Must-Have Graphic Design Elements for Your Blog

Ok – you may want to file this under: Beginner.  As I have been writing on various topics regarding graphics, I thought this would be a good post to include – what images you need on your site. These may come as a no-brainder for some (congratulations to you) and it may come as a surprise to others (and congrats to you as well).

While there are tons of creative ways to use blog graphics, there are some that are more essential to your success than others. Customized images can serve many purposes inefficient ways, and the importance of using them can’t be understated. Creating templates to use in branding, titling and promotion don’t need to be overly complicated, though. To lessen your overwhelm, let’s break things down to the absolute must-have graphic design elements for your blog. Once you learn and feel comfortable in creating these, you can expand your skills.

Bio Photo

Sharing who you are is paramount as a blogger. You share your knowledge, experiences, and opinions throughout your content. Your audience will get a sense of your personality as they browse your posts or become regular readers. To increase your chances of encouraging them to stick around, you’ll want to create a bio photo section in your sidebar with your picture, a summary of who you are and a link to your more comprehensive about page. Remember, people are quick to leave a website if they don’t immediately see something of interest. Capture their attention with a photo introduction.

Blog Header

Your blog header is likely the first thing readers see when they visit your site. It’s at the very top of the page and lists the blog’s title. This can be done simple with text only, but a design that incorporates a bit more can go far toward developing your brand. Be sure to check your blog’s theme to determine the size your header will accommodate, otherwise, your design could look distorted or simply not work at all. Go with simplicity because you don’t want to distract the viewer’s eye with too many aspects. Choosing a few colors, with no more than two fonts for your blog’s name and tagline should suffice. You can add a shape or uncomplicated graphic if you wish.

Logo

Your logo is an essential piece of your branding kit. This small design element packs a big punch when it comes to recognition. It can be used on social media, business cards, your website, stationery and promotional items like t-shirts or magnets. Creating a logo is possible even if you’re not a graphic designer. Just be sure to keep it simple and not too busy. Choosing a shape and adding your blog’s name in your signature font can be enough at the beginning. Try to elicit the feel of your brand. You can do this by a shape with soft edges and lighter hues to create a relaxing feel or by going with a bold image in bright shades to evoke energy.

Post Header

A post header is a graphic that introduces your blog post. It is usually a photo or illustration with a filter overlay and the title of your post. A shape can be used as a text box to make your words stand out. Your chosen filter overlay should remain consistent for every post, as should your font. These things will soon become recognizable when seen on social media as your readership increases. Be sure to leave enough white space around the edges of your graphic so that the text is legible.

Social Media Images

Your social media shares should always include an image. It’s been proven that graphics substantially increase click through. You can use your post header as a template, but each social media site has its own recommended sizes. Once you’ve determined the current size being used by each site, create a template that can be customized with new photos and text for each new post.

These graphic design elements are the must-haves for your blog. Their creation is the foundation you need to feel confident about presentation and promotion. Taking the time to develop these assets will put you on par to joining the ranks of other successful bloggers and give you confidence in your professionalism.