Adding user-generated content to your website is not something you’re unfamiliar with. These days, most websites have some form of user-generated material on their site, whether it be text, images, or video. But what if we took that to the next level and utilized those images provided by your clients, customers, or brand evangelists and incorporated them into your actual website or digital marketing photography?
Instagram, a free iPhone app–and other products like it–have made this possible. Recently, I’ve downloaded the Instragram app and have gone crazy turning my photos into fun, professional looking shots. The app allows you to create a blurred background, as well as apply treatments like black and white, sepia, etc. These photos are then shared via Instagram’s own social network, as well as Facebook and Twitter. What better images are there than those taken by your customers, in action using your product, service, or visiting your restaurant, bar, etc? There has always been the argument that user-generated images won’t be a high enough resolution, but there are even software programs now that can turn those low-res images into high-res (our fave: Alien Skin Blow Up 2. Funny name, I know).
At EIM, we assist our clients in running social media campaigns, sometimes contests with photo submissions. What if we took that one step further and turned those photos into digital artwork that we can use in our marketing efforts? We may have just cut back on photo shoot costs or stock imagery, and created a truly unique user-generated experience. Featured here are a few of my favorite images we shot at a client’s rooftop lounge. You just may see these on their website or in their latest print ad in the near future!
