The quick guide to social media photo sizes

Social Media Marketing Published: January 08, 2022
The quick guide to social media photo sizes

People form their first impressions in about 17 milliseconds. Social media cover photos are the first thing your social media visitor sees and the first impression they will form about your brand.

Every social channel has specific size requirements for cover photos, profile photos, and image posts, and it is important that you are aware of the sizing and any space restrictions so that your cover photo looks great on each channel and on each device.  Your pictures should not only look good, but also establish a cohesive message that aligns with your brand and marketing strategy.

That’s why we created this B2B social media photo size guide. Use the dimensions listed here and the following guidelines to ensure you are displaying your company in the best way possible.

Facebook

  • Facebook cover photo size: 820 x 312px
  • Facebook profile photo size: 180 x 180px*
  • Facebook image post size: 1200 x 630px

*Facebook’s profile photo will display at 170 x 170px and 128 x 128px on mobile.

Twitter

  • Twitter cover photo size: 1500 x 500px
  • Twitter profile photo size: 400 x 400px
  • Twitter image post size: 1600 x 1900px*

*Twitter no longer cuts off square ratio images—so feel free to cross-post and repurpose your gorgeous Instagram visuals!

LinkedIn

  • LinkedIn company page cover photo size: 1128 x 191px
  • LinkedIn company page profile photo size: 300 x 300px
  •  LinkedIn image post size: 1200 x 627px

YouTube

  • YouTube channel cover photo size: 2048 x 1152px
  • YouTube profile photo: 800 x 800px
  • YouTube video thumbnail and video: 1280 x 720px

Instagram

  • Instagram profile photo size: 320 x 320px
  • Instagram image post size: 1080 x 1080px
  • Instagram Stories 1080 x 1920px

Create a consistent brand image

Cover photos should be easily recognizable for your customers and cohesively aligned to your other assets, such as website and emails. Create a style guide with your company colors, fonts, and any other important information, making it easy to stay within your brand elements in each cover photo you produce for each channel.  Customers who visit multiple channels should be able to immediately recognize your brand.

Understand size limitations

90% of information that comes to the brain is visual, so picking images that fit your brand, and that you’ll be able to crop and scale to fit each site, is imperative.  If you take one image with text embedded and try to place that same image on each social channel, you’ll end up cutting off some text and the formatting will be off. Instead, choose one image that you’ll be able to crop into pieces according to the social media cover sizes guide. Once the image is cropped, then add the text—placement is key. Be aware of certain restrictions and fully leverage the amount of space you have.

Take into account mobile dimensions

80% of Twitter users use the site on mobile; it’s important to understand how the photo will look on mobile devices as well. Some platforms may reduce your image down and crop the image. If your text is too small, it may become impossible to read on a smartphone. Test your platforms on your mobile device. If your image is cut off or the text is hard to read, the entire page will look sloppy.

By keeping your cover photos aligned to your brand messaging and style guide, you are able to create cohesive brand recognition among your customers and any new followers. With less than a second to make an impression, your cover photos must be created specifically for each channel using the sizing guidelines.

Have any questions about how to properly size your B2B social media images? Ask in the comments below!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is optimizing social media cover photo sizes critical for B2B brand perception?

Optimized social media cover photos are crucial for B2B brands because they form the instantaneous first impression, often in milliseconds. Correct sizing ensures a professional, consistent brand image across all platforms and devices, reinforcing credibility and trust with potential business clients and partners. Improperly sized or distorted images can convey sloppiness, undermining a B2B company's professionalism and perceived attention to detail.

What are the essential image dimensions for LinkedIn Company Pages in a B2B context?

For B2B companies leveraging LinkedIn for professional networking and brand visibility, the essential image dimensions are: LinkedIn company page cover photo size: 1128 x 191px, LinkedIn company page profile photo size: 300 x 300px, and LinkedIn image post size: 1200 x 627px. Adhering to these specifications ensures your brand's visual assets appear professional and fully optimized on this key B2B platform.

How can B2B marketers ensure brand consistency across diverse social media platforms with varying image sizes?

B2B marketers can ensure brand consistency by developing a comprehensive style guide that includes company colors, fonts, and branding elements. When creating visuals, start with a core, high-resolution image that can be strategically cropped and scaled according to each platform's specific dimensions (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn). Add text and key messaging *after* cropping to prevent cut-offs, ensuring every cover photo and image post aligns cohesively with the overall brand identity and messaging.

What specific considerations should B2B companies make for mobile optimization of social media images?

B2B companies must prioritize mobile optimization for social media images, as a significant portion of users, including business professionals, access platforms on smartphones. Key considerations include: thoroughly testing images on various mobile devices to check for cropping, distortion, or illegibility; ensuring text within images is large enough and strategically placed to be readable on smaller screens; and understanding that platforms may automatically reduce or adapt images for mobile displays, potentially impacting layout or clarity. A poorly optimized mobile image can negatively impact brand perception.

What is the best practice for placing text on B2B social media cover photos to avoid cropping or unreadability?

The best practice for placing text on B2B social media cover photos to avoid cropping or unreadability is to first understand each platform's unique size limitations and mobile display zones. Select an initial image that allows for versatile cropping. Then, *after* the image is cropped to the specific channel's dimensions, strategically add text. Avoid placing critical information or text too close to the edges, as different devices and platforms may have 'safe zones' for primary visuals and text, ensuring your message remains intact and readable across all views.

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