Image Sharing
Dynamic images can often encourage conversation and community on social media networks. From networks that encourage sharing of your images from your digital properties, to others that share images to create a story, social image sharing can be a useful tool in digital marketing programs.
Facebook’s newsfeed uses a complex algorithm to determine the types of content shown in the news feed. Typically, content that is engaged with more will be shown more often for both individuals and companies. Dynamic content such as images and videos are much more likely to be shown because users more frequently interact with this type of social content. “Likes” or “Shares” of images add to the viral nature of image sharing as these interactions can be seen by friends of those interacting with your images. Companies can interact with customers in this manner by using product, lifestyle and “behind the scenes” image content within their social media strategy. Many image based posts can also benefit from a paid social media strategy on Facebook, boosting posts to encourage engagement from specific fans or targeted individuals to expand your company’s social reach.
“Sharing images on Facebook helps clients to engage their audience with the latest company updates and offerings.”
Facebook’s sister company Instagram retains a stronger focus on imagery with all posts still requiring image content. Images on Instagram typically have a more casual, creative feel with filters and stickers being popular among their user base. Each post contains 1-5 images and a description. Only ad posts allow linking off-site. Instagram is continuing to update their offerings with new story and filter features, and their ad platform offers dynamic targeting options using Facebook’s ad network.
“Instagram is ideal for dynamic imagery that allows for eye catching graphics to grasp users attention and drive engagement.”
Pinterest is a platform for finding and sharing ideas in image form. Their most popular categories are related to home, arts & crafts, fashion and food. Users can follow the boards of others and these “pins” will show up on their home page for them to see. Users will also see pins that are categorized into their favorite topics.
Infographics and other resource oriented images are particularly effective on Pinterest. Pins can be solely images or link through to further information on another site. Users can favorite a pin or “repin” it to their own board for later reference. Pinterest users often use their boards to plan future purchases.
Individuals can pin items they find on Pinterest or they can pin images they find directly on your site. So it is important to not only define a Pinterest board strategy if needed, but make the images on your website easy to share through Pinterest.
“By creating ideabooks, homeowners gather, save and share design concepts for future renovation inspiration.”
Houzz
Houzz is a social platform focused home and garden décor and design. The platform provides both ways to browse for inspiration & ideas and make product purchases. Professionals in the home improvement industry can also create profiles to show off their own work and connect with potential clients. Since Houzz is exclusively dedicated to home and garden the audience is highly relevant for these businesses, and most users are actively working on updates, remodels and redesigns in their homes. Users can save your images into their “Ideabooks” for later reference.
SnapChat
Snapchat is a mobile app for sharing images quickly among connected users. Users can send images directly to their friends or post them to their “Story” for 24 hours. Images are typically created within the app and edited using various filters and drawing tools, rather than being prebuilt. Businesses can create their own accounts to share images with followers. Advertising options, such as geo-targeted custom filters and promoted snaps within the “Stories” feature, can help increase brand awareness.