Are We Liking What We Are Seeing - Connecting With Visuals

Will Integrative Waves use visual platforms to market and showcase the business? How many to use - and what to use. Where does our target market look when researching businesses - that should be the focus for the decision of what we will use. Integrative Waves will definitely use a visual platform - the services and products can be promoted very easily and well through visuals.But what to use and why?

Let's look at the four main visual platforms -
1) YouTube - videos
Who wouldn't use YouTube? Especially with Google owning it! Video can help the viewer in getting to know my business - feeling as if they know me - and establish a stronger relationship. They can be inserted into the business website.When people watch videos, they stay on the website longer, assisting the stickiness of the website.
Videos can showcase my services and products in such ways as demonstrating the use of skin care products and facial massage techniques. It can also help the viewer feel as if they are seeing 'behind the scene' secrets, as if they are being included in a special group.

2) Pinterest - pinboard-style platform
People can "pin" images and videos from other websites - things that they find interesting. Businesses can link images to product pages on the business website - this can increase product sales. This platform has a lot of potential for my business but I have not used it yet. It looks fun and different and a new way for me to connect with my current and potential clients!

3) Tumblr - microblogging platform
This appeals to a younger demographic - teens and twenties - something. It is a microblogging platform where text, video, audio, video and photo content can be shared in a short blog. A lot of it is recycled.  I have not used Tumblr yet as my target market is not really using this platform. I may find more relevancy for my business as I explore this platform further.

4) Instagram - photos shared only on the mobile web.
Photos/pictures are worth a thousand words -they are very powerful! Instagram is a mobile web  platform, only available on smartphones. It is very user- friendly - snap a photo, apply a filter, and share the photo. Instagram is also owned by Facebook - a definite positive in using this platform. For a small business owner with limited time, this platform can be used 'on the go', which is very appealing.
My services (such as photos of facials) and products (such as photos of essential oils and skin care products) lend themselves well to this platform - these can be made to appear very appealing and pleasing to people's senses and make them want to investigate further.

The most applicable visual platforms for Integrative Waves are YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest. The underlying message for all of them is to keep it simple, interesting, and visually appealing so that viewers will want to engage further with Integrative Waves!