They say a picture is worth a thousand words – but only if it’s sized right for social media.
Alright, so “they” may not say that, but “they” should and “we” do. Don’t believe me? Check out this tweet from Elisabeth Waldon, the News Editor at the Greenville Daily News, and what she discovered perusing the Twitter feed of the Associated Press.
Foreheads. Receding hairlines. Eyebrows. Defining characteristics, sure, but literally only part of the picture. (And probably the least interesting part.)
If it can happen to the venerable Associated Press, it can happen to anyone. But it doesn’t have to.
When you’ve got a story to tell on social media giants like Facebook and Twitter, getting your graphics or images right an absolute must.
Users typically open their browser and move their thumb or their mouse quickly, scrolling down, just waiting for something interesting to catch their eye.
When your post features half an image (or just a forehead), it’s human nature to keep scrolling. “Nothing to see here.” Literally. And that’s a shame.
You spend a lot of time on your message. You spend a lot of time on your branding. You work for days, weeks, and even months honing and refining the words you’ll use and the imagery you’ll employ to tell your story.
These messages deserve to be deployed effectively.
The good news is getting images right on social media is easy. Do-it-yourself graphic design sites like Canva often feature templates to help you build your image right the first time, while many others publish cheat sheets with all of the dimensions you’ll need for everyplace from Instagram to LinkedIn.
Hubspot and SproutSocial offer a couple of the most comprehensive and up-to-date.
Of course, dynamic, cutting edge, avant-garde public relations firms like Resch Strategies can help you navigate the world of social media, as well.
Get it right and you’ll be foreheads and shoulders above your competition. (Zing.)