Why Visuals Speak Louder than Words for Your Brand
When you log into the internet, what is the first thing that catches your attention? Is it a collection of words or an image? If your answer is an image, then you’re not alone. More than 90% of people pay attention to visual content over text. Visuals are generally the first thing people notice, even in infographic content.
A picture is worth a thousand words. So, find the right one that conveys the essence of your brand. The key is to stay balanced. Use visuals, but don’t let them distract your readers away from the content. The right visuals and brand story will help your brand glide its way through the digital market.
Visual Storytelling for Your Brand
Visual storytelling conveys your brand message through visuals. It uses a story of your brand that resonates with the viewers and leaves an impression in their minds. It’s all about creating a narrative that you can leverage across all of your social media platforms consistently.
This involves creating your brand’s own character, with a storyline, history, and ultimately, a challenge. However, not every brand needs to incorporate all of the above. It differs based on what your brand has to offer. Visual storytelling serves as the best form of content marketing for your brand.
Reasons Why Visuals Are Powerful
For branding, looks do matter. How your brand presents itself to the world matters. But how does visual storytelling help with that? Here’s how:
- Engagement: Humans are visual creatures and visuals like pictures and videos are known to grab attention effectively. People process an illustration faster than text and eye-catching ones bring in more social shares.
- Emotional Connection: People usually remember stories they can emotionally connect with. Your brand is likely to build trust and loyalty through a thought-provoking visual.
- Simplicity: Visuals can break down complex information into a simple visual that’s easy to digest. They also tend to communicate information faster, breaking language barriers globally.
- Building Identity: Consistent and striking visuals across all platforms enforce brand recognition. Using visual storytelling will efficiently establish your brand name and leave a lasting impression.
Steps to Creating a Strong Visual for Your Brand
Here are 3 steps to creating a strong visual for your brand:
Define your brand identity
- Give your brand a personality: What do you want your brand to be like? What kind of character should your brand be associated with? Fun, serious, sophisticated, or something else? Define it.
- Establish brand value: What does your brand stand for? What does it believe in? Name those.
- Focus on your audience: Find your target audience. Filter them further based on what they like and need.
- Build a story: This is the crucial element of your brand’s identity. A brand is incomplete without a story. What’s your brand story? Give your brand some history, portray its achievements, and it’ll be good to go.
Choose the right visual elements
Breathe life into your brand with some colors. Bright colors can seem fun and energetic while darker shades symbolize professionalism. Colors add character. So, choose what’s right for your brand’s visual stories.
The next step is the font and typography. A poorly chosen font often undermines credibility. So, pick fonts that are easy on the eyes and reflect your brand accurately.
Images are the most important visual elements. Using high-quality images makes your brand stand out from the pack. However, make sure that the image doesn’t distract the viewers from the content.
Create a visual hierarchy
Use a clear and consistent visual hierarchy throughout your brand. This will help people to understand your brand and what it stands for.
Use white space. It strikes a balance. Too much clutter overwhelms and makes it difficult to focus on your brand.
Put in some visuals to narrate a story. Your visuals should be able to tell a story about your brand and what it stands for.
Use visuals to evoke emotion. If visual branding is done right, it’ll influence your audience through emotions such as happiness, excitement, or nostalgia.
Best Examples of Brand Storytelling
Apple
A single look at their site and you’ll know that Apple has perfected the art of visual storytelling through minimalism. Their product launches feel like events, not just product unveilings.
They focus on the experience, not just the features. Their clean and simple aesthetics with powerful imagery strikes an impression in their viewers, making them stand out.
Apple’s iconic product shots and minimalist ad campaigns have made its brand image a symbol of innovation and luxury.
Google has successfully transformed complex technology into relatable, everyday stories. Their ads usually feature real people using their products to solve problems or achieve goals. This human touch makes technology feel accessible and desirable.
The company’s focus on human-centric brand storytelling has helped it position itself as a firm that actually cares about improving lives.
Nike
Nike’s visual storytelling stands for athleticism, determination, and achievement. Their campaigns feature inspiring athletes overcoming challenges. This creates a sense of empowerment among the consumers.
Its iconic “Just Do It” slogan paired with powerful visuals has solidified its position as a leading sports brand.
Dove
This brand has revolutionized the beauty industry with its focus on real women. Their campaigns challenge unrealistic beauty standards and promote body positivity. They use models from diverse ethnicities that resonate deeply with the consumers.
Dove’s commitment to authenticity in visual stories has earned them a loyal customer base and has influenced the beauty industry as a whole.
Disney
Disney is the master of creating immersive worlds through visual branding. From animated classics to live-action blockbusters, their storytelling takes their audiences to a magical place.
Disney is known for its visuals and has become a global entertainment giant by creating visually stunning and emotionally resonant stories.
Right Visuals Will Pave The Way for Your Brand
Visuals have the power to evoke emotions, tell stories, and leave a lasting impression that words alone cannot match.
Incorporating compelling visuals into your brand strategy enhances your aesthetic appeal. Visual storytelling fosters deeper connections with your audience.
Remember, a strategic visual can be worth a thousand customers. So, invest in quality visuals, experiment with different formats, and watch your brand wing its way.