Should your marketing go visual? Visuals have always been part of social media, particularly that old classic, Facebook. However, in recent years, there has been even more focus on visual content. There are infographics, Pinterest, and now there are Instagram and Snapchat. What does this mean for your insurance marketing? Should you embrace visual social media marketing?
The Advantages of Visual Marketing
Spending time taking a photo or creating an infographic can be costly. It takes your time and your staff time, and you might even have to hire a graphic designer. Why would you spend that time on visual content?
- It’s popular. For instance, according to Saleshub, since 2012, searches for infographics have increased by 800 percent.
- They catch the eye. Whether it’s a well-positioned photo or a chart, pictures catch the eye much more than a wall of words. Did you know that visuals are processed 60,000 times faster than text?
- They’re shareable. If you’re looking for content that is appealing and that will bring in referrals, your visual content is much more likely to do that. Even if you want to highlight the words that you’re writing, adding complementary visuals makes those words more appealing.
- Infographics position you as a subject matter expert that can not only frame a topic succinctly but do so in a way that makes sense to the average person. This makes you not just an expert but an approachable expert—the key to marketing survival in a field like insurance, where people often feel a little lost when it comes to content.
Next Steps for Visual Marketing
If you’d like to give visual marketing a shot but you’re not sure where to begin, here’s how you can get started:
- Research and embrace hashtags. They allow people to find your business on social media, and they’re particularly important when you’re adding just a few words to a visual post. These hashtags will begin to define your business, so look for ones that are already used or start your own, but choose carefully.
- According to Wishpond, “whether you’re looking to get more followers, capture leads, or sell more products, running a contest is—bar none—the best way to do all three when it comes to Instagram marketing.” Given that you’re an insurance agency and you’re not taking photos of your lunch, this might seem difficult. However, your contest could focus on your community, its landmarks, and its people, or it could focus on something more insurance-related, such as community members getting prepared for disasters.
- Engage with people who have clout on Instagram, Pinterest, and other social media sites. This could be someone in the preparedness community or someone in the communities that you serve. Having them mention you or share your content potentially gets your visuals in front of thousands.
At American Agents Alliance, we want to make your insurance business and marketing much simpler. Talk with us about our many membership benefits, and discover how you can build your insurance business in a supportive community of others in the field. Contact us today.
