Messages are coming at us at a rapid pace. The information highway is dense, crowded and zooming past us at a head spinning rate. Messages come through multiple sources, and we can access them at anytime and anyplace, on our desktops, laptops, tablets and smart phones. But are we getting any ‘smarter’ about how we deliver messages to ensure they are heard, and most importantly, stick?
Visuals are more than icing on the cake, they are the glue that makes messages stick!
Visuals are eye-catching and appealing, but the best small businesses know that visuals do more than make them look good. The marketing industry knows visuals will help them stand out, capture the attention of consumers, and cut through the noise to ensure their message rises to the top. Marketers know that visuals give their message the “sticky” factor.
What makes visuals sticky? Visuals communicate ideas faster than text and auditory messages alone. A simple picture can enter the brain subconsciously without us even knowing it, making visuals a highly effective strategy for a brand reaching its customers.
Think about the last message that stuck for you. It was likely a picture that stuck in your head long after seeing it. It likely moved you to think differently or see things in new ways. A simple image has the power to evoke emotion, increase interest, engage the brain, and tap into long term memory. Visuals stick in the minds of onlookers, making them an influential means for communicating ANY message well. So why aren’t we using visuals to frame ALL of our messages?
Visuals can influence thinking TODAY to impact thinking for TOMMORROW
Humans are moved to act when their hearts and minds are activated.We are entering a strange new decade, and small businesses are scrambling to navigate volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). Everyday there is more to learn, more complex problems to be solved, and more important challenges to overcome. Now more than ever, there is a need to tap into creative solutions to problems we never expected. Progress in a VUCA world requires people to be emotionally connected and feel inspired to take action.
Emotions are inextricably linked to decision-making. A good “sticky” visual can release endorphins that make us feel more creative and relaxed. Endorphins help us pay attention, increase brain activity, and enhance our ability to deal with pain and stress. A visually stimulating message opens the brain to more creative thinking.
What makes a visual sticky?
Sticky visuals are simple, unexpected, concrete, and often tell a story or create a story in the heads of consumers. Visuals allow deep learning to set in and linger long after the learning is over.
However, not just any visual will do. Selecting the right image is key. Even with the litany of downloadable images on the web, a visual can fall flat and miss the mark if it doesn’t serve to frame your message well.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to know how to draw to capitalize on visual messaging. Hiring a graphic recorder can heighten your visual “stickiness.”
Graphic recorders (also known as graphic facilitators) provide a real-time translation of conversations or presentations in text and pictures. They draw out ideas as they surface in meetings, discussions, conferences and events. Imagine a more dynamic interpretation of your power point slides where visual stories come to life while you speak. It’s an influential way to make your messages stick in the hearts and minds of your audience.
Graphic recorders can use visual messaging to help you:
Tell a story
Document an idea
Shape a vision
Capture a mission statement
Paint a picture of a past, present, and future
Communicate complex timelines
Integrate multiple perspectives
Synthesize a brainstorm
Complement, or even replace, the need for a slide deck
Using visuals to frame your message can influence how your message is heard and understood, and more importantly taken back into the context in which our message is intended.
Consider the frames we put around a piece of artwork. A brown frame would draw out the landscape, a green frame would pull out the grass and the fields, and a blue frame would draw out the sky. Our choices about which visuals to use help draw the viewers in, help them focus on certain aspects, and touch the emotions and senses in a way that captures the human spirit!
How are you using visuals to make your messages stick? Learn more about graphic recording by visiting framethemessageink.com
