Producing graphics content takes a lot of effort, time, money and hard-work. Even if it’s a promotional image, the amount of time an editor spends in there is not that mere. When readers need unique contents from time to time, repeating a content on different social media is also effective if applied in the right way. Social media users are normally divided in each platform, some like to use Facebook, some prefer Instagram, some use Twitter and some use multiple ones. As a result, utilizing one graphic content for different social media platforms can attract multiple platform’s audiences altogether. Besides social media, there are a variety of digital platforms as well where you can promote your promotional contents. But before that, it is important to know how to optimize graphics for various digital platforms.
How to Utilize Graphics Content
It is important to remember that not all platforms support equal types of contents. Different social media platforms and devices have specific requirements and preferences when it comes to image size, format, quality, and style. To ensure that your graphics look great and perform well on any screen, it's essential to optimize them for various digital platforms. Let’s explore some tips and best practices to help you create and adapt graphics that are optimized for different social media platforms and devices…
Know the Dimensions
Each social media platform has its own recommended dimensions for different types of graphics, such as profile pictures, cover photos, posts, stories, and ads. It's important to be aware of these dimensions and create graphics that fit within the specified guidelines. You can find the recommended dimensions on the official websites of the platforms or use design tools like Canva or Sprout Social, which provide templates with pre-set dimensions. By following the guidelines and avoiding cropping or stretching your graphics, you can ensure that they are displayed properly on each platform.
Choose the Format
The format of your graphics can impact how they load and display on different devices and browsers. There are various formats to choose from, such as JPEG, PNG, GIF, and WebP. JPEG, which is widely supported and suitable for photos and images with many colors. PNG is ideal for images with transparency, text, or logos as it preserves quality and sharpness. GIF is perfect for animations and short videos as it supports movement and looping. WebP is a newer format that offers high quality and low file size, but it's not supported by all browsers yet. Consider the specific requirements of each platform and select the format that best suits your graphic content.
Optimize the Quality
The quality of your graphics depends on factors like resolution, compression, and color mode. Higher resolution images can be sharper and clearer, but they also have larger file sizes. Compression helps reduce file size but can impact image quality if applied excessively. Balancing resolution and compression is essential to ensure that your contents are visually appealing and still loading quickly. Different platforms may have specific color modes or color profiles that affect how colors are displayed. Aim for consistent colors across platforms to maintain brand consistency. Use online tools or design software to adjust resolution, compress images, and maintain consistent color modes.
Adapt the Style
Along with maintaining brand consistency, it's important to adapt the style of your graphics content to suit the preferences and expectations of each social media platform. Consider the target audience and the platform's demographics when choosing fonts, colors, shapes, icons, images, and text for your graphics. For example, Instagram may use vibrant colors, playful fonts, and emojis to communicate with a younger audience, while LinkedIn may require more professional fonts, muted colors, and icons to appeal to a business-oriented audience. Customizable design tools can help you create graphics with different styles and templates that align with the characteristics of each platform.
Test and Measure
To ensure the effectiveness of your graphics on different platforms and devices, it's a must to test and measure their performance. Before publishing your content, use platform-specific preview tools like Facebook Debugger or Twitter Card Validator to see how they will appear on different platforms. This allows you to make any necessary adjustments or fixes in the future. Once your contents are live, use analytics tools like Google Analytics or Facebook Insights to track things such as impressions, clicks, engagement, and conversions. Analyzing this data will help you understand how your graphics are performing and allow you to make data-driven decisions to optimize future designs.
A To-do List for Successful Contents
Creating graphics design content is not a simple task. But when you create a very creative design but still do not get enough exposure, it's not pleasant for both you and your client or business. To get success on various platforms, being creative is not enough anymore. You have to maintain certain tactics to gain audience reach. Here is a To-do list for every designer or marketer who wants to own it all…
Define Your Brand's Qualities: Define your brand's persona and qualities before you post any graphic content. Decide on the look and feel you want to convey and ensure consistency across your images, icons, and logos. This will make a sustainable brand perception among your audience and make more impact.
Provide Value: Consider how your visuals express your intended message and whether the audience can understand it or not. Use design elements such as checklists, infographics, product showcases, and step-by-step guides to add relevance and add value to your content.
Keep it Simple: Avoid using excessive details, fancy fonts, or complicated graphics that can overwhelm viewers and distract from the main idea. Stick to your brand's chosen font styles and color schemes for consistency.
Use Contrasting Colors: Ensure that your contents have enough contrast and colors to stand out. Highlight call-to-action buttons and links by using contrasting colors that complement each other well. You can maintain a 4.5:1 color contrast ratio for cohesiveness and readability.
Use Visual Cues: If you do not intend to keep mystery in your content deliberately, evoke any feelings of anticipation, mystery, and curiosity in your graphic. Visual cues guide viewers on what to expect and encourage them to take action.
Set Goals for Your Graphics: Determine whether you aim to increase engagement, encourage site visits, or boost shares and define those goals to align your design choices accordingly. Then tailor your graphics, copy, and captions to support your goals.
Be Mindful of Spacing: It's important to use sufficient white space to ensure readability and guide the viewer's attention to essential elements. Choose a spacing ratio based on the complexity of your graphic design, such as 1:1, 2:3, or 3:4.
Prepare Templates: Templates can be a valuable resource if you need to create content quickly. Now you can utilize online resources to find customizable templates that align with your brand's overall look and feel. These templates can save your time and money.
Keep Your Graphics Fresh: Keep your graphics contents fresh and unique which can set your brand apart. By adding your own aesthetics and fostering user-generated content, you can create a digital visibility that captivates your consumer base.
