When someone visits your Facebook page, the starting time matter they meet is a big splash paradigm taking upward about a quarter of the screen: your Facebook comprehend photo. This is your profile's headline, a big, bold banner image that introduces your brand to potential Facebook followers.

You can feature a lot in your Facebook embrace photo: images of your product or team, ads and promotions, or even something as simple every bit graphic that sets the correct mood. A good cover photograph can result in increased engagement, whether that's more page likes or additional traffic to your website or other social channels.

So, how do you lot brand Facebook comprehend photos—and get the virtually out of them?

This article will go over everything you demand to know about Facebook encompass photos.

facebook cover photos

We're likewise sharing 5 free templates created by our in-business firm design team to aid you become started.

Allow'south start with the basics: making sure your image fits the Facebook cover photo size guidelines (and their other guidelines, as well).

Bonus: Download your free pack of 5 customizable Facebook cover photo templates now. Save fourth dimension and hands promote your brand with a professional design.

Facebook cover photo size: 851 x 315 pixels

The minimum dimensions for a Facebook cover photo (sometimes referred to as "Facebook imprint size") are 851 x 315 pixels. This is the all-time size to choose if you're making a cover photograph and want to know exactly how it will expect before you lot upload information technology.

For the highest quality photographic experience, Facebook recommends using a PNG file. Cull this choice if you want to display a high definition logo in your cover prototype, or if your encompass image contains re-create that actually needs to stand out.

On mobile, it's ofttimes amend to prioritize epitome types that load chop-chop and don't use a lot of data. In this example, Facebook recommends uploading an sRGB JPEG file that also follows these two requirements:

  • Dimensions: 851 x 315 pixels
  • File size: less than 100 kb

Remember, on desktop, Facebook encompass photos are more rectangular, bookkeeping for larger/widescreen displays. On mobile, the encompass photo is more square, allowing it to fit on a portrait-oriented screen.

While 95 per centum of Facebook users access the site via mobile, that doesn't hateful you should ignore the 31 percent of users who also scan via desktop. For a Facebook cover photo that looks skillful on any screen, Facebook recommends an image that's 820 pixels ten 462 pixels. This likewise applies to the platform's newer cover format: Facebook cover videos.

Facebook encompass video size: 820 x 462 pixels

Facebook cover videos are another way to grab a user's attending and drive user interactions on your page. On desktop, embrace videos definitely wait more than engaging than static photos, and can actually bring your page to life. However, they're less constructive on mobile, every bit they don't autoplay, and instead load as a thumbnail.

Here'southward Facebook'due south recommended settings for cover video size and duration:

  • Dimensions: 820 x 462 pixels (820 x 312 minimum)
  • Elapsing: twenty to 90 seconds (no more, no less!)

Note: Facebook comprehend videos can have audio, merely it won't play unless you actually click on the video. For best results, make sure the video you upload works equally well with or without sound. This is something you lot should go along in mind even outside encompass videos: 85 per centum of Facebook users watch videos with the volume turned off.

Other requirements for Facebook cover photos and videos

Also these technical requirements, at that place are specific rules for the kinds of content yous can display in Facebook cover photos and videos. These rules are fairly standard:

  • Make certain you lot're not violating anyone's copyright.
  • Brand sure your comprehend photograph or video is family unit-friendly and safe-for-work.
  • Make certain that if y'all're advertising a product with your cover photograph or video, you're non breaking whatsoever of Facebook'southward advertising rules.

For a total breakdown of these policies, check out the Facebook page guidelines.

How to use the Facebook cover photo templates

Starting with a professionally designed template makes information technology easier to create your own Facebook cover photo. Here's how to customize our templates for your brand. You volition need Adobe Photoshop to become started.

Bonus: Download your gratis pack of 5 customizable Facebook encompass photo templates now. Save time and easily promote your brand with a professional design.

1. Later you've downloaded the templates, yous'll notice that the fonts and image files are carve up. Double click on the font file of your selected theme to upload the font to your computer. Click install font.

facebook cover photo template

two. Double click the prototype file to open it in Photoshop.

3. Select the Facebook cover photo template that you'd like to work with showtime.

4. To edit text: double click the text you would like to edit. Y'all tin can change fonts and colors in the carte du jour on the left-manus side.

facebook cover photo template

five. To edit a color block or background: double click the color block you would similar to edit. Change the size or use the menu on the left-manus side to change the color.

facebook cover photo template

half-dozen. To edit a photo or epitome: double click the photo you would like to edit and click insert new prototype. Resize image equally necessary.

facebook cover photo template

7. To relieve the template: Select the template you would like to apply and go to Save>Export As>Artboard to Files. Make sure to save as a .jpg or .png.

facebook cover photo template

eight. Upload your Facebook embrace photo post-obit the steps beneath.

How to upload Facebook comprehend photos

Once you're finished making your Facebook embrace photo, uploading it is like shooting fish in a barrel.

  1. Navigate to your Facebook business organisation page and mouse over the cover photo infinite at the top.
  2. Click Add together a Comprehend in the top left corner.
  3. Click Upload Photo/Video and select the photo you'd like to upload.
  4. A preview of your photo will appear in the cover space. Click the photo and drag information technology upwards or down to the vertical orientation of your liking.
  5. Click Publish.

If you don't like how your Facebook cover photo is positioned afterwards you've published it, y'all can click Update Encompass and and so Reposition, which will return you lot to pace 4.

Equally yous upload more cover photos, you'll build up a library. If you ever desire to replace your electric current embrace photo with an older one, click Select Photo instead of Upload Embrace Photo in step 3, and y'all'll exist able to cull from previously uploaded images.

