10 tools for visual content that remains in the memory
With a good combination of text and visual content, your content marketing will be even more successful. Therefore, we will now highlight a couple of tools which can help you create suitable visual material for your content marketing.
Let’s start with a few statistics: 90 percent of the information our brain processes is visual. People retain only 20 percent of what they have previously read, but 80 percent of what they see.
Content with matching images gains up to 94 percent more views than content without images. Colored pictures will increase the chances that people will read the accompanying content by as much as 80 percent. And provided the images are relevant, users will spend more time looking at them than reading the text on each page.
Images also play an important role in social media success – so Facebook Posts with images secure 2.3 times more user engagement than those without. It’s no wonder that 71 percent of online marketers include visual elements in their social media marketing.
After blogging, visual content is the second most important content format for marketers. According to a survey by the Content Marketing Institute, 55 percent of marketers reported that they want to produce more visual content this year.
One thing is certain: With a good combination of text and visual content, your content marketing will be even more successful. Therefore, we will now highlight a couple of tools which can help you create suitable visual material for your content marketing.
Compelling images for blogs and social media
Image databases such as Fotolia are very practical resources and offer numerous images on almost any topic. However, those using just common image databases run the real risk that their content will differ little from content available elsewhere on the Internet – and there are other cost-effective alternatives. To give blog articles a truly unique feel, it can even make sense to shoot your own pictures with a camera or smartphone. In addition, there are a number of useful tools which can help in the search for that perfectly matched image.
1. Canva
Whether you need illustrations for your blog or a social media image, Canva is a real treasure house for visual content. Once you become familiar with this tool, it’s really easy to use and provides countless opportunities for creative graphics.
If you select a social media post design, Canva can produce appropriately sized layouts for Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Text and backgrounds can be customized, and your created images can be downloaded in JPG, PNG, or PDF formats.
In addition, Canva offers a variety of free images and photos, as well as photo-filters.
Screen Canva
2. Unsplash
Unsplash provides high quality photographs which are grouped together under different themes (Collections). All images on the site can be downloaded for free, and you can also receive 10 new images every 10 days. All images can be used without restriction for any purpose and can be freely edited as required.
3. Pixelio
If you register for free at Pixelio, you can download as many photos as you wish covering various topics. Whenever an image is used, the image source must always be specified. Note: Be sure to pay attention to the user license conditions, especially as regards editorial and commercial use.
4. PicMonkey
With PicMonkey you can not only edit photos, but also create beautiful collages which could, for example, be used as graphics for social media. There is a free 30-day trial (which ends automatically) and after that your use of PicMonkey will cost at least $2.75 a month.
5. Datawrapper
Do you need a diagram? Datawrapper is a fast online tool which can display your information in visual form. Just upload your data in Excel or CSV format, select an appropriate chart type, enter a title and create your chart. In its free basic version, Datawrapper displays all created charts as downloadable PNG files.
Create impressive infographics
Studies have shown that infographics are the form in which content is most often shared. In addition, as Asokan Nirmalarajah points out: “Above all others, this content format helps with the targeted building of relevant links from topic-related online publications and third party websites.” That’s hardly surprising, because well-crafted infographics are very easy to understand and remember.
However, not everyone has the budget resources to employ a web designer. Fortunately, there are a few tools available to create simple infographics.
6. Piktochart
Piktochart offers a range of different formats for infographics, plus many free templates. These can be freely edited via Piktochart’s simple editor which, for example, offers unlimited use of text and icons, and Excel data can also be uploaded and visualized. This video shows you how to create simple infographics with Piktochart in just a few minutes.
7. infogram
This tool can be used to create diagrams and infographics. Simply select an appropriate template, and then drag and drop to add images, icons and text.
There are different pricing models, and a free basic version will create 10 infographics.
Sample infographic from Infogram
Captivating memes and quote boxes
Memes are cards with highlighted quotes, or pictures with text, which highlight particularly humorous or sarcastic statements. These are very popular on social media channels like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, and – if done well – have the potential to spread virally.
This tool has meme templates with fully editable text showing a preset list of characters and figures. Users also have the option to create memes from their own uploaded pictures.
Meme from Textbroker
9. Memegen.com
Memegen also offers a selection of original images plus the ability to search via keywords. Once again, your own pictures can be uploaded to create memes. This tool also displays a leader board of memes, and you can select both local and globally popular examples.
10. QuotesCover
Simply select a popular quote and edit your choice for use on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook or Google+. In addition to the selection of famous quotes, it’s also possible to enter your own quote and edit both the font and background.
Source: quotescover.com
Using the power of pictures
Many studies have demonstrated the power of visual content, and companies using visual content properly will gain more traffic and increase their user involvement on social media.
However, whether it’s a photo, infographic or meme, the graphical presentation must always fit the target group and publication context if it is to achieve the desired effect.
And even though visual content is always impressive, it’s often the case that such content only works via the interplay of the right words in the right context.
With a dash of creativity, and the help of some of these tools, you will soon manage to create eye-catching content with your own personal touch.
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