During my webinars and live presentations, I am often asked to talk about what types of images get the most attention on social media sites and what types of videos get the most hits on YouTube and Vimeo. Although I respect these types of questions and often think about how I can create effective imaging and messaging for my own clients, what I have learned is that successful imaging is not only about utilizing eye-catching photographic/cinematographic techniques, but it is also about timing with trends and knowing your audience.
To prepare for my live ASPCA webinar on Digital Storytelling that airs this Thursday from 3pm to 4:30pm (link to registration below) I created the forum for a mini social media experiment. On Monday of this week, I asked my husband to snap a photo of me with our family dog. I wanted the photo to exude soft, cuddly puppy love and I wore my favorite snuggly bathrobe because of its supple texture. I thought we might be able to create a nice, apropos image to show to the ASPCA audience. We took the photo in my daughter’s room because her pink sheer curtains filtered the light in an interesting way. After uploading this smart phone photo to my laptop, I decided to delete the color information and change it to a crisp black and white image. The whole process took 8 minutes from start to finish. Next, I uploaded this image to my Facebook page and added it as my cover photo in preparation of my next Facebook posting which would advertise the webinar with a registration link.
What happened next, I could have never predicted, within one hour I received over 30 likes and 10 comments, many comments were about how they loved my pooch photo. By the day’s end, I had racked up 76 likes and 14 comments, this was more activity than I had seen on my personal Facebook page in months. Suddenly I was reconnecting with estranged high school buddies and pet lovers were high- fiving me in cyber space. I got a call from a potential client who tracked me down from my Facebook post and then went to my website to find my phone number.
So what I learned from my own social media buddies is that they are just waiting for the right opportunity to give you some positive reinforcement and it never hurts to have a cute dog as the focal point, and always be open to some good old fashioned luck!
To register for the presentation follow these links:
ASPCA Webinar page which includes link to registration:
https://www.aspcapro.org/webinar/2014-01-23/digital-story-telling
direct link to registration form:
https://info.aspcapro.org/acton/form/3485/00ec:d-0002/0/index.htm?ts=1383317247426&svc=EventCenter&skey=754077244
Congrats Grace-Anne! The use of black and white in today’s multi-colored, massive messaging world is inspired!
I hope you knockem’ down with your webinar on Thursday!! They’ll have lots of cool stuff to discover from you!
I encourage everyone to sign up. I know I will!
Thanks Phoebe! This webinar will be fun and informative because I spent some time swapping out the typical video examples with ones from animal shelters around the country!! There is one video that makes me cry each time, it is so sweet! I hope you get to join in and if not, it will be archived on ASPCA Pro’s website.
It’s very true. People love to see pictures of cute dogs and babies. This is something that will never change.
And Tricia, please keep those photos coming of your cute baby! And on any other important topics, like say…Self-Advocacy for instance!
This is so true. People love certain types of photos more than others. This became evident when I began posting our presenters for the FLSAND Conference. Stories about people we know doing good in the world is something folks love to see! PS Great photo and I love the pup!
Thanks Amy, Have you ever met Shelby? If not we need to arrange that! She is a sweetheart! We got her as a rescue for Amelia a few years ago…and luckily she loves the snow! Thanks for commenting!