Size matters in social media

By Chanda Temple

Build interest in your social media posts by adding properly-sized photos to them.
Image by Social Expert via Flickr/CreativeCommons.

When posting images on social media, size really does matter.

If the images are too small, you’ve lost the battle. If they are too big, you’ve lost the war. The point is to make them just right to keep your followers coming back for more.

Earlier this month, national social media guru Kim Garst spoke at Y’all Connect, a digital marketing and blogging conference in Birmingham, Ala. One of her tips addressed the importance of using the correct size images for online posts.

Instagram: 640 x 640 pixels

Pinterest: 735 x 1100 pixels

Facebook: 940 x 788 pixels

Twitter: 1024 x 512 pixels

Google Plus: 800 x 600 pixels

Keep in mind that people read a lot of material on their phone, so make the images a size that can be viewed on the phone. These dimensions should accomplish that.

Kim Garst is CEO of Boom Social and is a Forbes’ Top 10 Social Media Influencer.
Image provided by Y’all Connect via Flickr/CreativeCommons.

Here are some more online tips from Kim:

Does your post pass the share test? Is it funny? Does it help people? Does it inform? Are you providing analysis? Don’t just post for the sake of posting. Your post should at least be shareable.

Be bold. Take a stand with your posts. Those will capture folks’ attention.

Be brief. Don’t exceed a 50-character headline. Stick to three sentences in the body. Use active voice. Use eye-catching images.

Credit your source. When you find great information, credit the source.

Add drama to your posts with photos. People will find your posts on Twitter and Facebook to be more interesting if there are photos.

Can it be easily accessed on a smartphone? Nowadays, more people use their smartphones to look at the web. Make sure your website design is smartphone friendly.

Follow Kim on Twitter at @kimgarst.

Chanda Temple worked as a reporter for 20 years before becoming a public relations professional. She blogs about being better in business, building buzz and more at http://www.chandatemplewrites.com. Follow her on Twitter at @chandatemple.