirely based on visuals. With such a short amount of time to impress, your visuals need to be captivating.

How is Visual Content Better than Content Writing?

Though visual content and writing are both justifiably lumped together into the category of content marketing, the two are essential pieces to any marketing strategy. However, the case can be made that visual content is far more effective for conversion than content writing despite content writing being the traditionally favored option.

Visual content is superior to content writing for two straightforward reasons:

• Visuals are easier to recall: Images, videos, and other visual formats are processed in the brain’s long-term memory. This allows us to remember more information when it’s presented in a clear and concise composition. On average, about 15% of text-based information is retained whereas nearly 60% of visual information is retained.
• People process visuals faster: As mentioned before, visual content is far easier for the brain to process than text. This is why videos and images are so incredibly effective in distinguishing your brand and products.

In order to capitalize on both visual and text fronts, consider integrating both into your site’s structure. Check out these clever blogs that nail that dynamic duo:

• 5 Rental Trends Landlords Should Know Going into 2020 by SmartMove: Uses infographic

• Whip Up These Pitcher Cocktail Recipes for Your Next Outdoor Party by Better Homes & Gardens: Uses slideshow gallery

• Fashion Forward: How Tech Is Targeting Waste & Pollution In The $2.4T Fashion Industry by CB Insights: Uses infographic

How to Use Visual Content to Improve Conversions in 3 Steps

Step #1: Say more with less

Saying more with less is the same as showing without telling. Rather than describing things and concepts to your readers, employ visuals that express information and emotion in more creative ways. You don’t want to bore your audience with a highly-informative, text-heavy piece, rather you want them to experience your story and pique their interest. When presented with a visual story, your audience can better imagine themselves using your product or services — an essential first-step into the buyer’s journey.

Step #2: Integrate your social media

When it comes to persuasive content, few are more effective than social media. Amidst the ever-evolving landscape of the digital age, one thing has remained true over the course of the past decade: social media’s pervasive influence. Be it other consumers talking about your product or service, or building your brand via Instagram or Twitter profile, social media has become a pivotal marketing strategy across all industries and verticals.

In website redesign plan, be sure to include elements or plug-ins that play to your strengths on social media. Whether it’s YouTube customer testimonials or Instagram photo reviews, taking advantage of and increasing your social media presence is an excellent way to improve conversion rates.

Step #3: Experiment with video

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, so a video could very well be worth over a thousand sales. Product videos are far more digestible and user-friendly than text and plain images as they demonstrate how to use your product or services. In fact, 73% of American adults are more likely to purchase a product or service after watching a video that explains and demonstrates its use. Videos are captivating, entertaining, and incredibly informative when utilized properly.

According to EyeWideDigital, having a video on your landing page can increase your conversion rate by 80%. Tapping into the power of motion picture may be the difference in conversion you’re after, but do note that videos only generate converting leads if they are used well. Beyond addressing what customers want to see and know, consider the following questions before creating your product video:

• What is the purpose of the video?
• What emotion are you trying to provoke?
• Who is your target audience?
• What are your key takeaways?

With these questions at the forefront of your mind during the ideation process, you’ll be able to masterfully piece together an effective product video.

Wrapping up

Visual content is anything but a secret marketing tactic, but the ways in which you ideate, create, and execute can set you apart from the rest of your industry.