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What’s a Facebook Cover Photo?

Your cover image will be the first thing that people see when they visit your Facebook page. It takes up almost the entire screen.

If your Facebook cover image is bad, visitors will click the Back button as soon as they take their next breath and never return to your page.

A well-optimized Facebook profile photo will encourage viewers to visit your page , interact with your company, or buy products from your online store.

What is the Facebook Cover Photo Size?

Facebook banners (cover photos) appear at 820 pixels by 312 pixels on desktops and 640 by 360 pixels on mobile devices. The size of your Facebook cover photo must be 400 pixels wide by 150 pixels high.

Facebook recommends a PNG for best results.

If you like to be super-technical, the fastest way to load a Facebook cover image is as a sRGB file with 851 pixels in width, 315 pixels in height, and less that 100 kilobytes.

The biggest problem with Facebook cover images

Facebook’s cover photos have a major problem. We get only one, and it looks different on mobile devices and desktops.

How can Facebook help us to solve this problem? It doesn’t.

Facebook doesn’t try annoy us. It’s simply taking into consideration the aspect ratios for different devices.

Remember that Facebook is displayed in portrait mode on mobile devices and landscape mode on desktop browsers. The problem is not the pixel size but rather its shape.

Check out Hershel’s Facebook’s desktop cover photo:

This is how it looks in the Facebook mobile application:

They may look the same, but they’re not. The desktop version has cropped the image.

Now let’s take a look at the desktop version, but I’ve greyed out all the areas that don’t appear on mobile:

The ideal Facebook cover photo size on desktop mobile

To solve this Facebook cover photo problem, make sure your image is much larger than the 820 x 312-pixel recommendation.

Your image should be 820 by 462 pixels.

You can crop your images to 75 pixels higher and lower when they are displayed on desktop.

What does this look exactly like?

The perfect Facebook Cover Photo Template for Desktop mobile

This is a template for a Facebook cover photo that will look great on mobile and desktop devices.

On mobile devices, the entire image will appear. On desktop computers, however, the light-blue sections will be cropped.

To download a template, right click the image and select Save Image as. The image file will be saved to your computer.

What is the best Facebook Cover Video Size?

Facebook cover videos appear the same as photos. The recommended Facebook cover video dimensions are 820 pixels by 462, pixels. The video should also be between 20 and 90 seconds long.

Facebook covers videos are a great way to market your brand, or send a specific marketing message. They can be much more engaging than pictures.

It’s not just good news.

Facebook cover videos on mobile devices are less engaging, since they do not autoplay. Instead, they load as a small thumbnail.

The audio on Facebook cover videos also doesn’t play automatically. Viewers have to click the video in order to hear it. It’s important to ensure that your video remains interesting and engaging even without audio.

It’s a good idea to create engaging videos without sound, even if you post them on Facebook.

This is an example of a Facebook cover video for a watch brand Bremont

Don’t fret if your video is already awesome but the dimensions don’t match. Try uploading your video to Facebook and then using the Reposition feature.

How do I make a Facebook Cover Photo

Once you have a grasp of the dimensions, we will give you six tips for creating a Facebook cover photo.

Shopify offers Hatchful.

Create a brand package in minutes with this free tool. It includes images for all of your social media channels.

Hatchful offers two Facebook cover photos:

2. Make a Facebook cover image using a free tool.

Check out the free graphic design and image editing tools if you already have a logo. Below, we list some.

Many graphic design programs come with templates for cover images. Most of them are designed for desktops (820 by 312 pixels). You can still create a photo using the sizes that are compatible with desktop and mobile (820 by 462 pixels).

Upload the Facebook cover image template to your design and you will see what parts of your photo will be cropped for desktop devices.

For your convenience, here it is again: Just right-click and select Save Image as.

3. Use free photos and videos for your Facebook cover picture

What happens if you do not have any images or videos to post on your Facebook page. It’s no problem!

You can find a variety of websites that offer free images and videos, including Shopify’s Burst or Unsplash.

4. Facebook Guidelines

The majority of Facebook’s rules are common sense.

It’s important to read them, in order not to make a stupid mistake that could result in Facebook removing the page.

This guide includes:

Do not use materials protected by copyrights that you do not own or for which you have no license.
Your Facebook cover photo should be family-friendly and suitable for the workplace.
When you use your Facebook cover photo to advertise a service or product, be sure that you are not in violation of any Facebook advertising rules .

To learn more, visit Facebook page guidelines .

5. Change Your Facebook Cover Photo

Uploading your Facebook cover video or image is easy once you have created it.

To upload a photo to Facebook, simply click on the camera icon in your cover photo, choose your photo and click “Upload Photo.”

Facebook Cover Photo Best Practices

After you’ve learned the basics, here are some best practices to create a Facebook cover photo that will engage your audience.

1. Use a picture with a strong focal area

It’s generally best to avoid images that are abstract and don’t have a specific purpose.

Your Facebook cover photo gives you the opportunity to grab and direct visitors’ attention. Use an image that captures the attention of people and inspires curiosity.

Your brand’s image and look should be reflected in your image.

Tesla has created a stunning image that features its latest vehicle. The road and the background are what draw your eye to the car.

2. Do not include small text or images

Make sure any text or visual detail you include is large enough for a smartphone’s small screen.

It is important to take into account that the majority of Facebook users use the site on their smartphones :

3. Regularly update your Facebook cover image

Facebook covers are a great way to reach your audience . So, update your message often.

You can, for example, upload a new image cover before Christmas. Use a new cover to promote a limited-time offer.

How do you choose a Facebook cover photo that is attractive?

There is no perfect Facebook cover photo. Each brand and business has its own unique characteristics. There are some things you can do to improve your Facebook marketing.

Branding

It is important to maintain a consistent brand with your Facebook page. Your customers will want to be sure that they are dealing with the correct profile and not one of a spam or fan account. Create a Facebook profile photo that reflects your brand guidelines to build trust with your customers. Use colors associated with your company, use consistent language, and repeat the messaging from your website in your images.

CTAs rule

Images are fantastic. Images can be inspiring, eye-catching and viral. Nothing can compete with a cover image that includes a call-to-action. You can use your cover photo to promote an upcoming sale or a newly launched product. You should encourage your customers to learn more about your new business by using prime real estate in the most popular social media platform.

Images and videos for testing

Facebook cover images may not always be the best choice. Test videos and images to better understand your customers’ needs. Videos may be more effective at motivating customers to visit your site than images for Facebook engagement. Test your scenarios to find out what drives your customers.

Engage

Facebook cover photos should not be any different. All images should aim to increase engagement. People who are interested in you and your company will be more likely to promote and brand you by sharing images. In today’s ecommerce world, social proof is more important than marketing and advertising. We give you permission to create engaging content if your audience is happy to share your images.

Facebook Cover Photo Maker

There are many tools that allow you to create Facebook cover images. This means you won’t have to contact a designer each time you want a new one. Here are five of the most popular Facebook cover photos, as well as links to templates. You can create a cover now.

1. Canva

Canva is a great tool for creating images on any platform. But it’s especially good for Facebook cover photos. The cover photo template it offers is also easy to use. Choose a layout, images, fonts and colors to suit your brand and you are done!

2. Adobe Express

Adobe Express allows you to create Facebook cover photos without charge. This tool allows you to create striking banners in just seconds that will boost your brand and attract your audience. They look professional.

3. Bannersnack

Bannersnack offers a variety of templates for cover photos. You can start by dragging an image onto the template and adding some text. The tool is free and offers millions of images, animations and other resources.

4. Photo

Fotor allows you to create Facebook cover photos that are eye-catching and express your brand’s emotions in just a few simple clicks. You can create the perfect Facebook asset that will increase engagement with your followers in just four easy steps.

5. Crello

You can create Facebook covers or videos with Crello that your fans will love. Users can use their templates to inspire creativity and create assets they would not normally be able to. You can compete in your market with bigger brands by using Crello.

8 Facebook Cover Photo Ideas from Successful Brands

After you’ve learned the best practices and tools, check out these nine Facebook cover images from successful brands.

1. Your key selling proposition

The best way to make your Facebook cover picture stand out is by highlighting your main selling proposition or benefit.

Ask yourself: “What’s the main benefit that we offer to our customers?”

This is how Shopify’s Automizely app does it on its Facebook page

2. Animations are a great way to capture attention.

Create a GIF if you want to make a Facebook cover but don’t have time, money or expertise to produce a video.

Use a free GIF creator like Tumblr GIF Maker or Giphy Capture to create your GIF.

3. Showcase your products

When you are unsure what image to use for your Facebook cover, you cannot go wrong by using a beautiful photo of a productspan size=”font weight: 400 ;”>. It can also save you time and money by using an existing image.

This is a great example of Dollar Shave Club

4. Keep it simple

Keep it simple when it comes to designing images that your customers will love. Images with too many CTAs, too much motion, or an overload of information will turn people off. Images are snapshots that capture the most important information. Landing pages should be used for informational purposes.

Keep it simple if you are struggling to come up with the perfect idea. Simple but powerful visuals have helped some of the biggest brands create empires.

Nike –its Facebook profile photo only features its slogan, in black and white.

5. Faces to include in your image

Human beings are drawn to each other instinctively.

Photos with faces get 38% more likes on Facebook than photos without faces, according to a study. Photos with faces also attract 32% more comments.

Biko Jewelry takes advantage of the trend.

Summary

Facebook covers are an excellent way to advertise your brand, or to send a marketing message directly to your audience.

Remember:

Facebook’s cover photos appear at 820 pixels by 312 pixels on desktops and 640 pixels by 360 pixels on mobile devices.
Create an image with 820 pixels in width and 462 pixels in height. Remember that desktop devices will crop the photo by 75 pixels at the top and the bottom.
Facebook cover videos are no different.

Use these best practices when creating your Facebook cover image:

Draw the viewer’s eye by using an image that is large and has a strong focal area.
To visually balance your Facebook page, place the emphasis on the right side of the picture.
Do not include small text or visual elements that are difficult to read on smartphones.

After you have uploaded and created your cover photo on Facebook, make sure to test it out on various devices and make any changes necessary. You can then be sure that it will look good on all devices.

What kind of Facebook banner will you create? A photo, video, slideshow or animation? Tell us in the comments!

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Author: Thomas J Law

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