Graphic Design Elements to Optimize Social Media Images

Imagery shared on social platforms represents brands 24/7. Visually optimized graphics tailored for specific social networks attract more impressions, engagement, shares, and conversions attributable to social content.

By incorporating research-backed graphic design elements into social posts, marketers improve branding, focus attention, convey messaging, and inspire reactions essential for cutting through saturated feeds.

Here are the most effective graphic design principles and tools for crafting contagiously shareable social media imagery:

Maintaining Brand Consistency

Reinforce brand identity:

On-Brand Typography

Use approved display fonts, weights, colors, and treatments matching logo branding in text overlays. Avoid default system fonts.

Consistent Color Palettes

Limit color variations to 2-3 branded hues. Reuse or sample directly from brand guide palettes in imagery.

Recognizable Layouts

Maintain consistent content/image ratios, alignments, placements reflecting other collateral. Frame images to brand aspect ratios.

Coordinated Graphics

Incorporate illustrative icons, shapes, decorations from existing brand assets into supporting graphics vs generic clip art.

Established Tone & Style

Reflect brand’s defined personality and style in graphics through concepts, poses, compositions and details selected. Quote in brand voice.

Feature Recognizable Products/Settings

Photograph branded environments, products or subjects reinforcing awareness of physical properties and settings.

Creating Effective Social Post Layouts

Strategically organize elements:

Lead With Bold Visuals

Prioritize largest canvas area for eye-catching photos/videos. Support with concise text. Avoid long blocks of copy.

Contrast Text

Overlay readable white or black text on contrasting background colors. Thicker fonts stand out. Enable image darkening in editors.

Maintain Consistent Text Areas

Keep font sizes, alignments and text box positioning consistent between posts. Predictability strengthens flow and recognition.

Use Strategic Branding

Include logos, product packaging, tags purposefully without overwhelming. Use for identification only when imagery alone lacks context.

Feature Calls-to-Action Prominently

Draw attention to on-post CTAs through contrasting colors, sizes or interactive elements. Don’t hide key actions.

Add Mobile-Friendly Embellishments

Incorporate touches like high-res renders, textures, lens flares appearing integrated with photos to add polish for scrolling mobiles.

Optimizing Images For Each Social Platform

Fine tune for each network:

Instagram

Vibrant eye-catching photos and short videos suit Instagram’s highly visual feed.

Facebook

Larger images with clear explanatory text perform best feeding Facebook’s algorithm.

Twitter

Concise compelling phrases and captions appeal best to fast-scrolling Twitter users with shorter attention spans.

Pinterest

Tall vertical shots of lifestyle scenes, ingredients, products photographed on white backgrounds attract the most repins.

LinkedIn

Stats-backed charts and infographics support professional discussions. Avoid self-promotion.

YouTube

Busy colorful thumbnails with exaggerated facial expressions help videos stand out among limited room in search results.

Adhere to continually evolving best image dimensions, aspects ratios, and text limits on each platform. Refer to current guidelines.

Shooting High-Performing Original Photos

Capture tailored engaging imagery:

Authentic Moments

Shoot candid lifestyle scenes and emotions vs overly posed and stock-like. Feel relatable and genuine.

Eye Contact

Subjects looking directly at camera involve the viewer and feel trustworthy. Guide subjects.

Clear Subject Focus

Use depth of field, framing and color contrast to emphasize clear focal points aligned with messaging.

Thoughtful Concepts

Creative metaphors, imagined scenes, interesting arrangements and props add intrigue beyond basic product features.

Varied Perspectives

Mix wide establishing shots, tighter crops, overhead angles, macro details for more dramatic capture options optimal for different contexts. Zoom with feet and lenses.

Styled Product Photography

Stage products attractively on their own or in context using professional lighting principles and depth of field for bold focus against soft or blurred backgrounds.

Animating Still Images

Add energy and interest:

Cropping Camera Motion

Simulate pans, tilts and zooms by animating still images gradually cropping frame edges or between detail areas.

Parallax Scrolling

Layer foreground and background image components separately in image editors then move independently on different axes for added depth.

Floating Elements

Isolate words, graphics, products into their own layers then subtly animate shifting position, opacity and scale transformation.

Reveal Transitions

Use masking to gradually reveal key areas of images from behind shapes, product overlays, or wipes building anticipation.

Cinemagraphs

Make looping GIFs with only selective area animations like water flowing or fabric waving while rest of image stays frozen. Mesmerizing movement focus.

Dynamic Resizing

Bounce or zoom critical text/objects into frame for added impact. But don’t overdo movements.

Sourcing Quality Stock Photos and Videos

Enhance imagery affordably through stocks:

Search Relevant Keywords

Find niche-specific shots using millions of tagged photos on platforms like Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, Getty. Start broad then add keywords to narrow.

Seek Diversity

Consciously select modern diverse groups of real people interacting naturally representing your audience. Avoid staged cliches.

Curate Lighting

Opt for well-lit, color corrected images over dark, dreary shots. Pro lighting adds polish. Choose directional light intentionally.

Show Emotions Authentically

Search emotional keywords like “happiness” and “pride” to find images conveying authentic reactions befitting your message creatively.

Consider Image Styles

Leverage illustrative images for more conceptual posts and photos for realism. Mix and match styles.

Review Item Licenses

Double check each item’s allowed commercial usage rights match your needs before incorporating into branded posts.

Creating Unique Branded Graphic Design Assets

DIY engaging graphics with:

Custom Illustrations

Hire affordable freelance illustrators to design original scenes and concepts not copied from competitors. Worth uniqueness.

Professional Infographics

Display interesting insights from data creatively through compelling infographic visualizations designed or DIYed.

Photo Collages

Blend arrangements of themed visuals like multiple product closeups or team headshots grouped together into a meaningful mosaic.

Animated Explainers

Explain complex services or products through engaging 2D or 3D animated videos. Invest in quality for repeat use.

Signature Icons

Develop branded iconography like clever illustrated metaphors representing your niche like fintech uses coins. Improves recognition.

Stylized Stock Assets

Edit purchased stock photos applying custom filters and effects to create more unique branded image treatments at low cost.

A library of branded imagery saves continuously repurchasing one-off items and provides recognizable visual continuity tailored to your niche.

Analyzing Design Performance

Use data to refine graphic approaches:

Compare Engagement

Test posts featuring different layouts, color schemes and styles. Analyze interactions and engagement rates to identity what resonates most.

Review Ideal Image Sizes

Dig into image dimensions driving the most traction. Continuously optimize as algorithms evolve.

Check Text Lengths

Measure character counts on top posts to identify ideal dense informative but scannable caption lengths by platform as guidance.

Define Popular Palettes

Track colors used in saved posts or via online tools revealing commonly used effective palettes you can sample from.

Monitor Comments and Shares

Notice which visual treatments and posts drive the most reactions and engagement fueling visibility through algorithms.

Ask Followers

Run quick polls and surveys with image options asking what posts grab their attention to get direct feedback.

Continuous design testing, data analysis, and audience response measurement ensures you keep imagery fresh and aligned with evolving visual trends and platform changes.

While seemingly minor design details, cohesive presentation of brand identities and strategic structuring of engaging graphics makes social messaging infinitely more discoverable, shareable and actionable. Optimize imagery for visual impact.