Forum Replies Created
-
AuthorPosts
-
Jul 8, 2025 at 4:38 pm in reply to: How do I properly manage audio levels for a multi-person or co-hosted stream? #120661
Jeff BullasKeymasterThat’s an excellent question. Getting your multi-person audio mix right is what separates a confusing, amateur stream from a professional broadcast that is enjoyable to listen to.
The absolute goal is consistency. Every single person on the stream should be heard clearly and at roughly the same volume. No one should be so loud that they are overpowering, and no one should be so quiet that your audience has to strain to hear them.
Here is how you achieve that. First, and this is non-negotiable for a good mix, you must get each person’s microphone onto its own separate audio track in your streaming software like OBS. This gives you independent control over each person’s volume and allows you to apply different effects to each voice.
Second, everyone involved in the stream must wear headphones. This is essential to prevent audio from one person’s speakers being picked up by another person’s microphone, which is what causes distracting echo and feedback loops.
Third, you should apply a basic chain of audio filters to each person’s track individually. This usually starts with a “Noise Gate” filter to cut out their background noise when they are not speaking. Then, you should add a “Compressor” filter to even out their volume levels, making their quiet speech louder and preventing them from peaking when they get loud or laugh. You can also use an “EQ” (equalizer) filter to shape the tone of each voice for better clarity.
Fourth, once each track is individually processed, you need to level-match. Have everyone talk in a normal conversational tone and watch the audio meters in your software. You will need to adjust the main volume fader for each person so that everyone is consistently peaking in the same ‘yellow’ range, which is typically around -15 to -10 decibels.
In summary, a clean multi-person mix comes from giving each speaker their own audio track, applying individual filters like compression to each one, and then carefully setting the levels so that everyone sounds consistent. It is a technical step that makes a huge difference in the professionalism and listenability of your stream.
Cheers,
Jeff
Jul 8, 2025 at 4:30 pm in reply to: How can I use “Stream Markers” during a live stream to make VOD editing easier? #120658Jeff BullasKeymasterThat’s a very practical question. Using Stream Markers properly is one of the biggest time-savers in any streamer’s workflow, especially as your broadcast lengths increase.
Think of Stream Markers as digital bookmarks that you add to your live broadcast in real-time. They create a timestamped note in your recording that you can refer to later, which saves you from the headache of re-watching hours of footage just to find one specific moment.
Here is how to use them effectively. First, you need to add markers as key moments happen during your stream. When a memorable event occurs – a great play in a game, a funny joke, or an important point you are making – you add a marker right then and there. The most direct way to do this is by typing the command /marker into your own Twitch chat.
Second, and this is the most important part for creating an efficient workflow, you should add a short, descriptive note to your marker. Instead of just using the generic /marker command, it is far more effective to type something like /marker funny story about marketing or /marker great tip on SEO. This context is invaluable when you are looking back at the recording later.
Third, for even faster use, many streamers use a physical device like an Elgato Stream Deck. They program a button on the Stream Deck to automatically add a marker with a single press, which is much quicker than typing a command while you are focused on your live content.
Fourth, you use these markers after the stream has ended. When you go into your Twitch “Video Producer” section to view your VOD, you will see all the markers you created displayed directly on the video’s timeline. This allows you to immediately jump to those key, pre-vetted moments. From there, you can easily create a standalone Twitch Highlight video or note down the timestamps to use when editing the VOD for a YouTube video or short-form clips.
In short, the entire point of Stream Markers is to create a “to-do list” for your future self or your editor. By consistently marking and describing key moments while you are live, you transform a multi-hour VOD into a set of easily accessible highlights, saving you an enormous amount of time in post-production.
Cheers,
Jeff
Jul 8, 2025 at 4:27 pm in reply to: How can I encourage my viewers to create and share “Clips” of my best moments? #120656Jeff BullasKeymasterThat’s a great question. Turning your viewers into active marketers for your channel by having them create clips is one of the smartest organic growth strategies available to a streamer. You are right that you need to be proactive; you have to create a culture where clipping is encouraged, recognised, and rewarded.
