Visual Content Trends that will Dominate Social Media in 2017

With an ever increasing need to capture audience attention across social networks, the use of imagery has evolved from posting a simple picture to include more striking visual elements that can engage and influence behavior.

As a result, an essential part of a social media manager’s role is the quick and easy creation of visual content to support content on all channels. From flyers to social posts, ads to presentations, today’s digital marketers are hard pressed to create compelling designs that accurately represent their brand and connects with their target audience.

Shutterstock is a leading technology company providing high quality licensed images, video and music to businesses and media companies. In this video from #SMWNYC, Shutterstock Product Owner, Jason Schickel, explains the four key problems that Shutterstock solves for its users in the session, “Stand Out from the Crowd with High-Performing Visual Content.”

Shutterstock and HubSpot announce new partnership

One of the most popular tools for inbound marketing and sales software is HubSpot, and earlier this year, Shutterstock and HubSpot announced a strategic partnership that will bring Shutterstock’s collection of content to HubSpot customers at no additional cost.

The move is a win-win for each side since HubSpot will give access to over 60,000 Shutterstock photos to its customers, helping marketers create more visual content in new and easy ways. According to HubSpot, content with relevant images gets 94% more views than content without, and visual content is more than 40x more likely to get shared on social media than other types of content.

The continuous growth of visual content in social media

A survey of more than 300 marketers found that 53 percent of the survey participants said that between 91 and 100 percent of their published content contained visual material, and more than 90 percent are using visual content in at least one-half of their posts.

If that wasn’t convincing enough, of the same 300 marketers, 60 percent said visual content is “absolutely necessary” and 31 percent said it is “very important” when it comes to marketing strategies for 2017. Here are the other findings from that survey:

Further analysis and commentary from the #SMWNYC talk

"When you buy an #image @shutterstock you are empowering photographers/artists to continue creating" @jasonschickel #SMWNYC #SMWVisualTrends

— Zoe Kahn (@zoehkahn) March 1, 2017

New #socialmedia tool! Use https://t.co/Co8tujGgJl to create engaging, visual content. #smwnyc #smwvisualtrends

— Greg Saperstein (@gregsaperstein) March 1, 2017

4 types of visual content that work: Muted palette, reflection on life, a splash of warm & extreme weather. Insight by @Shutterstock #SMWNYC

— Ilse Paanakker (@ilsePaanakker) March 1, 2017

"Positivity is never going out of style." – @Shutterstock #SMWNYC

— Gloria Cho (@espresscho) March 1, 2017

"We let our users dictate what we do next & the features we develop." – @JasonSchickel of @Shutterstock #ImageEditing #VisualContent #SMWNYC

— Justin LaCoursiere (@JotsByJustin) March 1, 2017

We're having a blast live demoing Shutterstock Editor at @socialmediaweek! #SMWNYC #MadeWithEditor pic.twitter.com/mFCFLL2PLS

— Shutterstock (@Shutterstock) March 1, 2017

This year’s top #creative #trends include nostalgia, reflection, cybersecurity and #VR according to @Shutterstock! #SMWnyc #SMWVisualTrends pic.twitter.com/spI1eXUQj1

— Wiss & Company, LLP (@wissllp) March 1, 2017

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