6 Easy Tips for Highly Shareable Branded Images

by Kim Niemi

You know images are one of the most important things you can post to your social networks, but how many of the images your business is sharing are actually YOURS? Branded images must be part of your posting strategy if you want people to remember YOUR brand, and not the site of the clever meme that is in no way connected to you. (Someecards thanks you, by the way.)

But how do you make eye-catching, clickable/shareable branded images of your own?

​It’s easier than you may think. Here are some guidelines:

1. Use your own pictures – always. No “borrowing” from Flickr or Google or wherever else. If you’re going to put your brand’s name on an image, you best own it.

2. Create a consistent look. You want your images to scream YOU (or your brand) every time they pop on the screen. Accomplish that by using one of more of the following in every image: 

• Brand colors – use them in your background, or text, or border; figure out your hex codes and make note of them for an exact match every time
• Fonts – use whatever you like, but keep them consistent across every image you produce
• Style – maybe you always right-justify your text, or put it into a gray shaded box; whatever it is, do it every time and it will become your signature
• Logo placement – it should be in the same place every time, and large enough to be recognizable, without overpowering the rest of your image

3. Size matters. Each social network has its own specs for image size (both in megabytes and dimensions), and SproutSocial keeps track of them so you don’t have to. Might not seem like a big deal, but even platforms that share Instagram’s square shape use different sizes, and Google+ crops those into a circle – which could cost you your logo (or hairline) if you’re not paying attention). Create templates for the social networks you’re on, and use them.

4. Simplify the process. If you’re adept at Photoshop, great. You can certainly use it to make branded images for your social accounts, but if not there are plenty of easy options to keep you in the game. Try free programs like Canva or PicMonkey – or whatever works for you.

5. Dress up text. If photography isn’t your thing, or your business doesn’t lend itself to images well – or just to shake things up – remember that text can also be graphically appealing. A good quote (properly attributed), a “top three tips,” or anything catchy you can think of works when you have appealing colors and borders (see item #2), like this image from Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert:

You can do this in the image editor of your choice, or if you’re short on time (or know-how) use InstaQuote (available for iPhone and Android) for easy posting to Instagram. Just resize your “square” to post elsewhere.

6. Add brand URLs and hashtags. Last, but certainly not least, you want to be sure your brand’s website, social URLs, or campaign hashtags are on every image you create. You particularly want to be sure that your website appears on any images of merchandise so social users can easily shop when they fall in love with the image.

You won’t use branded imagery for EVERY image you post, of course – you want to share fan/customer images, and funny or inspiring memes that are on point – but you want to be sure that branded images are part of your toolbox so that followers of your social accounts see your brand’s name pop up in their feeds every now and again, attached to the images that catch their eye.

That way they’ll remember who’s responsible for making them think or laugh or run for their wallets. You.

Got a branded images tip not mentioned above? Share in the comments, or tweet me!

IMAGE CREDIT: DEREK GAVEY