Finally, the Select Artwork button contains a number of premade background images for your cover photo space. These await fine in a pinch, only I'd recommend creating branded images for your business page that showcase your organization'southward personality, products, or services.

How to upload Facebook cover videos

Uploading a Facebook cover video is almost the same every bit uploading a cover photo, with a couple of extra steps.

  1. Navigate to your company page and mouse over the infinite at the top.
  2. Click Add a Cover in the top left corner.
  3. Click Upload Photograph/Video and select the video you'd like to upload.
  4. A preview of your video volition appear in the cover space. Click the video and drag it upward or down to the vertical orientation of your liking.
  5. Choose a thumbnail from the 10 bachelor options Facebook provides (hint: pick the 1 that'southward almost likely to pique interest and reel someone in).
  6. Click Publish.

Facebook cover photos: best practices

Now that y'all know the basics of creating and uploading cover photos, it'due south time to wait at some powerful examples, and the strategies backside them.

1. Utilize a simple image with a articulate focal signal

The whole point of your profile banner is to grab attention and elicit curiosity so people accept activeness on your page. Employ memorable imagery with colors that reflect your brand, and don't be afraid to make employ of negative space, peculiarly if you're including copy: information technology'll help your words stand out.

Bonus: Download your free pack of five customizable Facebook cover photograph templates now. Save time and easily promote your brand with a professional person design.

Get the templates now!

Zendesk Facebook cover photo

This playful cover photo from Zendesk uses brilliant colors and negative infinite to brand their copy popular.

2. Pair your Facebook cover photo with your profile movie

A Facebook embrace photo that matches with the contour picture always looks professional and put-together. It might audio limiting, but it's also a good opportunity to get creative.

Target Facebook cover photo

Target's eye-catching Facebook encompass photo makes clever utilize of their bullseye logo. The optical illusion caught me off-baby-sit, earning this cover photo my full attending.

3. Optimize your cover photo for mobile

When you're choosing an image for your Facebook cover photo, think about how it's going to wait on the screens of Facebook's 1.15 billion smartphone users. If there's tiny text, volition information technology exist readable? How will the effectively details await on a smaller screen? What'due south being cutting off when your cover photo is panned-and-scanned to mobile format?

I was surprised to find that many companies (big companies!) don't really bother to optimize for this, making it an easy way to provide a improve page experience than your competitors.

Duolingo Facebook cover photo

Duolingo Facebook Cover Photo mobile

Duolingo has smartly chosen an prototype that doesn't alter too much between desktop and mobile. Nothing is lost in translation, providing both audiences with an equally practiced browsing experience.

Equally an added bonus, the brand proper noun in the banner leaves the profile film open for Lingo (their company mascot) to greet visitors to the page.

4. Rest your Facebook cover photo with right-aligned elements

Centered images work well on cover photos, but aligning your image content to the correct is aesthetically pleasing and has strategic value. Facebook's call-to-action buttons appear on the right side of your profile; ideally, your images should draw the eye to that department of the folio. If possible, include elements that depict attention to your CTA.

How to Cake it Facebook cover photo

Here, YouTube star and cake-decorating sensation Yolanda Gampp uses the encompass photo to advertise her new cookbook, How to Block It. This imprint effectively leads the centre, starting with the copy, then to the book embrace, which is placed right over the Picket Video CTA. It's a directly route to her YouTube channel—and an invitation join her iii.6 million subscribers!

v. Update your embrace photo regularly

Your Facebook cover photograph is the platonic place to announce what'due south new at your company. Keep this space updated with fresh content, whether you're promoting a new product or service, or referencing electric current events in relation to your make.

Here, KFC uses their cover video to advertise the Canadian launch of the latest twist on the infamous Double-Down. This profile video works well because the blitheness is on a curt loop so it's not too distracting. Information technology really creates a mood!

half dozen. Link out from your Facebook encompass photo

Including a link inside the cover photo folio itself is a good style to drive traffic to your other pages via Facebook. Utilize a link shortener like ow.ly to create a customized URL format that's unique to your brand. Information technology makes links more manageable, and conceals the UTM code y'all should exist using to track your traffic sources.

Threadless Facebook cover photo

Here, Threadless uses an all-too-relatable drawing of a cat to drive traffic to their website. When you click the embrace photo, y'all discover a link directing you to purchase the T-shirt. The link contains a UTM code, allowing Threadless to track folio views from their Facebook embrace photo.

Threadless Within Cover Pic

Although they oasis't done it here, some other strategy is to have this URL direct to the aforementioned page every bit the CTA on your main contour, offering some other take a chance for conversion. This too lets you experiment with other CTAs on your Facebook folio (Facebook currently has seven to choose from).

Check out this post if y'all want to more than almost how to write an irresistible call to action.

vii. Pin important updates below your Facebook cover photo

Recall, the goal of a headline is to get yous to read the article below, and Facebook encompass photos are no different. Pin your most important current content to the top of your Facebook page.

When people are drawn in by your comprehend photograph, they'll see the well-nigh relevant information equally soon as they whorl downwards.

Hootsuite pinned post

Hootsuite is currently promoting an upcoming webinar series on Demystifying Social ROI. In improver to a cover video highlighting the event, we've pinned it as the first post on our page so people remember to sign upwards.

Manage your make'southward Facebook presence and your new Facebook cover photo with Hootsuite. Engage followers, track results, and schedule new posts from a single dashboard. Effort it costless today.

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With files from Shannon Tien.