Posting text-based status updates on Facebook is boring. A bunch of alphabets in a particular sequence forming words. To spice things up, you should use Facebook’s backgrounds. That allows you to choose one from the many-colored backgrounds for your message to appear more attractively in the status update. Want to know how to add custom backgrounds to your Facebook post? Continue reading this post.
The benefit is that your status is suddenly more attractive and catchy. You can imagine how easy it is to miss a text update when you are scrolling through a sea of feed. Choosing the right background will help you stand out when others are doing the same with their feed. Make a statement.
Let’s begin.
The steps are simple, but choosing the correct background for your post is not.
Step 1: Open Facebook in your favorite browser and click on the empty area that says, ‘What’s on your mind, name?’ You will find it next to your profile pic below the header in the center of the screen. That will open the Create Post pop-up.
Step 2: Click on the multi-color button on the lower left with the universal symbol for text (Aa). That will open the background gallery.
Step 3: You will now view a set of custom backgrounds, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Click on the button on the far right of the bar to reveal even more options.
Step 4: You will view more backgrounds now. They are neatly organized under headings like Popular and so on. That makes it easier to find the one that you are looking for. Click on a background image to select it.
Step 5: You can type your message or status update now. The text will appear on your chosen background in real-time to give you an idea of how things will look to everyone. Set visibility settings as you would normally do.
Keep in mind that you can’t add another image or even a link or video to your status update. That will automatically remove the background image you just chose.
The steps for smartphone users will differ a little as they are touched-based devices.
Step 1: Open the Facebook app and tap on the empty area that says ‘Write something here’ under the Home tab. You will be greeted with an area to type your status update with a menu at the bottom.
Step 2: Scroll the menu up to find Background Color option and tap on it. It has the text Aa written on it.
Step 3: You will view a bunch of backgrounds. Tap on the last button to reveal even more backgrounds for your status update.
Step 4: Choose a background here to view it in real-time. Tap on the background in the status area to begin typing your message.
The same rules apply for smartphone users, which means you can’t share a link, image, or video while using an image background. It is exclusively for text messages.
The steps for iOS are similar to its Android counterpart.
Step 1: Open the Facebook app and tap on the area where you type your status update. It should say, ‘What’s on your mind?’ You will notice a menu at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2: Slide the menu upwards to find the Background Color option. It is denoted by Aa, which is a universal symbol for text.
Step 3: You should now view a list of backgrounds at the bottom of the screen. Tap on the last button on the list to enter the background gallery where you will find even more backgrounds.
Step 4: You can now choose any background you like from the list by just selecting it. Type your message on the newly applied background to view the effect in real-time.
The Background feature on Facebook is pretty cool but limited by the number of text you can type. If the sentences are too long, Facebook will remove the chosen background image automatically, and you will find yourself typing on an ordinary white background.
There are only so many words you can type on the image. Continue typing if you want to test the upper limit. I suggest you keep the background image feature for short messages only. Looks better too.
Colorful backgrounds add a new flavor to the status updates. Even ordinary messages look pretty cool when you are using a colorful background in the back. I suggest you refrain from using the same background color over and over again as users will quickly get used to it. Keep rotating them to draw attention to the status update.
Next up: Confused between the best online graphic designing websites for Facebook status updates? Check out how Canva and Crello differ to choose the best one for your designing needs.
A cover photo on a Facebook page allows users to customize their Facebook profiles with a personal image.
The process to change your cover photo on a desktop and mobile device is very simple and you can select photos from a range of channels.
Here's how to change your cover photo on Facebook.
1. Go to Facebook.com on your Mac or PC and navigate to your profile page.
2. Hover over your cover photo and select "Update Cover Photo" in the top left corner of the picture.
3. A menu will pop up that will allow you to choose between a number of options for updating or editing your cover photo.
4. Click "Select" to choose a profile picture that has already been uploaded to Facebook; or choose "Upload photo" to upload a photo from your computer. "Select artwork" will allow you to choose from stock images. "Create a collage" will allow you to choose a number of photos to piece together in a cover photo.
