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Marketing 28 min read June 17, 2021

13 Types Of Visual Content That Boost Your Traffic

types of visual content that boost your traffic
Natalia Kurinnaya
Darya Jandossova Troncoso
Chief Editor of MarketSplash
Visual elements not only make your content more engaging but can also boost your SEO. If you want to rank highly on the search engine results pages, use visual content to gain a competitive edge.

This will help you boost traffic to your website in two ways. You'll grab potential customers' attention and indicate to the search engine bots that you're an authority in the field.

They will rank your site based on the user experience and visual content will help you to improve this.

Why visual content is effective

The main reason visual content is effective is a simple fact in nature. Visuals highly stimulate humans. The more stimulating a visual is, the more likely people are to engage with it; so, visuals should definitely be a part of your content plan.

This also means people are more likely to remember what they see. According to studies, people remember 65% of visual information instead of 10% of written information.

This means that adding visual content to a text will make it more appealing and more memorable.

Visuals such as images and videos can also make web pages more inviting.

Even just by adding branding to your email marketing, you can create more engaging material. It's, therefore, essential to use this to your advantage by designing an effective visual content strategy to boost traffic.

How visual content marketing boosts traffic

Visual content marketing goes beyond appealing to human interest. It can also help to improve your SEO.

This is because it's often one of the best ways to clarify a concept. In addition, visual material makes written information easier to digest and understand for both the reader and the search engines.

Users are also more likely to stay longer on your site if it has more diverse content. Content such as infographics can also generate backlinks.

Let's recap on how important visual content marketing is for boosting traffic and why.
  • It improves readability and increases interest
  • It helps sites to rank higher on the SERPs
  • It encourages users to spend longer on your site
  • It gives your site more diversity
  • It can help generate backlinks
Images work with search engines to make websites more discoverable. A relevant, original image that appeals to users will help make your content easier to interpret by search engine crawlers. These are the bots that sort websites for ranking.

By optimizing your image SEO, your site should also show up on the image results pages.

How to create a visual content strategy to boost traffic

You can create a compelling visual content strategy to boost traffic in a few easy steps. There are five main points to remember.
1
Outline your goals for your visual content
Essentially, plan what you want to achieve and this will help you choose the right content.
2
Accompany longer text with plenty of images
Most readers will scan a text rather than read it properly to help break it up and clarify information.
3
Target the latest trends
When designing your content, try researching the latest trends so you can gain a competitive edge.
4
Focus on quality
Whether you're posting an image or video-based content, it needs to be original and high-quality. This will appeal to online customers much more and in turn help to boost your SEO.
5
Be consistent
Remember that your content needs to represent your brand's personality so consistency is essential. Use similar themes and tone of voice across different types of marketing material.
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13 types of visuals to include in your content strategy

There are several types of visuals you can include in your content strategy, and the more the better. It's essential to diversify your content to make it more enticing.

This way, you'll boost traffic to your site and encourage users to spend longer there when they arrive. Here are eleven types of visual content to include.

Video сontent

Video content is still number one at the moment. According to statistics, video is your biggest opportunity for 2021.

For example, 93% of brands have claimed to get a new customer thanks to a video on social media. Social media is just one example of a platform for your video content.

You can also create customer testimonials, how-to demonstrations, event recordings, and more on your website.

Vlad Shvets, a growth manager at Paperform, says:
When landing on an unfamiliar website, people are immediately looking for signs that might help them determine whether the site (and the company behind it) is trustworthy or not. Make it easy for them. Once we included more customer testimonials on Paperform's website, we immediately saw an uptick in the conversion rates.
It's a great opportunity to showcase your brand's identity and connect deeply with an audience. Video makes the content experience more personal and easy to identify with.

Video advertising is also a lot easier than it looks. There are several tools and video editing apps you can use to design professional-looking video content in minutes as well as video marketing tools to get your content out there.

You can advertise on YouTube, social media, and Google to name a few. However, if you are inexperienced in creating videos, it could be worth outsourcing this to a digital marketing agency.

