How to Brand Your Social Media
Whether you’re a new brand or business, or are reinvigorating your brand, there are a few things that need to be at the top of your to-do list as you build your social media pages.
But first, if you’re a working creative who needs a portfolio, you sell products or offer a service, you should have a website. That website should be the hub of your brand. Your web designer will create a brand board for you - this will contain all aspects of your brand: your logo, color codes used for your logo & website, your fonts, and other creative elements.
If you have a brand board from a website build, utilize that to create the following brand elements! If you don’t have a brand board, contact me & I’ll hook you up!
Below, I’ll take you platform-by-platform to cover what each social media account should have.
Let’s dive in!
1. Instagram
When it comes to Instagram, it’s more about the *AeStHeTiCs* than anything else. Here are the things you’ll need to optimize on your profile:
Your feed aesthetic
Highlight Icons
Your bio
Profile picture
Feed Aesthetic
If you’re posting mainly graphics, make sure you’re branding your graphics with your brand colors. These will typically be the colors you use on your website, if you have one. If not, pick up to 3 colors, or multiple shades of 1 color, and stay consistent with the colors/patterns/creative elements you use. Consistency is key when it comes to your feed!
If you’re not utilizing graphics, make sure whatever content you’re shooting is within a similar color palette. For example, if you’re an Arizona-based small business, maybe you use an earthy, warm color palette. If you’re a spa, maybe you use greens, blues, and purples - calming, cool colors.
In the above to the left, you’ll notice that if you took off the filter, the colors used in their photos are still (1) earthy greens, oranges and browns; and (2) purples, blues, greens, and pinks.
Your feed aesthetic also means using a filter consistently. And don’t worry - there are plenty of ways to use a filter without distorting the color and keeping the image as real as possible! A filter can be used to focus in on a certain color, create a color palette, smooth imperfections, and so much more, depending on WHY you want to use a filter.
You can definitely opt out of a filter or any photo editing, but that means you might have to pay extra close attention to the lighting and colors being used when you’re shooting your content.
Highlight Covers
Next up, you’ll want to create highlight covers! You can utilize these to, well, highlight important aspects of your brand. Whether that’s Behind the Scenes, New Products, Mindfulness Practices, or anything else - these can be a combination of things YOU want to look back on, and also resources for your audience to come back to.
Whatever your brand colors are, the design and colors should relate to your brand. Take a look at my example to the right.
Although my website colors are a 1970’s yellow, blue, and brownish-orange, and my font is a modern 1970’s style, my Instagram is all about my personal brand - not my social media business (yet!). So I still use a warm, vintage filter on my feed and use bright, earthy 1970’s-inspired colors and eclectic patterns for the highlight cover design.
I also recommend using icon images for the center of your highlight cover instead of text. Some people remember images better than text and it’s important to be memorable!
Your Bio
The text in your bio can contribute to search results (example: if someone’s looking for a social media coach) so you’ll not only want to use important keywords to be found in a search, but also have the most important part of your IG brand at the top.
Take a look at some of these great examples:
Profile Picture
It’s GREAT if your profile image can match the colors of your brand if it’s going to be a picture of you. If it’s going to be a logo, make it an image, preferably, instead of text (although if that’s all you have right now that’s okay).
Since this is such a small image, you want to make sure it’s readable or stands out when someone is searching - whether that’s through color, font, or design.
2. Facebook Page, LinkedIn, Twitter
If you’re building a brand or business, it’s essential to have a Facebook page - even if it's just to maintain your digital brand and help with your online SEO.
When it comes to branding your Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter page, you’ll need:
A profile image
A banner
An about
Profile Image
This will most likely be your logo. If you offer products or services - basically anything where money is exchanging hands, except for being an influencer - you’ll want your logo as your profile photo.
Banner
This will be a quick summary of your business & brand. Take a look at Finger Lakes Rail Riders, for example (below). Their banner has a tagline and an image that summarizes the business to a T. We know it’s an outdoor recreational activity, in a rural area. We can even assume that it’s a COVID-safe activity given how bar apart the cars are!
The banner also has their contact information, the website and, again, their logo.
Each platform that requires a banner image may need a banner with different dimensions so you may have to resize your banner for each platform.
Keep in mind that Twitter may not allow as many characters in your About/Bio section, so you may need to utilize the most important keywords and pair it down to 1-2 sentences.
3. Pinterest
Believe it or not, Pinterest is one of my favorite platforms! It’s slowly turning into an amazing platform for businesses and content creators, equally.
For Pinterest, you’ll need:
A profile image
A banner
Pinterest board covers
Similarly to Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, you’ll want your profile image to be your logo and your banner to contain the same information. This banner will definitely have to be resized.
Now, on to board covers!
These are the covers to each of your Pinterest boards that allows you to further brand your business. Basically, when you Pin or upload an image to a board, your board covers keep your boards organized, on brand, and eye-catching!
I created mine (along with all my other graphics) on Canva.com - a creative platform that has templates, allows you to resize images, host your brand information, and be a true graphic designer!
To create your board covers on Canva, you’ll begin with a square image. You can use a solid color or an image, with a color or black overlay. Then you’ll label the cover! Remember, your labels act as key words.
Example: if you’re a fashion blogger, you can SUPER specific with your boards. “Spring pants,” “NYC Outfit Inspiration” - anything you want!
To upload your covers, go into the Pinterest Board, click on the 3 little dots next to your title then Edit Board.
You’ll be able to upload your board cover, rename your board, and add a board description for even MORE SEO!
See why I love Pinterest?! Endless SEO and discovery opportunities.
✶ Let’s Chit Chat ✶
Did you know that branding is one of the most overlooked steps when people begin to build their online presence? Even if you’re an individual, you can have a brand!
Not sure where to start?
Contact me for a free consultation to learn how I can help you create your brand from scratch, or reinvigorate a current one!
From logo creation & website development, to consistent social media & brand tone and aesthetics, every detail counts. Whatever you need for your brand, I help establish your brand presence based on your goals, mission, and your brand’s voice.
You’ll walk away from my Branding service with:
A mood board - visual images to inspire photoshoots, video shoots, and/or graphics
A complete brand kit - includes total access to all fonts used, your brand colors & color codes, a logo (if desired), and illustrative elements
Social media banners and Pinterest board covers
A branded LinkTree - a single link that hosts multiple links and resources for Instagram and other social media platforms
Custom social media filter(s)
…and more!
Schedule your free consultation and we’ll work to get your brand off the ground fast!
Socially,
Malena