Here are some effective ways to do that. First, you need to intentionally create “clippable” moments. This means when you are about to make a key point, achieve something spectacular in a game, or tell a punchy joke, you set it up clearly. A clean, concise moment is much easier for someone to clip and share than something that is buried in a long, rambling section.
Second, the most direct method is to verbally ask for the clip. When a great moment happens, do not be shy about it. Directly say something like, “That right there is the key takeaway, someone clip that!” or “If you found that useful, clip it and share it with a friend.” This gives your audience explicit permission and a clear call to action.
Third, you should react to your community’s clips on stream. Dedicate a regular segment, perhaps at the start of your next stream, to watching and reacting to the “Best Clips of the Week.” This gives recognition and a spotlight to the people who create them, which is a powerful incentive for others to do the same.
Fourth, you can run simple contests. You could host a weekly or monthly “best clip” contest where the clip that gets the most views, or the one you personally find the most creative, wins a small prize. This could be a gift subscription, a special role in your Discord community, or just a major shout-out on stream.
And fifth, you must use the clips yourself. When you find a great clip that a viewer has made, share it on your own social media platforms like Twitter/X or TikTok. And when you do, always give clear credit to the viewer who created it by tagging their username. This makes them feel like a valued part of your content creation process.
In summary, you encourage clipping by creating clippable moments, directly asking for them, and most importantly, by celebrating and rewarding the viewers who take the time to create them. Make them feel like they are part of your team.
Cheers,
Jeff
Jul 8, 2025 at 4:17 pm in reply to: What is “Soundtrack by Twitch” and how does it help me use music legally? #120654Jeff BullasKeymasterThat is a very important question. Navigating music copyright is one of the biggest headaches for streamers, and “Soundtrack by Twitch” is the platform’s direct answer to that problem.
It is a free tool provided by Twitch that gives streamers access to a large library of licensed, rights-cleared music that is safe to play during their live streams. Here is how it works to protect your channel.
First, Soundtrack by Twitch provides a curated library of music. Twitch has already secured the necessary licenses for you to broadcast these specific songs live to your audience. This means you can play music from its catalogue during your live stream without fear of receiving a DMCA copyright strike for that broadcast.
Second, and this is its most critical feature, it protects your saved content. The tool is designed to route its audio through a separate channel in your streaming software. This means the licensed music plays on your live stream for your viewers to enjoy, but it is automatically stripped out of your recorded VODs (Videos on Demand) and any Clips that are created from the stream. This audio separation is how it prevents your archived content from being muted or receiving copyright claims.
Third, you need to set it up correctly with your streaming software. It works as a plugin for common software like OBS or as a standalone desktop application. You simply connect it to your Twitch account, and it handles the technical audio routing for you.
This is fundamentally different from playing music from a personal streaming service like Spotify or Apple Music, which is against their terms of service for a public broadcast and is a violation of music copyright law. Soundtrack by Twitch is the officially sanctioned solution from the platform itself.
In summary, it is a free tool that gives you a library of licensed music that is safe for your live stream and, crucially, automatically removes that music from your VODs to protect your channel from long-term copyright issues. For any streamer wanting to use music, it is an essential tool.
Cheers,
Jeff
Jul 8, 2025 at 4:15 pm in reply to: What is a good strategy for managing my VODs (Videos on Demand) after I stream? #120652Jeff BullasKeymasterThat is a great point. Letting your VODs just sit there is a massive missed opportunity. A good VOD strategy turns one live stream into a week’s worth of content.
The key is to stop thinking of your VOD as an archive and start seeing it as a raw asset you can mine for valuable content.
First, the most immediate thing you should do is go through your recent VOD on Twitch and use the platform’s built-in “Highlighter” tool. Pull out the best 5 to 10 minute segments and publish them as standalone Highlight videos. This makes it easier for your community to catch the best parts without having to scrub through hours of footage.
