Engineering Visual Storytelling: How To Use Visuals To Showcase Civil Engineering
Visual storytelling is a valuable tool that can help civil engineering companies communicate their stories to their clients, stakeholders, and the public.
With the rise of digital media and the need for engaging content, it’s essential to consider incorporating visual storytelling into their marketing strategy. By using captivating visuals and narratives, engineers can create a more engaging and memorable experience for their audience, helping to build trust and understanding.
… a team of neuroscientists from MIT has found that the human brain can process entire images that the eye sees for as little as 13 milliseconds1…
Our brains are more attuned to images and videos, making visual content an effective tool for communicating your message as a standout company.
In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of visual storytelling for civil engineering companies and provide ten actionable listicles that can help elevate their marketing efforts.
The Benefits of Visual Storytelling for Civil Engineering Companies
Visual storytelling has become an essential tool for civil engineering companies to establish their brand identity, engage with their online audience, and communicate their message.
By creating mesmerizing visuals that showcase their expertise, civil engineering companies can differentiate themselves from the competition, attract new customers, and build trust with their stakeholders on digital storytelling platforms.
Here are 10 benefits of visual storytelling for civil engineering companies:
1. Enhances brand recognition
Visual storytelling helps civil engineering companies stand out in a crowded marketplace by creating a visual identity that resonates with their target audience. By using consistent branding elements such as color schemes, logos, and visual styles, civil engineering companies can create a memorable and recognizable brand that reinforces their message and values. With the help of social media as a digital storytelling platform, you can gain more exposure and attract new customers interested in civil engineering projects.
Example: Autodesk, a leading software company for civil engineering design, uses a consistent visual communication style across all its marketing materials to reinforce its brand identity and establish trust with its audience.
2. Simplifies complex concepts
Civil engineering projects often involve complex technical concepts that can be difficult for non-experts to understand. Visual storytelling can help simplify these concepts by using informational infographics, diagrams, and other visual aids to illustrate key points and processes in a clear and concise manner. Using visual storytelling techniques helps to make it easier for clients to understand their expertise.
Example: Bentley Systems, a software company that provides solutions for civil engineering projects, uses interactive 3D models to exhibit how their products work and simplify complex engineering concepts. Their “Infrastructure Innovations” playlist on YouTube shows the value of technology in complex civil engineering problems and how their technology can improve people’s lives. That’s what I mean about being helpful and relevant!
3. Increases engagement
Visual content is shared 40 times more often than other types of content on social media. Isn’t that amazing?
Humans process visual information faster and remember it better. By using visuals in their marketing material, such as images, videos, and animations, civil engineering companies can capture the attention of their audience and keep them engaged with their message.
Example: Civil Engineering company Gilbane uses high-quality images showcasing their projects, their values, and their events. Their number of followers should be a testament to why people love to follow them on Twitter. They have 26K followers and counting.
4. Promotes social sharing
Visual content is more likely to be shared on social media than textual content, as it is more eye-catching and shareable. By creating visually appealing content that resonates with their audience, civil engineering companies can increase their reach and exposure to these modern storytelling platforms.
Example: Civil engineering company Arup uses stunning visuals and informative captions to showcase their projects and promote them on social media. Their Instagram account has over 100k followers and features a variety of projects from around the world.
Use visual storytelling techniques for your social media content to give a lease on life to your static web content. It is easier to share and use as a means of engagement, brand recognition, and traffic back to your site when complemented with a compelling copy.
5. Helps build authority
By creating informative and educational visuals, civil engineering companies can establish themselves as thought leaders in their industry. Visual content such as whitepapers, case studies, and research reports can position civil engineering companies as experts in their field and help build trust with their audience.
Example: Civil engineering company HDR uses case studies and research reports to show their expertise and thought leadership in the industry. Their “Environmental Social Governance” report provides insights into how cities can become more sustainable and livable for their residents.
6. Improves web user experience
Visual storytelling can improve the user experience of a civil engineering company’s website by making it more visually appealing and easier to navigate. By using visuals such as graphics, icons, and animations, civil engineering companies can create a more engaging, intuitive, and immersive experience for their audience.
This can help keep visitors on your website longer, driving more leads and conversions. By creating visually appealing content that resonates with their audience, civil engineering companies can attract more visitors to their sites and increase their visibility online.
Example: Mott MacDonald has used a visually appealing website design that makes it easy for users to navigate and find the information they need. Their use of bold typography and striking imagery creates a memorable and engaging user experience.
