Branding is one of the most important parts of your marketing strategy and ties directly into the success of your SEO, Social Media Marketing, and Sales. All of the three C\u2019s of branding (Consistency, Clarity, and Constancy) are directly impacted by the images your use. That\u2019s why hiring a professional photographer isn\u2019t optional if you value your brand identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The stakes are high. According to an article by Proxyle<\/a>, customers were 64% less likely to trust a website if it doesn\u2019t have professional images. A study <\/a>by Harvard Business School showed that pricing could be 30% higher with quality visuals. Another study by Stanford showed that professional visual design was a primary indicator of trustworthiness of a website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Northwestern University analysis <\/a>found that professional images resulted in 28% higher reputation scores. Digging down into the data on professional images, they showed that positive customer reviews were up 67%, brand recognition was up 42%, and bounce rate was 61% lower. And, revenue rose with reputation. A 10 point increase in reputation resulted in 7% boost in revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A professional photographer will tailor each image to your company\u2019s visual identity because they understand that clarity is important. Your images should always be created while keeping your Brand Mission, Target Audience, and Brand personality in mind. Stock photographers didn\u2019t have any of that in mind when they created their photos. DIYers may not have the technical skills and experience to pull it off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Using stock or DIY photography makes Consistency a struggle. Successful brands speak with a consistent voice. A close partnership with your marketing team and a professional photographer can deliver consistent results. Your company\u2019s visual identity is too important to leave up to chance. A professional photographer will understand the story your company wants to tell and incorporate your brand color palette, voice, values, and composition across each piece of content. Remember, visual consistency builds trust. Don\u2019t deny your clients the pattern recognition their brains crave. Give them what they want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using stock photography strips authenticity, lacks emotion, and won\u2019t foster a sense of community. When a professional photographer works hand in hand with your marketing team, the entire buyer\u2019s journey will build trust, familiarity, and be cohesive. According to Entrepreneur.com<\/a> Authenticity Amplifies Authority. Using real people from<\/em> your company, real places in<\/em> your company, and real stories about<\/em> your company in your images will allow your clients and prospects to have an authentic feel<\/em> for your company. If your marketing shows up constantly and in a variety of places, make sure that you have consistent and cohesive visuals. The familiarity you build with your clients and prospects shouldn\u2019t be because they saw those same stock photos on a bunch of other websites and ads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re a service company, don\u2019t miss out on a potential 35% boost in inbound leads or a 32% increase if you\u2019re in the industrial B2B industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n