A picture is worth a thousand words. Or in other words that complex idea you are trying to explain to your reader in several detailed sentences can actually be better clarified with one single picture. There are many advantages of visual communication, and that’s why visual communication, which is the earliest method of communication used by humans (since prehistoric times!), is still prevailing as one of the most effective forms of sharing information.
Every day we see and we use visual communication to deliver our ideas to others, at school, at work or at home. The use of images on newspapers, blog articles and social media or charts, diagrams and graphs on presentations are some examples of visual means we come across and use to share information in our day-to-day life.
Visual communication, which is based on the use of visual elements, such as drawings, illustrations and electronic images, certainly has made it easy for us to explain, understand and remember/memorize information that is important to us.
Likewise, sometimes without the help of any visual means, we tend to take time, if not fail, to digest facts, which is basically why visual learning (presentations and videos) are replacing the traditional methods of textbooks and whiteboards in our educational institutes.
Here is why visual communication is and will remain effective (for many years to come);
Deliver information more directly
Some information, such as statistics, is always better conveyed in a picture than verbally explained. For an example, take a look a the following organizational chart. In a glance you can identify the poor performers, future hires and people who’ve worked for more than 1 year. Imaging doing this using text and you’ll realize the power of visual communication.
Identify poor performers and future hires in a glance (Click on the template image to edit it online)
The audience would not only understand the information instantly and far more clearly, but it would also let the presenter make his/her point rather easily. Using visual aid will allow you to illustrate a complex idea in dynamic ways.
You can effortlessly generate an org chart like the one above using our org chart tool. Or you can directly use that diagram by clicking this link.
More flexible than verbal communication
Like I mentioned at the beginning of the post, a single picture can convey an idea that would take several sentences if you had to describe it in words. Moreover, an image makes sense to everybody despite cultural, geographical, ethnic or language differences among people.
For an example, if you are promoting your product or service among an audience which is spread across different geographical areas and speak different languages, an image could convey your message far more effectively than in any form of verbal communication; especially since visual images do not pose any language or cultural barriers. Therefore, using visual communication would allow you to deliver the message more persuasively to the diverse audiences.
More attention-grabbing and engaging
People only tend to remember 10% of what they hear and 20% of what they read. However, they actually tend to remember 80% of what they see. This is why most of us use the visual aid to express ideas or share information.
For an example, if a blog post only consisted of long paragraphs of details, the reader would lose her interest and abandon reading altogether. However, with a couple of relevant images, the attention of the reader can be won and retained successfully. Likewise, with diagrams and charts, you can elaborate the information you want to convey in a much more appealing and engaging manner.
Makes an impact on the audience
If you want to spark a response in or stir the emotions of the members of your audience, using visual communication is the guaranteed way to do so. An image has a higher chance of evoking an emotional response in a person than a set of words, written or spoken.
For an example, in a newspaper ad campaign, using a set of consistent images to accompany the text will generate a far more positive response from the target market. With the right image, you could make a great influence in terms of brand building.
Increase the credibility of your message
“Seeing is believing”. An image, a video or a graph is not just a way to get the attention of your audience, but it is also a way to win their trust. A couple of catchy sentences about your brand will get your target market to look your way, but a nice image or an interesting video of your product and service would guarantee a positive response from your audience and help you earn their trust; for, an image could reinforce the credibility of what you represent or the idea, product, service etc. that you are trying to promote.
Any more advantages of visual communication ?
These benefits are the reasons why you should always incorporate visual communication when you are trying to make a point, at work or to a friend. You can utilize it when you are trying to pitch in an idea for your company’s product development team or when you are trying to prove to your friend that you saw Beyonce last night at the restaurant you had dinner from!
Visual communication is truly a powerful tool you can use when you are trying to make a point!