Pinterest, Instagram and Tumblr – Are Image-Based Sites the Future of Business Social Media?

Trying to keep up with social media changes certainly isn’t easy. One day you’re trying to learn about this up-and-coming thing called Bebo, and in the blink of an eye it’s lost and forgotten in the internet graveyard, along with Geocities and MySpace. Of course, being ahead of the pack when it comes to social media can be a real benefit – you get to stake out a presence, become a big player, and benefit hugely from expansion as an already visible and influential participant.

The Appeal of Image-Based Sites

It isn’t easy to accurately predict what the next big thing is going to be. The meteoric rise of Pinterest and the popularity of other image-based sites amongst affluent consumers and coveted demographics is giving indications that image sites may well be one of the best ways for businesses to interact online. There are a couple of factors that are leading to their growing influence:

• Speed: Increases in broadband penetration and speed of smartphones makes it easier than ever to view images online.
• Ease: Even incredibly basic cellphones now come with cameras, many of which can take impressive photographs.
• Familiarity: We’re now used to using images to chronicle our lives, tell stories, and share experiences with friends.

Business Implications

These sites let you show your clothing, accessories, or any other product range more easily than when working with a platform that’s not designed for images. Image-based sites have another interesting implications for business. People are more likely to remember something they’ve seen then something they’ve read, due to differences in how the two forms of information are viewed and processed. In addition, once you’ve viewed something in person or in a picture, your brain will pay more attention to further instances of that item in your life – in other words, you’re more likely to notice a brand when you can see it.

Image-based sites let you show who you are, what you do and what your brand stands for in a more subtle way. Who you follow and what images you share say a lot about you, but that message is funneled through the viewer’s interpretation of the image. So, they may well be the future, but careful steps forward are likely to be necessary.

Adrienne Erin is a blogger and aspiring writer. Eventually she’d like to write a book, but for now she freelances for a variety of businesses that sell everything from apps to science lab cabinets. When she’s not blogging about tech and social media, you might find her practicing her French, whipping up some recipes she found on Pinterest, or obsessing over vintage postcards and stamps.

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