Select photo from various channels Stephanie Lin/Business Insider5. Depending upon the option you choose, you'll then be prompted to select from a range of images. Select the photo that you would like to be your cover picture.
If you click "select artwork," a popup with all the different artwork options will appear.
Kelly Laffey/Business Insider 6. The image will appear as your cover photo. From here, you'll be able to edit the positioning. Drag the photo around the screen so that the desired part of the image appears in the frame.
Drag to position your Facebook cover photo. Kelly Laffey/Business Insider7. Hit "Save" to save your cover photo.
1. Open the Facebook app on your iPhone or Android phone and navigate to your profile.
2. Select the camera icon in the bottom right corner of your cover photo.
3. Similar to on a desktop, a menu will appear with options to "View Profile Cover," "Upload Photo," "Select Photo on Facebook," "Create Collage" or "Select Artwork." Make your choice based on the type of photo you want.
4. Select the image that you want to be your cover photo.
You can select pictures from the artwork channel as your cover photo. Kelly Laffey/Business Insider5.
A preview will appear. Use your fingers to drag the image to edit the positioning.
6. Hit "Save" to save the cover photo.
Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.
What do you think is the first thing your Facebook page visitors look at?
I'll give you a hint.
This is visual content that appears at the top of your page and measures 820 pixels wide by 312 pixels high. In most desktop browsers, it takes up almost a quarter of the screen.
Exactly! This is the background image of the Facebook page.
Sometimes referred to as the cover. This image is one of the most visible parts of your page, so it's important that you follow our design guidelines. nine0003
The size of the background image on Facebook
Cut the cover photo to the correct sizes:
If the uploaded image is smaller, Facebook will stretch it to the right size, and it will look fuzzy. nine0019
Whether you're using Facebook to generate leads, close deals, or build a community of customers, it's important to know how to create and optimize cover photos.
Considering the photo sizes mentioned above, it may be difficult for you to match your cover design ideas to the platform requirements.
Note: The green area is visible on both mobile and desktop devices.
As you can see from this picture, there is quite a bit of space on the cover that your audience might not see, depending on what device they are accessing from ー mobile or desktop.
Therefore, it's best to place the content's main message in a green area where everyone can see your cover art, no matter what device they're using.
It seems like a no-brainer, but following Facebook's rules is critical to your page. I would highly recommend reading the full policy and here are a few important things to keep in mind when uploading a background image to Facebook:
If you are caught violating the above rules, Facebook may take action against your page. And while the company doesn't explicitly say what's going to happen, it's probably not a good idea to frame your page for violating the cover photo rules, so read them in full and stick to them from now on.
At the beginning of this article, I mentioned that the best background size for a Facebook page is 820 pixels wide by 312 pixels high for desktops and 640 pixels wide by 360 pixels high for mobile devices.
You don't want to spend time creating a cover and then find it looks weird when you upload it to Facebook.
If you upload an image smaller than these dimensions, Facebook will stretch it to the correct size, but only if its width is at least 399 pixels and height ー 150 pixels.
Back in 2013, Facebook stopped following the 20% text rule on cover photos… but that doesn't mean you can go wild putting text on top of photos. The old rule said that only 20% of your cover photo could contain text. Personally, I thought it was too restrictive for marketers, but the intent behind the restriction was right. nine0003
If you are going to use cover text, keep it short. Your photo will be much more informative and attractive. You can see how we tried to achieve this balance on the HubSpot Facebook page below.
Think of the cover as the first screen of your page. If it's distracting or confusing, people are more likely to leave. nine0003
Many of the best Facebook cover photos include a centerpiece to grab the viewer's attention, as well as a color scheme that matches the brand.
Remember that social media accounts are an extension of your business and should immediately impress your visitors.