Second, and this is non-negotiable for any serious creator, you must download your full VOD before it expires and is deleted by Twitch. Do not rely on the platform to store your work for you. Once you have that master file, you have full control.
Third, the most powerful strategy is to repurpose the content for YouTube. You can do a light edit to clean up the beginning and end and post the full VOD, or, more effectively, you can edit it down into a tighter, more focused long-form YouTube video. This gives your content a permanent home and exposes it to a massive new audience through search.
Fourth, you have to mine that VOD for short-form video clips. Go through the recording and find every single funny moment, great play, or insightful tip. Cut each one into a 30 to 60 second vertical video, burn in large, easy-to-read captions, and you now have a week’s worth of content to post on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. This is your primary discovery engine for attracting new viewers.
Finally, you can make a strategic choice to unpublish the full VOD on Twitch after a week or two. Some creators do this to funnel viewers towards the more polished, edited version on their YouTube channel.
The strategy is a content funnel: use Highlights on Twitch for your core audience, create polished long-form videos for your YouTube library, and use short-form clips everywhere else to attract new people to the top of your funnel. Never let a good stream die as just a VOD.
Cheers,
Jeff
Jul 8, 2025 at 4:10 pm in reply to: What are the key elements of a professional Twitch branding kit (panels, overlays, offline screen)? #120648Jeff BullasKeymasterThat is a great question. Your Twitch branding is essentially your channel’s uniform, and showing up in a default, generic one can look amateur. A cohesive branding kit is what makes a channel feel like a serious and professional endeavour.
You do not need to be a design expert, but you do need to be consistent across a few key areas. Think of it as a visual system. Your foundation is always your logo, your core colour palette, and your chosen fonts. Once you have those locked in, everything else should follow that style guide.
Your stream overlays, which are the frames around your camera and gameplay, should use those colours and fonts. They need to be clean and designed so they do not obstruct important on-screen action. The same rule applies to your Twitch panels in the “About” section below your stream; use them to clearly label your key information with a consistent design.
Of course, you also have your main full-screen graphics: your “Starting Soon,” “Be Right Back,” and “Stream Offline” screens. These are major visual touchpoints with your audience and must be on-brand.
Finally, the small details are often what matter most for your community. Your on-screen alerts for new followers and subscribers, and especially your custom emotes and loyalty badges, are where your brand’s personality can truly come to life. This is what helps make your community feel like a unique club.
The bottom line is that a professional branding kit is a complete visual system. When every element—from your main overlay down to your smallest emote—looks like it belongs to the same family, your channel instantly gains a level of credibility that a default layout can never achieve.
Cheers,
Jeff
Jul 8, 2025 at 3:50 pm in reply to: What are the best video bitrate settings for a high-quality Twitch stream in 2025? #120645Jeff BullasKeymasterThat’s an excellent question to ask. Nailing your bitrate is the key to balancing a high-quality picture with a smooth, stable stream for your viewers.
Before you choose a setting, the most important thing you must know is your internet’s stable upload speed. A good rule of thumb is that your total bitrate should not exceed about 75% of your upload bandwidth to prevent a choppy, lagging stream.
Once you know your upload speed, you can choose the right bitrate for your desired resolution and frame rate. First, for the highest quality at 1080p and 60 frames per second (fps), which is ideal for fast-motion games, Twitch officially supports a bitrate up to 6,000 Kbps, but many streamers find success pushing this slightly higher if their connection is stable, often in the 6,000 to 8,000 Kbps range if they have partner status. For non-partners, sticking to 6,000 Kbps is the safest best practice.
Second, for content with less motion, such as a talk show or a slower game, streaming at 1080p and 30 fps is a very good option. For this, a bitrate between 4,500 and 6,000 Kbps is generally sufficient.
Third, if your internet connection cannot comfortably handle a 1080p stream, a resolution of 720p at 60 fps is an excellent compromise that still provides smooth motion. The recommended bitrate for this is typically around 4,500 to 6,000 Kbps.
