It's no secret that Twitter is one of the most effective social media platforms to get a message across, whether it's a personal memo or branding for a business. Making oneself stand out against the millions of other Twitter users, however, can prove a more formidable task — but it's one that's doable with the right resources.
Using images is one of the most promising ways to grab the attention of your fellow Twitter users. Human beings are visual creatures, and where words can often get lost in the endless stream of tweets, pictures can stop someone's scrolling in its tracks. That's doubly true if those photos are crafted and uploaded with that end in mind.
So, how can you optimize your use of images on Twitter? Here are a few tips to make your photos stand out.
When it comes to Twitter images, size matters! Whether you're uploading a profile picture or header image or sharing a photo with one of your updates, it's crucial to make sure your picture fits nicely into the space provided. You can take advantage of free editing programs like GIMP to resize your photos.
Here are some size recommendations for your Twitter images:
When sharing images on Twitter, it's important to make sure your content is original. Uploading generic stock images is a surefire way to get people to pass over your tweets — especially if they're stock images that are easily recognizable because others have used them time and time again. Instead, experts suggest creating templates that combine authentic messages and pictures with clip art. You can create these templates using free websites like Canva.
Images are a great way to grab Twitter users' attention, but adding quotes to your pictures will keep scrollers focused on your content for longer periods of time. Once the flashy image has piqued their curiosity, they'll want to read the words that accompany it. And that's precisely how you get your message noticed.
If you're looking to create eye-catching images, you'll want to use bright colors that jump off the page. (Or Twitter feed, in this case.) Colorful photos will attract Twitter users to your post, which will then bring their attention to whatever else you're sharing. (This would be a great opportunity to include links to your website, product, or anything else you're promoting.)
If you're sharing photos of celebrities or brands, take advantage of Twitter's tagging feature and let them know you're shouting them out. This is an effective way to increase your engagement. And if a well-known Twitter account retweets you, it will get even more eyes on your content!
Switching things up is vital both online, and off, so you'll want to make sure your Twitter feed has some variety. You can do this by populating it with a wide range of visual content. Breaking up your page with images, moving GIFs, and videos is a nice way to do this. (The movement of GIFs and videos is another way to grab scrollers' attention as well!)
Sharing visual content on Twitter humanizes your content and creates an attractive feed, two things that will help users remember and recognize your brand in the future. Following experts' recommendations will help you craft your graphics in a way that increases your engagement, but being creative with your photos will also set you apart. By implementing the tips above and adding your own style to the images you share, you'll have no problem conveying an authentic message — and getting responses to it.