When you’re scheming through a magazine, what makes you stop flipping the pages and focus your attention on an ad? It would most likely be a beautiful illustration, an awesome color palette, or an enhanced photo of a celebrity you’re crushing on. Or sometimes, all of the above. Studies tell us that visual appeal can be assessed in about 50 milliseconds. That’s a split-second window to get a person’s attention and get them interested! Without a doubt, graphic design and marketing go hand in hand in reaching out to the audience and growing a brand.

In this article, we’ll touch on the following topics:

• The importance of graphic design in marketing
• How to use graphic design in marketing
• Making the most out of graphic design and marketing

Keep reading to get the lowdown on how to make this powerful combo work for your business.

 

Importance Of Graphic Design In Marketing

You already have an inkling about graphic design’s role in day-to-day functions if you have any exposure to business operations. For instance, you’d need graphic design for assets such as pitch decks used to present to potential investors. Even letterheads and business cards should have an impressive design to reflect the venture in the best light.

It is in marketing, however, that the importance of a graphic designer’s work shines bright. By using great design in visual assets, you increase your chances of getting noticed. And as the classic model tells us, this awareness will encourage interest, desire and, hopefully, lead to the action of buying. 

In short, the tandem works simple. Stunning visuals speak to you and tease a story you’d want to know more about. And once it gets your attention, it passes the torch to marketing tactics, which will do the rest.

 

How to Use Graphic Design in Marketing

Here are a few types of graphic design assets typically used for marketing efforts.

 

Social Media Graphics

This is one of the most critical graphic design services which many brands prioritize these days. And with most consumers spending their spare time on social media, who could blame them?

Social media graphics shouldn’t only capture attention but also engage viewers. The visuals, as well as the copy, must be gripping enough to make a user click the share button. 

Powerful content on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms have the potential to help a brand extend its reach without paying for ads.

 

Blog Graphics

Content is king. We’ve learned that when Bill Gates wrote his famous essay in 1996. And we’ve heard it more and more now as the internet tech continues to flourish and expand every day.

Though the quality of your pieces is surely why people come to your blog, never underestimate the power of graphics. In fact, research shows articles with visuals get 94% more views compared to those without. 

When posting blogs, make sure to publish them with relevant images that would enrich the reader’s experience.

 

Email Marketing

With a billion email users worldwide, using this channel to market your brand is a no-brainer. And though the email copy bears the weight of driving the campaign forward, awesome visuals riding shotgun surely won’t hurt. 

Here’s a quick exercise – go to your inbox and check out the promo folder. Then, open three emails from three well-known organizations. Chances are, each of these emails isn’t in plain text. Instead, it uses an email template with the brand’s unique visual elements such as color scheme, typography, logo, and icons.

Take your cue from these brands – make the most out of graphic design and marketing tactics to increase your email open rates.

 

Infographics

The best infographic examples show that combining the best images with substantial data makes for a handy educational material. 

For instance, you won’t likely spend more than 30 seconds going through a hunk of text about brand survey results. Unless, of course, work or school requires you to do it. 

With the help of various types of graphic design styles, however, the same data can become easier to digest. By making the text concise and adding images that entertain and engage, it’s easier to absorb and retain the presented info.

 

Packaging

Packaging design is one of the perfect examples of using graphic design and marketing to appeal to clients. If you’ve ever found yourself picking the best-looking box of cereals on the grocery shelf, then you know what I mean.

In essence, the packaging material protects the product from the elements during handling. Its design, however, falls under the marketing realm. It’s that last chance a brand has to convince the customer of buying the product instead of the next one beside it.

The packaging is so crucial that many consider it to be the fifth “P” of marketing, along with the product, price, placement, and promotion. 

 

Ads

Last but not least, ad graphic design is one of the best examples of a graphic design marketing strategy that uses visuals to appeal to customers.

If you look closely at ads, you’d see that they mirror society’s standards at any given time. For instance, ads for household products in the 50s mostly showed a Stepford wife staying on top of chores. With awareness campaigns about gender issues over the past decades, however, publishing such ads today would most likely end in backlash.

That said, ad graphic design should not only simply reflect your identity. It should also position your brand in a place where you’d want to go down in history.

 

Making the Most out of Graphic Design and Marketing

They say marketing is the lifeblood of any business. But without excellent graphic design, promo strategies and superb copywriting can only do so much. 

On the other hand, well-designed visuals without proper tactics and strategies are just that: mere eye-candies that won’t contribute much. 

Make sure to use graphic design and marketing to optimize brand growth and improve audience engagement. How do you use this golden pair to make the most your brand stand out? Tell us in the comment section below!