Written by ContentPowered.com
Twitter recently changed up its profile photos and layout. With the addition of these new features, many people and companies took advantage and uploaded larger photos to display as their profile’s cover photo and so forth. Since the new layout allows for a more visually appealing profile page, it’s even more important to understand how to update the profile image and what sizes work best. Businesses also need to ask themselves how the new profile images will affect their content strategies. These are some tips to correctly formatting your Twitter profile images and staying on top of your social media game.
Why Twitter Had to Change
When Twitter first introduced the new layout, some Tweeters were skeptical. In fact, many thought it looked like Facebook. The new design definitely placed on emphasis on pinning tweets and having visually stunning photos and videos. The best part about the new design is that businesses can use big, bold images on their Twitter landing page and bring in traffic easily.
To keep your Twitter fresh and updated, you may need to upgrade first to the new look of Twitter before you can make changes to your Twitter cover and profile photo.
Getting Started
If this is your first time, you can log in and Twitter will automatically ask if you want to try the new look. You just click “Take a Look” and go into a preview mode. You don’t have to worry about making changes and uploading a photo that will change your design forever. You have to click “Turn on” in order for your changes to become permanent. Once you have selected this setting, you’re ready to change your profile and cover photos.
Profile and Cover Images
The new Twitter profile allows you to upload multiple photos, and you can add profile and cover images. If you haven’t uploaded this yet to your profile, you are losing out on major opportunities to draw people into your site and promote your latest products.
Sizes of Cover Photos
Cover photos should be larger at 1500 by 500 pixels. Photos should be high resolution and feature clear images that relate to your personality, brand, company, new products or other promotions. It’s best if you look at other competitors and check out some of the most popular companies on Twitter like @TacoBell.
The most important thing to remember about your cover photo is that it’s the first thing people see when they look at your profile. Since Twitter is now designed like your own landing page, your cover image should tie into your marketing strategy and company brand.
One perk of the new cover image is that you can go very artsy and use big typography to create nifty call-to-actions and promotions that will get people interested in what you have to say.
Header images should basically follow a 2:1 ratio so that they span across the page nicely and don’t look stretched. You can scale and resize the photo to fit appropriately if you upload a bigger photo that 1500 by 500 pixels.
Sizes of Profile Photos
Profile photos should be 400 by 400 pixels. These images should relate to the cover with a similar color palette. They should also have something or someone interesting to relate to your followers with the brand.
If you haven’t done either of these or don’t have the time, the very least you could do is resize the current images on your twitter. The cover photo also doesn’t have to be a promotional picture or even just one picture. You can use a collage of photos to represent your brand’s identity.
Profile photos can also be scaled and resized so that only the parts that you want will show on your Twitter page.
In addition, your images can’t exceed an upload size of 5MB.
How to Change Twitter Cover Photo
The first thing you should do is take a look at your Twitter page now. If you have a blank spot in your profile and cover photo, you’re missing out on enticing followers to like and share your tweets.
- Go to your profile page and click the “Edit profile” button.
- Click camera symbol over your profile photo to change the photo. Now select upload photo or remove. You can also use drag and drop to add pictures easily from your computer.
There is an alternative method to the “edit profile” option.
- Go to “Profile Settings” after logging into Twitter.
- Click “Change photo.” Now it gives you an option to upload a photo, take a photo or remove an existing profile photo.
- Click the “Change header” in profile settings to change the header. You can also upload, take a photo or remove an existing photo.
- Size your cover photo and profile photo the way you want them to appear on your Twitter page. Twitter brought in functionality that allows you to pick how your images will lose to others.
- Position and resize your photos. Once complete, click “Apply.”
What Types of Photo Files Are Allowed on Twitter?
There are various ways to optimize photos for the web. If you decide to use a high definition image, you should make sure that it will appear the way that you want with the format that you select and that Twitter allows that image format.
Currently, Twitter allows for JPG, GIF and PNG to be uploaded to the site and used for cover photos and profile photos. A PNG is probably the best way to preserve the quality and color of your photos.
Create Interesting Cover Images to Generate Leads
Your Twitter cover image can be a great way to bring interest to your company. You can use the cover image to include contact information, pricing and call to actions in your image.
When you pick out a header image, you should note your visibility. The new profile photo is inset into the header image. You don’t want any typography or important parts of the design being blocked by your profile photo.
Cover images should always include a call-to-action if you trying to generate leads. You want to use modern typography and pick clever phrases that work with the content of the photo. Kentucky Fried Chicken’s Twitter page is a good example of how to use text, promotional language and images together for a cover image.
Cover Image Strategy on Twitter
Businesses should change cover photos every two weeks or so for more exposure. Every time you ad a new cover image, it goes into your news feed, which helps you create more exposure. If you have followers, they will want to look at your new photo and even share it. You should plan ahead for future cover photos and always keep taps on your competition to see what you’re up against.
Integrate Your Profile Images
One of the best ways to be clever and get people interested in your Twitter page is if you incorporate the profile photo into the main header image. For those who are perfectionists or if you just want to sure that your profile photo goes along with your cover, you should think about using the same colors or even trying to match up the cover photo with one of your own.
Leo
says:Thanks, fitment is a bit tricky now with the new layout….