Tips for Lifestyle Brands to Make the Most of Visual Social Media

Intro

Visual social media — think videos, reels, images, and stories — is about far more than viral dance challenges and trendy skincare routines. It’s how lifestyle brands form real emotional connections with their audiences.

The results speak for themselves: over 83% of marketers say at least 20% of their content now includes visuals because they drive engagement and boost sales like nothing else. But social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok are constantly changing — new features, algorithm tweaks, trending content types, you name it. So, to keep up and stay visible, brands need to create fresh content that connects with their audiences meaningfully.

The good news? There are ways to cut through the noise.

Tell Your Brand's Story

Storytelling elevates your brand beyond product promotion, turning it into a relatable and value-driven entity.

Here’s how:

• Show your human side: Personal stories or behind-the-scenes glimpses bring your brand to life. These genuine moments build trust and make your brand relatable.
• Spark emotional connections: Share stories that resonate, whether it’s a milestone you’re proud of or a cause that aligns with your brand values. These are the moments that fuel loyalty.
• Highlight product value: Demonstrate how your products or services solve specific challenges or enhance your customer's lives. For instance, imagine a shopper who used your sustainable yoga mat to create a calming, eco-friendly space for their home practice. Share visual content to communicate how it helped them stick to their wellness routine while supporting their values of sustainability.

Compelling storytelling is about showing the difference your products make, not just listing features.

Dove’s #TheFaceOf10 campaign is a shining example of how storytelling rooted in a business's values fuels brand loyalty.

Instead of launching a generic product campaign, Dove used its social platforms to address an important issue: protecting young girls from the pressures of anti-aging skincare messaging. On TikTok and Instagram, Dove shared relatable and authentic content using the hashtag #TheFaceOf10. These engaging videos sparked conversations around harmful beauty standards, encouraging audiences to focus on self-acceptance.

Beyond just awareness, Dove also provided practical resources like The Gen A Skincare Talk, offering parents and educators tools to support young girls in navigating these pressures. The campaign’s impact was amplified by Drew Barrymore, whose relatable and warm persona resonated with families and young audiences, reinforcing the sincerity of Dove’s message.

Source

Dove’s #TheFaceOf10 campaign highlights storytelling's power to reinforce a brand’s values and foster meaningful engagement. However, storytelling doesn’t have to be limited to one-off campaigns.

Serialized content on platforms like Instagram Stories or TikTok ramps things up a notch by offering short, episodic videos and visuals that grab attention and keep people coming back for more. This approach lets brands mix behind-the-scenes moments with fun or informative content, creating a story that builds a stronger connection with their audience.

To keep this narrative consistent and engaging, tools like Later or Planoly can help maintain a clear story arc. For example, a series like "Meet the Makers" could spotlight the artisans or creators behind your products, giving audiences a closer look at the people that define your brand.

Boost Brand Recognition with Consistent Visuals

When your visuals' lighting, filters, and colors align with your brand's ethos, they work together to tell a cohesive story that reinforces your identity. For example, nature-inspired tones and soft lighting might communicate a wellness-focused aesthetic, while bold colors and sharp contrasts could signal energy and innovation.

Alo Yoga, a premium lifestyle and activewear brand, is a prime example of how a refined visual identity can strengthen brand messaging. Their social content consistently combines studio lighting, natural tones, and high-profile ambassadors like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, perfectly reflecting their wellness-driven aesthetic. Through campaigns like "Move Into Wellness," Alo Yoga uses aspirational, polished visuals to elevate its premium brand persona, building stronger connections with its audience and solidifying its position as a leader in the wellness and lifestyle niches.

To achieve the level of technical and aesthetic consistency seen in successful campaigns, tools like Facetune can play a pivotal role. Here’s how:

• Refine your visuals: Use precision editing to improve lighting, adjust details, and apply filters that align with your brand’s identity, ensuring every image is polished.
• Highlight key details: Focus on subtle elements like manicures or accessories using Facetune’s nail tool, elevating the visual narrative and enhancing the overall appeal of your product presentation.

Source

• Optimize content creation: Effortlessly produce multiple versions of the same visual to suit seasonal campaigns, helping maintain a consistent flow of fresh, high-quality content that appeals to both your audience and social media algorithms.

Keep Videos Short and Sweet

Short-form videos dominate social media because they capture attention quickly and have a high potential for virality.

To make the most of this format, here are three effective video types to consider:

• Tutorials: Quick, visually engaging how-tos are perfect for showcasing product features or offering tips in under 30 seconds. For example, a lifestyle brand could demonstrate a simple skincare routine using its products, featuring step-by-step instructions and text overlays to guide the audience.
• Mini-vlogs: Relatable, day-in-the-life snippets or behind-the-scenes moments help humanize your brand and build emotional connections with your audience. For instance, a wellness brand might document a yoga instructor’s morning routine, pairing calming visuals with inspiring captions to resonate with viewers.
• Interactive Q&As: Instagram Reels and TikTok are great for answering FAQs in a fun and interactive way. They make connecting and having actual conversations with your audience easy, which is great for building rapport. For example, a fitness brand could answer common questions about proper form during workouts and show how to do the exercises, making it both informative and engaging for the audience.

Tools like InShot are incredibly useful for creating polished short-form videos. It offers features like trimming, text overlays, and music to help you produce a steady flow of professional-quality content for your socials.

Create Buzz With Shareable User-Generated Content

User-generated content (UGC) isn’t just popular; it’s a proven and effective strategy. Research shows that 40% of online shoppers prefer visually engaging elements like UGC, making it a vital tool for lifestyle brands.

Why does UGC matter?

• Authenticity: UGC showcases real customers using your products, making your brand more relatable and trustworthy.
• Social Proof: Positive experiences shared by others inspire confidence. In fact, 74% of consumers report that positive reviews boost their trust in a company.

A great example of UGC in action is Sephora’s #SephoraSquad campaign. This year-long ambassador program, launched in 2019, brings together beauty influencers to champion authenticity and inclusivity.

By 2023, the initiative included 68 ambassadors who created over 6,000 pieces of original content, reaching an audience of more than 200 million people. Sephora fostered a sense of community through relatable and diverse voices while significantly boosting their visibility and social engagement.

Source

Managing large-scale UGC efforts like Sephora’s might only be relevant for established global brands, but tools like Flockler’s UGC Rights Management simplify the process, allowing smaller brands to replicate the strategy to a certain degree. Flockler helps brands gather, organize, and secure permissions for content, ensuring compliance while freeing up time to focus on storytelling.

With the right tools, brands can use UGC to build deeper connections and tell compelling stories that resonate with their audience.

Are You Ready to Make the Most of Visual Social Media?

Now that you have the tools and strategies to elevate your visual marketing, it’s time to take action and boost your lifestyle brand’s presence on social media. We’d love to hear how you’re applying these tips — share your results or questions in the comments below, and let's continue the conversation!