Web development has become more personalized and responsive in recent years and marketing is moving in the same direction.
The more quickly marketers can produce content, the more likely they’ll reach their intended buyer. But as any marketer knows, creating quality content and strategically distributing it requires a lot of time and often a lot of money. But did you know it doesn’t have to?
There are new ways to capitalize on the movement of consistent content creation, without parting with your funds – or sanity.
Jump on the ‘Live’ Trend
You may have noticed that “live” images and videos are becoming more popular. It could be that the general population is tired of how overly produced many images and videos are, and love the idea of seeing them in their raw forms instead. Or maybe there’s a thrill that comes along with something being shot live, as there is with live TV. After all, anything could happen. Along this vein, Instagram is now offering the ability to share live videos with your followers. All you have to do is hit the “Start Live Video” button and start shooting! This can be especially useful for brands that have something visually interesting to share, but don’t necessarily want it living on their Instagram page forever. For instance, a clothing retailer might take followers behind the scenes to see a quick video of their denim designers sketching a new style of jeans.
In addition to live videos, live photos are also quickly becoming a consumer favorite. In the new iPhone 6s Plus, live photos basically turn average photos into short video animations. All you have to do is tap the live photo button (which looks like a set of rings) and then press the shutter button as normal. When you go to view the photo, you’ll notice there is brief movement and sound, making it come to life. This can be a very fun feature to use in your marketing, especially on Twitter or another social platform that caters to people who want to consume information in small doses.
Express More Visually
Even if pictures are worth a thousand words, some still need commentary. This is when an app like Skitch by Evernote can come in handy. This app provides a way to quickly annotate your photos, mark them up in an aesthetically pleasing way and add in shapes, arrows and quick sketches as needed.
This is widely accessible, as it can be used on a smartphone, tablet or desktop computer. Once you’ve marked up your photo(s) the way you want to, they can be shared via a variety of social media channels like Instagram and Pinterest, since both platforms have visually inclined viewers. If you have a business that offers a complex software solution, for example, you could use a picture showing how the backend works, then annotate it to make it accessible to a lay person.
DIY Animation
Another fun and creative approach to content is sharing an actual animation. While many marketing agencies charge a pretty penny for animations, you can now make your very own using a tool like Animation Creator HD Express. This type of app allows you to easily put together simple animations and add sound to them, as well. While the end result might not be as professional as one made by an agency, this type of app can still get the job done well and help you achieve your goals. Once you’ve finished your animation, share it on Facebook and invite your followers to continue sharing it and giving their feedback. Who knows – maybe your next animation will even go viral.
As you continue to consider new ways to bring exciting and relevant content to your audience, don’t rule out homegrown methods! Try live photos and videos, annotated images and DIY animation, and then be sure to share the final products through your social media accounts to engage customers.
Leave a Reply