Using Images to Set the Stage to Captivate Your Audience
There are so many communications competing for our attention. Phone calls, e-mails, meetings, websites,Tweets, blogs, Social Media updates, and YouTube Videos, just to name a few. With all this competition, and little time, readers are, in a word, picky. If your content isn’t interesting or doesn’t “grab” your reader immediately, you’ve lost an opportunity to have your message heard.
Studies show that we have about 3 seconds (yes, that’s one-one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand) to make an impression.
How can you get readers to stay and read your content? Aside from a great title that promises something your reader is actually interested in knowing, you have at your disposal the powerful tool of imagery to attract and engage your readers and set the stage for your communication.
We are visually stimulated creatures. We remember images and emotions more than the words we hear. As I like to tell my husband, many of us are distracted (or attracted) by bright, shiny objects. This gives us as bloggers, communicators, teachers and speakers a great opportunity to captivate an audience by simply using the right images. Yes, you can hold someone’s attention beyond that critical three seconds. You can make him or her interested in what you have to say, and want to hear more by using images as a tool. Interested? I’ll tell you how.
Use an images in EVERY communication
If you are giving a speech or facilitating a class, start and/or end your talk with an image that conveys the overall feeling or theme that you want to leave with your audience. If your mode of communication is written, choose an image that supports the title or evokes the emotional response that you want your readers. to experience. This is great whether your communication is a blog, newsletter or e-mail.
Use Photos For Greater Impact
Photos make the message real and connect your reader to the content. Unless your business is comics and animation, avoid using clip art. Of course if a cartoon or comic is the best illustration to prove your point, use it. Photos have the feel of authenticity, real-life and professionalism that make your communications look more crisp and well thought out. Be sure to use professionally taken photos when possible or great camera ready copy. There are several FREE resources for stock imagery to use. Do a keyword search on your topic highlights and find the best image that conveys the meaning you want for your communication. Here’s a list of 100 Free and Legal Sources for Free Stock Images from VirtualHosting.com.
Lead with Your Image (After a GREAT Title and Content)
After creating your great communication and coming up with an awesome title, lead with your image. Just as when you meet someone face to face, you only have a few seconds to make a first impression. Lead with a great photo that supports your message, evokes an emotional response and keeps your readers interested in what you have to say.
Of course, it goes without saying that you have to have good content, or no matter what, audiences may give you that second chance to make an impression. But with good images that look professional, clean and well thought out, it conveys to your audience that you take your message as seriously as you’d like them to. It’s a simple way to make a great impression.
Hi,
I got to you via Stacy Washington’s twitter. I am impressed. It’s a mine for social wisdom. A thousand and one tips for someone looking after practical advices, actually. However, my question is: there must be surely a few situations where the first impression isn’t all what matters. Let people know that as well to get a balanced view of the reality. Then, one can consciously appreciate how important the three-first-seconds are in common life experience. Because there are are truly important.
Thanks a lot,
Jean-Paul Mrukato
I could NOT agree MORE!!
With about 30% of my DNA being design, I think that my comment here will be a little biased – however; I HAVE to chime in on this because I believe in what you are saying here…
I strongly believe that if you can stimulate, seize and command the senses BEFORE you begin any communication piece, you are well on your way to communication success. YES we are visual creatures, heck, we are “Sensory Creatures”, in fact we have ten (10) of them, five (5) that we give latitude, to prove this true. The fact is, many Communicators focus so much on what they are going to say, that they forget that there are 4 (really 9) other senses that need to be stimulated and SIGHT is way up on the totem pole…
Thanks for another amazing post Staci! You ROCK!!
Vincent Hunt
First impressions are the most important. You will forever be associated with that moment by that person. Everything you represent is shown in your visual presentation, personally and professionally. No matter what anyone says, EVERYONE judges you initially. This is why it’s important to convey your brand’s message properly visually from the beginning.
A very good point Staci – it is amazing the power of the image.
I have bookmarked a number of different websites here (where I get most of my images from) that may be of interest to some: http://delicious.com/mfubib/assets
Final note: check the copyright details of any images that you are using!
Matt.
Thanks for sharing. Good remidners!
As an educator, meeting planner and presenter, it is crucial that you always incorporate some type of visual to grab an audience’s attention. Good pedagogy (adult learning) stresses that 30% of your audience–whether readers, attendees or customers–are visual learners. It is imperative to include some type of visuals to engage that set of your audience.