Should you use visual tools in business?

Visual tools have become an indispensable part of business communication in recent years, providing organizations with a powerful way to convey complex ideas and data in a clear and compelling manner. Whether you need to present a business roadmap, explain a complex concept through data visualization, or bring a product to life with animation or explainer videos, visual tools can help you to communicate your message more effectively and efficiently.

According to a report by Cisco [1], by 2022, online videos will make up more than 82% of all consumer internet traffic. Similarly, a study by Wyzowl [2] found that 81% of businesses use video as a marketing tool, and 99% of those who use video plan to continue doing so in the future. These statistics demonstrate the growing importance of visual communication in business and the need to adopt visual tools and formats to remain competitive.

BENEFITS OF VISUAL TOOLS IN BUSINESS

One of the key benefits of using visual tools in business communication is increased engagement. A study by Forbes Insights [3] found that 65% of senior executives believe that visuals such as photos, videos, illustrations, and infographics are core to how their brand story is communicated, and 54% of marketers believe that visual content is a key strategy for their business. By incorporating visuals such as infographics, charts, diagrams, and videos, you can make your message more engaging and memorable, which can help to improve your business's brand recognition and awareness.

Another advantage of using visual tools in business communication is improved clarity and understanding. Visuals can help to simplify complex information and make it easier to understand. A report by the Social Science Research Network [4] found that articles with visual elements receive 94% more views than articles without visuals, and press releases with visual elements receive 45% more views than those without. By using visual tools such as data visualizations, rich pictures, or visual roadmaps, you can present information in a way that is accessible and easy to comprehend.

Visual tools can also be a great way to spark creativity and inspire new ideas. By using visual tools such as mind maps or visual collaboration software, you can encourage your team to think outside of the box and come up with innovative solutions to problems. This can help to drive business growth and innovation, which can be critical for staying ahead of the competition.

In addition, using visual tools can help to provide a competitive advantage. By incorporating visuals into your business communication, you can differentiate yourself from competitors who may not be using visuals in the same way. A study by HubSpot [5] found that blog posts with a word count between 2,250 and 2,500 words receive the most organic traffic, and blog posts that are over 2,500 words receive the most backlinks. By creating longer blog posts that incorporate visuals, businesses can improve their search engine optimization (SEO) and drive more traffic to their site.

SUMMARY

Overall, the benefits of using visual tools in business communication are clear. By incorporating visual tools into your communication strategy, you can improve engagement, clarity, creativity, and competitiveness. Whether you are presenting data to stakeholders, explaining a complex concept to clients, or inspiring your team, visual tools can make a huge impact on your business, have that WOW effect you're looking for and become a talking point for weeks and months.