They will advise you on the best ways to represent your brand through video and which techniques to use.

Whereas Google has been rumored to prioritize video content, we don't know this for sure. But, for certain, if Google shows a video thumbnail as a rich snippet, users are more likely to view the listing.

Video content also helps with other metrics Google uses to rank sites, such as backlinks and the amount of time users spend on your site, so it's definitely worth investing in.

Photos

visual content
You have several options with photos. First, you can get the most out of photo marketing by using stunning photography.

If you're not much of a photographer yourself, don't worry.

You could hire a professional photographer, which is advisable for eCommerce, for example. Potential customers will want to see clear and detailed examples of your products looking great.

If you don't want to create your photos, you can even buy stock photos from professional photography sites online.

Ensure the photos are original-looking and not staged. Photos like these will help jazz up longer written content, such as blog posts and educational articles, resulting in quality content.

Another area of photo marketing is the use of brand images. These are usually stock photographs or illustrations that feature your company logo or branding.

They help to generate brand awareness and are useful for things like email marketing and social media promotion.

There's a lot of visual noise to cut through online, so it's important to choose vibrant and alluring photos that really stand out and differentiate your brand.

If you make sure there is consistency in your aesthetic, your photos will become recognizable.

Infographics

visual content
Infographics are more than just an image, they provide little tit-bits of information. This is usually in the form of stats and figures or short bullet points about a topic.

Online users are more likely to read these as they're short and numbered. Statistics are also compelling. You can embed infographics into blog articles, educational materials, and case studies.

The most common uses for infographics are survey or poll results, listicles, product comparisons, company history or timeline, or any exciting statistics relevant to your business.

To make an infographic you need an infographic generator. It might be better to outsource this to a digital marketing agency that can create one for you quickly.

You can use several fantastic types of designs or your infographics, so it's worth speaking to the experts about these.

They'll be able to create something that truly represents your brand personality and message while appealing to the reader at the same time. In addition, infographics can improve reading comprehension by 50%, so it's a good idea to invest in them.

If you can't hire a professional, you can look into some of the many infographic design software that's readily available online.

There are plenty of reliable platforms such as Venngage, Visme, or Canva that offer free and paid options at an affordable rate and help anyone who knows nothing about design create professional infographics.

It's up to you if you have the time and interest in this option.

Illustration

visual content
Illustrations are a perfect way to show off your artistic talents and to create more original visual content.

If you aren't confident in your own designs, you could always outsource your illustrations to a talented artist. Illustrations can have many uses.

They make a great accompaniment to blog posts and articles about your company's history because they are original and appealing. You can also use them to decorate your website's landing page or for whimsical advertising.

It's essential to get the tone of your illustrations right, however. This needs to match the personality of both your brand and your target audience.

If one of the main characteristics of your brand is sophistication, silly or comical cartoons may not work, for instance. Your illustrations need to look professional and appeal to the style of your target audience.

The blend of illustrations and photography also needs to be just right. Illustrations are effective if customers are expecting to see real evidence of your products or services. Creating custom illustrations with tools like Vectornator or Adobe Illustrator can be both outsourced and done in-house as well.

They are useful in showcasing your creativity and technical skills, however. So it's another type of content that could be worth outsourcing to ensure you get the best illustrations to appeal to the right customers.

You can find professional illustrators to outsource on platforms like Fiverr and Hireillo. Finding the right illustrator to work with may take time. Be sure to choose someone who is aligned with your brand, easy to work with, and reliable.

User- generated content

user-generated content
User-generated content is anything that individuals rather than brands have created. This is why it's useful for generating trust for your business.

It's the ultimate "show, don't tell" theory in action. Rather than having to shout about how great your brand is by yourself, other people's experience of your brand in the form of personal content will speak for itself.

If one of your customers leaves a positive review along with a photo, this will create a good impression. You can also use influencers to create more visual user-generated content.

The best thing about user-generated content is that it represents a personal experience, giving it authenticity. Businesses often incentivize both customers and employees to post on social media, for example.

This will help give your brand more online presence and the search engines will pick up on this and rank your site higher.

