The Worst Mistake in Social Media Marketing And How to Avoid It
Every day on Facebook, we see paid advertisements from small businesses. And every day, at least a few of them feature truly terrible photographs.You might think we feel a little smug about ads like that, sitting over here with our big ol' archive of professional images. But, really they just make us sad! We hate seeing time and money wasted on ineffectual marketing.Posting low quality photographs is the biggest mistake a business can make in it's social media advertisements. And we're not just saying that because we're photographers...SocialMediaToday agrees that images are key, and so does Hootsuite.
Fortunately, it's not hard to avoid using bad shots on Facebook, Instagram, and beyond. Here are a few inexpensive photography options to use that won't scare clients away:
- Buy Stock Images from a Local Photographer or Online. Customized professional photography is as good as it gets in social media marketing. But, stock images can be a quick fix to take your ads from unappealing to attractive and polished. Check with a local photographer to negotiate access to their image bank, or pay for access online.
- Learn to Use Your Smartphone Camera Wisely. In many industries, a smartphone camera can actually get the job done for social media images...if it's being used well. We're planning an in-person workshop to teach smartphone product photography, but in the meantime, you can learn a lot online from our friend and fellow photographer David Molnar, who's written the book on getting great images with camera phones!
- Share Other Business's Posts with Your Spin Added. Never, ever, use someone's photograph without their permission. But, if you see one you like on Facebook, share it! The original poster will get credit, and they might even get some extra eyeballs on their page. For your part, you'll have a great image on your wall with zero photography expense. Add your own insight or comment to make the post yours.
Any of these three ideas - or even a combination of them - will save you from social media embarrassment. They're a great way to upgrade your online presence. But, you probably know what we'll say next:If you're posting heavily or are in the business of marketing anything, you should really level up to professional photography. One quick photoshoot can get you enough images to post for months!
For ideas about how to use high quality images once you've got 'em, check out this post. Or this one. This works too!Interested in our stock? Browse our bank to see if we've got something you can use. It's all quick and easy to download straight from the site.And, of course, we're always here to help achieve your customized photography ideas. Schedule online or give us a call.