What do you remember about your favorite brand? Chances are, it's a color, a logo, a look—that’s visual marketing at work. In this episode of Rocky Mountain Marketing, I’m joined by Jim MacLeod, designer-turned-marketer and author of The Visual Marketer. We dive into the power of branding visuals, how to use them effectively even if you’re not a designer, and what AI means for the future of brand identity.

Key Takeaways:

1. How design impacts brand trust and sales

2. The difference between visual branding and brand strategy

3. Why consistency is the most powerful brand asset

4. How small businesses can compete visually with the big brands

5. Ethical considerations in AI-generated visuals

6. Tools that marketers can use (without going to design school)

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Visual Marketing

01:12 Meet Jim MacLeod: Designer Turned Marketer

02:11 The Journey from Design to Marketing

05:00 The Science of Visuals in Branding

07:04 Practical Tips for Creating Memorable Visuals

11:56 AI's Impact on Design and Marketing

14:58 Tools and Techniques for Non-Designers

17:26 Ethical Considerations in AI and Design

18:11 Future of Design in the Age of AI

21:57 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Grab Jim MacLeod’s new book The Visual Marketer at visualmarketer.co and start creating design-led content that actually connects. Follow Jim on LinkedIn for more branding tips, or reach out to build a visual identity that sets you apart.

Sign Up with Metricool today!

https://metricool.com/katie?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=20250520_katie-brinkley_rmm-jim-mcleod_en&utm_content=youtube&utm_term=q2

Visit Jim MacLeod's social media pages:

Website: https://book.jimmacleod.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmacleod/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmacleod/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimMacLeod

Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social Communications:

Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/

Website: https://www.nextstepsocialcommunications.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/@rockymountainmarketing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/socialprofitlab

#VisualMarketing #BrandStrategy #AIInDesign #RockyMountainMarketing #JimMcLeod #KatieBrinkley #BrandIdentity

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.