Social media images are part of what makes your business web content great. The imagery is as important as the content it represents. An image will draw people in to take a closer look at your business. If the image isn’t just right, potential customers will scroll right past your post.
Some businesses don’t follow the guidelines for social media image sizes. This may be because they aren’t aware of the guidelines. It’s also possible they don’t understand the importance of providing a great online experience. Below are three common mistakes businesses make when posting images online. Knowing these common pitfalls will help you avoid them in the future!
1. Too small
If the image you want to use is too small, most social media accounts will stretch it and the image becomes pixelated. Pixelated images appear grainy or blurry. Computer screens and cell phones are able to show pictures and videos in High Definition. A picture that is too small will look inexpensive and cheapen the appearance of your post.
2. Text-heavy
A picture with too much detail will make it hard for readers to see everything you want to show them. Text-heavy images in social media aren’t user-friendly. In fact, Facebook used to limit the use of text-heavy images in ads and boosted posts. There’s a good reason to keep doing it! The text might overpower your image. Text in images can also be hard to read. Try to keep the text content of your images below 20%. You can use Facebook’s text overlay tool to check if you’re not sure.
Consider using the image as a way to capture the attention and putting the text in the body of the post. Take into account that all kinds of people will see your image on social media. If all your text is a part of an image, those with visual impairments won’t be able to enjoy your content.
3. Wrong proportions
Every social media platform has different guidelines for posting high-quality social media images. There are several web-based tools that help make sure your image looks great once posted. SproutSocial has a tool that will crop and resize your photo to the ideal size and ratio for the social media channel(s) you select. If you want to make your own image from scratch, you can use a tool like Canva. Canva helps with layouts, adding text and background images. Always be sure to preview everything before you post.
There are many ways to make sure you have a positive online presence. Image sizes are only one part of good social media management. If you would like assistance with social media for your business or nonprofit, contact Technology Aloha today!
