It's no secret that visual content is crucial for engagement on social media, no matter which platform you're posting on. According to a study by Pagemodo conducted last year on the analysis of 5000 user profiles, sharing photos is the best way to get retweets on Twitter and "likes" on Facebook and to fight against the decline of organic reach. But what if you do not have a large library of images at your disposal?
No problem! Visuals on social media may not be infographics or drawings and still be so successful. What's important is that you provide a nice visual for the eyes to accompany your message. If you do not have a graphic designer to give you a hand, do not worry; we've put together 10 simple tips to make eye-catching visuals that anyone can handle.
To illustrate these tips, we use the visuals of the Webs campaign for Mother's Day (reminder Pagemodo is part of Webs).
10 Social Graphics Design Tips
1. Use transparent overlays
This is a handy tip when you want to use an image in the background, but want to make sure the text on the image remains readable. In Photoshop, you can do this by adding a layer over the image and fill it with a solid color, and then adjust the opacity (in this example, the opacity is set to about 70%).
2. Use fun icons to reinforce your message
Vector icons are a great way to visually enhance some words in your text. They can add impact or humor, depending on your message, thus increasing its emotional impact, which leads to greater engagement of your audience.
3. Use a background that reinforces your message
Sometimes a literal picture is an excellent choice, but an abstract background that reflects your message can create a fun effect too. Try to find a background image that matches your message without translating it directly.
4. Create text blocks using separators
A popular trend in graphic design is to manipulate typography so that all lines are of the same size, forming a solid form. It can be difficult if you do not have the right number or length of words, but you can still achieve this by filling in the blanks with other shapes or separators.
5. Do not be afraid to add a word game
On our own social networks, we have noticed that word games and humor can involve a great engagement of the audience, even if it is a simple nod to a specific topic or a word game.
6. To interact shapes and images
When working with a tool that allows layers to be layered (like photoshop for example), it can be fun to add text to shapes or banners. You can rotate the letters to perfectly fit the shape, creating a neat effect. Alternatively, you can have your text interact with a background image by arranging it and adapting it to the objects in the photo, instead of writing over it.
7. Have fun with fonts!
I love fonts ... maybe even a little too much. So one of my favorite games when creating a design is to find ways to combine several fonts together. The trick is to make sure that you create a consistent look, not something that gives an overloaded impression. A basic rule to start with the combination of fonts is to choose a very simple font (like a sans serif) with a decorative font.
8. Use a shape to hold your message
If the tool you are using allows you to resize the shapes, try creating a large shape that you can size, with your text inside. This can help bring it out of the background and create visual interest.
9. Use empty space
A design does not have to be too heavy or colorful to be eye-catching. Sometimes using empty spaces is a great way to catch your eye on your text. Never feel compelled to fill all the space! Try a short message with a simple icon.
10. Highlight your hashtag with shapes
In order to draw attention to the hashtag we used during this campaign, the graphic designer used a form of cloud (which fits her design) to set apart #ThankYouMom from the rest of the image and for ensuring visibility, hoping that it will be used when the image has been shared!