Statistics show that social media posts with impressive visuals have higher engagement compared to those that are text-heavy. The numbers are doubled on Facebook, while on Twitter, tweets with images rank higher by 150% compared to the wordy ones. Needless to say, visuals are a crucial element when it comes to high engagement in social media.
With this, it only makes sense to search for the best social media graphics online. However, this presents a problem since everyone will have the same graphics if they do that. A more strategic approach would be to use design tools to create social media graphics for websites.
The Internet is abundant with these design tools. Some are free, available for download and cheap to license, while others require some investment. Each tool comes with templates, overlays, fonts, filters, and pre-set crops that will suit various platforms. These tools aim to make the design process easier and quicker for designers and non-designers.
1. Canva
Canva is the most sought after design tool for creating social media graphics online. It has more than 95 million users from different parts of the world. Canva offers thousands of visual assets, templates, and fonts without a fee, all of which can be expanded for a minimum subscription of $10 monthly.
Canva is beginner-friendly because it has a drag-and-drop interface that makes everything accessible for first-time users. People who have an eye for design can also easily assess if elements are where they should be, thanks to Canva’s Preview feature. While it’s true that users need to work harder to have unique graphics because of Canva’s popularity, the program also presents endless possibilities when it comes to creating effective visuals for websites.
Presets for Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter are also built-in, so users no longer need to worry about having the right dimensions when it comes to creating graphics for these platforms. It is very easy to select stunning Templates from Canva’s library and create more high-quality graphics than ever before.
2. Piktochart
Infographics are an efficient way to share information on social media. When done properly, they can move people to take action especially since it’s the most shareable media available online. It can cost an arm and a leg to commission someone to create these infographics especially when they are produced regularly.
A bespoke approach to creating infographics can be impressive when one has the budget and the luxury of time to do it. However, since reality shows us otherwise, tools like Piktochart remove the cost and hassle out of the production process. With a basic template, one can simply add images and data to customize the infographic. Everyone starts with the free-entry level version to get a feel of how Piktochart works. It can be upgraded to the Lite version to gain access to a wider range of templates and features. There’s also a Pro version for those using Piktochart regularly.
This tool not only creates infographics but is also used to design flyers, posters, presentations and much more. Even beginners with absolutely no design experience can take benefits from this tool.
3. iStock Editor
Looking for the best images for a social media campaign can be tricky, and free templates can only get you to a certain point. iStock solves this problem by offering an extensive library of images from Getty Images. These can be converted into social media graphics through iStock Editor in just a few minutes.
The program has pre-set crop dimensions for various social media platforms so you can do a dry run before exporting the images. Texts and filters can be added even without Photoshop since this can be done through iStock Editor.
4. Pablo
Pablo is a minimalist’s friend when it comes to editing images. It has a dashboard that allows anybody to easily resize graphics for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Texts, filters, and logos can also be added to customize the image.
Three boxes labeled ‘caption’, ‘body’, and ‘header’ can be added to each image, all of which can be tweaked to address specific needs. Pablo also makes it easy for users to access its features because it has a Chrome extension. The best part is the app is free, and users don’t need to sign up for a Buffer subscription to gain access to its features.
5. Word Swag
Word Swag is the perfect program for people who want to edit their social media graphics while mobile. It is easy to use, and stylish texts can be added to the images via the mobile device. The graphics can easily be uploaded to different social media platforms. Word Swag has an abundance of stock images that can be used, but you also have the option to upload and use your own image.
6. Infogram
Infogram is a more common tool than all the others to create beautiful, interactive and responsive data visualizations. Infogram is specifically designed to make the infographic creation process much easier and faster. This tool is a wonder when it comes to creating stunning, collaborating and responsive data visualizations.
The free version of the Infogram easily provides an entry-level selection of themes and layouts to choose from, which could be enough for practice or learning. But if you want to work like a pro and have a constant stream of data to visualize, the paid version helps you to make a huge selection and also allows you to add your own logos and information to the infographic.
Whether the goal is to draw more attention to blog posts or boost engagements in your social media campaign, these design tools can definitely help you. They can be a little intimidating at first, but there are tutorials available online to help those who are willing to learn. All these tools also provide good support for all your queries.
Now you don’t have to worry about “how to find the best images for social” as you can create these on your own and that would also add fun and knowledge to your design skills.
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