Visual content is an essential method of capturing the attention of your audience. With most networking platforms utilizing video marketing strategies, staying up-to-date with video trends is crucial.
Some video content on its own may not cut it if you want to make memorable and eye-catching posts, but there are ways you can improve your video posts and make them as compelling as possible. Of course, different target audiences will connect and relate to different messages, but here are some universal measures you can take to make your videos pop.
1. Make It Unique
Consumers have a world of options at their fingertips, whether for entertainment, news, fashion, etc. To catch their attention, make your content unique to your business, but most importantly, your brand.
Today's most popular brands have a particular signature or style that is immediately recognizable. One way you can do this for your brand is through customized merchandise.
Many believe the product design industry is complicated and long-winded when it's easy. Companies such as The/Studio let you create designs from the comfort of the sofa on your phone.
Here's where your video content comes into play. Marketing your new merchandise via video is a great way to promote the brand and visually show your audience its unique side.
2. Ensure Your Images Represent Your Audience
While images can say a thousand words in one post, that's not to say each of your audience members will receive the same message. Those users who don't feel represented in the videos you publish may not connect with the intended message or relate to it in the way you wanted.
You must keep in mind the importance of diversity in your visual stories. Diversity doesn't need to become the main narrative, but by normalizing representation, it will become a standard part of the creative process.
Maryville University states within its guide to diversity that when people recognize themselves within your messages and content, they're more likely to respond. So, diversify your marketing content for the best results.
3. Utilize Fan Work
Because your audience is already taking selfies and filming content, why not use their work?
Instead of having your content interrupt your audiences, you could utilize the videos they're currently publishing. By including their creative work in your marketing campaign, fans will enjoy seeing their faces represent the brand.
Not only will they advertise for you, but they can also communicate news and special offers without you publishing your content.
Teen Vogue has an account of how Abercrombie and Fitch revitalized their brand using fan content on TikTok. One fan video received over 1 million views! Make fan work work to your advantage.
Stand Out
You can make your content fresh and exciting in three simple ways. If consumers can relate and interact with your visual stories or other audience members, your content will become memorable and engaging.
Make it routine to include diversity, keep true to your brand, and involve your fans in the process.
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Why most people get the visual hierarchy wrong (and what to do instead)
I've reviewed hundreds of content pieces from businesses trying to stand out visually, and here's what I see repeatedly: they cram too much into a single frame and call it "engaging." Then they're shocked when engagement tanks.
The real issue is that standing out isn't about adding more elements. It's about removing the noise so one thing grabs attention first. Most content creators confuse visual interest with visual clarity. Those are opposites.
Let me walk you through how this works in practice. Say you're designing a social media post. You've got your headline, a supporting line of text, your product image, a logo, maybe some decorative elements. Your instinct is to balance everything equally across the space so nothing feels left out. Wrong move. That's visual democracy, and it kills impact.
What works is visual hierarchy through contrast. One element should dominate. Everything else should support it, not compete with it. In 2026, the brands getting traction aren't the ones with the prettiest layouts. They're the ones with the clearest focal point.
Here's a concrete example from a campaign I consulted on last year. A fitness brand was posting workout progress photos with equal weight given to the before/after comparison, testimonial text, and their branding. The post was busy. Click-through rates were 0.8%. We rebuilt it by making the after photo massive (it took up 70% of the visual space), pushed the testimonial to a single line overlay, and moved the logo to a corner. Same information, drastically different impact. Rates jumped to 2.4%.
The second mistake I see is ignoring your platform's specific constraints. A visual that works on Instagram Stories dies on LinkedIn. Aspect ratios matter more than people admit. So does color vibrancy. Stories platforms compress files differently than feed posts. LinkedIn's algorithm favors less saturated, more "professional" aesthetics.
If you're creating one visual and distributing it across platforms, you're already behind. You need versions. Not massive rewrites. Just adjustments: crop for Stories, add more breathing room for LinkedIn, increase contrast slightly for email where space is tighter.
The third practical thing most teams miss is testing one variable at a time. You change the color, the text size, and the image simultaneously, then wonder which change moved the needle. That's not testing. That's guessing. Pick one thing. Change it. Measure. Then move to the next element.
Visual content that stands out does so because someone made deliberate choices about what matters most in that frame, matched those choices to the platform, and then tested assumptions rather than relying on what "looks nice."
More questions
How much should I focus on trending visual styles vs. staying consistent with my brand?
Consistency wins. A trending filter that doesn't match your brand voice will confuse your audience faster than it will impress them. You can incorporate trend elements at the margins (a specific color palette, font style) without compromising recognition. Brands that jump between trending aesthetics every quarter look desperate. The ones that stay visually recognizable for years are the ones people remember.
What file format should I use for different platforms to avoid quality loss?
PNG for anything with transparency or graphics, JPEG for photographs (quality setting 85% is your sweet spot for size versus clarity). WebP if your platform supports it because it's smaller. Always export at the platform's recommended dimensions before uploading. Scaling down after upload leads to compression artifacts. Also check your platform's file size limits. Facebook is ruthless with compression on anything over 8MB.
Should I use animations or stick with static images?
Animations get higher click rates in testing, but only if they're subtle. A bouncing element or a slow reveal adds interest. A spinning logo or flashing text looks cheap and trains people to ignore your content. If animation serves the message (showing a process, revealing a benefit) use it. If it's decoration, skip it. Static, high-contrast imagery will outperform clunky motion every time.
