4 Easy Steps for a Perfect Cover Photo

The cover photo is one of the most important elements to your brand’s online presence —yet it surprisingly gets overlooked more often than it should. A Facebook page without a banner is simply a huge waste of what could have been an opportunity to connect with your audience.

With that being said, it’s also not ideal to merely plaster an acceptable image and just go about your day. Imagine landing on a page whose cover photo advertises a promotion from the summer of 2015—not cute, right? Neglecting this simple-yet-powerful tool communicates carelessness and irresponsibility on your part (unless that’s exactly what you’re aiming for—in which case, you do you, boo.)

So how do you actually stay on top of your cover photo game? It’s not that difficult, really. Here I’ll share with you four easy steps to create your Facebook banner with ease. Read on!

Step 1: Narrow down on your purpose

At this point, we all get it: banners can convey a lot of things. But before you get too excited, know that overloading your audience with a truckload of information isn’t ideal.

This is why choosing and adhering to one purpose is such an important step. Are you simply trying to emphasize your brand’s identity? In this scenario, focusing on your tagline would be a great idea. Is promoting a specific product or event your aim? If that’s the case, stick to that and that alone.

Step 2: Decide on your copy

Many people have the impression that choosing the perfect image is the be-all and end-all of the cover photo production process. That’s simply not the case. Using the right image is important, but knowing the best text to use (if you decide to include it) makes just as much impact. Choose words that clearly communicate your message and keep text to a minimum. Less is more!

Step 3: Select an awesome picture

Branding is still a highly-visual game, so it’s essential to ensure that your cover image is perfect. Always use a high-quality, high-resolution graphic or photo. Look for something that flawlessly represents your brand and makes an emotional impact.

If you’re not using a photo and would like to highlight the text instead, design the banner in a way that goes well with the vibe you’re trying to radiate. This means picking the right color palette, fonts, and layout.

Step 4: Test, revise, and tweak your cover photo

Once your design is done (or the first version of it, at least), give it a try to see if the preview feels right. Tweak elements that can still be improved. Of course, one of the best ways to minimize do-overs is to use the right template size from the very beginning (around 828px by 315px, for the uninitiated).

By now, you should be on your way to cover photo perfection. Easy, right? And when you finally do upload that brand-spanking new banner, don’t forget to take advantage of the description box as well.

And that’s it, beautiful people. I hope you found this post helpful. See you around!