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7. Demonstrate how you value safety protocols
In the world of civil engineering, safety is paramount. Whether you’re building a towering skyscraper or a simple bridge, ensuring the safety of your employees and clients is always at the forefront of your mind. And while you may have all the right protocols in place, it’s important to communicate those protocols effectively to all stakeholders.
That’s where visual storytelling comes in.
By using effective data visualization in your content on social media, you can efficiently exhibit your safety protocols to your clients, employees, and stakeholders. From photos of workers wearing the safety gear to videos showcasing proper procedures, visual storytelling can help you connect with your audience and ensure that they understand the importance of safety on your job site and how you value it as a company.
For example, you can showcase safety equipment in action. For example, you can create a video that shows how a safety harness works or how a hard hat can protect a worker from falling debris.
8. Showcase Expertise and Experience
Visual storytelling can be an effective way for civil engineering companies to showcase their expertise and experience and affect their future performance.
Visual content such as webinars, videos, and case studies can generate leads for civil engineering companies by providing valuable information and showing their expertise. By creating visually appealing and informative content that resonates with their target audience, civil engineering companies can attract new leads and grow their business.
Civil engineering companies can use visual storytelling to attract more opportunities for growth.
For instance, a civil engineering company can use before-and-after images of a project to show their problem-solving skills and the quality of their work. They could also use videos of their team in action, discussing projects, and giving a behind-the-scenes look at their work to provide a glimpse of their expertise and experience.
9. Increase Conversion Rates
Visual content such as webinars, videos, and case studies can generate leads for civil engineering companies by providing valuable information and displaying their expertise. By creating visually appealing and informative content that resonates with their target audience, civil engineering companies can attract new leads and grow their business.
Example: Civil engineering company Jacobs uses webinars and case studies to generate leads and promote their services. Their “In the kNOW” webinar provides valuable insights, “case studies and firsthand experiences with the featured topics presented by the foremost water industry experts.”
What I like about their content is that it is not gated, meaning they freely give it away to their audience without an email gate. How is that for building community and trust?
Also, their #WhatIf is something worth noting as well, demonstrating their expertise and experience.
10. Utilize the Power of People
Your team is the heart of your company, and by highlighting their personal stories, you can create an emotional connection with your audience.
Feature interviews, not just of your C-level executives, with team members and customer success stories on your website or social media channels. This will help potential customers, and also potential employees, get a better sense of who you are and what you do. Share their achievements, their struggles, and their passions.
Sharing your team’s stories builds an emotional connection and strengthens relationships.
When you spotlight people on your visual storytelling example stories, you’re also giving your audience a glimpse into your company culture. In highlighting your team’s personalities and values, and customer stories, you create a sense of community that resonates with your audience.
They’ll see that your company is more than just a business; it’s a group of people who care about each other and strive to make a difference in their community. Now that is what an expert storytelling team would leverage wisely.
10 Different Use Cases of Visual Storytelling for Civil Engineering Companies
There are many ways that civil engineering companies can use visuals to connect with their clients and illustrate the value of their work.
I can go on and on. But what I like to say is that your creativity is the limit when creating visual storytelling content for your construction engineering company!
Tips when using visual storytelling for your civil engineering company
Here’s a piece of storytelling advice to help your construction engineering company effectively use visual storytelling:
Diversify Your Civil Engineering Social Media Presence with Visual Storytelling
Today, social media has become a digital playground for businesses looking to broaden their customer base and reach their target audience. To make an impression in the highly competitive industry of civil engineering, it’s crucial to think outside the box and diversify your social media content. And there’s no better way to do it than by incorporating visual or perhaps cinematic storytelling.
To maximize the impact of your visual storytelling efforts, it’s important to have a comprehensive content marketing strategy. A strong content marketing strategy should include an effective plan for creating, distributing, and measuring your compelling content. An effective content marketing strategy will ensure that your visuals reach the right people in the right way and at the right time.
But creating social media content that draws in your audience and keeps them coming back for more is no easy feat. It takes skill, effort, and a deep understanding of your audience’s wants and needs. That’s where our team at Social Success Marketing ® comes in. Our experts are here to help you craft a social media strategy that’s tailored to your business goals and target audience.
Through effective storytelling and a strategic approach to social media, we can help you establish a stronger online presence and build meaningful relationships with potential customers. So if you’re ready to take your social media game to the next level, let Social Success Marketing help you achieve social media stardom in no time.
Source:
- Trafton, Anne. In the blink of an eye. January 16, 2014. Accessed April 06, 2023. https://news.mit.edu/2014/in-the-blink-of-an-eye-0116
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