Fourth, it is also important to consider your encoder settings in your streaming software like OBS. Using a hardware encoder, such as NVENC for NVIDIA graphics cards, is almost always preferable to the x264 (CPU) encoder. It puts less strain on your computer’s processor, which results in a smoother experience for both your game and your stream.
In summary, the best bitrate is tied directly to your upload speed and your quality goals. For a high-quality 1080p stream, aiming for 6,000 Kbps is the standard, provided your internet connection can comfortably support it. Always perform an upload speed test before you decide on your final settings.
Cheers,
Jeff
Jul 8, 2025 at 3:48 pm in reply to: What are the best practices for setting up my camera and webcam for a stream? #120643Jeff BullasKeymasterThat is a smart topic to focus on. Improving your camera setup is one of the fastest ways to increase the production quality of your stream and make it look more professional.
The most important thing to understand is that your lighting is actually more critical than your camera. A basic webcam in a well-lit environment will look far better than an expensive camera in a poorly lit room.
With that in mind, here are the key best practices. First, let us talk about camera placement and angle. For the most flattering look, your camera should be positioned at your eye level or slightly above it, never looking up at you from below. You should frame the shot so that you are visible from the chest up, and consider using the “rule of thirds” to position yourself slightly off-centre rather than directly in the middle. Also, ensure there is some distance between you and your background to create a sense of depth.
Second, for your lighting, the professional standard is a “three-point lighting” setup. This uses a main “key light” to one side of your face, a softer “fill light” on the other side to reduce shadows, and a “back light” behind you to separate you from the background. Even if you only have one good light source, use it as your key light and try to bounce some light with a white reflector to act as your fill.
Third, you should adjust your camera’s manual settings. It is best to lock your focus manually on your face so that the camera does not “hunt” for focus if you move slightly. You should also set a custom white balance to ensure your skin tones look natural and consistent under your specific lighting conditions.
And fourth, regarding the blurry background effect, which is called “bokeh,” this is achieved by using a lens with a wide aperture, meaning a low f-stop number like f/1.8. This is a feature of DSLR and mirrorless cameras, not most standard webcams. While some software can simulate a background blur, the natural effect from a proper camera and lens will always look superior.
In summary, focus on good lighting first and foremost. Position your camera at eye level, and take the time to set your focus and white balance manually. This combination will make a much bigger difference than simply buying a more expensive camera.
Cheers,
Jeff
Jul 8, 2025 at 3:46 pm in reply to: How do I properly balance my voice, game audio, and music during a live stream? #120641Jeff BullasKeymasterThat’s a fantastic question to ask. Getting your audio mix right is one of the most critical, and often overlooked, aspects of creating a professional-sounding live stream.
The golden rule is that your voice must always be the clearest and most prominent sound in the mix. Your audience is there to listen to you above everything else. Here is how you can structure your audio to achieve that.
First, your voice is the top priority. Your microphone audio should be the loudest element. In your streaming software, like OBS or Streamlabs, you should aim for your voice to consistently hit the ‘yellow’ section of the audio meter, which is typically around -15 to -10 decibels (dB). Using a compressor filter on your microphone track is a key technique that helps to even out your volume so you do not get too loud or too quiet.
Second, the game audio provides immersion but must never compete with your voice. A good starting point is to set your game audio level significantly lower than your voice, usually around -25 to -30 dB. It should be clearly audible but firmly in the background.
Third, if you use background music, it should be the most subtle element. You should set your music levels even lower than your game audio, often around -35 to -40 dB. It should add to the atmosphere without ever being distracting or making it difficult to hear in-game sounds.
Fourth, for a truly professional mix, you should use a technique called sidechain compression, which is also known as ‘ducking’. You can set this up as a filter in your streaming software. It automatically lowers the volume of your music and game audio whenever you speak, and then smoothly raises their volume back up when you are quiet. This guarantees your voice will always cut through clearly.
Finally, you must always monitor your own audio mix with headphones while you are doing a test recording. This is the only way to truly hear what your audience will hear and to fine-tune your levels for that perfect balance.
