Facebook marketing is as big as ever, and having the right cover photo on your page can attract more clients to your brand.
We realize that marketers often choose to focus on the bigger picture (think sales and conversion numbers). However, first impressions go a long way towards convincing customers to click on your Facebook page or open your YouTube video.
Social media marketing is about taking advantage of every little thing – design the right YouTube thumbnails, and uploading the right size images.
The cover photo (or Facebook banner) is the first thing your potential clients see when they visit your account.
We compiled some awesome ideas to inspire your next Facebook cover page design.
The Basics of Facebook Cover Photo Design
While it is important to note that not every type of business can benefit from the Facebook cover photo, the benefits of creating one are nonetheless incredible.
Here are just a few reasons why you should consider using a Facebook cover photo to help promote your brand:
- The content you include in the cover photo sets the tone of the page.
- A picture can tell a thousand words – an interesting design and an eye-catching photo are powerful combinations.
- If it doesn’t work, you are left with a blank canvas and you can try all over again.
A Facebook cover page is not the same as an official company website. The cover page is, in essence, a digital billboard where visitors see your brand at a glance.
It’s a small space, so you need to make the most out of the cover page design by including and aligning visual design elements.
An important part of this is the use of symbols.
Symbols are easily recognizable pieces of information (pictures, logos, and icons) that can be applied across your website and social media. They help you communicate in a simple, direct, and consistent way.
And take creative risks.
Don’t just stick to the classic, basic design styles. Experiment with different designs and themes and see what our consumers respond to best.
Here are some cover photo design basics you should know:
What is the Right Size for a Facebook Cover Photo?
It depends.
For desktop: 820 pixels wide and 312 pixels tall
For mobile: 640 pixels wide by 360 pixels tall
Why do these dimensions matter?
Because you cannot upload anything larger. And anything smaller will be stretched to fit and this might greatly affect the quality of the image.
Using an image with smaller dimensions is never advised. Facebook will stretch it out to at least 399 pixels wide and 150 pixels tall. This will make your cover photo appear blurry and visually unpleasant.
At this point, you may be thinking about why mobile optimization is important.
Well, nobody wants to waste time designing a cover photo that will not be displayed correctly. Besides, a blurry a poorly designed photo is a turn-off for your potential customers.
When you design your Facebook cover photo, it’s important to remember that customer engagement is critical, especially on mobile devices.
Chances are that over 80 percent of your current and potential consumers are accessing Facebook through their phones and not a desktop computer.
How to avoid distortion when resizing an image.
Guidelines for Facebook Cover Photos
Facebook makes it easy for you to upload or change your cover photo image with a step-by-step guide.
Their cover image guidelines specify that the photo should follow community guidelines and stay within the appropriate dimensions.
Facebook also encourages page admins to use unique images and experiment with their creativity. It helps to give your audience options and see what they respond to best.
Covers can’t be deceptive, misleading, or infringe on anyone else’s copyright.
How to Spot a GREAT Cover Photo for Facebook
You probably know what kind of look you’d like your Facebook page to have, but what’s that look like for the cover image?
Since it’s relatively easy to add a cover image to your Facebook page, many brands use basic photos or choose a theme and put a custom image on it.
The good news is that you can experiment with your cover photo design.
If you can’t afford to take that chance, however, you can always hire talented graphic and visual designers to revamp your cover image.
Keep the following in mind when designing a cover photo for Facebook:
Use your Brand’s Theme and Colors
Facebook users love getting to know who you are. And so do your potential customers – which is why your cover photo needs to match your company’s overall brand.
Facebook pages can be extremely effective when it comes to attracting new customers. A targeted Facebook group, for instance, can be a powerful tool for generating new leads.
However, it’s essential that you keep the branding consistent.
Your customers should recognize you at a glance.
A catchy image that represents your brand is key. You also want to choose a layout that’s aesthetically pleasing and makes sense for your brand’s theme.
Keep it Visual
Use minimal text, and keep it precise.
Your objective is to drive traffic to your Facebook page. Anything that takes away from that goal is a bad idea.
Using a lot of text on your cover photo takes up space and serves as little more than a visual distraction.
Pay attention to the layout, or the separation of the text and imagery, and how you structure each section.
Visual Balance
The profile picture and cover photo are two separate parts of your Facebook business page, and they all deserve the same amount of attention.
The profile picture sits on the left, and to visually balance the elements, cover photo designers often focus on the right side of the image.
The result is a visually appealing design that is well-balanced and easy to digest.
Here are two examples from LinkedIn and Samsung Facebook cover photos:
You will also notice that the cover photos blend well with the CTA buttons on the bottom right of the screen.
Simplicity
While your primary Facebook cover photo should include your brand name, it’s still important to have a feature photo for your brand.
The cover photo should not be a generic profile photo of your company, but one that clearly shows your brand in action and in some way adds value to your customers’ lives.
It’s impossible for Facebook cover photos to incorporate the visual language of the traditional website design.
Therefore, it’s okay to simplify your design.
You don’t have to (and you shouldn’t) create a 500-plus-word blog post when one image can do the trick.
Cover Video for Facebook
Some brands decide to take it further and design a cover video for Facebook instead.
How exactly does one achieve this, and is it any different from having a cover photo?
Well, a cover video is more visually interesting than a static image. But this doesn’t mean that it is always the better option.
A video can hold the attention of your customers for longer, hence allowing you more leeway to tell your brand’s story.
Cover Videos Loop
Remember that a Facebook cover video plays on a loop, and should therefore be interesting enough to be viewed more than a few times.
Using fast-moving and action-packed videos might seem like a good idea, but it can be exhausting to play such content on a loop.
Keep your video designs fun and simple.
Cover Image for Facebook: Best Practises
If you haven’t done so already, create a separate Facebook business page for your brand.
Having a Facebook page dedicated to your company makes it easier for people to recognize your work and familiarize themselves with your brand.
An individual brand page allows for greater customization and customer engagement.
In order to have a successful cover photo for Facebook, you need to:
Clearly communicate your core message.
The success of your Facebook page will depend on the content you share.
You can use the cover image to share relevant content or deals and establish a stronger connection with your potential clients.
However, always keep the information precise. Boring cover photos don’t get any attention, and there are many ways to get people to notice your page.
One way is to add some personality to the cover image.
You can do this with visual elements like brand colors and catchy images, or you can do so with textual creativity.
If your business can’t be funny, don’t worry – there are plenty of other ways to add personality to your cover page.
Update your cover page at least once a week.
This will help to keep your page fresh and inspire new activity.
You should also use the cover photo description to tell your consumers a little bit more about your brand.
Visitors can access the description whenever they click directly on the cover photo.
This is a great space to provide customer service information or a shortened link that supports a sales CTA.
A Facebook cover photo description can also allow for a link to your business website, and prompt visitors to share or engage with your content.
When including links to your products, always add UTM codes so you can track the engagement levels. This is a great way to measure the impact of your cover photo in Facebook.
Need Cover Photo Designers?
You may be thinking that your Facebook cover page is outdated and needs to be updated with today’s design trends.
We recommend that you first consult with your Facebook page administrator to get the go-ahead to update your cover page. Once approved, you’re free to customize the layout, use new colors, or change the image.
The best part about Facebook marketing is that you don’t need to hire a professional designer. It is simple enough to create an aesthetically pleasing cover photo using a good-quality camera and adjust its size and colors to match your brand.
Sometimes simplicity is the best choice.
But be careful: You don’t want to appear generic and untrustworthy.
As your following grows, you can always hire a professional cover photo designer to create a look that will compliment your brand.
