Take A Picture, It Lasts Longer: Using Photos to Increase Engagement

I'm trying to think of the last time I heard the phrase,  "Take a picture, it lasts longer."  I keep thinking of some pissed off guy getting in the face of someone who is staring at them.  Jersey Shore type accent, no, I don't watch that show.  Remember? I'm more of a "Big Bang Theory" gal.

A picture does last longer.  We love to look at photos. How many times do you do a search and click on images?  I know I do.  When I'm looking for a new recipe, the one with the best picture always gets my first click.  It works that way on the social sites I market for. Photos, especially multiple photos, always get attention.

• Posts with a photo or photo album generate  120% to 180% more engagement according to Facebook's internal data.
• Upwards of 250 Million photos are uploaded to Facebook every day.

I talked about the  Facebook Cover Photo last week (check it out here).  Putting some thought into that, is necessary.  We can't stop there.  Your customers are dying to see you.  SEE you.  Who are you really?  What goes on over there?   Pictures connect us.

Think "Story Time".  What is the key ingredient for a successful story hour at the local library?

• You have an audience. Yes, a group of fidgeting preschoolers, so you better keep them engaged. 
• A great short story. You have characters, A Setting, The Conflict, and The Climax.  Short, simple, perfect. 
• Pictures. Big, Colorful Pictures.

Your audience is not a group of preschoolers, I know. I don't care how old they are, people love pictures.  When you are at an office for an appointment and waiting, what makes you pick up one magazine to read, instead of another?  I'd take bets on the cover photo.  Coffee table books are still popular, and what are they? Big Picture Books for adults.

Here are my Mutt Tips for creating vivid content with photos. Grab the attention of your customers, clients or donors. 

• Get a camera.  Your cell phone's camera will do just fine.  If you are looking to get some quality photos, well invest in something better.  Hiring a photographer is a wise choice if you are planning a campaign, but the important thing is to take the pictures.
• Action.  How many stories have pictures where everyone is posing?  Catch your business in action.  I read a post from a local restaurant recently that gave me a fact about how many different kinds of pasta there were.  You know what would have really engaged me?  A photo of one of the chefs preparing a pasta dish.  Yummm, I'm going there for lunch, right?
• Showcase your fans. Encourage them to post photos.  Run a contest. (Follow Facebook's guidelines, though.)  Then follow up and comment on the photos, share them on your page.  They love it, their friends love it. All of a sudden you have more fans for your page. That means more leads and potential business for you.  
• Permission. Taking photos of customers?  Get their permission.  While the Privacy Laws permit you to take photos in a public place, it can get sticky.  You want to be considerate of your customers, anyway.  Usually, people have no problem being in your photos. The permission doesn't have to be full of legal jargon, but you do have to be clear on where you will be using the photos. I found a toolkit that you could easily change to use for your business.

Just because you are a small business or organization, it doesn't mean you can't tell a good story.  Keep those fans engaged, get them talking.  

Need some additional ideas?  Give me a call. I use, a Nikon D5100 as well as my Android Smart phone, and will travel.