Content is king, especially when it comes to blogging. However, to draw reader attention to your content, you also need to create eye-catching visuals for blog covers. Crafting such visuals is easier than you might think, and they can greatly aid in increasing the visibility of your posts.
Read further to discover the benefits of appealing blog covers and learn how to design striking cover photos.
How to create cover photos for a blog
Here’s how you can make appealing blog cover images in six simple steps:
Choose the appropriate color and background
The cover of your blog post is the first thing people notice. With the help of the right colors and background, you can make it eye-catching, set the mood for viewers, and make it stand out on social media. Keep in mind that you can use a solid color or a pattern as a background, or choose a photo for a blog of yours.
If you’re opting for the first two options, stick to complementary colors—these are opposite hues on the color wheel. You can use special online tools or palette generators to pick the perfect colors for your blog post, e.g., Coolors or Muzli.
Add high-quality visuals that are relevant to the theme
To enhance the visual appeal of your blog cover, incorporate high-quality photographs, illustrations, or other graphic design elements that align with your blog post material. For example, if you’re writing about technology, you might include an image of a person typing on a sleek keyboard.
To ensure you comply with copyright laws, use stock content websites like Depositphotos, EyeEm, or Pexels, which offer licensed visuals for commercial purposes and provide clear usage guidelines. Remember, chosen visuals should complement your content and evoke curiosity or interest in your readers.
Select the proper fonts
When choosing fonts for your blog post cover, prioritize legibility and alignment with your blog’s branding. For example:
- Serif fonts like Times New Roman or Georgia convey a classic and elegant feel, ideal for a traditional or sophisticated blog style;
- Sans-serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial offer a modern and clean aesthetic, suitable for minimalist or contemporary designs;
- Script fonts like Great Vibes or Pacifico add personality and flair, perfect for creative or artistic-focused blogs;
- Display fonts such as Roboto Condensed or Lato grab attention with boldness, making them great for headlines or attention-grabbing text;
- Handwritten fonts like Amatic SC or Pacifico bring warmth and authenticity, enhancing the casual or intimate tone of your blog cover.
As the Depositphotos blog article on the rules of typography suggests, you should limit yourself to two or three font options. You can opt for classic combinations like antique fonts for headlines (e.g., Garamond, Bodoni, or Georgia) paired with grotesque fonts for main text (e.g., Helvetica, Roboto, Open Sans). You can also check out popular typography art online to see how to artistically incorporate text into a composition.
Experiment with layouts
Try different arrangements of text and images to find the most engaging composition. Consider placing the title or main text element in the center or upper third of the cover to grab viewer attention. Experiment with overlaying text on top of images or placing it in contrasting sections to create visual interest. Play with the scale and placement of images to create a dynamic and balanced layout. Remember to utilize white space effectively to give your design room to breathe and prevent it from feeling cluttered.
Keep social media optimization in mind
If you plan to share and promote your blog post on social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, or LinkedIn, make sure to optimize it for each platform. For example, for LinkedIn, you should make your cover 1200×627 in size. Find the appropriate social media image sizes and create various versions of your cover in each one. Don’t forget to add relevant hashtags or captions to published posts to increase visibility and engagement.
Optimize for mobile
Optimizing your blog cover for mobile devices is essential for a seamless user experience across all screen sizes. Choose fonts that are legible even on smaller screens, avoiding overly decorative or intricate styles that may be difficult to read on mobile devices. Scale down images and graphics to load quickly and display correctly on mobile screens without compromising visual quality.
FAQ: How can I make my blog look appealing?
The simplest yet most efficient way to make a blog look appealing is to create a clean and well-structured design that includes readable fonts and a contrasting color scheme; all to make the blog posts easy for everyone to read. You can also add high-quality visuals to your posts to make them more visually appealing.
FAQ: How can I make my blog unique?
What makes a blog unique is your personality, reflected both in design and content. Consider your niche and audience preferences to offer them something exciting and relatable. Develop your tone of voice and stick to it.
The benefits of using high-quality cover photos for blog posts
Using high-quality pictures for your blog can benefit your materials in the following ways:
- HD pictures capture attention in user feeds. If your cover looks good, it acts as a visual hook and encourages readers to click on your blog post to learn more.
- Appealing blog covers act as a sneak peek into the content of your blog post, setting expectations for readers. If you create a visual that aligns with the main theme and tone of your post, you give readers a good preview of what they can expect to find.
- Cover photos that align with your brand’s aesthetic help make your blog more recognizable. Even if you don’t have a loyal fanbase today, over time, readers will come to associate your brand with the visual style of your covers. This will strengthen your brand identity and help your blog stand out.
- Proper SEO optimization of cover images can improve your blog’s visibility and SEO performance. To achieve this, you need to use relevant keywords in descriptive filenames and alt text so that search engines can understand the content of your images. This way, your posts will appear in relevant search results and will increase your chances of driving organic traffic.
FAQ: What tools can I use to make a blog cover?
Depending on your level of expertise, you can create blog covers using tools like VistaCreate, Figma, or Adobe Photoshop. VistaCreate offers free customizable design templates that you can use as a reference and adjust according to your taste. Figma is a cloud-based design tool that offers collaboration for multiple users. Adobe Photoshop is a graphic editing software used by over 90% of creative professionals across the globe—if you want to manipulate images efficiently, this could be the best option for you.
To sum up
Crafting compelling blog cover images is crucial for captivating readers and boosting content engagement. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can significantly enhance the appeal of your blog. Experiment with layouts and integrate your creative vision in designs to craft appealing post covers and drive increased visibility and reader interest.
