What Makes a Good Social Media Graphic?

In today’s digital world, there really is no excuse for not having a social media presence. Over 2.3 billion people have a social media account of some form, meaning, if you disregard social media in your marketing campaign, you are missing out on a HUGE opportunity.

But simply having a Facebook page is not enough to garner attention, or at least the right type of attention. Your content, images, and links are all important aspects of your social media marketing approach. So how do you make sure that you’re are getting all that you can from this outlet?

When it comes to getting attention, pictures are proven to be more effective

Did you know that in the next 60 seconds, 49,380 pictures will be uploaded to Instagram? In that same timeframe, over 4 million users will watch a video on YouTube. Why are images so popular? To put it simply, the brain likes images. In fact, the human brain processes images 60,000 times faster than it does words.

Given the statistics, incorporating images into your marketing campaign is critical to your success. Social media usage has never been bigger, and users are looking for easy, engaging images, to capture their attention. The question is, what type of images does your audience like?

Bold, bright colors work best

Take a minute to think about the last time you were scrolling through Facebook. What did it take to get you to stop scrolling and engage with a post? What did that post look like? Chances are, the image that got your attention stood out from the rest because it had bright, bold colors. Let’s be honest, the human brain can be a bit lazy. It doesn’t want to work harder than it has to find something interesting. That means those images that are light in color and lack contrast will easily fade to the background.

The brain likes images that pop. When you design your images for social media, choose a color scheme that includes contrasting colors that will make your image stand out and make your audience pause to look at your message. If you can, try to make these colors tie into your company image so that the consumer has an easier time connecting the image they are seeing to your product. But don’t just take it from us, there have been actual scientific studies that have proven that bright, bold colors are associated with more likes on Facebook.

Size (and platform) matters

One of the most important factors to consider when designing images for social media is what type of device your audience will be using. Will your demo be scrolling through Facebook on their phone or will they be on a laptop? The form of delivery is important in determining the size and content of your image.

Let’s take a deeper look. If you have an image that is beautiful and full of detail it may be great at capturing attention on a laptop device. But now, think of that image compressed down to the size of a mobile phone. Do the details still stand out or does it fade into a blur? It’s important that you understand your target audience, what type of device they will likely be using, and the proper dimensions for each one. Check out this cheat sheet to find out what size is best for you.

While the type of device your audience uses is important when considering the size of your image, the platform your image will appear on is just as important. The type of person who views your content on Instagram will likely be different than the one who sees it on LinkedIn. This may mean that you need to use a completely different image on each platform. Be sure to understand the target demographic of each platform and adjust your image accordingly.

Bring in the pros for the best results

Choosing the right image for your social media campaign can seem confusing and overwhelming. We get it — there’s a lot to know to make sure that your image stands out from the crowd. That’s why we’re here. Our team has decades of experience analyzing marketing techniques, engaging with social media and monitoring trends, and handcrafting the perfect approach to attract your target audience. If you’re ready to use these tips and take your content to the next level, contact one of the talented social media trend experts at SocialSEO today for a free social media service quote.