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When choosing your cover photo it is important to use a photo that is instantly recognizable
as a clear and concrete example of your brand's or business' image, like a photo of your building
or one of your products.
One advice I have for you is to change your cover photo accordingly, for instance using
a specific photo for each season and special ones for holidays.
You could also consider using the cover photo as a means to highlight your marketing campaigns
or perhaps even for highlighting the most participating fans on your business page.
For the most part the usage of your profile photo is subject to the same guidelines and
tips as the cover photo. It is equally important to use a photo that clearly and concisely
shows the essence of your brand or business.
Try to incorporate your business or brand logo into your profile photo. Keep in mind
that text or small details don't always transfer very well to your business page, especially
when the picture is the size of a small avatar.
Therefore try to avoid the use of text or small details in your profile photo as much
as possible.
But above all make sure that your profile photo is concise and clear.
Both the cover and profile photos are bound to certain measurements. The cover photo is
shown in a ratio of 851 pixels wide to 315 pixels high.
The profile photo measures 160 by 160 pixels. To ensure a proper reproduction, the photo
you'd like to use as the profile photo must be least 180 by 180 pixels.
Next it is important to make sure that your profile scales properly from 180 by 180 pixels
to 32 by 32 pixels. Keep the subject of your photo properly visible at both sizes. This
smaller size will be the size of your profile photo when it is shown on your timeline.
There are a few things you're not allowed to incorporate into a cover photo on a business
page.
First of all, a cover photo is not allowed to show any price or purchase information.
This means you can't show the prices of any your products or services, or where to buy
them.
Secondly, showing any contact details, like a phone number, an e-mail address or a website
address is also prohibited.
Thirdly, you can't make any references to a promotion linked in any way to Facebook,
as in a 'share' or 'like' promotion. Later in this tutorial I'll discuss the guidelines
for Facebook-related actions and promotions in more depth.
Finally, it is not allowed to use photos with copyright for which you have no permission.
To give you a clearer image of the possibilities with a cover photo, I've come up with a number
of interesting and fun cover photos for inspiration.
On this photo they have incorporated the Coca ColaTM logo in the right-bottom corner.
Another eye-catching element are the out of the vertical (plumb?) photos [uit het lood].
This interrupts the straight lines of Facebook, making sure that the focus is on the pictures.
This is the business page of "Uber", a global company offering private chauffeurs in cities
throughout the world, including Amsterdam. These chauffeurs can be ordered through the
use of smartphone apps.
With their cover photo, Uber tries to visualize their spread over the world, and they combine
this with their profile photo showcasing the company logo.
Another example, 'Amsterdam Printing' has found an interesting way of showcasing their
product range while blending the profile photo with their company logo into it. This way,
the profile photo flows into the cover photo.
Interactivity Marketing has chosen for a playful way of adding corporate information into the
cover photo, and, just like 'Amsterdam Printing', they have chosen to let the profile and cover
photo overlap, creating a seamless whole.
As you can see, the cover photo doesn't just playfully project the nature of the company,
but at the same time it also renders relevant information in the way of info graphic.
A New-Zealand brand of sunglasses 'Sticks Wooden Sunglasses' also uses the seamless
look, which at the same time forms an attractive showcase for their products.
Old Spice, a very famous line of men cosmetics, went for a similar look, and added some text
for an appealing and humorous effect.
We just witnessed a few business pages that incorporated their profile photos seamlessly
into their cover photos. It gives their business pages a professional look. Keep in mind though
that it may happen that certain photos are rendered wrongly on Facebook's mobile applications,
so it can come in handy to double check using your smartphone.