Design

How Graphic Design Improves Online Content

February 8, 2023
Olivia Gochnour
November 14, 2019

As a business, grabbing the attention of online visitors is your priority. The ultimate goal is getting results. The question is, how do you achieve this to improve engagement and increase profits?

90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual. With this statistic in mind, it makes sense that businesses are using graphic design as the primary way to engage customers. In this article, we will detail how graphic design improves online content and we will provide easy, actionable steps to implement it.

How does graphic design improve content and engagement?

Clear visuals and appealing graphic design is the fastest way to grab the attention of a consumer. This is especially true because most consumers are using phones and tablets where quick scrolling makes it even more difficult. In many cases, plain text isn’t read because it takes too much time. But a visual can communicate much more quickly and will invoke an immediate response for a better content experience.

Often, visuals create an emotional response that engages a consumer and gives them a reason to interact. On its own, text is unable to do this as quickly and effectively. Think back to the last time you shared something that spoke to you on social media. Was it an image or was it text? What about it grabbed your attention? Chances are it was the visual presentation that helped the message stand out.

3 Ways Graphic Design is Used Successfully

1. Call to action

A call-to-action (CTA) is one of the most important ways of encouraging interaction with consumers. It is also something we commonly see forgotten or used as an afterthought. The purpose of a CTA is to perform an action, such as clicking a link, leaving a comment or signing up. A CTA should be a strong, clear graphic that guides a consumer to the next steps. Simple images are most effective for a CTA.

2. Infographics

Infographics stand out to consumers because they convey a message in a visually appealing way, and it’s a great example of how good design can improve your content strategy. An infographic is able to repurpose plain text into an interesting image while still conveying the same information. Infographics are creative and fun and they engage consumers. They can be used in a variety of formats, including social media.

3. Blog post graphic

This encompasses any graphic or visual used in a blog post or online article. In order to create an interesting and readable blog post, you should have all of the following:

  • Logo

Make sure your logo is included on your blog so that visitors know what site they are on.

  • Blog header

A blog header is the first thing your audience will see when they visit your blog. The goal is to have an appealing image that encourages them to scroll down. The lack of a blog header will often cause a consumer to click out because it isn’t engaging.

  • Favicon

The favicon is the little square icon image that appears in the web browser tab. If you don’t already have a favicon, it is a very simplified version of your logo; sometimes just the first letter of the logo.

  • Title Image Template

A title image template is an important image because it is often used on social media, including Pinterest and Facebook. A title image should grab a consumer’s attention and convey the title in a fun, brand-appropriate way.

  • Signature

A signature is what you will use to sign off on your blog with each post. It should be the same for each blog post and it should be a simple, personalized signature of your name.

  • Sidebar Buttons

The sidebar of your blog is a great place to encourage readers to stay on your blog. This can be an area where you share other related posts or encourage them to visit other pages of your site. The sidebar should be designed to draw readers in and entice them with additional content.

  • Blog Post Images

These are the images that relate to the blog post content you’ve written. This can be a beautiful image, a selfie, an infographic, or anything that relates to your subject. These are great ways to break up the text and make it visually appealing.

Stay creative and stay consistent with your designs. Starting with these tips, you can begin to create visually appealing graphics to improve your content experience and engagement online.

Topics
Marketing
Designer
Olivia Gochnour
Head of People Ops at Tiled