Visuals promote your message

I have referenced this topic before in my blogging:  visuals support and promote your message on social media.  If you want to attract clicks, shares, reposts, you will increase it by 80% if it is supported by a great visual.

Why 80%?  Well, back in the day, when I was selling magazine advertising, we were handed this stat to feed advertisers, that color advertising increases viewership by 80%.  I used this stat today, simply because it is probably at least that.  I will research and add to this post any statistics I find from reliable sources.  Or, if you can add, let the comments roll .....

There are several established social media stars who use photography as a means to tag and share the photos on their own, or with a quote, or with mere words.

I find Pinterest to be the best platform that allows you to save and organize your images.  I almost always save my favorite photos to Pinterest so that I can reference or use later on.  Or, like, many, simply save for visual stimulation or appreciation of photographer talent.

I do try to give credit where credit is due.  After all, photographers readily share their work with intent to earn revenue.  I'd hazard a guess, that it is hard to police who is sharing your work.  I would recommend a subtle credit within the image to your website, or 500pix, Flickr, InstaGRAM, Tumblr, Google+ or wherever it is you post most of your work.  (Hint, if you're an artist or photographer it is wise to be on those sites to promote your work).  

If I'm using a link, Infographic or photograph for more ongoing reference on my Blog, I will write a note under the CONTACTS page asking permission or notifying the source, that I am doing so.  I've never been declined.  Although, I have to say, except one cartoonist who wanted money.  Since I am a non profit blogger, without posting ads (I used to but found them too distracting and it takes forever to earn any income from Google, so I now bypass that annoyance).

I'm curious about copyright laws as it relates to the web.  As mentioned, if you put it out there, it seems that people will gobble it up ... the challenge is they do that for free.  

If you are not an online business venture, website for commercial business or brand, then the least you can do is credit the photographer or artist.  However, with so many shares, reposts, and social sharing sites, it is difficult to give the proper nod to credit, if the originating image isn't credit.

To emphasize my point, just look at the images that have been liked or shared the most this week:

SOURCE:  http://www.essentiallightphotography.com/#home

Simon Sebastian is smart.  His home page has his images consolidated with quotes that must speak to him as an artist or conveys a message that he feels resonate with the image.  Notice he also has all the smart references discretely included on his photograph -- name, website and copyright.

Unfortunately, as mentioned, there are some great ones that start circulating that aren't credited.  This one is a favorite.  Whimsical images with animals are popular and often a hit.

This week, this superb image of Marilyn Monroe has gotten a lot of traction.  Images with famous people go over well and attract attention.  Remember, you are trying to attract people's attention to your message.

SOURCE:  http://naldzgraphics.net/inspirations/marilyn-monroe-illustration/

The point to this is that you can usually find and credit the source of the talent.  You just can't be lazy.  It may take you a few more minutes to search for it.  The artist and photographer will appreciate it.  Their images can still be sold commercially to be used on website or printed materials like brochures, marketing collateral, annual reports, or ads so it isn't an exercise in vain.  

You can help exposure by including, by habit, the credit.  If they are savvy, which most aren't as vigilant because their skill and craft is in images, not always business.

The iconic portrayal of alltime favorite sex symbol, Marilyn Monroe, was found on Pinterest with credit sourced:  http://naldzgraphics.net/inspirations/marilyn-monroe-illustration/ which within that to find the artist Vovoskedi on Deviant Art - a popular site for creative talent in pop culture.  (I did comment so that Vovoskedi would know I had shared it and credited).  I give the creative the opportunity to ask me to remove it.  If you're trying to get more widespread recognition, it certainly won't hurt.

The following resonated with my mood yesterday, I tweeted it on Twitter, used it to show appreciation of followers and friends on Facebook ("good friends protect you from the elements") 

Sadly, credit to the photographer wasn't given.  I went so far as 500px and keyed in the photo number, as shown, and got an error message.  That is disappointing when you are trying to go out of your way to credit them.

