Here are some images I have designed.
People share things that make them feel valuable to their audience.
When designing a social media image, there are 5 main considerations:
- It has to look pretty.
- It has to be the correct dimensions to look good on the platform.
- It has to clearly convey a single idea.
- It should create an emotional reaction in the viewer.
- It can direct attention to a destination or action.
The first three items are requirements. Without all of them, the image shared can actually damage the brand sharing it.
The fourth consideration is optional, but it really, really helps.
The fifth consideration is often the underlying purpose of creating images to share on social media: we want people to take an action.
This is best done through video, and there is no single medium that is as capable of inciting action as video.
The lean-version of video, where visuals convey an idea (and are capable of inciting action) is a shareable social media image.
Types of Shareable Images
Featured Images for Blog Posts
These images have become more important as the crossover between blogging and social media has become more fluent. A featured image travels invisibly with a link, and sharing a post on a platform can automatically call the featured image to be displayed with it. (Or, not so automatically. I’m looking at you, FB Open Graph, you uncooperative mess.)
Calls to Action
These are images that are designed to inspire an action in the viewer.
- Visit this website URL.
- Tell a friend.
- Think about something in a new way.
Memes
Memes have become a language all their own. With meme-making websites like Quickmeme and Meme Generator, anyone can create an idea in the language of a particular meme.
How to Make a Social Media Image
The best program I have found to use is Canva. It is easy to use, very high quality, and they have preformatted templates for every social media platform. If you want to make a Twitter image, click on the Twitter image and your canvas will be formatted with the right height and width dimensions.
Select a great background image (Canva has plenty to choose from), pick a text layout, and you’re done.
What makes Canva exceptional is the upload process. You can upload your own images (including logos) and drag and drop them anywhere you want on the image. With Google Font integration, you have a lot of flexibility in how you want your image to look.
Drop a URL on the bottom of your image, and it will travel as far and widely as your image is shared.
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