Looking to visually market your business on Facebook?

Want quick and easy ideas to promote your product or service?

While there are countless ways to create differentiation on Facebook, your cover photo is the first thing most fans will see.

Designing a customized Facebook cover will help you instantly stand out.

Whether you’re a local, online or small business, your cover should instantly resonate with your audience. But it needs to do it in a fun, imaginative and unique way.

Ready to rev up your creative juices? Here’s how to make a Facebook cover that creatively markets your business!

Make a Facebook Cover that Markets Your Business

1. Branding

Rather than posting a random picture, reinforce your brand by choosing a photograph, style and theme that best represents your company.

Fans expect to see something that they associate with your business; something they can relate to. When a picture does not match up with the expectation, there is a sense of disconnect and disappointment.

Understand what your company represents and then determine how you can convey that both visually and emotionally. An easy way to do this is through a new tool called Relay.

If you want to create a branded Facebook cover in a matter of minutes and you’re tired of trying to remember the exact dimensions, Relay is the tool for you.

I put this one together for an upcoming event in a matter of moments!

2. Product Announcement

Ready to roll out a new product or service? Put it on the cover photo! This will entice potential customers and hold the attention of current fans.

For example:

You sell cupcakes and your latest offering is a decadent mocha caramel brownie truffle, sharing an image (or two) of this decadent dessert will leave your fans salivating and begging for more.

One of my favorite local bakeries is Sweetsalt. While they’re known for their desserts, they also make out of this world sandwiches. This short rib roll makes be my new BFF.

3. Make a Collage

If a simple Facebook cover image just is not enough, try a collage! Create a colorful collage including pictures that represent the essence of your business.

If you’re a landscaping company, share gorgeous pictures of beautifully designed front and backyards.

If you offer small business solutions, share images of your top products and services.

Novo, one of my favorite local cafe’s, uses a collage to highlight employees and behind-the scenes pics. They make fresh pasta and desserts daily and don’t miss the opportunity to share that in their Facebook cover.

4. Fan of the Day

If your fans love your business, leverage that adoration! After all, nothing beats a third-party endorsement from a raving fan.

Whether you choose a fan once a week or once a month, add them to your Facebook cover, including their picture and description for anyone visiting your page to see.

You can be sure that they will appreciate the recognition and hopefully join in the celebration by sharing the information from your page.

5. Promote an Upcoming Event

Do you have an incredibly important date coming up? Launching a new product? Opening a location in a new part of town? Rocking a new book?

Take the opportunity to tease that event!

Build excitement around your marketing campaign by incorporating it into your Facebook cover design. Just remember, create interest but don’t give everything away.

Facebook teaser campaigns can be very effective at arousing curiosity and gaining the attention of your niche market.

6. Celebrate the Holidays

Don’t be afraid to let a day be more than just a date on a calendar. Holidays are a free opportunity to create content around a topic that people are already emotionally connected to and truly care about.

For example:

Your company loves to create jobs in America. And it’s the 4th of July. What a coincidence!

Highlight the benefits of joining your company through your Facebook cover.

It may sound hokey, but paying homage to a holiday and making a connection to your business can go a long way in creating a loyal fan base.

7. Location

If you sit at the corner of a popular location in town, make sure to feature that in your cover photo.

Through proper branding, you create a powerful identifier both offline and online.

Sometimes all a brand needs is a storefront to associate with, and as your main brand positioner on Facebook, your cover image should be given plenty of attention.

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8. Faces of Satisfied Customers

Having a cover photo that displays your customers enjoying your company’s products or services is a surefire advertisement method.

If you have proven to satisfy numbers of happy customers, other potential customers will be interested to see and hear from them.

Not only will this apply to one of the previous ideas listed, it will also be a great way to build immediate trust with potential customers.

9. Behind the Scenes

Add that personal touch to your cover photo by showcasing your team members or staff. Behind-the-scenes photos are a fun way to allow fans to better understand your company’s operations and services.

I relate it to watching a movie on DVD or Blu-Ray. I love seeing the behind-the-scenes shots taken while the movie was filmed. It’s intriguing to see the process of an idea born into movie magic.

While your product probably isn’t a Hollywood movie, you can be sure that what you do and how you achieve your results is still very interesting to your fans and customers.

Take this tip from Buffer who uses their cover to showcase the team. Buffer, while providing an amazing social media tool, also does an fantastic job engaging with their audience.

Who wouldn’t want to know who the people behind all that success really are?

10. Catchy Slogan

Have a catchy slogan or a quirky statement that defines your company? Proudly display that on your cover photo! It will capture the attention of anyone browsing your page and is an undeniable connection to current fans.

Old Spice is a great example of this strategy in action. “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like” marketing campaign was a smashing success and became a brand identifier that made a lasting impression.

Always remember that while market share may be an accountant’s best friend, mind share and the viral possibilities associated with that is a marketing department’s dream.

11. Inspire, Excite and Encourage

We all need a little inspiration now and again.

Be the one motivating and encouraging factor in a fan’s life and they will definitely remember it. Some may even become long-term customers!

It’s not hard to imagine how one simple quote, image, or combination of the two can be just the words needed to turn a bad day around.

12. Summary of Services

Is your business a startup? If so, people visiting your page may not be familiar with your services or products.

Displaying a short summary of your service offerings or highlighting specific features will give fans an at-a-glance way to quickly connect with who you are.

Your own creative confines truly are your only limitations when it comes to promoting your business through your cover image.

Final Thoughts

Are you clearly articulating what sets your business apart from the competition? Are you using your Facebook cover to tell your story?

If not, you’re missing a huge opportunity.

Determine the best ways to leverage your Facebook cover photo to create brand awareness, encourage conversation and drive traffic to your website.

So what did I miss? I would love to hear how you are using the cover photo to promote your business in the comments below!

Originally written by Rebekah Radice and published on 12Most.