In today’s digital age, visuals have become a crucial element of effective branding. Studies show that it takes only 50 milliseconds for users to form an opinion about a website based on its visual appeal alone. This highlights the importance of using high-quality, relevant images to shape brand perception.
Stock photos provide an affordable and quick way to incorporate compelling visuals into your branding strategy without expensive photography shoots. This article will explore eight impactful ways to use stock images to elevate your brand and create a lasting impression.
1. Blog Posts and Articles
Companies invest time and resources into creating blog posts and articles on their websites to improve search engine rankings. A well-placed stock photo makes your blog posts and articles much more engaging to read. Additionally, visual aids help readers recall information and retain it better.
When writing tutorials or how-tos, use a series of stock photos to visually demonstrate the steps involved. Arrows, circles, text overlays, and other graphics on the photos can highlight important details. For blog posts on specific topics, find a stock photo that encapsulates the theme to use as a header image. This gives readers a visual cue about what the post is about. You can also break up lengthy posts with photos every few paragraphs to add visual interest.
2. Social Media Posts
Social media is among the best places to leverage stock photos. Posts with images see higher engagement across all major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. There is a wide range of stock photos and images available on the internet, covering a variety of subjects like people, nature, technology, business, food, and more. By using pictures relevant to your post, you can craft captivating graphics, infographics, and carousels to engage your audience.
When customizing the photos, make sure to add your brand colors and elements. This creates cohesive social media feeds that reinforce your brand identity. Using the same style of images and graphics repeatedly builds recognition and familiarity with your brand visually. You can also use stock photos to showcase your products or services in a lifestyle setting. For example, show people using your product or enjoying your services. This helps connect your brand with emotions and relationships.
3. Email Newsletters
Email design is all about visual interest and engagement. Stock photos can help you create beautiful, branded email headers that subscribers will instantly recognize and connect with your brand. Don’t just place a stock photo at the top – use images thoughtfully throughout your email body to highlight important products, offers, or blog posts. The strategic use of visuals helps draw the reader’s eye to key information.
4. YouTube Thumbnails and Covers
The thumbnail and channel art for your YouTube videos make a vital first impression on viewers. Having imagery here that is consistent and reflective of your brand will help build recognition and trust. Stock photos give you plenty of stylistic options to create polished, branded thumbnails that get more clicks.
Take your time selecting an image – choose one that accurately reflects the video’s content. Faces and striking colors tend to perform well. For your channel art banner, use an image that communicates what your channel is about. Show viewers the type of content they can expect to see from your brand. Consistent branding and messaging will keep audiences engaged.
5. Advertisements and Promotions
Stock photos are invaluable for producing ads and promotional graphics faster and more affordably. When running social media ads, lifestyle images that capture the emotion and experience of using your product can grab attention in the crowded news feed. Instead of just displaying the product – show it in use through mockup photos. This drives desire and urgency. The same principle applies when promoting a sale or new product launch. Mockup images showing the product being used or worn make the offer more tangible.
6. Print Materials
Even in today’s digital age, print materials remain essential touchpoints for many businesses. Stock photos give brochures, flyers, posters, and direct mail a polished, professional look that builds credibility. For billboards and large-format prints, choose bold, eye-catching images with vibrant colors that quickly communicate your key message to the viewer. Avoid relying solely on words. Use images to create visual interest and draw attention to important information.
7. Website Hero Images
Your website’s hero image or banner makes a vital first impression on visitors. Using an authentic, high-quality stock photo that reflects your brand builds trust and credibility right away. The hero image also sets the visual tone for the site, which should remain consistent through other photos and branding elements. Test different hero image styles and subjects to determine which best resonates with your audience and converts visitors. Don’t underestimate the impact of this initial brand touchpoint.
8. Event Branding
When hosting a live or virtual event, consistent branding throughout the experience is key to providing a cohesive, professional impression. From signage to presentations, stock photos integrated throughout your event assets visually reinforce branding.
After the event, repurpose those same photos to create recap videos and follow-up emails that continue engagement. Showcasing branded event photos generates excitement and FOMO for future events. Plus, it provides another opportunity to reinforce what your brand stands for. With planning, stock images can offer immense value for branded events – both during and after.
Conclusion
The right stock photos allow you to produce branded visual content faster and more affordably. With a library of photos tailored to your brand, you can quickly elevate your marketing materials and ad campaigns. Just make sure to customize the photos to maintain a consistent look and feel across channels. With strategic use of stock photos, you can solidify your brand in the minds of your audience.