Common Social Media Image Size Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

May 23, 2019

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.

Quick Answer

Businesses frequently make three common social media image size mistakes: using images that are too small, making them too text-heavy, or employing incorrect proportions for specific platforms. These errors can lead to pixelated visuals, unreadable text, and an unprofessional appearance, causing potential customers to disengage. To avoid these pitfalls, Technology Aloha advises ensuring images are high-resolution, keeping text content below 20% (a guideline Facebook once enforced for ads), and utilizing tools like SproutSocial or Canva to correctly size and crop images for each social media channel.

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 image size mistakes businesses make when posting images online. Knowing these common pitfalls will help you avoid them in the future!

If your social media image is too small, it will be stretched and become pixelated, appearing grainy or blurry. This happens because most social media platforms will attempt to fit the image, leading to a loss of quality on high-definition screens and ultimately cheapening the appearance of your post.

What happens if your social media image is too small?

You should avoid text-heavy social media images because they are not user-friendly and can make it hard for readers to see everything you want to show them. Text can overpower the image and be difficult to read, which is why platforms like Facebook have historically limited their use in ads. Additionally, text in images can be inaccessible to users with visual impairments. Aim to keep text content below 20% and consider using the image to capture attention while placing detailed text in the post body.

Why should you avoid text-heavy social media images?

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.

Wrong proportions affect social media images by causing them to appear distorted, cropped incorrectly, or of poor quality, as every social media platform has different guidelines for posting high-quality images. To avoid this, utilize web-based tools like SproutSocial or Canva to crop and resize your photos to the ideal size and ratio for each social media channel, and always preview your images before posting.

How do wrong proportions affect social media images?

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!

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Kelli

Contributor

Former Content Manager

Kelli focuses on creating stimulating and creative content for both Technology Aloha and our clients.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1 How do social media image mistakes impact our nonprofit's donor engagement or fundraising campaigns?

Images that are too small and pixelated can make your posts appear unprofessional, causing potential donors to scroll past. Text-heavy images can also be difficult to read and less accessible, potentially reducing engagement with your campaign messages and overall content.

2 What are the most common image size mistakes we should be aware of for our social media content?

The article identifies three common pitfalls: using images that are too small, leading to pixelation; creating text-heavy images that are hard to read and can overpower the visual; and using incorrect proportions, as each social media platform has unique guidelines.

3 What tools or methods can help us ensure our social media images are optimized for different platforms?

To avoid incorrect proportions, the page suggests using web-based tools, such as SproutSocial, which can help crop and resize images for various platforms. For text-heavy images, Facebook's text overlay tool can be used to check if text content is below the recommended 20%.

4 Why is it important for our business to avoid pixelated or text-heavy images on social media?

Pixelated images can make your posts look inexpensive and cheapen your brand's appearance. Text-heavy images are not user-friendly, can be hard to read, and may exclude those with visual impairments, ultimately impacting the effectiveness and reach of your content.

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