Capturing attention in your digital marketing efforts is very important, and it’s efficient, too. After all, a picture can be worth a thousand words.

The question is, which words?

Think of it like this: your graphic content speaks volumes in a short amount of time, so that means it carries a lot of weight in both the negative and positive sense. Effective design equals happier clients and a good return on the labor you’ve invested in, but the opposite is true, too. Sloppy or incoherent graphics can do a lot of damage to your brand faster than almost anything else you produce, meaning course correction can be difficult once the damage is done.

Blue Orchid Marketing produces quite a bit of graphic content, and for this post, we’ve decided to share some basic do’s, don’ts, successes, and failures on the subject. Check out the info below to ensure your graphic content is working as intended.

Everyone’s a Visual Learner Now

It might sound silly, but it’s true to a certain extent, at least when it comes to marketing.

According to some estimates, content with relevant images receives 65% more engagement than text-only content.

So, how can you create impactful visuals and graphic design elements for your digital marketing newsletters, email campaigns, and other initiatives?

The Power of Strategic Visuals

Strong visuals go beyond aesthetics. They also serve a strategic purpose:

1. Grabbing Attention: Strong visuals act as a visual hook, drawing viewers in and encouraging them to delve deeper into your content.
2. Enhancing Brand Recognition: Consistent use of brand colors, fonts, and design elements fosters brand awareness and recognition.
3. Simplifying Complex Information: Complicated data or statistics can be made more easily digestible and memorable through the use of infographics or charts.
4. Evoking Emotion: Images and videos can create an emotional connection with viewers, driving engagement and action.

Creating Effective Visual Content

Here are some fundamental principles for creating successful visuals:

1. Relevance: Ensure visuals directly connect to your message and target audience.
2. Quality: Invest in high-quality images, videos, or graphics for a professional look.
3. Simplicity: Avoid clutter and focus on a clear, concise message.
4. Mobile friendliness: Optimize all visual content for seamless display on any device.
5. Branding Consistency: Maintain a consistent visual identity across all marketing materials.

Examples to Learn From

“Learn by doing” can be great advice, but sometimes it’s best to learn from the examples of others.

1. For a notable success story, Dove’s “Real Beauty” campaign utilized powerful imagery of diverse women to challenge traditional beauty standards. It resonated deeply with audiences, achieving viral success and brand loyalty.
2. For a cautionary tale that demonstrates how even big brands can make critical yet avoidable errors in designing graphic content, look no further than ubiquitous household cleaner Fabuloso, which made the dangerous yet avoidable mistake of presenting their product like it was fruit juice. They’re not the only ones, either.

Do you still have questions about the info above? Contact Blue Orchid Marketing today to see how we can improve your visual content! You can call us at 203-746-5901 or email us at sales@BlueOrchidMarketing.com to schedule a consultation.