Digital cameras and mobile camera phones have developed over the years, allowing us to snap shots and capture memories as they happen. Long gone are the days when taking pictures and processing them required a photo lab and days of waiting. Today, one can take a shot and share it to the world through social media. This is very helpful considering the growing success of social media sites which thrive not only on compelling but also visually appealing content.
Posting photos or images is a proven way to stir engagement. However, it doesn’t always translate to successful social engagement especially when the images look plain, ordinary … boring. To achieve engagement, there are tools that can help you enhance your images. The best part, these tools are available online for free and work like magic, even if you don’t have superb photo skills.
Here are some of the top picks
Pixlr.com: This is a perfect basic editing tool that lets you quickly crop, re-size, rotate, and fix any picture, and remove red-eye features. It is very easy to use and has over 600 visual effects you can choose from to achieve the feel that you want to evoke in your photos.
PicMonkey: This is another easy to use photo editing tool that provides basic filters that you can choose from. Those who are not familiar with photography terminology don’t have to worry because these are clearly marked and explained. The navigations aren’t complicated either. A few hours with this tool and photo sharing will be a breeze.
FotoFlexer: Those who love fancy visual images will have a field day with this photo editing tool. Apart from the basic editing tools, FotoFlexer allows you to add animation clips to your images with its animation tab. What’s even better is that it allows you to import photos from your computer and other photo hosting sites – Photobucket, Flickr, Picasa, and MySpace among others. Turn your photos into fun ones with all the effects that you can apply.
Quozio or ShareasImage: If you have a favorite quote that you’d like to share and would like to generate more responses, this tool can help you. All you need to do is to type your favorite quote and Quozio will provide with several backgrounds that will suit your taste.
PicMarkr: Sharing your photos online doesn’t mean that you do not have copyright over the images you’ve created. Ensure copyright protection by using this tool. PicMarkr allows you to watermark your images and it also allows you to put captions in your photos. It’s a great way to personalize your photos.
Infogr.am: Presenting your data doesn’t have to be boring. To catch the attention of your audience, use an infographic to show statistics and otherwise dense data in colorful, trendy ways.
Vizify: Showcase the best photos from your social media sites by using this tool. Simply plug-in your social media sites and this tool will create an interactive infographic.
Have you tried any of these tools? We would love to hear your experiences with it too.
Author:
Maria Elena Duron, is managing editor of the Personal Branding Blog, CEO (chief engagement officer) of buzz2bucks– a word of mouth marketing firm, and a professional speaker and trainer on developing social networks that work. She provides workshops, webinars, seminars and direct services that help create conversation, connection, credibility, community and commerce around your brand. Maria Duron is founder and moderator of #brandchat – a weekly Twitter chat focused on every aspect of branding that is recognized by Mashable as one the 15 Essential Twitter Chats for Social Media Marketers.
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