By clicking on the VISIT SITE link on Pinterest I was able to find the source of this photo that is appealing to many:  

SOURCE:  Image on Flickr by Larry Gerbrandt

Scenes are popular with many .... maybe reminders of home or dreams to visit.  Others, resonate with what is going on at the moment.  With our cousins to the south soon to be celebrating American Thanksgiving, I wonder how many of you want to try to sharing this with your Thanksgiving cheer?  Apple pie and the American Flag are symbolic and memorable.  By seeking to assign the appropriate credit, I unmasked another great site for finding superb images:  The Chive.

SOURCE:  http://thechive.com/2014/04/18/best-photos-of-the-week-80-photos-19/

So go ahead and try it.  Attach an image to your quote, message, tweet, post, share and see how far it can take you.  Your fans will appreciate it almost as much as the talent you are crediting.

Social media works

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate."

~Oprah Winfrey

Firmly at the bottom of my social media scale has been firstly, the great people whom I am connected with.  Without people, you will go nowhere.  That lesson resonates with everyone everywhere.  It is a leadership principle and a people principle.

Social media personalities are there for the duration and the long haul.  They are never scattered, nor a politician, celebrity or brand looking for a boost in numbers.  Or more aggressively trying to innovate a hashtag (#) to trend by money or influence.  The real social media superstars make things happen and inspire others to reach out to absorb their message.

What can you do to merge with the crew and start the climb?  I would have to say, you have to adapt a "do-it-yourself" attitude immediately after you start making the connections.

"Dream on it.  Let your mind take you to places you would like to go, and then think about it and plan it and celebrate the possibilities.  And don't listen to anyone who doesn't know how to dream."

~Liza Minnelli

Only YOU can build your brand.  That is what social media tends to forge ahead by:  what resonates with you personally?  Is it something you like to do?  Do you jump up to write, take photographs, create scrumptious dishes, read, debate, view, leverage, learn, lead, quote, inspire others?  

The ones who have gained followers, are heeded, invited to speak, write a blog all began somewhere near the bottom.  They had the commitment and work ethic to start at the bottom and build up what they tend to love.  

They do have a photo everywhere that is recognizable because of the consistency it portrays.  Their bios can set them apart but the gracious wording with boasting humbly set aside.  The proof is there.  Simple.  It shows in the numbers.

Do you ask others or ask those you find appear to have found the secret formula on creating massive followings how they got there?  I asked one of my earliest friends within a group:  what makes you so special?  How did you get so many followers?  I pause for the holy grail or secret ingredient.  I hesitate a few minutes wondering if he will even respond.

I shouldn't have been surprised that he did respond.  These rockstars are everyone's people and they practice what they feel is relevant to those who have joined their crew.  They are self-made socialpreneurs or omnipresent everywhere it seems.

Stephen's response was mild, simple and a little amusing.  He said:  "I just show up."

Remarkable isn't it?  The best of the best are more than likely do-it-yourselfers.  They craft their home pages and bios with a dedicated eye for standing out in the crowd, with simply an self-image that presents a "normal" person and a short concise bio.  

I'm sure if I had a private conversation with each and every one of them, there would be that common thread of being true to themselves and not the narcissistic personality many off the mark will identify them to be when they are far from the truth.

What is certain is that singing is not merely modulating a song by means of the voice: we sing and we celebrate the beauty that we can grow and live every day. If you want to sing and give emotions to those who are listening, you must have something to tell through your singing; you have to use singing like an instrument to tell something.

~Andrea Bocelli

You see, friends.  The true, great, superstars are people.  They have uncovered their true calling and hitched on to a passion that was bubbling below the surface just waiting to escape as more than steam.  

The overnight, viral campaigns that catch on are fleeting.  The social media super stars show up daily, evening, morning or the wee hours.  They stroll through the information, images, quotes, knowledge to disperse with and share.  Some have become lucky enough to be travel bloggers or convention speakers for sums of money.

I'm not sure who really has made a bucket load of money from their notoriety.  Money seems to fall far below on the list of must haves when they are gaily enjoying what floats their boat:  a passion, a cause, a knowledge morsel, travel, writing, creativity.

A Bad Hair Day by Aaron Karnovski on Fivehundredpx

It isn't really who you know either.  That eventually works itself out.  People recognize authenticity, a magnetic force that other talented people gravitate to.  If you are good at something, it is usually because you love it.  