Brands can find out when they have been tagged or geotagged on social media to get the most out of user-generated content.

You can then request to use this image, for example. If the user gives permission, you can use this image on your corporate channels to encourage a more meaningful connection with consumers. For further information on the topic, check out this guide to UGC marketing.

GIFs

GIFs add a fun and quirky touch and if they align with your brand image, they can be very appealing to potential customers, and enhance the experience of your content. GIFs and other types of interactive content are able to express in a way that words on their own just can't.

GIFs can be used to add humor to your blog and social media posts. They can also help to build brand awareness and make your brand more relatable. They are also more stimulating than still images.
visual content
GIFs are good for SEO and will attract traffic to your website. You can use various tools to design well-branded and shareable GIFs which should get the best results.

Your GIFs also need a unique file name and alt text so that users and search engine bots can locate them more easily.

One thing to point out with GIFs is that they can be weighty, so it's not a good idea to use too many on your site.

They are a great way to break up articles, however. You can use them to diversify your content but in a limited fashion.

Screenshots

screenshot as a visual content
Screenshots are perfect for showing examples of things like software and digital tools.

It gives readers a realistic view of what to expect from the product.

If your business creates digital tools, screenshots are an effective way to advertise them, just as photos can display physical products.

Screenshots react with search engines similarly to images and can help both people and bots learn more about your products.

To make the most out of screenshots you could post them on your landing page, on social media, or better yet, as part of a more detailed how-to guide.

If you want to go all out, you could create a video presentation or webinar using screenshots.

These are very useful for online and offline promotional events. You could even collaborate with other businesses and each share information about these events on social media.

Quote designs

visual content
Quote designs such as pull quotes are another way to diversify your content. You can create visual designs out of quotes to highlight important information. These will attract the reader's attention.

You could try adding enlarged text over an image or design that reflects the personality of your brand.

There are several ways you can use quote design to draw in more traffic and keep your audience engaged.

They can be added to longer texts, such as blog posts, to break them up or highlight the most relevant points.

They can also work well on social media such as Instagram, as an eye-catching snippet of information related to your brand. You can also use them for customer testimonials.

You have two options. You could either work with a talented designer or DIY your quotes. Several tools, such as Canva and Instasize, are fairly easy to use and provide plenty of templates for your quote designs.

This way you can ensure you create something professional-looking and engaging. Quote designs are another good opportunity to create brand consistency and share your brand's unique style.

Having an immediately recognizable visual quote style will help users know and connect with your content.

Embedded social media posts

visual content
Embedded social media posts in your blog content can drive traffic from websites to social platforms. It also benefits your website in other ways. For example, you can demonstrate social proof to your visitors.

Social media posts can also provide support or backup information. They also add extra visual content to help boost engagement.

Embedding social media posts is easy enough to do. How to embed posts depends on the platform you are using, but it's often simply a case of right-clicking and selecting to embed the link to a post in your coding.

It's a good idea to attach an image file as well, and then you'll end up with a bit of ad to your post.

This type of content helps to boost traffic because it increases engagement. It also gives your brand credibility as it allows potential customers to get in touch and even create user-generated content.

This will boost both your online presence and reputation significantly.

Graphs and data

visual content
Data visualized in the form of graphs and charts can allow you to display relevant information easily.

Data makes the perfect addition to longer texts and stories. Together they appeal to both parts of the brain, making your content more engaging overall. As we know already, engagement is the most important thing.

If you display data in a graph, for instance, you will make it instantly easier to absorb and understand. It's useful for explaining educational articles containing facts, figures, and trends. Additionally, it also gives your content more credibility.

You will need accurate data, however, and reliable sources.

Adding graphs and data can help boost your traffic if done correctly. The important thing is to focus on the right data. It needs to be relevant and clear. Otherwise, it will have the opposite effect to what you're aiming for. Data should clarify information rather than confuse your readers.

Similar to infographic content, If you are creating your own data visualizations from scratch, you can choose to either hire a professional designer to assist or use software such as Venngage or Visme to create it yourself.

