As social media data junkies, our team at Random loves to explore the reasons why some of our social media posts perform better than others. The topic at hand? Why photos of buildings (that’s right, buildings) tend to perform higher than other photos on social media.
In the ever-evolving landscape of content marketing, it’s crucial to understand what resonates with your audience. Recent research and analysis of client data have revealed an intriguing trend: content featuring images of buildings significantly outperforms other types of content in both engagement and impressions. Let’s delve into the numbers and the potential reasons behind this phenomenon.
For the purpose of this study, we stuck to one social media platform: Instagram. Our Social Media Analyst did some deep diving into our clients’ social media profiles and collected any photos that displayed the exterior of their buildings. Once the sample of posts was collected, he proceeded to examine the posts based on various KPIs, keeping a focus on engagement and impressions.
- Engagement: Content with images of buildings averaged an impressive 89.5% better in engagement compared to the monthly content averages.
- Impressions: Such content also saw a 44% increase in impressions over their monthly content averages.
These statistics are compelling, suggesting that there’s more to building imagery than meets the eye.
Hypothesis #1: Breaking the Monotony with Visual Appeal
Most content calendars feature a myriad of images, from people and products to landscapes and abstract graphics. However, our data indicates that there are usually no more than 1 or 2 photos of buildings per month in the case of our clients, Comerica Bank. As you can see, in Comerica Bank‘s Instagram feed, the scarcity could be a reason that these images stand out, breaking the content monotony. Their unique visual appeal might be the breath of fresh air that users need, prompting them to engage more with the content.
Hypothesis #2: Landmarks for Branding
Buildings, especially iconic ones, can serve as recognizable landmarks. When consistently featured in content, they can become synonymous with a brand’s identity. Think of how the Eiffel Tower is instantly associated with Paris or how the Golden Gate Bridge is emblematic of San Francisco. By leveraging such powerful symbols, brands can create a strong visual identity that resonates with their audience.
Here are two examples of buildings that Comerica Bank holds near and dear to their heart. Their newest construction, known as Business HQ, and the Comerica Tower, both located in Dallas, TX, are pinnacle examples of how companies can use buildings as part of their brand image.
Hypothesis #3: A Sense of Geography and Relatability
Buildings inherently convey a sense of place. Whether it’s a skyscraper in New York or a historic building in Texas, they ground content in a specific geography. This can foster a sense of relatability, especially among local audiences. For instance, this photo of the Comerica Tower amongst the Dallas, TX, skyline, may have resonated with our local audience and given them a sense of pride, ultimately making them more likely to engage with it.
While the exact reasons behind the success of building imagery in content marketing might remain a subject of debate, the numbers are clear: they work. Whether it’s their rarity, their branding potential, or their geographical significance, buildings have carved a niche for themselves in the content landscape.
Brands looking to boost their engagement and impressions might consider incorporating more architectural imagery into their content strategy. After all, in the world of content marketing, it’s all about building connections “ and what better way to do that than with buildings?
Break the monotony; let Random get your audience engaged! Contact us to learn more about how we can transform your social media.
