6 Ingredients to a Strong Visual Brand on Social Media

Do you inspire and captivate your social media community? Is your visual content dynamic, engaging, and diverse?If you want to stand out on social media, you must earn the attention of your audience. And you have to do it in a short amount of time.That's where visual marketing comes in. With it, you breathe life into your brand.The right graphic can expand your reach, boost engagement, and get interaction churning.Simply stated:

Visual content is your make or break moment.

So how can you create a strong visual brand on social media? And what can you do to create a signature style that precedes you?Today I'm giving you 6 visual ingredients your social presence can't live without. Here's how to develop your unique visual calling card.

6 Ingredients to a Strong Visual Brand on Social Media

1. Unique, Memorable, Undeniably YOU

Imagine sitting down in front of your computer, watching a sequence of images at a rapid pace.You might think it would be impossible to identify, capture, or retain any of that information. Amazingly though - a lot can happen in the blink of an eye.In fact, our brains are such powerful processing tools that they can process images in as little as 13 milliseconds.Think about that as it relates to your brand, website, and online presence.

“Your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room.” Jeff Bezos #InfluencerChat pic.twitter.com/iiplmJm3rW

— Rebekah Radice (@RebekahRadice) June 8, 2016

In a matter of moments, your audience is making a decision. Will they stop and read or will they move on?Do they decide to engage with your business or interact with your competition?Given the speed that people scan content, having a knock-'em-dead online presence is critical. Without it, you may lose an opportunity forever.That’s where visual marketing comes in.

Visual content breathes life into your social media marketing. Content with relevant images gets 94% more views than content without relevant images.

The right graphic can share your vision, expand a product's life, sell a service, or boost a campaign.And the beauty in this...Every company has this unique opportunity. It's that split-second moment where you can inspire and delight your audience.But to do it, you need to start with a powerful brand image.

What does a strong visual brand on social media look like?

What comes to mind when you think of a strong visual brand identity?In most cases, the logo is the first thing you think of. From the website to offline marketing, a logo is an extension of that brand.But it's more than that...According to a recent study, 45% of a brand’s image comes from what they say and how they say it.Your words tie together the mission, vision, and values. How you say something gives a voice to the company message. It's that message that creates the brand experience.It influences people's emotions, attitudes, and opinions around that brand. It’s also the vibrant, eye-catching, and appealing way they leverage visual marketing.Just take a look at many of the most iconic brands out there. Each one has an instantly recognizable logo. They've also succeeded in creating massive appeal through strong visual content.Coca-Cola, one of the most well-established brands around, has an undeniable look and feel.

In fact, it’s said that “Coca-Cola” is one of the most recognizable terms worldwide.What's more:From Instagram to Facebook, they've leveraged that brand. Proving that a strong visual presence is a key to continued domination.So what makes them stand out? They’re...

• Unique
• Versatile
• Predictive
• Responsible
• Memorable
• Adaptable
• Confident

How can you create a strong visual brand?

• Streamlined look and feel - Just look at Target as a prime example of a consistent brand from online to offline marketing.
• The tone of voice - Whether your tone is bold, vibrant, playful, clever, cool, fun, genuine, empathetic, or authentic, it needs to humanize your brand, create a bond between you and your audience, and define your personality.
• Clear aligned message - Know your brand and have a clear image of your company’s personality, mood, and history.
• Tell a story - 92% of consumers say they want brands to create content that tells a story. However, every brand has its own story, so it’s up to you to create yours.
• Be a trust magnet - 60% of consumers say they’ll only buy from a familiar brand. At the same time, 54% of people DON’T trust brands. Yikes...

2. Design an Experience, Don't Just Sell a Product or Service

Are you posting visual content just for the sake of it? Or worse yet...Does your visual marketing only promote your business?Stop making it all about YOU if you want to create a community eager to eat up your visual content. Instead:Remember, a good brand is built over time, requiring thought, strategy, and consistent implementation. What does this look like in action?Nobody knows how to create an experience better than the Ritz Carlton. They've turned customer care into an art form. And they’ve extended that across all of their online properties.

Just take a look at that view! This is exactly how I wanted to spend my birthday. @ritzcarlton #rcmemories #ritzcarltonhmbA photo posted by Rebekah Radice ⚡️ Social Media (@rebekahradice) on Jul 10, 2015 at 8:57pm PDT

How are you using visual marketing to create a valuable experience for your audience? With 63% of all social media content including an image, it’s time to increase your odds of winning that moment.After all, your customers crave visual content, so why not give it to them?What type of visual content works best across social media?

• Quotes
• Data (Infographics, statistics)
• Ebooks
• Video (hot, hot, hot!)
• Gifs/Memes
• Behind the Scenes (a look into your business)
• Tips and How-To’s
• Questions

No matter how you use visual marketing, ensure it's hitting the mark. If quotes aren't working with your audience, adjust your strategy.There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Find your visual groove and work it.

