Facebook Cover Design | 10 Guidelines to Follow (With Case Studies)

1. Introduction

The power of visuals in branding is undeniable. This becomes even more evident when you consider the impact of a Facebook cover design. For many brands, their Facebook business page serves as a landing page for numerous audiences, from potential customers to curious stakeholders. It’s the first impression, and as the saying goes, you don’t get a second chance to make one. But there’s a catch. With devices varying from widescreen desktops to compact smartphones, designing a universally appealing cover becomes a challenge.

The Dynamics of Facebook Cover Dimensions

Facebook’s evolving layout has always centred on the aesthetics of its user interface. One of the pivotal focal points of a profile or business page is the Facebook cover image, providing brands with a canvas to communicate their essence. But there’s a science to this art.

Facebook Cover Photo Size – Desktop vs. Mobile

For those accessing Facebook via a desktop, the cover photo is displayed at 820 pixels wide by 462 pixels tall. This spacious landscape offers a significant real estate to showcase brand messages, high-resolution stock photos, or even Facebook cover photo templates tailored to an event or promotion. Dive deeper into the specifications here.

However, the challenge arises when the same image displays at 820 pixels wide by 360 pixels tall on mobile devices. A significant portion from the top and bottom gets trimmed, which could mean losing out on essential design elements or calls to action (CTA).

Ensuring a Universal Fit

To ensure that your Facebook banner resonates with both desktop and mobile users:

1. Centralise the Focal Point: The middle region is what’s commonly visible across devices. Ensure that your primary message, be it a call to action CTA, your logo, or any other vital element, is centred.
2. Mind the Profile Picture Overlap: Your profile picture will overlap with your cover photo, typically at the bottom left. Make sure no essential elements are obscured by it. Consider this when choosing or designing Facebook cover photo templates.
3. Test Across Devices: Before finalising your design, preview it on both desktop and mobile. Ensure that nothing’s amiss. Free image editing tools can help tweak dimensions for a perfect fit.
4. Stay Updated with Best Practices: Facebook’s layout has undergone numerous changes over the years. Always stay updated with cover photo best practices. This guide can serve as a helpful resource.

2. The Focal Point is Key

In the world of design, where a viewer’s attention is directed can make or break an image. This is where the principle of focal points comes into play. Especially with something as significant as a Facebook cover design, you want to ensure that the viewer’s eyes are immediately drawn to the most critical part of the image.

Determining Your Cover’s Focal Point

Your focal point should ideally be the essence of your brand message on the cover. For businesses, it might be a product, a call-to-action (CTA), or even a company slogan. For individuals, it could be a professional photo or a snapshot of a significant life event.

Positioning for Impact

Remember, on mobile devices, the sides of your Facebook cover photo might get trimmed. To ensure that your focal point isn’t compromised:

• Keep it centred: The middle of your cover is safest and is usually where eyes drift first.
• Use contrasting colours: This can make your focal point ‘pop’ from the rest of the design.

For a deeper dive into the intricacies of focal points in design, check out this comprehensive guide.

3. Navigating the Profile Picture Overlap

One unique challenge that Facebook presents is the overlap of the profile picture with the cover photo. This can either be a design nightmare or an innovative opportunity, depending on how you navigate it.

The Overlap Explained

Your profile picture is placed at the bottom left of the cover photo. On mobile devices, the positioning is even more prominent. Given its significance, it’s crucial to ensure your profile picture and cover photo are harmonious.

Designing Around the Overlap

Here are a few pointers:

• Avoid Clutter: Make sure that the bottom left corner of your cover photo is relatively clean, so there’s no clash.
• Integrate, Don’t Isolate: Consider designs where the profile picture feels like an integral part of the overall image, not an afterthought.

Case Study: Nike

A brand that has artfully mastered this challenge is Nike. By seamlessly integrating their iconic tick with evocative background imagery, they’ve turned what could be a design obstacle into a standout feature. Their use of monochromatic backgrounds ensures that the tick (their profile picture) complements rather than clashes with the cover photo. The result? A cohesive brand representation that stands out in any Facebook feed.

4. Utilising High-Quality Images

In today’s digital age, where first impressions are formed within split seconds, compromising on image quality is a no-go. A pixelated or low-resolution Facebook cover can not only harm your brand’s image but can deter potential followers or clients from engaging further with your content.

The Risk of Low-Resolution Images

Low-quality images can convey a lack of professionalism or attention to detail. They can distort the message you’re trying to send, making your brand look amateurish.

High-Quality Resources

If you don’t have access to professional photography, there are a plethora of online resources that offer high-quality stock photos. Websites like Unsplash or Pexels provide free images that can be used for commercial and personal projects without any licensing issues.

