Photos can either boost your marketing efforts or cost you.

Using photos to market your business is very effective when done properly.  Photos can give your message "reach". In marketing terms "reach" is how far and how long your marketing message will travel on your behalf.

When posting photos on Social Media, they have stronger marketing value when a quote is on the photo and even more so, when your web address is on the photo. This way when people share your photo, they are sharing your attitude and web address.  

If you have a cache of photos (not necessarily product image photos) that you are planning on using online, please consider the following:

 

1.) Just because you find a photo online does not make it public domain. Be aware of any copyrights, or use photos that you have obtained from verifiable public domain sources. Keep a record of where you obtain photos to prevent a huge legal problem coming from the copyright owner in the future. This includes stills from old TV shows, logos and professional (and paparazzi) photos of entertainers.

To make it easy, we use spreadsheet.

 

 

As example, Getty Images sends out threatening letters and an invoices when they find one of their photos being used. They are not always right, however. If you have record of your source and you can prove you obtained it legally, it can prevent fines from Getty and other similar photo suppliers.  "Somebody else posted it first and I did what they did" is not a defense. This reminds me of what a judge said in traffic court when one driver attempted to use as a defense , " other people were speeding on the road, some going faster than him. Why didn't the cops ticket them? The judge simply answered " The police officer caught you."

 

2.) Quotes and cute quips get "liked" and shared most often. Sales pitches attached to photos rarely do.  If you have a favorite saying  or quip by a well know person, that supports your business, ie: health related, incorporate that into your photo. Be careful not to use copyright material here as well.  You can also boost your professional image by writing your own original quotes and using them on your photos.

 

3.) When posting, keep your posts in an album (ie: Facebook, G+) or a specific board (ie: Pinterest). This way when someone likes one photos, they can also view the others more easily. The more they view, the more they often they will like and share.

The best results are achieved when your content is UNIQUE, CLEAR, CURRENT, EDUCATIONAL, CONCISE, RELEVANT, ENGAGING and CONSISTENT.

If you think your marketing needs an overhaul, let's talk. Click to email us. We'll listen first, look at your online presence and then offer our recommendations. One size does not fit all.The solution for you should be unique to your business and goals.

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