How Does Visual Content Complement Written Messages in Content Strategy?

How Does Visual Content Complement Written Messages in Content Strategy?

In the age of information overload, five seasoned professionals, including a Founder and a Director of Content, reveal how they've successfully integrated visual elements to enhance their written narratives. From engaging readers with visuals to amplifying the impact with infographics and multimedia, dive into the creative strategies that make content truly resonate.

• Engage Readers with Visuals
• Boost High-Search Volume Pages
• Visualize Data for Short Attention Spans
• Enhance Message with Relevant Visuals
• Amplify Impact with Infographics and Multimedia

Engage Readers with Visuals

Including visuals with your written copy keeps readers engaged. At my agency, The Blogsmith, ideally, we try to include one image for every 300 words of an article.

One of the most popular choices for incorporating visuals into written content is using stock photos because they are free and easy to come by. However, using stock assets is a double-edged sword because it means your media isn't unique or notable.

You can opt to create custom graphics by using design software like Canva. If you don't have design experience, you can hire a graphic designer or use design subscription services like Design Pickle.

However, using custom graphics isn't the only way to incorporate visuals into your content. Some other ideas are using a relevant, fun GIF, embedding a relevant YouTube video, adding statistics with sources, incorporating screenshots and annotations to show people how to use a tool, using on-brand expert quote images, and creating an infographic to summarize the article.

Boost High-Search Volume Pages

We use visual content on pages with higher search volume. The reasoning is that these 'popular' topics tend to be more frequent discussions on social media and receive more image searches on Google. These pages warrant the extra effort necessary for creating visuals that enhance the page experience but can also be used across numerous marketing touchpoints.

Visualize Data for Short Attention Spans

Yes, visuals are a key part of our content strategy. In fact, one of our top-ranking blogs—'Best Times to Post on Social Media'—uses a lot of visuals. Reason: In this blog's case, we've covered multiple platforms and expert timings.

That said, a glimpse of what's there is always a good idea in today's era of short attention spans. So, with help from our graphic designers, we've created some top-notch, yet simple and concise, visuals for the audience. This helps them visualize and get an overview before they dive deeper into the content. The result is a monthly traffic of 5k+ visitors on this blog.

Enhance Message with Relevant Visuals

I've used visual content effectively to complement and enhance the message of my written content. By integrating relevant images, infographics, and charts, the visual elements serve to break up text, making the content more engaging and easier to digest. Infographics are particularly useful for summarizing key points or data, while custom graphics can illustrate complex ideas more clearly than text alone. This not only reinforces the written message but also caters to visual learners and boosts the overall appeal and shareability of the content.

Amplify Impact with Infographics and Multimedia

Visual content plays a pivotal role in amplifying the impact of written content within my digital marketing strategies. I integrate eye-catching infographics that encapsulate key data, statistics, or concepts from written content into visually appealing and easily understandable formats. These infographics serve as compelling tools to grab the audience’s attention, summarize complex information, and enhance the overall message's clarity and memorability.

Furthermore, I leverage multimedia elements such as videos, animations, and slideshows to bolster written content. These dynamic visual assets act as supplementary mediums to elaborate on written narratives, providing a more immersive and engaging experience for the audience. Whether through explainer videos that delve deeper into topics, animated storytelling that brings concepts to life, or slide presentations that visually highlight key points, these visual aids complement the written message, making it more captivating and accessible to diverse audience preferences across digital platforms.