Case Study: National Geographic

Few brands understand the power of a picture quite like National Geographic. Their Facebook covers frequently feature breathtaking landscapes, intriguing portraits, or snapshots of raw, powerful moments. Each image is of the highest resolution, telling a story even before you dive into their content. This commitment to quality not only reflects their brand identity but continually draws in viewers from around the globe.

5. Designing with Mobile Users in Mind

Considering that a significant chunk of Facebook users access the platform via mobile, optimising your cover for mobile devices is non-negotiable.

Facebook Mobile Dimension Specifics

On mobile, your Facebook cover displays at 820 pixels wide by 360 pixels tall. This means that the sides of your cover photo designed for desktop might not show up on mobile.

Optimising Tips

1. Centre Your Content: As mobile views tend to crop the sides, ensure the essential elements of your cover are centrally positioned.
2. Test and Preview: Always preview your cover photo on multiple devices to ensure that no critical content gets cut off.

Case Study: Starbucks

Starbucks, the global coffee giant, offers a masterclass in mobile-optimised design. Their covers, often themed around seasonal offerings or campaigns, are crafted to ensure that the brand message is evident, irrespective of the device it’s viewed on. Be it a desktop with a widescreen monitor or a mobile phone, the visuals and text elements are perfectly positioned, ensuring a consistent brand presentation.

6. Crafting a Compelling Call to Action (CTA)

While aesthetics are critical, your Facebook cover can also serve a functional purpose. Integrating a compelling call to action (CTA) can transform your cover from merely decorative to a powerful conversion tool.

The Functionality of a Facebook Cover

Beyond its visual appeal, a Facebook cover can guide users towards taking a specific action. This could be anything from visiting a website, checking out a new product, signing up for a webinar, or even just watching a video.

Designing Your CTA

1. Visibility: Make sure your CTA stands out, but ensure it doesn’t overshadow the overall design.
2. Clarity: Be clear about what you want your visitors to do. Use straightforward and concise language.
3. Placement: Consider positioning your CTA near the centre or where the viewer’s attention is likely to be naturally directed.

Case Study: Netflix

Netflix brilliantly uses its Facebook cover as a promotional space. Instead of a static image, they often highlight trailers of their new shows or films, turning viewers into potential watchers. Their CTAs, often in the form of play buttons or taglines like “Now Streaming”, subtly yet effectively entice users to dive into their latest offerings.

7. Avoiding Clutter: The Power of Simplicity

In design, sometimes less is more. Overloading your Facebook cover with too many elements, colours, or text can be counterproductive, leading to a confusing user experience.

The Dangers of Over-Designing

An overly intricate design can confuse your message and lose your audience’s interest. It’s essential to strike a balance between being informative and staying concise.

Embracing Minimalism

1. Prioritise Content: Decide on the key elements that must be present and eliminate any superfluous additions.
2. Use Space Wisely: Embrace white or negative space. It can help direct focus and make your design breathe.
3. Stay Consistent: Ensure the design aligns with your brand’s look and feel, without trying to incorporate too many styles at once.

Case Study: Apple

Apple’s Facebook covers are a testament to the power of simplicity. Renowned for their minimalist approach, their covers often showcase a single product or feature, accentuated by a clean backdrop and concise text. This simplicity not only amplifies the product’s significance but also echoes Apple’s broader branding strategy of sleek and straightforward design.

8. Consistency with Overall Branding

Consistency is a pillar of strong brand representation. Whether it’s through colours, logos, themes, or messaging, maintaining a steady brand image helps cement brand recall and recognition amongst your audience. When users visit your Facebook page, they should immediately associate your cover photo with your brand, even if the logo isn’t prominently displayed.

Key Points on Brand Consistency:

1. Colours and Typography: Always use brand-specific colours and typefaces. This not only reinforces brand identity but also ensures that your audience instantly recognises the brand.
2. Themes and Messaging: Your Facebook cover should reflect current campaigns, promotions, or themes you’re pushing on other platforms.
3. Voice and Tone: Ensure any text or messaging adheres to your brand’s voice, whether it’s professional, casual, humorous, or any other style.

Case Study: Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola stands as a paragon of brand consistency. Even though they have diversified their product range and had multiple campaigns over the decades, the central themes of happiness, togetherness, and of course, the iconic red and white colours, remain consistent. Their Facebook covers, whether promoting a new flavour or a global campaign, always resonate with these branding elements, ensuring a cohesive brand image across all touch points.

9. The Advantages of Facebook Cover Photo Templates

For businesses with limited design capacity, starting a Facebook cover design from ground zero might seem daunting. Thankfully, numerous reliable solutions, in the form of Facebook cover photo templates, come to the rescue. These pre-designed templates adhere to Facebook’s sizing criteria and are crafted for visual appeal and platform optimization.

