Visual Storytelling Trends & Examples: Pinterest & Instagram

You are likely already exposed to visual storytelling trends all around you. So from billboards to movie posters, let’s take a step back and consider how visual storytelling trends are being used on some of the applications you know and love, Pinterest and Instagram.

Visual Storytelling with Pinterest

Pinterest uses visual storytelling to attract users to your articles, brand, or services. Users can pin your images and videos, browse your boards, and search for your content, increasing the potential to reach your ideal client multi-fold.

Through Pinterest, a single pin can serve as the start of a customer’s journey with you. And believe it or not, sometimes, a simple, catchy visual coupled with an enticing written caption is all it takes.

Keep in mind that on Pinterest, SEO is driven by titles (up to 100 characters) and written descriptions (up to 500 characters), so you will need to flex your writing skills and make your titles and descriptions relevant and enticing.

Here are some of the visuals being used to tell stories on Pinterest:

Photos of products – tell the story of how your products are being used or provide a glimpse into your services;
Infographics – an excellent way to share data, statistics or information;
Recipes (with photos) – Provide a visual of the final product;
Title graphics for articles or webpages –help people find you through a quick search, and use an appealing visual to set yourself apart from the competition;
Transformation photos – show the results of your products/services.

Visual Storytelling with Instagram

Instagram started as a photo-sharing application with cute filters and hashtags but has since evolved to become a visual storytelling machine.

You can still share images but now also have access to a variety of visual tools which can be used to share relatable, educational, and valuable content with your audience in a way that is enjoyable and engaging.

With a limit of 2,200 characters, Instagram captions are the perfect place to share your written story, tips, or anecdotes with your audience. But, of course, your ideal clients and loyal followers will go beyond the visual and read these to understand better who you are – drinking every word you have to share.

So, of course, hashtags matter too – they can help you get featured and easily be searched by your ideal client. Just make sure you’re using ones that are relevant to you and your brand (otherwise, what’s the point?)

Some of the visuals currently being used on Instagram include:

Static Posts (Photos, Quotes, etc.) – to share a moment in time or a few meaningful words;
Carousels – to share tips or a list in a visual format; people are more likely to read what you have to share when it is presented in a bite-sized chunk;
Video content (Reels, long-form, lives) – to connect with your audience and demonstrate products/services in action;
Stories – a place to share daily visual insights.

Couple your visuals with stellar written content – a strong opening statement and a powerful call to action are essential.

Remember that Instagram is a social app; don’t be too salesy with your written text. Instead, aim to connect with your audience and offer your support/services where it resonates with them.

—–

Just like storytelling, the features of these applications are constantly evolving, so be sure to stay on top of the latest visual storytelling trends.

Want to create more meaningful content? Then, check out the Mindful Media Content Kit to easily be equipped with the tools you need to post for the next 12 months.