Cheers,
Jeff
Jul 8, 2025 at 3:42 pm in reply to: How do you repurpose long-form content into effective short-form video or audio? #120639Jeff BullasKeymasterThat’s an excellent question. Thinking about how to repurpose your pillar content for different platforms is one of the smartest and most efficient things a creator can do.
The key for a fast-moving, visual feed like the one on X is that you cannot just post a link to your long-form content and expect engagement. You have to repackage your best moments into a new, native-feeling piece of content that can capture attention on its own.
There are a few effective ways to do this. First, you need to review your long-form video or podcast and identify the ‘nuggets’ of value. This could be a single surprising statistic, a powerful quote, a highly actionable tip, or a short, funny story. These are your candidates for short-form clips.
Second, if you are creating a video clip, you must reformat it for a mobile-first feed. Your clip should be edited into a square (1:1 aspect ratio) or vertical (9:16 aspect ratio) to take up the most screen space. A traditional wide-screen video will often get lost in the timeline.
Third, and this is non-negotiable, you must add a strong hook and burned-in captions to your video clip. The clip needs a text headline at the top to immediately tell the viewer what it is about and why they should stop scrolling. The dialogue must be captioned, as most users will see it with the sound off.
Fourth, if you are repurposing audio-only content, you need to make it visual by creating an audiogram. This is a video file that combines your audio snippet with a static background image, such as your logo or a guest photo, and an animated waveform. This gives your audio something for people to look at in the feed.
And fifth, the tweet itself must add value. The video or audiogram clip cannot stand alone. The text of your tweet should provide extra context, pull out the key quote from the clip, use three to five relevant hashtags, and have a clear call to action, such as “Listen to the full conversation here” with a link to your full episode.
Many modern editing tools can make this process of transcribing, clipping, and captioning much more efficient. By turning your best moments into a native visual asset for the platform, you give people a reason to stop, engage, and then seek out your long-form content.
Cheers,
Jeff.
Jul 8, 2025 at 3:37 pm in reply to: What are effective ways to integrate audio content into visually dominant platforms? #120633Jeff BullasKeymasterThat’s an excellent question, as it gets to the heart of smart content repurposing: how to make your audio content ‘seen’ on platforms that are not built for listening.
The key is that you cannot just share a link to your audio and expect it to perform well. You must transform your audio into a native visual asset that can capture attention in a fast-moving, visually-driven feed.
Here are some of the most effective ways to do this. First, the most common and effective method is to create an audiogram. An audiogram is a short video file that combines a static background image, such as your podcast cover art or a photo of your guest, with a snippet of your audio and an animated waveform that moves as the audio plays. This gives your audio a crucial visual element that stops the scroll and signals to the user that there is something to listen to.
Second, if your audio comes from a video recording, the best approach is to create short, captioned video clips. You should pull out the most impactful moments from your content, typically between 30 and 60 seconds long, reformat them for a square or vertical aspect ratio, and add large, easy-to-read captions. This is essential, as most users on platforms like X consume video with the sound off.
Third, a simpler but still effective method is to use quote graphics. You can take the most powerful or insightful quote from your audio content and turn it into a visually appealing image. In the text of your social media post, you can then provide more context and include a link to the full audio episode for those who are interested.
And fourth, for a platform like X specifically, you can create a text-based thread. You can take the main points and takeaways from your audio episode and write them out as a detailed, value-driven thread. Then, in the first or last tweet of that thread, you can include your audiogram clip or a link to the full episode, using the text of the thread itself as the hook to get people interested in listening.
Tools like Descript, Headliner, and Veed are commonly used to make the process of creating audiograms and captioned video clips much more efficient.
In summary, to get your audio heard on a visual platform, you have to make it seen first. Repackaging your best audio moments into visual formats like audiograms, captioned video clips, or quote graphics is the key to stopping the scroll and giving people a reason to press play.
Cheers,
Jeff.
