{"id":63824,"date":"2021-01-06T13:42:21","date_gmt":"2021-01-06T10:42:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newblog.creatopy.com\/blog\/?p=63824"},"modified":"2023-07-24T14:15:40","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T11:15:40","slug":"social-media-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/creatopydevelopmentblog.kinsta.cloud\/blog\/social-media-design\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Ideas to Help You Create Remarkable Social Media Design"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every day, our minds are subject to different senses and perceptions that help us learn and understand the surrounding world. The visual perception is the most dominant one, with <\/span>89% of information<\/span><\/a> coming to us better when paired with images.<\/span><\/p>\n

Designers from every niche know this, and they’re using colors to promote their work and themselves as artists.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Then, marketers observed and analyzed that a visually stimulating piece of content can improve their entire strategy, increasing user engagement.<\/span><\/p>\n

This means that, if you want an irresistible strategy, you need to combine great design with marketing content and strengthen the message you want your audience to receive.\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The best place to do this? Social media.<\/span><\/p>\n

Social media marketing design is one of the most powerful tools of communication and promotion these days. Every platform has its specificity, but one thing is certain: visuals are the most intriguing and shareable forms of communication.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let’s see how you can create excellent social media design and get all the attention.<\/span><\/p>\n

5 Elements for Creating Remarkable Social Media Design<\/b><\/h2>\n

For businesses, social media is where connections are being made, which helps increase brand awareness.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the digital landscape is highly competitive, and businesses have to come up with ways to stay afloat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Users don\u2019t really go to specific pages to search for new content. They discover new posts mostly through scrolling or ads. This means you have a few seconds to catch their attention.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are the essential elements that will help you create an engaging social media post design.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Color<\/b><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s no secret that colors impact people\u2019s perception and evoke emotions based on general psychology principles or cultural backgrounds. A quick look into color theory<\/a>, and you’ll see just how important colors are.<\/span><\/p>\n

When choosing colors for social media post design, keep in mind the message you want to communicate because the colors you use will amplify it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, you have to pay attention to integrating colors to fit your overall branding materials and identity.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can get inspired by these great <\/span>social media color combinations<\/span><\/a>. As you can see, there are various options, such as keeping your brand\u2019s colors and inserting new colors in your social media posts or replacing some of them without deviating from your brand\u2019s personality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here is one example of a great social media marketing design from the previously mentioned article.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"7up<\/p>\n

The pastel colors<\/a> divide the image and put the focus on the soda. And if you think about it, nothing in the photo is added by chance. They work together to create an image that makes you think about summer.<\/span><\/p>\n

The pink color is associated with playfulness and sweetness (of the soda), and yellow means energy and happiness. If you put these two colors together with the green harmony, you get a perfect balance.<\/span><\/p>\n

The white text also breaks the pattern a bit but creates a lovely contrast and makes the copy readable.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

2. Contrast<\/b><\/h3>\n

Probably nothing draws people\u2019s attention more than posts that use contrast in their social media marketing design.<\/span><\/p>\n

When choosing your colors, it’s best not to use too many to avoid overwhelming your audience. This doesn’t mean you can’t create striking contrasts. On the contrary, contrast can be achieved through color, size, typography, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an example from our <\/span>Instagram page<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"creatopy<\/p>\n

3. Typography<\/b><\/h3>\n

Once you get your audience\u2019s attention with contrast and colors, they will most probably read the text too. This means you have to pick a legible font, even in a smaller size.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With 3.76 billion <\/span>people using their smartphones for social media<\/span><\/a>, it\u2019s vital to pick readable text on mobile devices. Don\u2019t focus on long paragraphs. Instead, use short text combined with other icons or visuals.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you want your design to be absolutely perfect, <\/span>kerning typography<\/span><\/a> is vital to pay attention to.<\/span><\/p>\n

A social media design can be structured in such a way so that users follow a specific path.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If your social media design has text on it, try to arrange your elements so that the text will appear in an <\/span>F pattern<\/span><\/a>. People are more comfortable reading text that seems like that. This also helps your post get more attention because the text can be scanned really fast.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"social<\/p>\n

Image Source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

4. Hierarchy<\/b><\/h3>\n

By using visual hierarchy, you\u2019re guiding your audience through the visual information from your post.<\/span><\/p>\n

Usually, this hierarchy is based on the <\/span>Gestalt principles<\/span><\/a>\u2014humans perceive a visual as a whole, and only after they see the elements as individual parts.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"social<\/p>\n

