The 14 Best Tips for Facebook Cover Photos

Stand out on the world's most popular social network

Updated on March 11, 2021

Whether you use Facebook for personal or business reasons, your profile is an essential introduction to you and your page. One important feature to set up properly is your Facebook cover photo. This large banner-style photo appears to the public no matter what your security settings are.

Use this large banner to display a message for your brand or as a way to express yourself. If you need help making your Facebook header eye-catching, below are some tips and tricks to help you on your way.

Know Your Facebook Cover Photo Dimensions

To make your cover photo look appealing, know the amount of space you get to work with. Facebook recommends the following dimensions for each viewable format (in pixels):

  • Computers: 820 width x 312 height
  • Smartphones: 640 width x 360 height

Photos must be a minimum of 400 width x 150 height.

Image Placement is Crucial

When designing a cover photo, remember your profile photo covers a portion of your cover photo. On computers, Facebook places the profile photo in the lower-left corner. When viewing from a smartphone, placement is horizontally center and placed on the lower third of the cover photo.

Your profile photo is 170 x 170 pixels on desktop PCs and 128 x 128 pixels on smartphones. For pages, the profile photo doesn't interfere with the cover photo.

Keep it Simple

 Roberto Rizzo/Pixabay

You want your cover photo to draw attention to your Facebook page, but cluttering up the image or using a complex image may detract from your message.

One thing to be mindful of is that most Facebook visitors use the social media platform on their smartphones. Since images are smaller on mobile devices, design around this smaller canvas. If you have to squint to read it on your computer screen, it will be unreadable on a smartphone.

Font Choice and Size

 Free-Photos/Pixabay

If there's text on your cover photo, having a readable size is crucial for displaying your message. Most Facebook visitors view pages on their smartphones. To be sure your audience reads that special slogan, use a large and easily readable font for your cover photo.

Don't Print Your Life Story

 Fathromi Ramdlon/Pixabay

The cover photo isn't the best place for large amounts of text. Your cover photo should pull in viewers with visually appealing images. Too much text may result in your potential audience ignoring your page if it has a wall of text.

If you have more you want to say, use the Intro to go into detail. Your cover photo is an attention-getter, not the heart of your message.

Add a Focal Point

Gerd Altmann/Pixabay

There's usually a focal point on advertisements and artwork that draws the eyes to a point on the image. Once you decide where you want the focal point on your cover photo, place the most critical part of your message there.

Whether it's your personal mantra, your favorite photo from your last vacation, or a product you want to sell, make your message clear and concise.

Using color to draw attention to your focal point is another way to get a viewer's attention.

Make Your Facebook Header Appropriate

Whether your Facebook profile is for personal use or business branding, the image you choose is representative of your page. The cover photo gives your visitors a peek at what you or your company is about. Using an abstract image that might be interesting to look at but has no relevance to your or your page may confuse them.

Use images that reflect your beliefs, hobbies, or company products (if it's a business). Avoid using images that may be mature, violent, or have discriminatory undertones. Yes, this is your Facebook cover photo, but Facebook has standards that must be upheld.

Try Some Action

 Bokskapet/Pixabay

For pages, your Facebook cover photos don't have to be a still image. Instead, add a video or animation. Use a quick video short from your latest vacation, an animated message for the holiday season, or a clever commercial short to showcase your products.

Facebook recommends the following specifications when creating a video cover photo:

  • The video should be at least 820 x 312 pixels. (For best results, use a video that is 820 x 462.)
  • Video can be 20 to 90 seconds long.

After uploading the video, reposition it in the cover photo frame. You may be asked which image from the video to use as the still photo.

Sharing is Caring

When you upload or change your cover photo, an often overlooked task is making the image shareable. It's a great way for others to find your page or learn about your business. Your cover photo can be seen as a digital business card, so make sure anyone can share it with others.

Use the Photo Description

When you upload your photo, include a description. In the description, describe your cover photo. Consider including the location, who's in it, what's going on in the photo, or a detailed description of your product.

Another item to include in the description is a link to a web page. Whether it's your personal page, a company website, or a fundraiser, provide a URL that's related to the cover photo. This just gives you additional ways to bring traffic to the website of your choice.

Use Business Sense

Werner Heiber/Pixabay

If your Facebook profile or page is about your company or products, highlight your products in the image. You can draw attention to a new product, service, or seasonal sale to draw more traffic. Make certain your Facebook banner exhibits your company, logo, or product.

While being artistic and abstract is fun, for business purposes, it's best to get straight to the point.

Use the Call-to-Action

While not part of your Facebook cover photo, the Call-to-Action button is a part of your cover photo in that it draws attention to your page.

For Facebook Pages, the call-to-action gives you an additional opportunity to promote your page. Use your call-to-action to allow visitors to book an appointment, learn more about your business via a linked video or link to another website, shop with you through Facebook or your company's website, or download an app or game you designed.

Since the button's placement is below your cover photo, your photo can draw attention to it. In your Facebook banner, use an arrow and quick description encouraging visitors to select the call-to-action or describe what the button does. The possibilities are endless.

Get Some Third-Party Help

If you don't have the time or the inclination to create your Facebook cover photo, find an app or website to help get you past your creative block. If you use Adobe software, Spark Post is free on iOS and Android. Spark has a few free Facebook cover photo templates that can be customized to suit your needs.

Many of these websites have free templates to get you going, and some, like Canva, have a selection of free images. Other websites like Crello and Ripl provide designs for video and animated cover photos.

If you have Adobe Photoshop, a few websites provide free templates, so the sizing and photo placement won't require guesswork.

Test Your Image

Tero Vesalainen/Pixabay

If you want to be sure image placement, readability, and overall impression are what your Facebook cover photo reflects, test your image on as many types of devices as possible, including your smartphone and any tablets or iPads you have access to.

A few things to consider:

  • Is the text legible?
  • Is the message clear and to the point?
  • Can you easily see what your cover photo is?
  • Does your profile photo interfere with the imagery?

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