How to Make Social Media Design: Six Easy Ideas for Businesses

Social media is here to stay, and competition for online businesses is fierce. That means your designs need to be eye-catching, engaging, and effective at grabbing attention. If your posts are the digital equivalent of watching paint dry, no one will stop scrolling to check them out.

The good news? You don’t need to be a graphic design wizard to create stunning social media designs. With simple-to-use software like The Graphics Creator, you get access to drag-and-drop tools, professional templates, and design features that make the process super easy.

Want to create engaging designs that help grow your business? Follow these six easy ideas to take your social media design game from blah to brilliant!

1. Create a Social Media Profile Image and Cover That Work Together

Your profile image and cover design set the tone for your social media presence. They should complement each other like peanut butter and jelly (or coffee and Mondays).

A good approach depends on your brand:

• If you are the face of your brand, using a high-quality photo of yourself works well.
• For businesses, a secondary logo is great for the profile image, while the banner can showcase your brand’s feel.
• Ensure the colors, fonts, and aesthetic tie together across both elements.

Take a look at how we designed the Laughingbird Software Facebook banner using The Graphics Creator:

We kept the tropical look and feel of our brand, incorporated our primary logo, and used a secondary logo in the profile picture for a cohesive presentation. Plus, there’s a personal image in the banner helping humanize the brand.

Bottom line: Keep your designs complimentary. This consistency helps people recognize your brand instantly.

2. Stick to a Few Consistent Fonts and Colors

Choosing the right colors and fonts is like dressing your brand every day. If you’re constantly switching styles, you’ll confuse your audience. Instead, follow these basic design rules:

• Limit yourself to 2-3 main colors in each image.
• Use just 1-2 fonts – but logos can have a third.
• Ensure every social post uses colors and fonts that align with your overall brand identity.

Here’s an example. In the image below, we’ve used stock photography, but we’ve personalized it with brand-specific fonts and colors:

Notice how the main colors are orange/yellow and white, which align with our brand’s palette? Sticking to a defined color formula makes your business instantly recognizable.

3. Pair Fonts That Contrast Yet Complement

Nothing screams “unprofessional” more than a mismatched, chaotic font selection. But how do you choose the right mix?

• Pair a Serif font with a Sans Serif font.
• Stick to two fonts at most to avoid a design disaster.
• Use variation – make one font bold or a different color to make it pop.

The comic book-style font adds flair, while the simple sans-serif font keeps things clean. Perfection!

4. Match Your Text Color with Your Background

Instead of picking random colors for text, use a color from your image or background to keep things cohesive.

The Graphics Creator makes this super easy with a built-in color picker! Just highlight the text, click the color picker, and select a shade from anywhere in your image.

It’s a simple trick that makes your designs look polished and professional.

5. Use Transparency to Make Text Stand Out

Is your text hard to read against a busy background? Reduce background opacity to make your message pop.

You can also add a transparent block behind text for an even sharper contrast.

6. Add Your Logo to Every Social Media Graphic

Avoid becoming one of those brands people see everywhere but never remember. Your logo should be on every graphic you post.

Need a logo? The Graphics Creator has templates to help create a unique brand design in minutes. Check it out here:

Final Thoughts: Create Social Media Graphics Like a Pro

Social media design isn’t just about pretty pictures – it’s about making an impact. Follow these six simple strategies to create eye-catching graphics that get noticed.

Want an easy way to start? Grab a free version of The Graphics Creator with ready-to-use templates and start creating today!