There is also a lot of air in these photos, that is, white space to emphasize the topic, place text and other elements unique to Facebook (for example, the call-to-action button on business pages) in the background and stand out even more. nine0003
Here's an example from Makr:
And another from social media management platform Sprout Social:
With some clever design tricks, you could match your profile photo and cover photo so that it looks like one is an extension of the other. You can still do this on your personal profile, but you can no longer do it on Facebook business pages. nine0003
One of the old Paris cover photos looked cool:
Now, as shown in previous examples in this article, the profile picture is completely separated from the cover photo.
We admire your creativity, but don't design like this if you haven't launched a business page yet ー you will be disappointed.
You may have noticed in several of the cover examples above that the main call-to-action (CTA) buttons on them were different. Makr says "Buy now" while Sprout Social says "Sign up". nine0003
Depending on the business, you can customize your Facebook page with a unique CTA button in the lower right corner of the cover. Take this into account when developing your design and explain in the photo what the next step you expect from the visitor.
Hotel Urbano does it in a charming way, using a girl with glasses to draw your attention to the buttons she seems to be floating towards... for example, arrows to get people to click on call to action buttons. Keep in mind that these buttons look different on the mobile app. In other words, if you directly integrate the cover design with the buttons, mobile users will not see the design the way you want it to.
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In a minute, I'll show you how business pages look on mobile devices.
Since the profile picture is on the left, you need to balance the cover design by shifting the focus of the image to the right.
Take a look at these background photos. Which one looks more aesthetically pleasing?
Right-aligned focus:
Left-aligned focus:
Doesn't the right focus cover look better? The largest design elements (profile picture, text, and the Statue of Liberty) are evenly spaced. In the old Samsung cover photo, your attention is immediately focused on the left side of the page, while the product name is completely missing from the upper right side.
Balance is not only an important design element, it also makes your cover photos stand out visually on mobile devices. Which brings me to my next point.
..
According to Statista, in 2019 96% of Facebook users access the social network from mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets . That's a huge number, and that's why it's so important that when designing your Facebook cover, you put mobile users first.
On mobile, most of the cover photo is not displayed because the profile picture and page title are top cover photos.
Image Credit: Twelveskip
Pictured: Facebook Mobile App Visible Area
Profile Photo, Name + Profile Photo, Page Title, CTA Buttons
Let's look at a real world example. Below you can see what the Cisco page looks like on a PC browser compared to the Facebook mobile app.
On PC:
Mobile:
The cover photo is 820px wide and 312px high on PC, while on smartphones only the center portion is 640px wide and 360px high.
Take a look at this Facebook help document for more information.
By the way, notice how the text on the Adobe cover is cut off on the right side. While it's best to align your visuals to the right, be careful not to place important content on the right edge so that it doesn't get cut off when displayed on mobile devices. nine0003
If you want to support a call to action with your cover, make sure your cover photo description also contains CTA text and a link to the same offer. This way, every time people view your cover art directly, they see a download link.
Here's an example on the Adobe Facebook page:
Shorten links and add UTM tags to track clicks on them.
Have you ever pinned a post on your Facebook feed? Typically, pinning a post allows you to show it above all content, at the top of the timeline, for seven days.
A pinned post is indicated by a small blue pushpin in the top right corner of the post. See an example on the Fashion Nova page below:
How does this relate to optimizing your Facebook cover? Well, if you're wasting your time aligning the call to action, cover design, and text description, you and should post this photo to your feed and pin it.
This way you give people one very clear call to action when they land on your page (albeit in several different places). And it should increase conversions.
How to pin a post: just post it on Facebook, then click on the three dots in the top right corner of the post and select "Pin at Top of Page". nine0003
You read it right. Facebook business pages now have the ability to add videos instead of a static cover, as long as they meet certain requirements that we dug up for you.
Save a video file that is 820 pixels wide and 426 pixels high on your desktop..jpg)
Open your Facebook business page, click Change Cover in the top left corner of your background photo, and select Upload Photo/Video. This allows you to upload a file from your desktop to your page, format it, and publish it. nine0003
Facebook now supports cover videos with videos between 20 and 90 seconds long, at least 820 pixels wide and 312 pixels high. The maximum (and recommended) size is 820 by 462 pixels with 1080p video resolution.
