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Want to hear some pretty staggering stats? 

• Posting content with images can result in 650 percent more engagement than posts that only have text. Think about that: – 650 percent!
  
  
• Posts that include videos typically attract three times more links than the wordy-text-only versions. 
  
  
• Consumers are 85 percent more likely to purchase something after watching a product video. 

So if you're the type who believes visual content doesn't matter, or that it's not worth the money you'll invest in creating it, I urge you to read on, because if you're not taking advantage of all that visual content has to offer you (and your brand), you're missing out on a huge opportunity. In fact, according to HubSpot, infographics are shared three times more often than any other form of content. 

On that note, let's check out the top five infographics we saw in June. 

If you're into inbound marketing even just a little bit, you should know the name Tom Fishburne. Founder and CEO of Marketoonist, which parodies the world of marketing in the form of comics, Tom delights with his creative take on various marketing ideologies and subtopics.

But of my many favorite Fishburne-isms, it's something he says in a recent CustomerThink interview that rings truest of all for me:

"The best marketing doesn't feel like marketing"

I couldn't agree more. In a world of research-at-our-fingertips and Google-searches-galore, consumers are savvier than ever. In-authenticity reeks, and brands that aren't true to their mission (or those who haven't taken the time to explore what their mission actually is) are going to have an increasingly harder time finding marketing that works.

Worse? Those same savvy consumers are also unforgiving. Making the wrong move with your inbound strategy could just mean the death of your brand. Don't get me wrong, we all make honest mistakes, and the brands who make them (and get caught), if they're smart, will own up and charge forward. But the brands who think they can scheme their way into the hearts and wallets of their consumers are in for a rude awakening. 

Marketing, inbound marketing, is about taking the time to:

• Understand your audience
• Think about how you can help them
• Figure out what problem you'll solve
• Create content that speaks to them
• Publish on a dependable schedule 

Infographics are an engaging, easy way to spread your wealth of knowledge and cement your place as a thought leader in your industry. They're bright, visual, eye-catching...everything you've been looking for when it comes to a fresh way to share content. Frankly, we love them. Check out our faves from the month of May 2018. 

1. Six Important Points About the State of B2B Content Marketing [Infographic] (MarketingProfs)
   Most B2B companies are finally on board in terms of knowing they need to use content marketing as a strategic, warranted part of their marketing efforts, but many still aren’t quite sure what works best in the world of content. This infographic breaks it down plain and simple – everything from the roles different content formats play, to the impact on lead generation, to planning for success - if you’re a B2B with questions, this infographic’s got you covered.
   
   

2. How to Enhance Your Content by Building Infographics with These 12 Tools (QuickSprout)
   Love the idea of infographics, but aren’t sure where to start? Feel like the cat’s got your design tongue? With any one of these 12 tools, you'll run out of excuses on why you aren’t creating infographics faster than you can say…well…infographic. A dozen cool (and even some free) easy-to-use tools that will let you say “adios, designer” and start making award-worthy graphics any time the inspiration strikes. 

There's no denying that in today's digital age, brand marketing and content go hand in hand. After all, content is king...

But remember, content can include all of the following:

• pages on your website
• blog posts
• social media posts
• premium downloadables
• apps
• games
• videos
• much, much more

Viral content is different than any other form of marketing content. It's in a category of its own. I see it as the sardonic hipster teenager of the family who doesn’t study but somehow aces all of his tests, and is constantly pontificating about some profound realization that just occurred to him.

So why is this kid so popular? Why is he so successful? Flair Interactive provided some helpful thoughts on what makes content go viral back in October 2009. Now six years later, here are some additional thoughts on what makes viral tick and stick. Viral content tends to:

• Give readers a sense of identity
• Fuel readers' egos
• Create connections
• Promote causes
• Entertain or amuse readers

After a hectic work week, it’s easy to feel a little loopy. But how about a little crazy, as coined by Jim Metcalf (see quote below)?

As marketers, we’re inherently split in multiple directions. We’re natural dichotomies. We work quickly but with precision. We work strategically and hands on. We work collaboratively and independently. But most importantly—we’re creative with an inherent drive for results.

This natural inclination to bend the rules just enough within structured environments, and think outside of unorthodox confines in order to get results is, in fact, what makes us marketers. So in this instance, “a little crazy”, , seems oddly appropriate.

In celebration of our sensible insanity, here are some viral marketing videos that truly accentuate our eccentricity.

Joe Chernov, VP of Marketing at InsightSquared tells us (through the adjacent quote) to make the customers feel smart. And it makes perfect sense.

Freud’s psychoanalytic theory of personality tells us that the human psyche is structured into three parts—id, ego, and superego. How we think, feel, and behave are all a by-product of these three forces working together.

Since our everyday lives are impacted by the inner-workings of this complicated ensemble, it only makes sense that really great marketing and advertising taps into this powerful trio. Appealing to customers' egos and ultimately making them feel good about themselves continues as a solid marketing strategy.

So let’s take a look at some examples of how companies succeeded by listening to Joe and Freud: