Visual Consistency Sells: The Power of Regular Mini Brand Shoots for Social Media
RE Creative Agency works hand-in-hand with clients to understand their unique voice and vision, and then craft bespoke strategies that help them reach new audiences and deepen their impact with existing clients and customers.
In the crowded space of social media, first impressions are where your brand inheritance is made or shattered. The visual identity of your business is akin to a personal handshake – it can be warm and lasting, or it can leave a cold and fleeting impression. For small business owners and social media managers navigating the digital marketplace, ensuring your brand’s visuals tell a consistent story is essential. This means regularly conducting what we call 'mini brand shoots': pocket-sized photo sessions designed to give your social media profiles a fresh burst of perfectly aligned visuals.
Visual consistency instills trust, builds recognition, and reflects professionalism. In this post, we’ll explore why it’s vital in today's market and how regular mini-shoots can be a game-changer for your business. We will also provide practical guidance for integrating this powerful strategy into your social media routine.
• The Power of First Impressions •
Think of the first time a consumer comes across your business on social media. What do they see? If your feed is a kaleidoscope of different styles, images, and colors, the consumer is left with an unclear or, worse, a chaotic perception of your brand. In contrast, a meticulously curated feed, uniform in style with complementary visuals, sends a clear, professional, and trustworthy message. This effect on the viewer is immediate and cannot be overstated, with research showing that it takes as little as 50 milliseconds to form an opinion about your brand online.
An inconsistent visual presence can work against you. Studies have shown that visual brand inconsistency can lead to reduced visibility on social media platforms, as algorithms tend to favor cohesive, high-engagement content. Notably, audiences are also more likely to engage with and remember brands that present a unified visual image.
Making the Case for Consistency
To illustrate the tangible impact of visual consistency, consider these scenarios:
Scenario A:
A consumer, shopping for handcrafted jewelry, comes across two Instagram profiles. The first is a charming feed filled with warm, earthy tones and images that evoke a sense of artisanal craftsmanship. The second is a mishmash of bright colors, varied styles, and seemingly random product shots.
Scenario B:
A food enthusiast is on the hunt for a new weekly recipe source. They find a cooking blog where each recipe is neatly presented with cohesive images of high-quality ingredients alongside the prepared dish. In a separate blog, displays of low-res, impromptu snapshots detract from the recipes, making them appear less appealing and less credible.
In both cases, the first scenario shows a clear advantage with its consistent, maintained aesthetic. The second scenario, marked by inconsistencies, doesn't provide the same level of appeal or trust.
• Regular Mini Brand Shoots: What, Why, and How •
To maintain this level of consistency, regular mini-brand shoots can be a small investment for a significant return. These shoots involve planning, capturing, and curating a set of images that align with your brand’s visual identity, which can be used across all social media platforms over a designated period.
A New Strategy on the Social Horizon
Why should you consider these mini-shoots? Firstly, they offer a micro-adjustment to your visuals, ensuring that any shifts in your brand’s style are smoothly integrated. Secondly, they refresh and rejuvenate your content, keeping your social media profiles engaging and your audience coming back for more. Lastly, regular shoots can be an effective way of planning your social media content in advance, reducing the stress of creating content on the fly.
Tips for Planning and Execution
The key to success is to establish a schedule and a shot list. Plan out your shoots with upcoming events, sales, or product launches in mind. Know what you want to communicate and the emotions you want to evoke. Remember, these are not just product photos; they are visual stories that need to connect with your audience.
Shot List Essentials
Product-focused shots
Lifestyle shots
Behind-the-scenes
Seasonal or themed shots
Cost-Effective Photography Hacks
Here are a few ideas to capture your visual content:
Natural Light: Schedule your shoots during the 'golden hours' of photography, just after sunrise or before sunset, to leverage the most flattering natural light.
DIY Backdrops: Get creative with everyday items to create interesting and unique backdrops for your products.
Smartphone Savvy: Smartphone cameras are increasingly powerful. Use apps and tutorials to maximize their potential.
• Tools and Resources. •
Creating professional-grade visual content doesn’t have to be daunting. There are a plethora of tools and resources at your disposal to simplify and streamline the process.
Your Smartphone as a Studio
Today's smartphones are marvels in photography. Pair yours with editing apps like Adobe Lightroom Mobile or VSCO to achieve stunning results. With the right lighting and composition, your smartphone can be a powerful tool for mini-brand shoots.
Stock Photos and Templates
There are many websites with free or low-cost stock photos that you can use to supplement your visual content. Unsplash or Pexels are free stock photo websites for high-quality, royalty-free images. For those without design experience, templates from sites like Canva make it easy to create professional-looking graphics for social media posts. Social media scheduling tools like Hootsuite or Buffer can also help you plan and schedule your posts in advance.
• Conclusion •
The benefits of regular mini-brand shoots are clear. By consistently presenting your brand in a visually engaging manner, you create a lasting impression that can turn a scroller into a shopper, and a lurker into a loyal fan. Commit to visual consistency, and watch your brand transform on social media.
For small business owners and entrepreneurs, it’s time to take action. Start with your next small shoot, share the results, and see the difference it makes. In this visual world, consistency doesn’t just stand – it sells.
If you would like more information about working with us to help transform your social media strategy and set up a mini (or full-blown) photoshoot, please contact our team!