Jul 8, 2025 at 3:35 pm in reply to: What pitfalls should be avoided when using trending video or meme formats? #120631Jeff BullasKeymasterThat’s a smart question to ask. While using trends can seem like a fast track to getting reach, doing it poorly can make a brand look out of touch or, in some cases, cause a real headache.
There are several key pitfalls to avoid when using trending video formats or memes. First, and most importantly, is not understanding the full context or origin of the trend. A sound or a meme format might have a sarcastic, political, or otherwise problematic background that you are not aware of. Using it incorrectly can lead to significant brand damage. You must always do a quick bit of research on the trend’s background before you participate.
Second, being too late to the party is a common mistake. Trends on platforms like TikTok and Instagram move at lightning speed. Using a meme format a week or two after it has already peaked can make your brand look slow and disconnected from the current online conversation.
Third, you should avoid forcing a connection to your brand. The most awkward content is often when a business tries to shoehorn a sales message into a trend where it does not naturally fit. This comes across as a desperate attempt to be “hip” and can alienate your audience.
Fourth, avoid being overly promotional within the trend itself. Memes and trends are primarily about entertainment and community. If your video is just a hard sales pitch dressed up in a trending format, it will likely be ignored by viewers. The focus should be on providing entertainment or a relatable insight first.
And fifth, be careful of mis-matching the tone of the trend with your brand’s voice. Using a silly, informal meme for a very serious or corporate brand can create a jarring disconnect that confuses your audience and can damage your established brand identity.
The bottom line is this: before you use a trend, ask yourself a few questions. Do I truly understand the full context of this trend? Is it still relevant right now? And can I connect it to my brand in a genuinely clever and authentic way? If the answer to any of those is no, it is always best to sit that one out.
Cheers,
Jeff.
Jul 8, 2025 at 3:24 pm in reply to: What’s the optimal balance between text and visuals in a single social media post? #120626Jeff BullasKeymasterThat’s a fantastic question, because getting this balance right is what separates a post that gets scrolled past from one that drives real engagement.
The universal rule for any social media feed is this: the visual stops the scroll, and the text provides the context and prompts the action. They must support each other, not compete.
Here are some best practices for finding that optimal balance:
Let the Visual Be the Hero: Your image or video has one job: to grab attention in a fraction of a second. It needs to be high-quality, compelling, and emotionally resonant on its own. If your visual is boring, your caption will likely never get read.
Minimal Text on the Visual Itself: Any text you overlay directly onto your image or video should be treated like a headline. It must be minimal, large, and have very high contrast to be readable instantly. Think three to seven powerful words, not a full sentence or paragraph. If you need more text than that, it belongs in the caption.
Use the Caption for the Story and the “Why”: The caption is where you provide the context, tell the story, explain the value, and ask for engagement. This is where you can go into more detail and build a deeper connection with the reader who has been hooked by your visual.
Adapt the Balance for the Platform: The ideal balance does change slightly depending on the platform.
On a visually-driven platform like Instagram, the image or video is paramount. The caption is important, but it is there to support the primary visual element.
On a professional, text-driven platform like LinkedIn, a longer, more thoughtful caption that tells a story or provides a detailed insight can perform exceptionally well, often paired with a relatively simple, professional image.
For Facebook, it is a mix, but a strong visual is still the key to stopping the scroll in a busy feed, which then earns you the right to have your caption read.
Bottom line: There is no single magic ratio. Lead with a powerful, simple visual to earn the viewer’s attention. Then, use the first line of your caption to hold that attention and draw them into the rest of your message. Let the visual be the hook, and the text be the conversation.
Cheers,
Jeff.
Jeff BullasKeymasterThat’s a smart question to ask. The audio tweet feature is a perfect example of how not all content formats are created equal on a platform.
While the idea of sharing your voice directly is appealing, the reality is that audio tweets are a niche feature on X and are generally not considered an effective format for achieving broad reach and engagement. Here’s a pragmatic breakdown of the pros and cons:
The Pros (The Potential):
Adds Personality: Hearing a person’s actual voice can create a much more personal and human connection than plain text ever could, which can be valuable for building a deeper relationship with your core audience.
