10 reasons to invest in photography for your brand
We know there are many people out there who are thinking that the business photography they have is ‘good enough,’ or that parting with money to get new photos done is too hard and ‘will it really help me sell?’ You might even want to stop reading now because you don’t want to be persuaded… or maybe there is part of you that thinks you probably should read on. The question is, are you selling enough? If you are, good….but if you want to sell more, consider what you look like and how you appear to others….read on.
1. To enhance the look of your brand.
Let’s be honest, we all love a photo! We are sucked in by them. We spend longer than we should scrolling on a social media platform, absorbed with brands and offerings and what people are up to. And we know everyone else is doing the same…and amongst that scrolling, we want our brand to be seen…and liked…and engaged with. The question is, does your band look as good as you want it to look? Do your images show it off and show you in the absolute best way? But more than that, are the images right for your target audience? Images have immediate power. They take no effort to look at and they are the first thing someone sees. Your brand images HAVE to be good. They should enhance the look of your brand.
2. To stand out from your competitors.
We all know that the internet is swamped with businesses fighting for their place on a google search. Most of us have a lot of competition. Once we have got that click on google, we don’t have very long to capture the attention of a customer and your images play a massive part in making that initial impression. The raw and harsh truth is that you have to WIN your customers and if your imagery and website isn’t good, you might get overlooked. Standing out is essential.
3. To grab and grow attention
Always! Attention = more sales. Thats what we want right?! You have to cut through the noise and the sheer volume of businesseses.
4. To communicate your key message.
There are images and then there are images. You can have nice images on your website - there are even stock images that might make your site look beautiful and fill a space nicely but the best thing about an image is that it can be captivating and powerful and used to communicate your key message. Photography done with a key message in mind will help to connect with your ideal customer or client. If you are a brand that sells outdoor kids clothing and your key message is about learning through play in the outdoors whatever the weather then commercial lifestyle photography that is fun filled, and joyful, in all weather will help people believe in the brand and imagine themselves or their child in that setting. Use your images to communicate your message. That’s just wise.
5. To drive enquires and sales
Digital advertising is paramount to the success of a business in a world that is fed by the internet and social media. Photos should showcase your product or service and really increase engagement. They should be taken in a way that will attract, captivate and drive conversions. The following points take a deeper look at how to create these images that do this…
6. They evoke emotion to inspire people
Just like music, photos make us feel, remember, connect and want more. The right images invite us into a story and they have the power to help show how a customers problem can be solved. If customers look and are inspired; if they can see how your brand can help their lives to be better, they are more likely to buy.
7. They have a consistent look
A lot of businesses have a good set of photos but as time goes by, they become out of date and not current and other less professional images begin to creep in. Some people are great photographers and iPhones cameras are clever but don’t be fooled into thinking you can ‘just make do’. Inconsistency in the quality and look of your photos can look very unprofessional and can also send out confused messaging. Your message has to be clear. Every image and every word should communicate the same message, the same level of care and professionalism, the same values and the same brand identity.
8. They communicate brand values.
Communicating the values of your brand will be the thing that sets you apart. Your values are what makes you who you are and if you can communicate them thorugh your imagery which is the first thing a customer sees, you are using your images to do a number of jobs all at once….they attract, they tell a story, they invite you in and they make you believe in the content. That makes them powerful and it means they can truly sell you.
9. They build trust and credibility
Trust. It is vital. Trust in the initial stages is built through a small window in to your business. Your words and photos will convey and relay who you you are and what you offer. If images are consistent and of a high quality, they will show you care and that you hold your customer in high regard. They will show you truly care about what they think, that you are going to put them first = WIN. The deeper levels of trust comes through relationship but you have to win at the surface level first. Images are the window in. If we all need a website like Trust Pilot, we all know how important it is to be able to trust and to be trusted. Great images prove your worth and give you credibility amongst competitors.
And finally and very importantly, its so important that image upload is not job done and dusted because we want to…
10. Increase online visibility.
It’s actually really important that you update images on your website regularly for SEO purposes because Google will recognise that a site is still alive, active and not dormant. Think of it as feeding your businesses online! Regularly posting on social keeps you in the minds of old and potential clients and so having enough images (and images that make you look the best) is essential.
Photography and videography have the power to bring your business to life. What you look like and how you present yourself has never been more important. Successful business takes continued investment. There is the set up but then there is the refresh and the update on what’s new. Business Photography is an investment and one we think is well worth making.