The Three Golden Rules Of Social Media Visuals Getting your visuals right on social media is super important but super easy to get wrong.

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Getting your visuals right on social media is super important but super easy to get wrong. That's why we've put together our golden rules for social media visuals, with before and after examples of how to get them right.

Let's begin…

Rule #1 - Brand it up

Social media platforms now give you so many options for making your pages and profiles on-brand. Your page is your shop window and face to the world, so make it appealing and inviting. This is your chance to show a bit of creativity, so go for it!

Image credit: Infographic.ly.

There's also more you can do with a profile picture than just stick your entire logo on there. This is particularly true if it's lots of text, as people won't be able to see it well in the thumbnail when scrolling through their feed. At infographic.ly we use our "o', which is also a doughnout chart!

Image credit: Infographic.ly.

If you do have a text only logo, try to capture the personality of your brand. We love what Net-A-Porter do with their profile picture, which they also update seasonally (although we don't recommend this for smaller brands).

Image credit: Infographic.ly.

Rule #2 - Don't overstuff information

Information overload is very serious business, and it's very possible to do it with pictures or graphics. It's particularly relevant to infographics but can happen to any well-meaning visual.

Remember that less is more. Eyes need space to rest between taking in information, and a primary focus is really important too. (Note also that Facebook won't let you promote images with more than 20% text!) Check out what happens when some of the information is presented separately. It's still bright and eye-catching, only now it won't make your brain hurt trying to process all the information at once. Luckily, Instagram now allows for carousel images which is a great way to relay more information in just one post.

Image credit: Infographic.ly.

Rule #3 - Keep it consistent

Consistency is so key on social media if you want people to remember you and continue engaging with you. But this isn't just what you talk about, it's how you present yourself too.

At a bare minimum, you should be keeping your fonts, colours and logos consistent, but there's so much you can do to make yourself unique and memorable, especially when it comes to images!

This could be a visual or photographic style, or even a content series. For example, every Thursday we post a #TBT of then vs now, to show how much things have changed over the years - because who doesn't love a bit of nostalgia.

Image credit: Infographic.ly.

(You can find the full collection on Instagram on #50daysoftbt)

So there you have it - our three golden rules for getting social media visuals right! Follow them closely and let your brand shine across the Twitterverse.

Related: Six Social Media Marketing Facts You Need to Know

Carla Saliba

Founder and CEO, infographic.ly

Carla Saliba is the founder of Infographic.ly, a data-design and visualization agency based in Dubai, supporting companies communicate data to its stakeholders clearly and effectively. 

Since launching Infographic.ly in 2013, Carla’s unique ability to make sense of complex information has piqued the interest of global brands. Her list of clients includes MasterCard, TED, Reebok, and Mercedes-Benz, among others. Carla’s work has also been featured in international publications, such as Wired Magazine, and Entrepreneur, in which she regularly contributes on the subjects of business, design, start-up culture and leadership. Although a trained architect for over nine years, and a 17 year career in design-related disciplines, it was upon completing her Master in Business Design at Domus Academy in Milan that she discovered her passion for infographics and entrepreneurial ambition to launch her own agency.

Carla’s expertise has afforded her invitations to speak at international conferences, as well as train government and educational institutions across the GCC to build design capabilities in-house. Her work with translating information through design has gained the attention of Apple for which she delivered an inspiring and educating sessions for business professionals to delve into creativity as part of the ‘Today at Apple’ series. Carla also devotes her time to local initiatives she is passionate about. She sits on the board of Omneyat, and is a Responsible Leader Alumni for the BMW Foundation.

 

 

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