Image Source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

And here is the law of similarity in action.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this Facebook carousel, there are displayed multiple different products from the same designer. The law of similarity is applied by using the same background to all the products, connecting them.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

5. Style<\/b><\/h3>\n

Style is a combination of all the elements that create a visual: typography, colors, brand logo, etc. You can let your brand’s visual identity dictate your social media feed style.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you\u2019re creating all the social media graphic designs in the same style, you\u2019ll have consistency and an aesthetically pleasing social media page.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"squarespace<\/p>\n

Image Source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Now that you know the general guidelines for creating graphics for social media, let’s go through ten essential principles. \"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

10 Principles for Outstanding Social Media Design<\/b><\/h2>\n

1. Diversify your social media graphic content<\/b><\/h3>\n

To make a name for your brand, you have to be present on different social media platforms, ideally, where your audience hangs out.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the <\/span>Edelman trust barometer<\/span><\/a>, if consumers are exposed to the same brand in three different places\u2014social media is one of those places\u2014it will make your brand appear trustworthy.<\/span><\/p>\n

This also means that being present on more than one social media platform will help you get the message across different mediums.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s essential to make sure that the social media designs adhere to each platform\u2019s size and resolution requirements so that your posts look just right.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lego is one example of a brand doing it right on more than one social media platform.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Facebook, <\/span>Lego<\/span><\/a> posts mostly pictures and concise, engaging videos.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"lego<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll find different video categories and even full Star Wars episodes created with Lego figures on their YouTube channel.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"lego<\/p>\n

On <\/span>LinkedIn<\/span><\/a>, they mainly share news about their company.<\/span>
\n<\/b><\/p>\n

\"lego<\/p>\n

2. Use templates\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

As I mentioned before, each platform has its own size requirements. To make your job easier, you can create templates for each of them with different content types, and when you have to make a new post, you can change only a few details.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because you won\u2019t have to worry about the size requirements every time you\u2019re creating graphics for social media, you’ll save more time and use it to focus on other important tasks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, a template that follows the official size requirements will ensure that the platform won’t cut or stretch your design to fit. Using a template, you won’t risk losing any important information displayed on the image, and it will also guarantee your design’s quality with the best possible resolution.<\/span><\/p>\n

Creatopy’s social media design maker has fully customizable templates for various social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, or Pinterest. <\/span><\/p>\n

The preset sizes help you be more efficient and productive while creating professional visuals. You can get started with the preset size, design your template from scratch, or use a template and customize it to fit your brand\u2019s identity.<\/span><\/p>\n

The templates will help when you need to create a fast campaign with a few social media ads design.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are a few templates for you to use.<\/span><\/p>\n

For a Facebook post:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

\"facebook<\/p>\n

Start from this<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

For an Instagram post:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

\"instagram<\/p>\n

Start from this<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

For a YouTube channel banner:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

\"youtube<\/p>\n

Start from this<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

For a Pinterest post:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

\"pinterest<\/p>\n

Start from this<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

For a LinkedIn profile background:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

\"linkedin<\/p>\n

Start from this<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

3. Use your brand logo in the profile picture<\/b><\/h3>\n

Your profile picture is your online identity. It works as a trademark to your social media posts.<\/span><\/p>\n

When seen in the feed, whether on YouTube, LinkedIn, or Facebook, the profile picture appears very small, so it\u2019s best to keep it simple.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can emphasize your logo with a bold pattern or a vivid background color to make it stand out.<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s more is that you can use your profile picture to support a particular cause, celebrate an event, or a holiday, like <\/span>History of Cinema<\/a>,<\/span> did on their Instagram profile picture to mark the Christmas holidays.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"instagram<\/p>\n

Also, don’t forget that most platforms use circular avatars. Pay attention when designing and centering your profile picture, so the image’s focal point is in the middle.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"honda<\/p>\n

Image Source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

4. Take full advantage of your cover photo<\/b><\/h3>\n

Not every social media platform gives you the possibility to upload a cover photo, but Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube have this option, and you should take advantage of it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When you can\u2019t showcase in a profile picture of your brand\u2019s identity, expand the visual from the profile picture into the cover photo.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can mix and match the two or use your cover photo to display useful information, new features, events, etc., as it will be one of the first things your audience will see upon visiting your profile.<\/span><\/p>\n