The irony of being this do-it-yourselfer is that I am not really an artist nor a photographic genius.  I simply think my eyes seek beauty.   It could be artistic, word, graphic, illustration, advertisement, photographic objects or people.  I just love looking at visuals.  I like when my brain softly says:  "huh".  That translates to my internal mechanism that something I am looking or reading is striking.  

The challenge of being a do-it-yourselfer is balancing the real world, life, family, work, friends with the online one.  Some may believe it is an addiction of sorts.  I've never missed a birthday celebration, work event, training schedule, taking my dog for a walk or cooking dinner.  

My social media world continually inspires, amazes and pleases me immensely.  I can turn off the computer, I don't stop to do selfies everywhere, and take pleasure in many offline interests.  I garden, I paint, I text kids, have phone conversations with friends and family or meet with them over dinner or a coffee.

Life outside social media is more enjoyable.  I have discovered ways to continue my gardening as a fledgling green thumb, I recycle things daily with my blue box, I commute to work and see things with new eyes.  I try adding a new menu element I wouldn't have otherwise tried.  I volunteer to do a gingerbread house for my team at work.  

I have at my disposal the wonderment of the outside world, embellished by the knowledge and discoveries I find online.

That, my friends, is the secret to an online social media personality.  Be authentic, read, watch, listen or view what rocks your world.  As you continually fill your mind and brain with wonderful things, your world and karma evolves to attract only those great things.

"How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and sheroes."

~Maya Angelou

VISUALs attract clicks

I've written on the topic before:  why you should use visuals to capture clicks by drawing attention to your article, quote, post or social media profile.  Why?  People love looking at beautiful, funny, lovely images.

One great advantage for viral sharing is its ability to have a domino effect.   Spin offs abound from it, just like "Caturday" instead of Saturday for those who want to be in the know:  just tweet or share an image with a cartoon or cute cat or kitten with the #hashtag #caturday and watch it roll ... reTweet, Shared.

Google Plus (G+) is, in my opinion, the best social media avenue to share images.  There is no clutter, the images are shown in size larger than Facebook or Twitter.  In fact, in Twitter, you have to click on it to see the image.  That is perfectly fine because words are your ammunition on Twitter.  Enhance your words or quote with an image and hashtag it and you will likely have it RT'd and shared even more.  People tend to like to philosophize when they are surfing social media sites and visual stimulation attracts the eyes and then the heart.

Pinterest is THE place where people go looking primarily for stimulation -- whether it be a tip, trick or treat -- the images attract the viewers attention and pretty much guarantee it will be clicked.  The better the image, the more likely it will be shared.

The following are top picks from my viewers .... certainly, I chose them because I liked them ... but the endorsements that others shared them are demonstrated by the number of likes, rePINs or shares:

Animals are always a great idea to emphasize an attitude, just like this tiger has been popularized.

Babies and kids illustrate cuteness.  
Even the most  skeptical hard noses, can't help be drawn into the innocence captured by others who share in adoration.

Stunning expressions, faces and humanism are popular amongst viewers.  In fact, my FACEus board on Pinterest has one of my largest following.  People are drawn to humanity, especially life's experience etched with wrinkles and profound expressions:

Doesn't a quote on wisdom just beg to go with this image?  People love this one.  There is nothing beautiful or fancy here, just mesmerizing eyes that speak of laughter and weariness from life and experience.  The next one is popular for individual people's reasons, if not for the beautiful photography and capture.

The secrets of talented, seasoned photographers may be guarded while we all get to participate in the experience simply by gazing upon a marvelous visual interpretation of the mystical innocence of youth.








Mothers with children or babies are significant in their contribution towards society.  However, a father who sheds his masculinity in his embrace of the sheer wonder of holding his child was identified by many who loved this.

Magical moments where the subjects are oblivious to a photographer capturing the essence of feeling and enable the viewer to participate as though they are there is a wonderful way that images appeal to many.

Flowers, beautiful objects and stunning photography evoke a sense of peace and inspire love for our world.   Lucky for many, it is captured to be shared for others to feast upon in its gorgeousness.

