By Janette Speyer, Web Success Team –– 

Selfies have become all the rage in 2013. They even have a place in our society with a reference in the Oxford Dictionary as the international word of the year.

You probably know what a selfie is by now, but just in case you have never heard of such a thing. Here is how it appears in the Dictionary:

“A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smart phone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website” ~ Oxford Dictionary

The reason behind all this selfie appeal according to Wikipedia is that they are easy to control, share and create. And with the advent of Social Networking and now during this holiday season you now can get friendly with your audience.

You mean my brand can have a selfie?

Glad you asked. Branding means to put your best foot forward and show your audience who you are and what you have to offer. So why would this not be a great opportunity to take brand selfies?

There are many ways to take instant pictures of your products in use. Not only is this recommended for Social Media, but it also presents your company with an opportunity to position your brand as a “must have” to your audience. During the holidays, shoppers take to the Internet to get suggestions and ideas for their seasonal shopping.

This holiday season “Selfie-up” your social profiles

Get up close and personal with your handheld device and snap away. Take spontaneous pictures of your product in action. Don’t be afraid to get a little humor into the action. Here are some suggestions:

1. Product selfie in use #DIY: For example if you have a cooking product take a snapshot with a delicious dish alongside. Make sure it looks homey and friendly so that your audience can relate and feel connected.
2. Friendly face: A friendly face with your product in hand is the best endorsement especially is that person has many friends. Enlist your brand ambassadors to do selfies with your product.
3. Meme messages: Take advantage of the holiday season to take selfies with a holiday message.
4. Coupons, offers and sales: The selfie has legs with this one. Self photograph those products and make them it look like a friendly recommendation and share away.

Concluding with a tidbit of psychology

According to a study performed by Nicola Bruno and Marco Bertamini at the University of Parma, selfies by non-professional photographers show a slight bias for showing the left cheek of the selfie-taker. This is similar to what has been observed for portraits by professional painters from many different historical periods and styles. So remember to find the best side of your product or as selfie and branding expert Kim Kardashian explains in this article: “Your phone should always be a little bit higher than lower … and know your angle.”

Happy snapping!

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