The Importance of Images in Social Media Part 2

Images are powerful, they grab attention and they are at the core of the message you are trying to convey. 

In part 1 of our series on the importance of images in Social Media, we explained how to make them engaging and the pros and cons of stock imagery vs. professional imagery.

In part 2, we’ll be delving into the many different ways your business can utilise images in social media. We’ve listed the recommended dimensions for each platform (correct as of September 2022) and explained how to harness your brand’s creativity through eye-catching static and animated visuals focused on catching your audience’s attention.

Why are images so important on Social Media?

When you see a social post, the image is the first thing you are going to notice. Content that is paired with an image is more likely to get more eyes. For example, Facebook posts with images see 2.3x more engagement than those without images (source: HubSpot).

Half of the human brain is directly or indirectly devoted to processing visual information and can identify images seen for as little as 13 milliseconds. At least 65% of people are “visual learners”.

We have around a 6 second attention span when it comes to processing information so your image needs to be able to catch your audience’s attention quickly.

Strong social media can:

• Drive e-commerce sales
• Increase brand awareness
• Improve search visibility
• Build brand identity
• Generate leads
• Funnel website visitors

What are the image dimensions of social media platforms?

Each social media platform has its own distinct dimensions which, when optimised can make your posts look professional and consistent, 

Below are the standard sizes for a photo/graphic on each social media platform (dimensions are in pixels, accurate as of 2022):

• Instagram – 1080 x 1350 or 1080 x 1080
• Facebook – 1200 x 630
• Twitter – 1600 x 900 
• LinkedIn – 1200 x 627
• Pinterest – 1000 x 1500 or 1000 x 1000
• Snapchat – 1080 x 1920

Illustrative vs. Photos

You may not be a business where you have physical products and/or you don’t want to just post stock imagery. This is where illustrative images can come in and save the day!

Copy is only 50% of a post, the other 50% is the imagery. It’s for this reason, your imagery needs to be eye-catching and to the point, enticing your audience to read on. Stock imagery can come across almost emotionless and disingenuous as it can seem like a photo was just put there to fill empty space. 

Spark intrigue and grab the viewer’s attention with illustrative graphics. Instead of using real life photos, these can be a more effective method of conveying a message or idea. Below are a few examples of where we have used this to our advantage.

Take the weight off with our Social Media Services

We take a strategic approach to social media which gives our clients the results they are looking for. 

One client we work with had a 70% increase in reach on Instagram over the course of 8 months. This is due to our combined use of graphics, images and copy. In the same period, there was an increase of 221 followers.  Our social media management packages are tailored to maintain your social presence and keep communication channels open with your target audience.

Urban Element’s team of specialists are on hand to help you every step of the way, whether that be with creative content, monitoring engagement, and/or reporting analytics.

Get in touch with us today to discuss your requirements.

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