Scenery abound: trees, bridges, buildings, fields, forests, pathways and hidden gems are applauded by those who appreciate seeing new places and landscapes virtuall.  This is as good or even better because it lingers in our eyes and reaches our souls.

A burst of color explodes to grab our attention like nothing else.  I hazard to guess that the photo manipulation software "PhotoShop" was used to enhance the colors in this photo.  I think that is cheating and offensive to Mother Nature because often she doesn't need any help.

For many, who have not had the chance to touch or feel snow firsthand, the pictures of snow wonders are popular among all viewers.  Thankfully, without the cold, others can relish the sereneness and quietness that untouched nature invokes in us profoundly.

We love the sun, especially sunsets.  Waves of joy cascade over us when we visually embrace them all at once.  Visions of water attract viewers in their quest to impress.

All seasons and events are celebrated visually with stunning creativity as though we are in the pumpkin patch ourselves and allowed to pick the biggest and best one for ourselves and others to enjoy.  Our giddiness and excitement for Halloween while we scheme our costumes meant to amaze or amuse. Imagine being in this pumpkin patch in a field of orange.  We cannot quite feel the bumps and creases, yet we can conjure memories from days past where we took our time to choose the best pumpkin.  For others, it reminds us to be thankful as the time surrounded by family, friends and good cheer with great feasts upon which we bowed our heads together in prayer.

Sometimes there is no event, mystical reason or plain purpose for something to be so popular.  This is the most recent image that has been rejoiced and shared, as though the splashing is cause for a festivity or the merriment we feel by this fun image and graphic appeal to so many. 

I hope you have enjoyed the combination of creative images that I have enjoyed along with so many others who have embraced them or shared -- thank you ALL!  

You are welcome to join me on PINTEREST http://www.pinterest.com/optioneerjm/ to gaze upon wonderful images.  I have simply compiled the favorites from those who have agreed with me.  Photo credits are found there.

Discover your own wonders and underscore your message, blog, post, comment, quote, share, tweet, G+ with an image.  I'm confident you will be amazed at how wholeheartedly others will nod in agreement by their share.


Comments encouraged, shares applauded, subscribers rewarded and questions answered .... do you have something you would like Jeannette to answer?  You may be surprised when she devotes an entire Blog to it.

VISUALIZE it ... photos and images draw attention to Social Media

“There are no bad pictures; that's just how your face looks sometimes.” 

― Abraham Lincoln

I don't know about you but I am irritated by those posts that try to entice you by buy FOLLOWERS on Twitter or LIKES on Facebook.  Why not? Because you can attract your own followers and likes and it is easy.  How? Use beautiful images, funny cartoons, inspiring quotes, awe-inspiring photography with similar results.

There are popular social media platforms that at first glance you think it is the land of the "selfie" and in many accounts it is.  Then again, like anything online today, YOU have the power to x-out, close or block any unseemly or unappetizing visuals.

If you have something to say on social media, it will gain a significantly larger viewership than if it is simply text on its own.  Take for example, some of my favorites lately:

Nothing says hi-5, thank you, right on, cheers, better than bump it!

People like flowers.  Magnify a quote, give thanks or show appreciation.

Cute kids are a favorite to use to express meaning or create inspiration.

 Worldly advice, quotes, age or maturity

Beautiful world:  For poetry or song sunsets and oceans romanticize.

Setting suns, sailboats, water set wing to your thoughts and wishes.

Glorious skies in abundant colors for wisdom, dreams and faith

Celebrate events with fireworks that sparkle your words with color

Isolation is not always a sad thing with words.

Clashing emotions with self discovery can bring peace

Moonlight shadows create inspiring emotions

Whimsical and refreshing with the cherry on top

God and faith inspires many who find peace with words

Mother Nature is always hard at work to bring us beauty

Childhood and innocence are virtues that we like to revisit

Cats are popular characters for our imagination

Discover new places and adventure to far away lands.

People's faces teach us about tragedy, triumph and acceptance

Understanding bridges acceptance to unknown worlds and people.

Black and white or color:  we enjoy sifting through beautiful images.