Why Choose Templates? Here’s the Rundown:

1. User-Friendly: Many of these template solutions are designed for ease, featuring intuitive drag-and-drop functionalities.
2. Flexibility: Base designs are a starting point. These templates are adaptable, allowing brands to infuse their identity through custom colours, images, and fonts.
3. Tailored for Facebook: With templates, the design fits Facebook’s specific requirements, removing any guesswork.

Renowned Template Providers for Facebook Cover Design:

• Canva: Renowned in the design arena, Canva offers a variety of customizable Facebook cover templates suitable for diverse niches.
• Crello: A reliable design tool, Crello provides templates tailored for Facebook covers.
• Snappa: With its user-friendly interface, Snappa offers a range of modifiable templates.
• Fotor: Fotor has a dedicated section for Facebook cover designs, ranging from minimalist to intricate.
• PosterMyWall: This platform offers customisable templates for various social media, including Facebook covers.
• Befunky: A design solution that provides templates and tools for crafting standout Facebook covers.

Choosing the right design solution is essential. Businesses should select one that resonates with their brand’s visual language, ensuring their Facebook cover is a true representation of their identity.

10. The Merits of Consistently Refreshing Your Facebook Cover Photo

In the dynamic realm of social media, brands cannot afford to be static. Your Facebook cover photo is a prime piece of visual real estate, reflecting your brand’s ongoing journey, its accomplishments, upcoming events, or shifts in brand narrative.

Why Regular Updates Matter:

1. Relevance: Keeping in tune with current events, product launches, or seasonal themes makes your brand look updated and engaged with its audience.
2. Engagement Boost: A new cover photo often attracts attention. It pops up in the feeds of followers, prompting potential clicks and interactions.
3. Flexibility in Messaging: Whether you’re running a new marketing campaign, launching a product, or celebrating an achievement, your cover photo can be a billboard for that message.
4. Staying Top of Mind: Regular updates keep your brand fresh in the minds of your followers.

Spotlight on Disney: A Case in Adaptability

Disney is a masterclass in leveraging the power of the cover photo. By regularly updating their Facebook cover, they keep fans engaged and informed. Whether it’s to drum up excitement for a forthcoming film, highlight festivities at their theme parks, or simply celebrate their vast character universe, Disney ensures their cover photo is timely and evocative. It’s an approach that fosters engagement and keeps their massive fanbase eagerly awaiting what’s next.

Showcase: Here are some Stellar Facebook Cover Designs

A good Facebook cover is more than just an image – it’s a reflection of a brand’s essence, mission, and latest offerings. Here’s a look at ten companies that have effectively harnessed the power of the Facebook cover:

Adidas: A true reflection of the brand’s vibrancy, Adidas uses its cover photos to dynamically blend their iconic brand colours while shedding light on new product releases or their enduring brand philosophy.

GoPro: The champion of user-generated content, GoPro’s cover often features exhilarating snapshots taken by its community of users, celebrating both the product and the people who use it.

BBC: A diverse range of content needs diverse representation. BBC’s covers expertly highlight their latest shows, documentaries, or special broadcasts, creating anticipation and buzz.

Oreo: Known for their creative marketing, Oreo’s covers are no different. They’re fun, interactive, and sometimes even challenge their audience to fun little games or riddles.

Spotify: A platform defined by music, Spotify’s covers resonate with beats and tunes, spotlighting new album releases, curated playlists, or their artist of the month.

Airbnb: Making the world feel like home, Airbnb’s covers transport you to breathtaking properties or unique experiences available on their platform, instilling wanderlust.

Red Bull: The brand that gives you wings ensures their Facebook covers do too. With an emphasis on adventure, exhilaration, and feats of daring, their covers are a shot of energy.

ASOS: The fashion-forward brand keeps its Facebook cover as trendy as its collection. It’s a montage of the latest fashion statements, season-specific collections, or their current fashion inspiration.

UNICEF: A picture speaks a thousand words, and UNICEF’s covers speak to the heart. With powerful imagery, they underscore their global mission and the campaigns they’re championing.

From the visuals chosen to the messages conveyed, every element of your cover photo contributes to how visitors perceive your brand. As we’ve observed from industry leaders, a well-thought-out Facebook cover can echo a brand’s ethos, highlight its latest offerings, and even act as a silent salesperson.

Yet, the digital landscape is ever-evolving. Trends shift, brand messages evolve, and audiences’ preferences change. It’s imperative for brands, whether established giants or budding start-ups, to periodically revisit their Facebook covers. Assessing its relevance, alignment with brand objectives, and effectiveness in capturing audience attention can make all the difference.

In wrapping up, consider this: in the vast expanse of the Facebook universe, your cover design is your brand’s billboard. Make sure it tells the story you want to be told. Ready to elevate your brand’s first impression? Contact us today to perfect your Facebook Cover Design!