How to Maximize the Effectiveness of Your Social Media Cover Photos

Over the past few years, images in social media have become more and more prevalent. Cover photos, in particular, have undergone the biggest change by dramatically increasing in size. All of that open space can feel a bit daunting at first. And with so much room to fill, the need to select the right image here is obvious.

So, how do you accomplish that? Following are tips for image selection across all the major social networks.

Be Unique, Not Generic

There are plenty of stock photo sites to choose from, but using a generic image isn't going to do you any favors or win you any fans. Instead, think about what your brand represents and how you can signify that in your cover photos.

If your business is in the corporate sector, avoid the run-of-mill stock photo of a bunch of businesspeople in suits with their arms crossed, or giving a thumbs up, or sitting at a table talking. We'll all seen this imagery thousands of times, which is reason enough to opt for something else.

Familiar imagery that isn't brand specific will do nothing to imprint your brand onto your customers' minds. If there's nothing there to say, "Remember me!" the customer won't remember you. Plus, making your social media pages stand out can actually increase your followers. The same goes for the content you post to your social networks.

An Extension of Your Brand

How you present your company online plays heavily into your overall reputation. You know that generic images usually aren't a good idea, but you want to know how to truly use cover photos as an extension of your brand. Here are a few ideas.

Use your own photography

Photography isn't everyone's strong suit, but it's well worth the benefits to learn how to take great photos. If you can snap your own photos, you won't have to rummage through stock photography looking for something that can pass as authentic. Plus, you can take photos of your products or show them being used. Showing off your office or your staff can add a level of humanism and individual personality that may help increase trust and customer loyalty, too. In essence, you get to decide how you present your brand when your own photos are in the mix.

Incorporate branded text with a compelling image

Facebook had a rule for a while that your cover photo couldn't be more than 20% text. However, that rule was overturned in July 2013, so you can include as much text as you want now. That being said, it's important to strike a balance between text and imagery.

A paragraph that just so happens to be saved as a .JPG isn't going to do much work for you. However, a photo lineup of your products with a catchy slogan and perhaps a discount code can work wonders. And any way you can use content created by your followers, the better. You should never be afraid to think outside the box. Take Nikon, for instance. Its Facebook page features a "photo of the month" for a cover photo. And off to the left is a small profile photo of the photographer along with his or her name.

This is brilliant because it involves the Nikon community and uses the company's platform to showcase its audience's work. It's cases like these where giving back to your community can really pay.

Let your profile photo do some of the work.

Remember that you have a profile photo to contend with here, too. And it's positioned near or even on top of your cover photo so the two sort of need to work together. There needs to be a sense of cohesion, strategy, and planning. Otherwise, you stand to lose your customers in a puddle of mixed messaging.

Cover Photo Guidelines

Cover dimensions for Facebook image size, Twitter image size and Google+ image size change all the time. But don't let that discourage you from customizing your cover photos as much as you can! Follow the current guidelines whenever you begin a design -- you can always go back and edit the design to fit new guidelines.