If you enjoyed this visual story and want to find more images of your own, there are some great sites you can wander around in, like, follow or share the treasures you discover:

PINTEREST http://www.pinterest.com/
Pinterest is a company that provides an Internet service that they describe as a visual discovery tool. People use Pinterest to collect ideas for projects and interests. Users create and share collections (called “boards”) of visual bookmarks (called “Pins”) that they use to do things like plan trips, develop projects, organize events or save articles and recipes. There is also a like feature to save certain pins that may not fit with a board. The site was founded by Ben Silbermann, Paul Sciarra and Evan Sharp. It is managed by Cold Brew Labs and funded by a small group of entrepreneurs and investors.^[3]



INSTAGRAM:  http://instagram.com/
Instagram is an online mobile photo-sharing, video-sharing and social networking service that enables its users to take pictures and videos, apply digital filters to them, and share them on a variety of social networking services, such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Flickr.^[7] A distinctive feature is that it confines photos to a square shape, similar to Kodak Instamatic and Polaroid images, in contrast to the 4:3 aspect ratio typically used by mobile device cameras. Users are also able to record and share short videos lasting for up to 15 seconds.^[8]

Instagram was created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger and launched in October 2010. The service rapidly gained popularity, with over 100 million active users as of April 2012.^[9][10]

GOOGLE PLUS: https://plus.google.com/

Google+ (pronounced and sometimes written as Google Plus) is a social networking and identity service^[3][4] that is owned and operated by Google Inc. Google has described Google+ as a "social layer" that enhances many of its online properties, and that it is not simply a social networking website, but also an authorship tool that associates web-content directly with its owner/author.^[5] It is the second-largest social networking site in the world after Facebook. 540 million monthly active users are part of the Identity service site, by interacting socially with Google+'s enhanced properties, likeGmail, +1 button, and YouTube comments.^[6] In October 2013, Google counted 540 million active users who used at least one Google+ service, of which 300 million users are active in "the stream".^[1][7][8]





TUMBLR:  https://www.tumblr.com/

Tumblr (stylized in its logo as tumblr.) is a microblogging platform and social networking website founded by David Karp and owned by Yahoo! Inc. The service allows users to post multimedia and other content to a short-form blog. Users can follow other users' blogs, as well as make their blogs private.^[4][5] Much of the website's features are accessed from the "dashboard" interface, where the option to post content and posts of followed blogs appear.

As of July 1, 2014, Tumblr hosts over 192.9 million blogs.^[2] The company's headquarters is in New York City.

FLICKR:  https://www.flickr.com/

Flickr (pronounced "flicker") is an image hosting and video hosting website, and web services suite that was created byLudicorp in 2004 and acquired by Yahoo in 2005. In addition to being a popular website for users to share and embed personal photographs, and effectively an online community, the service is widely used by photo researchers and bybloggers to host images that they embed in blogs and social media.




I hope you like this imagery shared ... now it is your time to reach out and click and discover what amazing, interesting and informative images await you.

Enjoy your summer!

NOTE:  Source used for descriptions en.wikipedia.org/

Wikipedia (ⁱ/ˌwɪkɨˈpiːdiə/ or ⁱ/ˌwɪkiˈpiːdiə/ wik-i-pee-dee-ə) is a collaboratively edited, multilingual, free-access, free content Internet encyclopedia that is supported and hosted by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation. Volunteersworldwide collaboratively write in more than 200 languages. The English Wikipedia contains over 4.5 million articles. Almost anyone who can access the site can edit almost any of its articles, which collectively make up^[4] the Internet'slargest and most popular general reference work.^{[5][6][7][8][9]} Wikipedia is the sixth most popular website.^[3] As of 2014, it has 18 billion page views and nearly 500 million unique visitors each month.^[10]

Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger launched Wikipedia on January 15, 2001. Sanger^[11] coined its name,^[12] aportmanteau of wiki (the name of a type of collaborative website, from the Hawaiian word for "quick")^[13] andencyclopedia. 

REFERENCE:  Selfie

A selfie is a self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a hand-held digital camera or camera phone. Selfies are often shared on social networking services such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Tumblr. They are often casual, and are typically taken either with a camera held at arm's length or in a mirror.

Selfie of amacaque who had picked up a camera.

“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.” 

― Ansel Adams