You might call into question the relevancy of blogs, articles, white papers and such because they are text heavy mediums which can take time to read – and we know how precious a commodity time is – but images and memes are quick and effective pieces of content that can be seen, absorbed and then either shared or forgotten about. As internet speeds increase, data limits disappear and programs become more accessible to create high quality items.
Let’s not forget list sites either, but I’ll get to them shortly.
Using pictures and memes effectively
Images are much friendlier in the current digital era than they have been before. Thanks to compressed file formats and sizes, it’s easier to create a high quality image and share it without worrying about the space it will take (or how long it takes to upload and then load on each person’s screen). With static images, animations and multi-layered options commonly referred to as GIFs, there are plenty of ways to create great content that people can enjoy.
There are dangers, however. Copyright issues can often be considered a grey area and proving who owns what has never been the easiest thing thanks to digital. Using a protected image, even by altering it, can cause problems if you don‘t have permission and credit the original creator. On social media, it can be a great way to gain some sort of exposure but the risks remain and even then, it’s not as simple as it sounds.
I wish I could tell you I knew exactly how this works and why. In theory, I do – as do hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands more – but what works in theory doesn’t always work in practise. What some people might share one day they won’t share the next. It depends a lot on personal preferences, cultural and cult topics and being fit for purpose – as well as the source or the previous sharer of the content.
List sites
List sites are one of the more recent trends that have emerged from the use of pictures, memes and GIFs and have proven to be hugely successful. These are essentially blog posts comprised of these mediums and with very little text – save what is on the image itself – and are used to tell a story, make a comparison or a simple list people might find amusing or entertaining. As they are image heavy, they can be digested in a very short space of time and that’s one of the reasons they are so popular.
The same issue arises when it comes to creating these lists. Sourcing the images, or creating them yourself can take time and you still need to be wary of copyright issues that may come up as a result.
Another example of the power of social media
How often have you logged on to Facebook, Twitter or another platform you use and seen a picture that is supposed to be stupid, funny, entertaining, informative, inspiring or something else that has been shared by a contact?
These are easy to share and people react well to them compared to large blocks of text. More and more brands are using pictures and memes as a way to target and capture their audience into looking at more detailed content and it works. The problem is, it’s impossible to know exactly what will be shared and when. Humour is dangerous because you might offend someone, or bore someone else but taking risks is almost essential to get anywhere in social media these days.
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