When’s the last time you checked social media on your phone? Yesterday? Five minutes ago? Right now? It’s safe to assume that the latter is more likely. Have no fear; you aren’t alone! According to some studies, the average person spends nearly two hours on social media each day.
It’s easy to see why. Social media is engaging and informative (and, shall we say…addictive?). And, thanks to smartphones, social profiles are just a click away—virtually anytime, anywhere. In fact, almost 80 percent of all social media consumption takes place on mobile, and mobile accounted for 52 percent of worldwide web traffic in 2018.
However, because there’s no singular device used worldwide, it’s important to make sure your profiles are optimized—across platforms and devices. This starts by ensuring that your visual content adapts to the numerous tablets, smartphones, and desktops out there.
That’s Where Responsive Design Steps In
Responsive web pages detect user’s devices and screen sizes—and react accordingly. Instead of fixed-width parameters, responsive pages rely on grid coordinates and percentages, which results in a fluid layout that resizes around appropriate displays.
Media queries, a central component of cascading style sheets (CSS)—the standard, preferred mechanism formatting mechanism for HTML pages—enable responsive pages to target device-specific displays. This means that development teams can build multiple style sheets for each website, rather than having to build a separate mobile version.
Download our social media size guide to learn more.
So, What Does This Mean For Your Social Media Marketing Strategy?
Profile pictures, cover photos, and other visual content is a representation of your brand. Responsive design techniques ensure that media appears as intended across desktop, tablets, and mobile devices—and that images are sized appropriately and do not render as pixelated.
Each social media platform has specific requirements for the different types of content, including profile, cover, and shared images. For many organizations, the first step in incorporating these techniques means optimizing around individual platforms.
Let’s review.
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Profile: 180 x 180 pixels
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Cover Photo: 820 x 312 pixels
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Shared Image: 1,200 x 630 pixels
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Profile: 400 x 400 (Displays 200 x 200) pixels
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Header Photo: 1,500 x 500 pixels
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Shared Image: Minimum 440 x 220 pixels (2:1 ratio)
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Company Profile: 300 x 300 pixels
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Company Background Image: 1,535 x 768 pixels
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Shared Image: 1,200 x 628 pixels
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Profile: 110 x 110 pixels
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Shared Image: From 610 x 610 – 1080x 1080 pixels
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Instagram Stories: 1,080 x 1,920 pixels
If you haven’t optimized your social profiles for mobile by now, it’s time to join the club. Because by 2019, mobile is expected to account for 72 percent of all U.S. digital advertising spending.
Having an experienced social media team behind you ensures you’re putting your best foot forward. KBK Communications can help your organization optimize your social media platforms so that your visual content is effective and engaging.
