We know that relevant content is important for your business, but how can you convince your audience to read what you have to say?
According to the Statista website, more than 4.59 billion people use social networks. So there’s a high chance that your target audience is on a social network.
With all these potential customers using digital media, having a design that stands out is essential for your business to be recognized.
Check out the 9 graphic design tips for social media tips that I follow to learn how to grab your audience’s attention.
1. Have A Clear Goal
Having a clear objective for the graphic design you are going to use on social media is like building a house with a blueprint. The purpose of your design will point the direction of the entire creative process.
Social networks are full of competitors who make relevant content, so it’s important to have a different design so that you can get your audience’s attention.
To formulate your strategy, respond to the following questions:
- Who is my target audience for this design? Who is my persona?
- What social network is my ideal client on?
- What type of device does my target audience use to access social networks? (Computer, laptop, cell phone)
- What is the message I want to convey through my design?
- What kind of emotion do I want to elicit from my followers?
- What is the action I expect from them after seeing my design?
2. Dimensions Matter
All social networks need images with different dimensions and different types of images.
Identify the platform you are going to share your design on before you start creating.
You will have to resize your image to meet the specifications of each platform you intend to share your graphic design on.
It may sound boring but a brief check can make a difference when delivering a good experience.
Social networks are constantly changing chart measurements so it’s best to familiarize yourself with the specifics of the platform you’re using.
The best way to find out what a platform’s specs and dimensions are is to go straight to the source.
Facebook has a Facebook Ads Guide that highlights all the types and sizes of images the platform uses.
3. Your Message Has To Be Seen
Most people go to social networks to distract themselves for a few minutes. Use images – such as photos and detailed illustrations – with minimal text to grab attention and get your message across clearly and quickly.
Choose images that highlight the emotion you want to create in your audience. You can have an image that focuses on the pain or the solution to that pain.
The simplest thing is to whet the curiosity so that the reader clicks and reads your content.
Regardless of the message you want to convey through your graphic design, it’s imperative to ensure that your information is not only presented clearly but also in a visually compelling manner.
Stunning visual content not only captures attention but also communicates your message effectively.
To further enhance your content’s accessibility and impact, consider using AI translation tools that can be valuable in reaching diverse global audiences.
With these tools, you can seamlessly translate your visuals and messages into multiple languages, breaking down language barriers and expanding your reach to new horizons.
Embracing such technological advancements can truly transform the way you connect and communicate with the world.
4. Consider Contrast
Color balance can make your graphic design come to life on social media. Combine contrasting colors that make your design stand out.
Use colors that have contrast (check the color palette and get color combination ideas) to make your graphic design show-stopping.
5. Study The Visual Identity Of Your Business
When you consider your company’s visual identity before starting to choose your design elements, you will ensure that your follower has a great experience.
Having a well-structured branding will help you study your brand’s visual identity.
6. Keep It Simple
Having such a small canvas to work with (compared to larger works like ebooks and pamphlet designs) quickly causes overcrowding.
Avoid overcrowding your social media graph:
- Using large, eye-catching graphics and illustrations
- Limit font to 2 font options (one for header/title and one for body text)
- Keeping 2 to 3 colors that have contrast between each other (or “complementary”)
- Use white space to contrast a bold, colorful element in the design
Be mindful of any design elements you choose and make sure each one reflects the message you are trying to get across. Know the right moment to stop the mouse.
7. Be Authentic
Building brand consistency is important, but sometimes you have to break a few rules to get noticed by your audience.
The only way to find out what will really make your audience stop mid-scroll to take your desired action is to test different social media graphic designs to see what really works.
Test new design techniques to find out what makes your audience click. Use textures or patterns to add interesting contrast to product images.
This works especially well on e-commerce platforms that have lines of “listings” like Etsy.
8. Focus On What’s Important
Did you know that it only takes the human eye 50 milliseconds to form an opinion about a visual? With just 0.05 seconds to get your message across, your social media graphic design should focus on what matters.
Create a visual hierarchy to make the title text stand out from the body text.
Make your reader FOCUS ON WHAT IS IMPORTANT then add other information in smaller fonts.
Emphasize your message by focusing on the most meaningful phrases. Title text should be the largest size, followed by captions or text in descending order of importance.
Highlight the word that prompts your audience to take a desired action, such as “START A FREE TRIAL”, “GET UP TO 50% OFF” or “DOWNLOAD THE EBOOK”.
9. Look For Inspirations
The best way to find graphic inspiration is to browse current design trends on the platform you’re using.
Take some time to look at the social networks of top businesses or influencers in your industry and take note of the elements you like.
Some of the best social media graphics come from a mix of various design techniques, so don’t be afraid to venture out to new platforms for inspiration.
If you’re creating a health graphic for Instagram, chances are you’ll find great inspiration by searching for health on Pinterest, Facebook, or even Google Images.
I am sure that by following the graphic design tips for Social Networks, you will be able to please your target audience.
