Graphic design for social media: The dos and don’ts
Social media is among the multiple marketing strategies available for businesses competing to capture attention. But when creating content for social media, graphic design plays a crucial role in the success of brand exposure, as well as engagement with the target audience. With that in mind, businesses need to understand the dos and don’ts of graphic design for social media before they set out to use it as a marketing tool.
Here, the experienced team of creatives at Oxygen Graphics have put together a list of key guidelines for businesses to consider.
Dos:
Understand your audience
At the foundation of any business’s marketing strategy is understanding its target audience – and that includes when using graphic design on social media. Carry out research to determine their demographics and behaviour, so you can tailor your graphic design to resonate with them.
Prioritise consistency
Remember, your social media graphics are a snippet of your wider brand strategy – they’re part of a larger visual story that represents your brand. For that reason, you need to prioritise consistency, not only across all of your social media platforms but throughout all of your marketing. Use cohesive colours, fonts and design elements to foster brand recognition and build trust with your audience.
Size matters
For those using multiple different social media networks, you’ll know that post size varies across each platform – and to avoid awkward croppings, blurred imagery and distorted visuals, you need to be using the correct dimensions. Here are some of the most popular social media platforms, alongside its recommended post size (px is pixels):
- Instagram: 1080px by 1080px
- Facebook: 1200px by 630 px
- Twitter: 1600px x 900px
- LinkedIn: 1200px x 627px
Consider typography
It might come as a surprise to hear that the fonts used can be just as powerful as the imagery chosen. Although it might be tempting to use decorative fonts, be careful not to choose ones that can’t be easily read. Remember, engagement with your audience should be top of your agenda, so don’t make it any more difficult than it should be to convey your message.
Don’ts
Avoid overcrowding
Avoid cluttering your graphics with too many elements or unnecessary text. As yourself, what is the purpose of the graphic? Is it to sell a product or service? To highlight specific information? Showcase an offer?
From colours to font types, don’t let the purpose of your graphic get lost, and instead, focus on conveying your key points effectively.
Design with mobile users in mind
Be sure to design graphics with mobile users in mind. After all, in this digital age, more and more people are accessing social media via their smartphones, so ensuring your visuals are optimised for various screen sizes is essential.
Never opt for low-quality images
Using high-resolution images and graphics will help you maintain professionalism and visual appeal. Blurry or pixelated visuals can detract from your message and at worst, reflect poorly on your brand’s credibility.
Don’t try designing graphics yourself – get in touch with a team of professionals
Effective graphic design is vital for businesses wanting to succeed on social media. By adhering to the dos and don’ts outlined, you will be well on your way to creating compelling visuals that command attention, drive engagement and reinforce your brand identity.
Of course, if you’re getting creative on social media, then we would always recommend you get in touch with the experts here at Oxygen Graphics. Our undeniable knowledge and extensive experience mean that we can create businesses from all sectors with eye-catching graphics, designed specifically for their preferred social media channels. Let’s have a chat – we would love to find out how we can help you.
In need of marketing support? Get in contact with a member of our team today to see how Oxygen Graphics can help you! T : 01788 561 991 E : [email protected]