Stands Out in the Feed: The audio player has a unique look compared to a standard text tweet, which can sometimes make users pause their scroll simply out of curiosity.
The Cons (The Reality of User Behaviour):
High User Friction: This is the biggest problem. X is a platform that people typically scroll through silently (at work, in public spaces, etc.). An audio tweet requires a user to tap to play, have their sound on, and actively listen for the duration. This is a much higher barrier to engagement than reading a tweet or watching a captioned video.
Poor Discoverability: The content within your audio is not searchable or indexable like text is. This severely limits the ability of new audiences to discover your content through search.
Low Algorithmic Priority: Because the feature has not been widely adopted by users, the platform’s algorithm is unlikely to prioritise this format as highly as more popular and engaging formats like text threads, images, and video.
Bottom line: Audio tweets are a novelty. They can be a unique way to engage with a small, highly dedicated group of your followers who are willing to make the effort to listen. However, for reaching new people and driving significant engagement, a well-written thread or a properly captioned video will deliver far better results almost every time. Think of it as an interesting tool for special occasions, not a primary growth strategy.
Cheers,
Jeff.
Jul 4, 2025 at 1:15 pm in reply to: Beyond text, what image types consistently drive the most engagement? #110486Jeff BullasKeymasterGood question! When it comes to images driving engagement, it’s not just about slapping any old picture on your post. There’s a bit of nuance involved in what genuinely cuts through the noise.
From what we’re seeing across platforms, a few types of images consistently punch above their weight when it comes to sparking interaction:
Infographics and Data Visualisations: People love to learn, and they love it even more when it’s easy. Infographics simplify complex information, statistics, or processes into a visually digestible format. They’re highly shareable because they offer value at a glance and make the reader feel smarter. Think clear charts, compelling icons, and a strong visual narrative.
Authentic Photos (Especially with Faces): Stock photos can be a bit sterile, can’t they? Images that feature real people – particularly human faces – tend to perform exceptionally well. This includes user-generated content (UGC), behind-the-scenes shots, or photos of your team. They build relatability, trust, and a sense of connection, making your brand feel more human. Audiences respond to authenticity.
Memes (with Caution): Ah, the humble meme. When used correctly, memes can be absolute gold for engagement. They tap into shared cultural understanding, humour, and current trends, making content highly relatable and shareable. However, this is where the “caution” comes in.
Relevance is Key: A meme needs to be genuinely relevant to your brand, message, and audience. A forced or out-of-touch meme can backfire spectacularly, making your brand look disconnected or trying too hard.
Timeliness: Memes have a short shelf-life. What’s funny and relevant today can be stale or even cringeworthy tomorrow. You need to be quick.
Brand Voice: Ensure the meme aligns with your established brand personality. If your brand is serious and formal, a wacky meme might confuse your audience.
Branded Graphics and Quote Cards: Custom-designed graphics that incorporate your brand’s colours, fonts, and logo, especially those that feature a compelling quote, a concise tip, or a statistic, can be highly effective. They’re visually appealing, reinforce brand recognition, and deliver quick, valuable information. They’re particularly strong for establishing thought leadership or sharing quick takeaways.
No matter the type, always ensure your images are:
High Quality: Blurry or pixelated images scream unprofessional.
Relevant: The image should always complement and enhance your message, not just be there for decoration.
Optimised: Consider file size for fast loading and the correct aspect ratios for each platform you’re posting on. There’s nothing worse than an image getting cropped awkwardly.
The common thread here is that the most engaging images either provide quick value (infographics, quote cards), build genuine connection (authentic photos, UGC), or leverage shared cultural humour (memes). Avoid anything that feels generic or doesn’t add to the overall message.
Cheers,
Jeff
-
This reply was modified 3 months ago by
Neil Anthony.
-
This reply was modified 3 months ago by
-
AuthorPosts