3. Give Your Visuals a Plan, Purpose, and Promise

Before using visual marketing, you need to know what you want to get out of it.How will you communicate your brand image to the world?Once you know that, it's time to determine how you will visually and creatively express your brand promise.For example, Apple's promise to… “think different” is two-sided.It's their guarantee to create products based on seeing the world a little differently.It's also their promise to inspire their customers to do the same.

Find your identity:Think about how people perceive your business.Now consider Red Bull.They have a well-established voice and share engaging and contagious content.But they do more than that...Red Bull knows how to create an experience with visual content.They're using it to build trust before asking for the sale.

“Build trust before you need it. Building trust right when you want to make a sale is too late.” Seth Godin #SMMW16 pic.twitter.com/ntXPfZC5dD— Rebekah Radice (@RebekahRadice) April 21, 2016

To develop your visual marketing plan, take these two steps.A. Planning Ahead: Where do you want to be?Examples:

• Global industry leader through a clear, measurable, and achievable company marketing strategy
• The dominant player in the market through word of mouth marketing, influencer marketing, integrated marketing plan, and defined customer acquisition campaigns
• WOW factor established - plays a significant role in customer retention and satisfaction
• The inbound marketing model is 100% in alignment with company goals and strategies
• The team trained to nurture leads through the established customer journey - speak to a clearly defined customer persona

Now determine how you translate that through your visual designs. How can the right graphic position your business in the best possible light?B. Identify how you will create a brand connection through your visuals. Examples:

• Produce visual marketing that surprises, delights, and educates the audience
• Use visuals to tap into the head and heart of the audience. Understand their physical, emotional, and rational needs.
• Know why your customers buy. Is it to:
• Satisfy a basic need?
• Solve a problem?
• Better themselves?

Once you know those answers, you can cater to your customer's exact needs. Don't throw visuals out, hoping they make a connection. Use them to provide real value.Make your social media audience feel safe, confident, and comfortable.

4. Inspire Action: Be Consistently Consistent

What's the difference between a memorable brand and one that’s forgotten?Consistency. After all, a consistent brand builds trust. But consistency doesn't mean cookie-cutter.It also doesn't mean doing the same thing across every social channel. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter - all unique audiences.So why are you treating them as if they're the same? Each one needs to visually stand out on its own.Don’t be afraid to tailor your content per channel. Be careful to only change characteristics based on the channel.Your brand elements should remain consistent.How can you create consistency across social media? With your...

• Name
• Communication
• Style
• Logo
• Color scheme
• Tagline
• Watermark
• Graphic elements

5. Choose Your Best Color Palette

Did you know that color impression accounts for 60% of the acceptance or rejection of your product or service?That's HUGE!Choose a dominant color that mixes your message, voice, and identity. Think about what it represents: energy, vitality, creativity.Remember that color can send a powerful message about your brand, so ensure it’s only strengthening your brand’s image.The Psychology Behind Brand Colors

• Black conveys a message of power and authority. It speaks to a stylish and timeless message, imparting a sleek, formal, luxurious, or classic experience.
• Yellow is seen as fun, joyous, and optimistic. Brands like Nikon, Subway, and Best Buy bear the brand of a bold, deep yellow.
• Orange is my brand color and one that embraces every aspect of my business. It’s cheerful, inviting, encouraging, friendly, and confident. Orange makes me happy!
• Red is an emotionally intense color. When we see red, we think of “strength, adventure, energy, and love.” It is extreme, exciting, and vivacious, with Coca-Cola, Virgin, and Pinterest embracing this vibrant hue.
• Blue makes us think of tranquility. It promotes a feeling of calm and can symbolize loyalty. When we think about blue, we think of the words “unique, trust, reliable or clear.” Brands prominently displaying blue within their logo are Facebook, Dell, HP, and Oreo.
• Green causes people to think about nature. It’s calming and refreshing. Green symbolizes balance, growth, and freshness and can also speak to financial stability as green is the color of money.

6. Tell Your Story

92% of consumers say they want brands to create content that tells a story. What’s yours?Just keep in mind, as you craft your story and prepare your visuals for each social network:Writing and creating content for the ear isn’t the same as creating it for the eye. Think about it...If I were to tweet that I just ran to get lunch, you'd look at it - move on, and possibly never come back.I gave you nothing to interact with. Now, what if I tweeted a pic of my freshly baked pizza with homemade tomato sauce dripping with mozzarella?If you're a fellow pizza lover, suddenly, your senses come alive.You’ve activated another part of your brain where instead of just “hearing” the story, you’re actually “feeling” it.Let your visual content become nuggets that drive sales, boost your bottom line, and connect customers to your brand.In other words - the right content shared with the right people will help tell your story in a powerful and meaningful way.

Our brains crave storytelling! 92% of consumers say they want a brand to create content that tells a story. #SMMW16 pic.twitter.com/ADrFi3lhSx— Rebekah Radice (@RebekahRadice) April 20, 2016

Final Thoughts - Rinse, Repeat, Repurpose

Visual marketing is a win/win for the customer and the brand! So, do more of what works! Share liberally across multiple social networks.Be bold, be daring, be vibrant, be YOU!But know this...Building a brand on social media takes time.Be patient, persistent, and diligent in the pursuit of owning space in your audience's mind.