How can you capture the attention of a generation that loves visuals? Illustrations and animations!
Visual content marketing is on the rise for a few years now. 88%” of content marketers stated that visuals are more appealing in published content. This trend is not slowing down.
Content marketers need to be constantly on the lookout to find new ways to make their content stand out. This requires you to stay on top of the animation and illustration types that work well in an environment that is constantly changing.
Why animations are important
Illustrations and animations grab people’s attention, help them retain more information, and encourage greater engagement. You can also create many different types of content with them. Illustrations and animations can be animated in a variety of ways, including comics and infographics. Animations and illustrations also have positive emotional appeal. You can make positive impressions on customers by looking at beautiful or cute illustrations.
Illustration & Animations Variety
You have many options to create different types of content using animations and illustrations. These are just a few of the many ways that you can use them to enhance your content marketing.
To Summarise Information Use Infographics
Infographics are one of the most popular illustrations in content marketing. In the past 5 years, there has been a 65% rise in their usage by B2B marketers. We’re dealing with a generation who doesn’t have time for long or dense content infographics are really helpful. Infographics simplify complex or dense information and present it in a concise manner. We created this infographic about World Economic Forum to show how infographics can help make complex information more accessible.
In addition, the human brain processes visuals more quickly than text so having visuals accompanying an infographic makes it easier for viewers to understand the information. It is important to note that infographics have evolved over time. You should consider breaking down the infographic into slides for use as a carousel.
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Incorporate illustrations into your website
You can capture readers’ attention by creating animations or illustrations to accompany your articles or blog posts. This will increase engagement and help you get more people to read your content. Check out the illustrations we created for our blogs like this one on content marketing buzzwords.
They also highlight your brand’s message and image. Headspace, an app, and digital meditation platform embellishes every page of their website with animations and illustrations featuring cute and relaxed characters.
These illustrations help to create a calm atmosphere, which reinforces Headspace’s mission. They are also dynamic and eye-catching.
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Create Your Brand Mascots & Characters
A well-crafted, well-designed character-mascot can be a great way to build long-term customer relationships. Customers will be more inclined to support the brand’s future content if they become attached to the characters.
A brand mascot helps to establish your brand’s identity and brand image. A character or group of characters can make your brand easily identifiable, which in turn will increase brand visibility and consistency.
Kakao and Line are two excellent examples of brands that have created brand mascots. The unique characters have strong ties to the brand identity and are almost synonymous with the brands.
These mascots now have their own lives, with their own stories and personalities. Line and Kakao launched merchandise featuring these beloved characters.
Animated videos
Brands may choose animation over live-action video for a number of reasons. Animation can be cheaper than other types of video — there’s no need to hire actors or invest in expensive equipment when using animation.
Sometimes, brands use animation to simplify complicated ideas and present them in an entertaining way. We did this in a 3-episode animated cartoon for Cisco. We used adorable prairie dogs to show how users could defend themselves against a cyberattack.
Animation can tell a brand’s tale. This Pixar-inspired animation from Heinz Beans tells the touching story of Geoff, a young boy that grew up and became head of innovation at Heinz. It has received tens of thousands of views.
How To Use Them For Your Content Marketing
You’ve now seen the potential of animations and illustrations, so it’s time for you to start incorporating them into your content marketing plans.
Choose the right style to represent your brand
It is important to choose the right style for your brand. Consider your brand’s values, brand message, target audience, and brand. Stick to it.
Let’s say that your content is more data-driven, and targeted at working professionals. Then infographics may suit your brand better. If you want to create a fun brand image, then animated and cute illustrations may be the best option.
Keep an open mind, use a variety
You don’t have to stick with one type of animation or illustration. You can use a variety of animations and illustrations. To make your content marketing strategy stand apart, you can use animation, illustration, and live-action.
This Audible advertisement uses animated live-action. 3D animation brings to life the various book genres and improves the video.
Data-driven infographics don’t have to be boring, right? Tabletop Whales, a science illustration blog, proves that animation and infographics don’t have to be boring.
Make sure that they are website-friendly
While we’ve discussed the benefits of animations and illustrations, if you don’t take care when incorporating them into your site, it could cause a negative user experience.
Make sure your visuals are compressed and properly sized. They could slow down the site and cause it to lag if they aren’t.
You want your website to be visually appealing. Avoid using too many bright and garish images. To ensure that each visual is attractive and not distracting, leave enough white space between them.
Explore all your options
There are many methods to create animations and illustrations. Don’t be afraid to try new things.
You can find many online resources that are free or very affordable to help you create your illustrations. You can create infographics or simple animations free of charge on many websites.
But of course, you can always contact us if you need high-quality, custom animations and illustrations.