Please note that the cover video plays in a loop. As soon as it ends, it automatically starts over if the viewer is still on your page. Consider this, and may everything you post be enjoyable if you see it more than once. Extreme, action-packed videos can get tiring when played over and over again...
You will select a file from the desktop, click "Next" where you will be asked to select one of 10 video preview thumbnails. The picture you choose will be displayed to users who hover over your profile photo before visiting your full business page.
Video Covers ー great option for those who prefer videos. Brands in many industries have already taken advantage of this opportunity to capture the attention of visitors. Here are some great examples to inspire you:
REI
REI sells equipment for outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, running, boating and biking. The unobtrusive cover video captures the idea of the company's products, all in one peaceful timelapse with a changing landscape. And the company knows that this is exactly what its audience wants to see.
Nokia
Nokia wants to be wherever its users are ー whether it's kayaking, scuba diving, skateboarding or work. The Facebook cover video introduces its main customer in a visually pleasing visual. nine0003
WIRED Magazine
When your posts change as fast as the news, it can be difficult to focus readers on the stories you think deserve close attention.
WIRED magazine uses a Facebook cover video for just this purpose, as shown in the example below.
HubSpot Academy
Okay, maybe we have our prejudice, but our brilliant creative team has dealt a devastating blow with this video made for the HubSpot Academy. Sometimes animation is the best way to capture the essence of a brand. nine0003
As you can see from these examples, your video should be as simple as the cover photo. Keep in mind that the guidelines outlined in point 1 of this guide also apply to cover videos.
Original publication https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/facebook-cover-photo-size-best-practices
Translated by Tatyana Pushkina specially for Convert Monster
Traditionally, Facebook sticks to its usual color scheme. It is based on blue and white colors. This design is present in the web version, mobile application and Messenger.
Corporate identity is already familiar to most users. People don't even think about changing it.
In this review, we will look at how to change the color scheme on Facebook.
Content:
Many users are faced with a situation where by mistake and inattention they send a message to the wrong person. If this is a regular correspondence, then there should be no problems: you can always delete the message until the addressee has read it, or apologize. But if this is a chat for business communication, and you sent a personal message there, it will be very embarrassing.
To avoid confusion in chats, they are marked with different colors.
This technique will be very useful. It attracts the attention of the interlocutor and gives the correspondence a bright color in the literal sense.
The change will be displayed to you and your interlocutor.
Color change in the mobile app:
Facebook offers several options. Available in solid and gradient shades.
Advice : If you select "Quick Smiley", it will always be displayed at the bottom right when chatting. You no longer have to waste time searching for the right emoji - you can add an icon with one click.
Now the correspondence will sparkle with a new color. It will be visible on any device.
Computer color change:
A few years ago, Facebook developers noted a decrease in the number of original posts against the backdrop of a rapid increase in reposts of viral content. This trend negatively affected the development of the platform. The administration decided to give users more opportunities to creatively design their publications. nine0003
Example:
At the initial stage, the developers added colored backgrounds. Everyone can use them. You just need to follow the algorithm:
There are many options for solid colors and interesting pictures with which the background is transformed. nine0003
Creating an entry on a colored background in the mobile application:
Important : the colors in the mobile app are much more varied than in the web version. And the list of available colors is constantly expanding.
If you have a group on Facebook, then you should take the opportunity to change the color scheme. This will add originality and style to it. A new user who goes to your public will immediately understand the theme of the group. Of course, the name of the community, the cover and a short description should be as informative as possible. But color also plays a role. Correctly chosen gamma promotes communication and sets the participant in the right way.
The color change feature is only available to the community administrator. If you want to change it, it will be useful to make sure that you have the necessary rights.
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Procedure:
Several colors are available for Facebook communities. Editing will change the background and color of the buttons. You cannot change the tone of text entries.
Using special browser extensions is a great way to make your account more memorable. With their help, they change the color design and choose a color that is comfortable for reading. The extension allows you to make changes only on your own, other users will not see it.
List of extensions available for Google Chrome browser:
