Social Media Post Design: A Beginner’s Guide

Currently, social media marketing is one of the best ways in which marketers can target their audiences. Brands leveraging social media platforms to their fullest certainly have a competitive advantage over those who are not. But to use social media optimally, it is important to focus on creating good social media post design. Using the right graphic design in posts is crucial to convey the right message and boost brand identity.

In this blog, we will understand everything about social media design in detail. We will also look at some great examples of social media posts to help you comprehend the concept better. So, let’s get started.

Importance of Social Media Post Design

Social media platforms present a great opportunity for establishing a connection with your audience and keeping them engaged with your brand. When done right and with style, your social media strategy can immensely broaden your customer base. And it is the social media design that plays a pivotal role in increasing brand awareness as well as grabbing the user’s attention. Here are some of the top reasons why your social media post design holds so much importance.

● The right design captures the user’s attention at the very first look.

● Good designs equal more engagement. When the design is right, it has a better chance of being remembered.

● It builds a positive brand image and enhances brand recognition.

● A great and expressive design conveys what your brand stands for.

So, if you have been neglecting your social media post design, it’s time to rectify the mistake.

5 Elements of a Good Social Media Post Design

Whenever you post something on social media, your first goal is to seize the attention of the users. With so much content on social platforms, your design has to be special and impeccably different to get noticed.

Your posts must be an authentic representation of your brand. You must use them to engage with your audience in a way that shows you understand them and their needs well. So make sure to include all these elements in your social media post design to strengthen your game. Here are the top five elements of a good social media post design. Focusing on these elements will help you create posts that engage your audience and send across a strong message.

1. Powerful visuals that align with your brand

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Your image/video is the foremost element of your social media design. Therefore, it must always align with the copy and headline of your post. Creating a social media post with text alone isn’t advisable, as imagery has a far-reaching impact on the human mind.

That said, the images or video that you use in your post must:

● Be easy to consume.

● Convey a simple message quickly.

● Have an emotional impact on the viewers.

Additionally, make sure the images you use in your design are non-pixelated and include adequate white space. Refrain from adding too much text to the images. The choice of colors used will depend on the platform. For instance, pastel shades or low-saturation images tend to perform well on Instagram.

It is best to work with a professional photographer to get images or videos that align with your brand’s voice. But if you must use stock images, stay cautious and ensure you stick to your brand guidelines.

2. Brief and persuasive copy

Another crucial element is social media content writing. Your copy must be brief, compelling, and expressive. When you are writing your copy, make sure you address the reader and use their language. Avoid using too many phrases or vague expressions that can mislead them.

Whether it is a LinkedIn update, Facebook or Instagram post, or a Tweet, make sure you clearly demonstrate the advantage of reading the post, following the link, or watching the video. Also, make sure to use relevant hashtags that organically boost your post’s reach.

3. Clear intent

Before you begin posting on social media, it is important to think about what you are trying to achieve. For instance, do you wish to drive engagement or connect with your existing customers? Or do you want to expand your customer base?

Having a clear idea of what you wish to achieve will guide your social media efforts. And once you know the intent or your end goal, you can make sure that each element of the post clearly reflects it.

4. Consistent posting schedule

Whatever social media platform you choose, having a consistent posting schedule is imperative for success. If you post once in a while, you cannot expect to build your audience base or even keep your followers engaged.

Thus, it is important to follow a posting schedule. For instance, you can post two or three times a week. Alternatively, you can post three Instagram Stories every day. Whatever number you decide on, you need to stick to it.

5. Links to your blog, landing page, or website

Depending on the goal of your social media post, you must add links that further convey your message well. And this can be a link to your website, blog, or even a landing page.

5 Examples of Impactful Social Media Post Design

The best way to seek some social media post inspiration is to learn from the pros of the industry. And this is why we have gathered some of the best post designs for you to check out.

1. HubSpot

HubSpot nails its social media design game every single time. The aforementioned post is bright, creative, and on-brand (visually familiar). The copy is relatable and extremely compelling. It provides an outline for the company’s game plan and delivers on its promise of offering valuable information. The caption ends with a CTA that makes the post a 10-on-10.

2. Shopify

Another impactful social media post design is this one by Shopify. This is a Tweet describing the launch of Shopify Markets. The brand posted an explainer video with succinct information and fully customized graphics. Shopify sure knows how to make a huge announcement without compromising on quality. Both the video and copy are clean, easy to understand, and effective. They get brownie points for the voice-over.

3. Shipt

Showcasing behind-the-scenes content is an excellent way to humanize a brand, and Shipt knows it well. The company does a great job of creating a post that highlights its employee advocacy program. The image quality is great, and the subject stands alone, without any props cluttering the background. Also, human faces make any post much more likable and trustworthy.

4. Moz

This Facebook ad from Moz is a brilliant example of social media post design that stands out with bright colors. The color palette is such that it instantly grabs the attention of the audience. At the same time, it is not so bright that it hurts the eyes or takes away from the message. The copy is strong and studded with persuasive, curiosity-raising statistics that help bring the point across.

5. Optimizely

You barely have two seconds to capture the attention of a user with your Facebook ad. And Optimizely does that well by flaunting a minimalist design with a hint of neon to draw the eye towards the CTA.

The black background causes no distraction, but instead, enables the yellow arrow to stand out. Additionally, the text is clean and eye-grabbing.

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Designing a Social Media Post

As a marketer, you may be putting all the effort into designing your social media posts. But they still might not reach as many people as you would like them to. And do you know why?

Well, it’s possible that you may be making some common mistakes without even realizing it. So let’s take a look at the most common social media design mistakes to avoid.

1. Using blurry images

Many times, as you upload your images to your chosen social media platform, they get blurry. This happens if your file size is small and it has to be stretched to fit in. And this can lead to blurry and pixelated images that make your brand look unprofessional.

So, to avoid this, it is advisable to always upload high-resolution images. Also, decide on the platform where you wish to upload the image and pay attention to the file type that works best for it.

2. Using overly decorative fonts

A lot of marketers make the mistake of using highly decorative fonts for their social media post designs. But it isn’t always the right thing to do. The typography should be clean and easy to read, as most of the followers are simply browsing through their feed. So, if you really want your message to get across, keep the fonts simple.

Some of the best fonts you can try for your posts are Sans-Serif, Verdana, Arial, and Helvetica. All of these fonts work perfectly for digital screens. They can be used in logos, banners, and Stories as well.

3. Using the wrong color palette

Colors have a long-lasting impact on our minds. Also, each color signifies a different meaning. For instance, red stands for power and passion, whereas yellow signifies friendship. You must carefully analyze the meaning behind each color, and select one that matches your brand’s identity.

Additionally, colors should not be overpowering. Make sure the palette you select for your social media design is easy on the eyes and works consistently with your brand. Here’s a great example of using a balanced color palette:

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4. Utilizing every inch of the space

When it comes to graphic design, less is often more. So make sure to add adequate negative space in your posts. A common practice is to fill up the entire space with logos and letters. But this can be too distracting and can take away from the essence of the post. Try embracing space and avoiding chaos in your images.

5. Not using grids

The human mind is subconsciously trained to follow a specific path. So if you position your text or other elements in a random way, it will appear chaotic. Thus, it is important to get the alignment and spacing right. This will make sure that you don’t distract the user and that your post does not look messy or rushed. In most cases, center or left alignment is preferred by graphic designers.

Your social media post design can either boost or diminish the essence of your brand’s message. Selecting the right design is important to gain more followers and establish your brand’s online identity. The aforementioned tips will help you understand the various elements of a social media design, as well as avoid the common design mistakes that can ruin your online presence.

Key Takeaways

● Social media is a tool that provides adequate opportunities for sales, engagement, and connection with the audience.

● To get the best results from your social media efforts, you must create quality content, backed by impeccable social media post designs. Your brand can stand out only if you create eye-grabbing designs.

● You must use powerful images and videos that match your brand’s identity. Also, the visual content must be accompanied by persuasive copy.

● Get rid of blurry images or extremely decorative fonts. Use sharp and striking graphics, together with simple font types, such as Arial or Sans-Serif, for maximum impact.

● Use grids while creating posts. Pay attention to alignment, and use adequate negative space to avoid chaotic or messy posts.

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