Either way, your cover photo and profile picture should complement each other. You can do this through color, imagery, mood, or text.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"starbucks<\/p>\n

On this <\/span>YouTube channel<\/span><\/a>, the profile picture is just an abstract representation, but the cover photo does so much more. The abstract profile picture was divided into two, it holds the channel\u2019s name, and you can also see your host there. The cover photo, in this case, comes like a perfect continuation of the profile picture.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"youtube<\/p>\n

You can also use your cover photo on LinkedIn to feature an upcoming event, as <\/span>Brand Minds<\/span><\/a> did on their profile. As you can see, the colors are the same as in the profile picture, with just a little bit of purple contrast.<\/span>
\n<\/b><\/p>\n

\"linkedin<\/p>\n

5. Be consistent<\/b><\/h3>\n

Consistency is the sign of a trustworthy brand that knows its values. Consistent branding means using the same colors, fonts, and style in your social media designs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Always add your logo or your brand\u2019s name to your social media designs to help people associate the social media post with your brand. If you\u2019re consistent in creating your posts like this, users will make this association faster.<\/span><\/p>\n

When designing your social media post design, think about how you can help strengthen your brand\u2019s consistency and what is useful for your followers and customers.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can quickly achieve this by creating a few templates you can use every time you post something on social media (as I mentioned previously).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"social<\/p>\n

Image Source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\"social<\/p>\n

Image Source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

6. Create valuable content<\/b><\/h3>\n

Valuable content means shareable and compelling content, and this is what you\u2019re aiming for.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can use social media designs to showcase useful information, industry tips, events, company achievements, new features, infographics, <\/span>contests, giveaways, etc.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Valuable content gets a broader reach across your social media platforms, which means more potential traffic to your website.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Master Class’s YouTube channel<\/a>, they have a category, Discover MasterClass, where you can find handy tips from experts in various fields. You just have to pick the category you’re interested in. Each category has a series of short videos that engage you in the subject and invites you to further study their official website.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"youtube<\/p>\n

To see what kind of content your audience appreciates, check out the analytics, and see your social media graphic design performance. This way, you’ll be able to create a content plan for the future, using the type of content that performed well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Always include a call to action<\/b><\/h3>\n

A great social media post design will get the attention you want people to get, but even the best designs will get ignored if you don\u2019t tell people what to do after reading your caption.<\/span><\/p>\n

Use a short, compelling call to action, which says the next step for the expected result.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"social<\/p>\n

Image Source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

8. Create a social media layout design<\/b><\/h3>\n

Your profile page\u2019s layout will have the general look of the social media platform you\u2019re posting on, but this doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t create posts in such a way that they will form an aesthetically pleasing layout.<\/span><\/p>\n

The best example here is Instagram, where you can use a certain theme for your feed. There are plenty of creative <\/span>Instagram feed ideas<\/span><\/a> that you can use, so you need to find one that applies to your business (in case you want to use one).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"social<\/p>\n

Image Source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Another example is YouTube, which allows you to pin a trailer to the top of your channel, giving the audience a view of what they\u2019ll find on your channel. Then, the videos will follow in a natural chronological order.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even if YouTube doesn\u2019t have filters or other features that give your channel the themed look Instagram offers, you can still customize them with the same <\/span>YouTube thumbnail fonts<\/span><\/a> and provide an overall consistency to all the videos.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"social<\/p>\n

Image Source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

On Pinterest, you can organize your content on boards: the ones you\u2019ve created and the ones you liked and pinned, giving your followers an idea of what you do and also what you like.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"social<\/p>\n

Image Source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Take full advantage of everything each platform has to offer. They\u2019re unique and will help you reach different audiences.<\/span><\/p>\n

9. Link social media designs to your website<\/b><\/h3>\n

You should connect every visual you’re posting to the content from your website or landing pages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Make sure you\u2019re mentioning in your social media post where people will find further information. After all, what you\u2019re creating also has the purpose of bringing more traffic to your website.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"adidas<\/p>\n

Image Source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

10. Never underestimate the power of white space<\/b><\/h3>\n

White space<\/span><\/a> is a must in any kind of design. The same rule applies to social media post design.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s an important feature that helps the user focus on specific assets of the layout while increasing legibility and readability.<\/span><\/p>\n

White space will ensure that the headline, body copy, logo, and slogan will be visible and pleasing to one\u2019s eye.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some general guidelines to make sure your layout is not too cluttered.<\/span><\/p>\n