Let your Facebook banner stick out from all the rest. Read on to discover the best ways to utilize all of the image space to your advantage.

First thing’s first, you will need the appropriate banner size so that your perfect imagery can “wow” your clients and friends. When they visit your page, the banner is the face that should attract and impress them.

There are specific dimensions to a Facebook banner as well as detailed placement when it appears on the page. This is very integral to the design itself. But before you start going design crazy, pay attention to the guidelines so that you don’t find yourself starting from scratch multiple times.

The DO NOT’S of Facebook Banners

DO NOT steal someone else’s work.

Make sure that any images you use don’t belong to someone else. It’s not only an integrity move, but you also want to avoid any legal issues. This guideline is not necessarily a bump in the road. If you are serious about your business, you are investing enough time and money into your own unique branding. You want your business to stand alone and not be confused by anyone else.

DO NOT be a sales man.

You don’t want to come across as needy by doing something like designing a banner that encourages your guests to like your page. You are also unable to drop product prices, discounts or any other special offers. Social Media is not a market place, after all. It’s a place where you want your consumers or potential clients to get to know you and the credibility of your business.

DO NOT provide contact information.

Within the banner, adding your contact information is a no, no. There is a time and a place for everything. For your contact information, that place is the About section within your Facebook page.

Let’s Get Creative!

With the “DO NOT’S” out of the way, let’s get down to the meat and potatoes of this blog; the banner design process.

Banner Size.

This is the tidbit of information you were looking for. The Facebook banner dimensions are 851×315 pixels. Rest assured that Facebook will reject anything larger, and sometimes even smaller than these dimensions. So be diligent in using this guideline to ensure no important visuals are cropped when uploading to your page.

Pixels. Pixels. Pixels.

When you upload your image, Facebook will lower the resolution whether you like it or not. Work on the DPI and other saving outputs when designing your image via the software of your choosing so that the adjustment made on Facebook’s behalf doesn’t ruin the overall look of your image.

Show your audience who you are.

While you can’t add your contact information, you can use imagery that portrays your company name and/or slogan. This is where you can become creative. Find images that demonstrate what your product is and what it can provide to your potential customers. The vision on this banner should be memorable and appealing.

Some even create banners that merge with the profile image when together. If done correctly, it can be a huge success. It is, above all, the billboard to your organization. The more creative, the better.

Stay relevant.

Sometimes you will have returning guests. You will need to capture those guests’ attention just as much as the first-time visitor so you keep them coming.  One great way to do this is to swap out your banners frequently. Change in banners can be influenced by monthly newsletters, new products, upcoming events or special announcements.