Whatever you choose should ultimately add up to the most savings on time and money.

Live images

visual content
Live images are trending right now because they are a more fun form of visual content. Live essentially refers to a slight movement, which adds an extra layer of engagement.

As we are constantly bombarded with visual content on a daily basis, most people have become pretty used to still images and they are becoming harder and harder to catch people's attention with. Live images stand out immediately and are a much easier way to grab attention.

Live images such as boomerangs, if they align with your branding, can help boost your traffic. Boomerangs are images with a slight back-and-forth movement on a loop. You can learn how to use the latest boomerang techniques on Instagram.

You can use live images in a variety of locations. For example, they can be sent as part of email marketing campaigns or posted on social media.

These can both link back to your website to any main product pages or recent promotions. You can also use live images to add to any long text to make it more fun.

These are pretty user-friendly even if you haven't got much photo editing experience. If you prefer, you could otherwise hire professional designers to help you produce more impressive visual content.

Personalized images

visual content
Using personalized images on your landing pages has shown to increase engagement and page linger time. A Survey by HubSpot of over 300,000 websites found that when website personalization was applied to the site, an average 202% uplift in conversions was achieved.

Personalized images change according to the user, in order to appeal to their particular needs and demographic. Personalizing content helps to appeal to different target audiences and create more resonance.

Creative popups

visual content
Popups are proven marketing solutions for boosting your website traffic and attracting new visitors. They can be different — geotargeting popups, gamification popups, on-click popups and etc. But one of the most effective is the exit-intent popup. By using a visually attractive exit popup, you will keep your visitors on your web page thereby increasing your traffic and conversions. It will appear once your visitors will browse to close your tab, and will convince them to stay on your page for longer.

It's important to strike the right balance with popups. You don't want them to become too overwhelming and obstructive causing users to leave the site. When designing popups, be sure to keep the user experience in mind and ensure that they will be alluring and not intrusive.

Tips for visual content

Including diverse visual content on your website, social media, and other marketing material can help to boost your business. You'll increase traffic to your site and improve your online presence.

Not to mention, visual content enhances your brand identity and is the perfect opportunity to differentiate your brand, stand out, and construct a visual style that will connect with and allure your intended audience.

The right content needs to engage with potential customers, which will boost your SEO. It's vital to get the most out of your visual content, however, and there are several ways you can do this.

Here are a few quick tips.
  • Optimize image names and descriptions for SEO
  • Aim to use high-quality images
  • Use the correct sizing
  • Hire talented, professional designers
  • Use software tools such as Vectornator or Canva where you can
If you are using images, you need to optimize their names and descriptions for SEO. To do this, you need to create keyword-rich file names so that both users and search engine bots can find them.

The more relevant detail the better. Here are a few more image SEO tips to get you started.

Using the correct sizing of images is also important. PNG and JPEG are the most common image formats online.

Each platform has very particular sizing, so it's important to familiarize yourself with the size requirements of each platform's images. You can find plenty of Social Media size guides online as well.

The main thing is to ensure that no image is ever pixelated. You want your visuals to be as high quality as possible!

You can also use tools to compress your images to prevent them from slowing down your website. Site speed significantly impacts your site's user experience, an important metric for Google ranking.

If your visual content is slowing down your site, seek professional advice from a digital marketing agency or web developers to improve your page loading speed. Optimizing your visual content is a surefire way to increase traffic to your website and social media.

Visual content is also very effective in a variety of marketing campaigns. However, you need to ensure you use the right content to represent your brand that will resonate with your target audience.

You will need a visual style guide and mood boards when putting together the visuals for your marketing strategy and branding across platforms.

The best way to do this is to note the characteristics of your brand and how these appeal to your niche. The most important thing is to create high-quality visual content that's up to date with the latest trends.

Here are a few more tips if you would like to learn more about designing amazing visuals for your website and marketing materials.

Things are constantly changing or evolving in the content marketing world. If you would like further information about how visual content can boost your traffic and the best SEO solutions, find out more today.

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