Creating a LinkedIn banner is one of the issues you’ll have to tackle as soon as you want to prospect on LinkedIn. To create a good LinkedIn banner, it’s important to consider several elements.
What are the rules in terms of graphic design? What are the guidelines to follow to generate an effective banner? What are the stakes for the company?
In this article, we share all our knowledge and alternatives to help you create the best LinkedIn banner, improve your image, and generate more business!
Why create a good LinkedIn banner?
Several reasons can motivate the creation of an effective LinkedIn banner. Indeed, optimizing your professional banner on your LinkedIn profile allows you to:
- improve the company’s brand image;
- generate new qualified B2B leads;
- increase your reach;
- build user trust;
- optimize your conversion rate and your LinkedIn profile in general.
As you can see, improving your cover photo is an excellent way to make a good impression on your prospects and potential clients, while expanding your network and increasing your number of connections on LinkedIn.
At LaGrowthMachine, we advise our clients daily on the basic rules for LinkedIn ABM or for your general prospecting on the social network.
We observe differences in campaign results between a “good” and a “bad” LinkedIn profile.
Here are the results you can expect from LinkedIn prospecting with LaGrowthMachine:
Of course, the profile was not the only element that influenced conversion in these campaigns, but we can assure you that with a half-optimized profile, the numbers are not as high!
But be careful, optimizing your LinkedIn banner is not that simple! Indeed, there are several elements to consider to create an effective banner. Here are the rules to follow to implement the best possible LinkedIn cover photo!
How to create a good banner?
A well-designed banner can make all the difference in attracting your target audience’s attention, encouraging them to click, and contact you. Here are some tips for creating a striking LinkedIn banner:
- Use strong and impactful images;
- Play with colors to create a striking contrast;
- Integrate relevant visual elements (logo, slogan, etc.);
- Keep the banner simple and avoid long texts;
- Think “mobile first” and create a responsive banner;
- Use templates
Tip 1: Use strong images and impactful designs
A banner must be visually striking to grab attention. Use strong, high-quality images that align well with your brand. Avoid overly busy or cluttered images. You can also create your own design without using a photo.
Tip 2: Play with colors to create a striking contrast
This is a basic rule of marketing and communication: banners that have the most impact are those that play with color contrasts. Use complementary colors to create a striking visual effect that will make your banner stand out and entice your target audience.
Tip 3: Integrate relevant visual elements (logo, slogan, etc.)
A banner should be more than just an image. Make sure to integrate relevant elements such as your logo or a catchy slogan, or other similar resources. These elements will help people remember your brand at a glance. Be sure to only use images that do not infringe copyright!
Tip 4: Keep the banner simple and avoid long texts
“Less is more”! In our experience, too much text on a banner can be difficult to read and discourage your target audience from clicking. Keep the design simple and avoid long texts. In terms of creativity, opt for short, impactful phrases. You can also develop a communication process around a specific topic, such as news, products, or a project.
Tip 5: Think “mobile first” and create a responsive banner
More and more people access the internet via their smartphones. Make sure your banner displays well on all devices by designing it “mobile first.” Your banner should also be responsive, meaning it adapts automatically to screen size. Depending on your mobile device, the screen size may vary. Ensure you adapt your photo format to remain suitable for all models!
Tip 6: Use templates
If you don’t know how to create your professional banner, you can use a template. There are many online tools available for designing banners, such as Canva or Bannersnack. These tools offer hundreds of banner templates that you can customize to your liking.
By following these tips, you’ll be able to create a striking and professional LinkedIn banner. Take the time to design it well and don’t hesitate to test different ideas to find what works best for your brand.
How to change your LinkedIn cover photo?
Among its many features like filters, sales pipeline optimization, email, and sales assistance tools, the platform allows you to modify your photos very easily.
To do this, go to the “Profile” section of your homepage. Then, click on the “Edit banner” button located at the top of your current banner. Next, select the image you want to use as your new banner and upload it. LinkedIn will then offer you some tools to customize your banner, such as cropping or rotating. Once you are satisfied with the result, click “Save changes” to validate your new banner.
With this information, as well as your LinkedIn summary, you now know how to change your cover photo on LinkedIn! Feel free to test different banners to find the one that best represents you. And remember that you can always change your banner at any time if you wish to make an update. If you need help, go directly to the tool’s FAQ.
What tools for your LinkedIn banner?
If you want to create a professional LinkedIn banner, you might need the skills of an expert, take a training course, or use quality design tools. Fortunately, there are several online tools that can help you design an effective LinkedIn banner:
- Canva
- Bannersnack
- Adobe
Canva
Canva is the perfect platform to design a professional LinkedIn banner in minutes, without needing a graphic designer.
To start creating your LinkedIn banner with Canva, go to canva.com and select “Banners” from the menu. Then, choose the banner template you want to use. Canva has many professional templates; all you have to do is select the one that best suits your image.
Once you have selected a template, you can customize it to your liking by adding your logo, images, and text. You can also add effects to your images, choose professional fonts, and much more.
When your banner is ready, simply save it in PNG or JPG format and upload it to your LinkedIn profile. You can also share your banner on social media with a single click.
Adobe
Adobe is one of the best platforms for creating your LinkedIn cover photo. With Photoshop and Illustrator software, you can easily create an attractive and professional banner that can really help improve your visibility on this social network. Follow these simple steps to get the best results:
1. First, open Adobe and select “New”.
2. Next, choose the size of your banner. LinkedIn recommends a width of 1584px and a height of 396px.
3. Once you have selected the size, add text and images to your banner. Make sure to use only professional fonts and high-quality images.
4. Finally, save your banner and upload it to your LinkedIn profile. There, you now have a perfect LinkedIn banner!
Bannersnack
Bannersnack is an online software that allows you to create banners for your social profiles, websites, and more. It is easy to use and offers many professional templates that you can customize to your needs.
Here’s how to use Bannersnack to create a LinkedIn banner:
1. Go to the Bannersnack website and create a free account.
2. Once logged in, click the “Create Banner” button at the top of the screen.
3. Select the banner template you want to use. There are many professional templates available; just browse and choose the one you prefer.
4. Customize your banner by adding your own images, text, and colors. You can also change the banner size if needed.
5. Once you are satisfied with your banner, click the “Download” button at the top of the screen.
Conclusion
You now know how to create a professional LinkedIn banner that can truly enhance your visibility on this social network.
Remember that, like your LinkedIn URL, you can always change your banner at any time if you wish to make an update.
Simply use the online design tools mentioned above to create impressive LinkedIn banners in minutes, without needing a graphic designer.
So, what are you waiting for? Get to work and create the perfect LinkedIn banner for your business and improve your B2B lead generation!