As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Images capture attention, create intrigue and have the ability to increase audience reach. Individuals are exposed to thousands of stories daily and visual communication can help to ensure your message is received.
For businesses, communicating with audiences can be made easier with the addition of images. Using images in your communications presents a considerable opportunity to engage further with your audience. Images can also help bring your social media content to life.
However, there is a common misconception that using images for business purposes requires a big budget. This isn’t the case. There are many inexpensive ways to create images that will enhance the effectiveness of your communication.
Do it yourself
Taking your own images eliminates the need for acquiring permissions and allows you to be creative and take control of the final product. There are various tips and guides to help increase your photography skill set and apps available that can enhance your images to create the look you are after, such as Wordswag, Instagram and Afterlight. These apps can create added effects with filters or text to give your images a professional look and feel.
Consider taking photos that capture your business’ brand personality to create increased interest in your business. For example, take photos of candid moments in the office or behind the scenes to show the human side of the business, highlight special events and key milestones for the business or customers. This can help to capture audience attention and create a relationship between the business and audience. A good tip is to take numerous photos to ensure you have a range to choose from.
Find photos online (free & paid)
If you are unsure about taking photos yourself, consider purchasing images instead. There are many websites and search engines you can use to obtain thousands of images just with the click of a button. Though Google provides a plethora of images, it is important to ensure you are not infringing any copyright laws before using an image.
To find images in Google that are royalty free (i.e. not copyrighted), use the advanced search and tick the use rights option that says “free to use or share, even commercially”. If you use royalty free images, it is always a good idea to credit the original photographer. Also, check out Photopin, Death to Stock Photo and Unsplash.
If you decide to purchase images, they are legally yours to use and you do not need to acknowledge the original photographer. Purchased images can be found on websites such as Shutterstock and iStockphoto. These websites contain millions of images ranging from animals, food and drinks, to people and infographics.
To ensure you find appropriate images for your business, a good tip to remember is to finesse the search terms used and be specific. This will give you a greater chance of finding exactly what it is you are looking for.
Crowdsource
If you require a specific image, and aren’t confident in your abilities, consider crowd sourcing. This involves outsourcing jobs or tasks by an open invitation approach and in recent years has been used by large and small businesses alike, including Coca Cola and President Obama.
There are hundreds of crowd sourcing websites available for a myriad of image tasks. Design crowd sourcing websites such as fiverr allow you to search for professional designers to create your image for a small price (starting from $5). Just log on, search and choose your designer, create a brief and receive a professional image for minimal cost.
Creating an image doesn’t need to cost a fortune. There are plenty of low-cost or free options available to help create a professional image for the novice photographer and experienced alike.
Did you find these tips helpful? Do you have any of your own? Please let us know in the comments below.
Sydney Public Relations Agency, CP Communications provides specialist media, traditional and online PR strategies that get amazing results. Contact us today. For more great tips visit our website www.cpcommunications.com.au.
