Do you post a lot of social media graphics? Do you get the engagement you’re hoping for? If not, your approach might be to blame.
Boost your performance by making these tweaks to your social media graphic design and strategy. Forge Apollo is a trusted social media and graphic design agency near Chester County, PA. Today, our Director of Digital Marketing, Becca Wallace, shares our insider playbook.
Step One: Choose The Right Platforms and Placements
Graphics don’t do well on every social media platform. They typically do the best on Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X, whereas Instagram favors photography and videos. However, this can vary by brand. Wallace recommends “testing graphics on all platforms before deciding to cut a platform for good.”
For example, this graphic announcing a promotion got more engagement on LinkedIn than on Instagram. This is because graphics typically do better on LinkedIn and because the specific audience for this post is more professionally oriented.
Post placements also influence social media graphic performance. Wallace advises that brands “Test posting graphics as stories, carousels, videos, etc. to find out what works best for your audience.” She points out that stories allow users to easily engage through interactive features like polls and links.
Step Two: Create a Diverse Content Mix
Brands need a diverse content mix to succeed on social media. To achieve the best results, create a strategy that balances graphics with custom photography and videos.
For example, this one piece of Forge Apollo’s Instagram feed includes graphics, photos, and videos.
Each type of content serves a different purpose. While informational graphics help build authority, photography and videos help humanize a brand.
Graphics that combine information with custom photography can accomplish both.
Step Three: Design Better Social Media Graphics
Using good graphic design principles in your social media graphics will help them drive engagement. Consider the following when creating your graphics, or work with a graphic design agency like Forge Apollo.
Limit Text
Too much text on a social media graphic makes it hard to read. Limit the text in your design so the viewer can easily understand it.
For example, the graphic on the left contains too much text, whereas the graphic on the right uses limited (but still effective) text.
Add Value
Your social media graphics’ subject matter should be valuable. If people read it, they want it to be for a good reason. Offer valuable information or exciting offers.
For example, the graphic on the left simply states that Forge Apollo is the best at their services, whereas the graphic on the right shares helpful information about the SEO landscape in 2024.
Wallace suggests putting yourself in your audience’s shoes. She says to consider, “Is this something that will make them click, save, share, or comment? If your answer is no, don’t share it. If you’re just posting to meet a quota, don’t expect your graphics to get the results you want.”
Use Custom Imagery
Whenever possible, use custom imagery instead of stock images in social graphics. Real images of your team or other brand assets bring authenticity and connection to your designs.
For example, the graphic on the left uses stock imagery, and the graphic on the right uses a custom image of Forge Apollo’s Website Developer’s work station.
Stay On-Brand
The design elements of your social media graphics, including fonts, colors, and other visual components, should reflect your branding.
For example, the graphic on the left doesn’t use any of Forge Apollo’s branding elements, whereas the graphic on the right does.
Use Animations
Simple animations can help your social media graphics stand out. Wallace says, “There is no reason to post a simple static image when easy-to-use animation design tools like Canva exist.”
For example, Forge Apollo turned this basic graphic of a laptop screen into an engaging animation scrolling through a website design.
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Improve Your Social Media Graphic Design
Get more out of your social media graphics with these tips. The experts at Forge Apollo are here to make your strategy drive more engagement and results with simple tweaks and clear strategies. Contact us today to learn more about social media support.
