Facebook introduced featured photos in 2013 as a way for pages to showcase a prominent, high-quality image representing their brand. The featured photo appears at the top of a Facebook page, above the cover photo. It’s a simple yet effective way for brands to catch the eye of visitors and convey their identity and value proposition.
Why Do Featured Photos Matter?
On Facebook, first impressions count. With over 2.9 billion monthly active users, there’s huge competition for attention on the platform. Most users will spend just seconds looking at any given page before deciding whether to continue scrolling or take action. An eye-catching featured photo can capture interest and inspire engagement.
According to Facebook, pages with featured photos see up to 2x more engagement than those without. When done right, your featured photo becomes part of your brand storytelling and helps viewers quickly understand who you are and what makes you unique. It establishes visual recognition and aids discoverability in crowded News Feeds.
Benefits of a Strong Featured Photo
- Improves click-through rate – Helps your page stand out in search and News Feed results.
- Drives engagement – Likes, shares, comments.
- Boosts brand awareness – Creates visual familiarity with your brand.
- Shows off products/services – Displays your offerings in an appealing way.
- Personalizes your page – Puts a face on your brand and makes it relatable.
Best Practices
Not all featured photos are created equal. To maximize impact, keep these best practices in mind:
Use high-resolution images
Facebook displays featured photos at a very large 820 x 312 pixels on desktop. Low-res images will look blurry or pixelated, leaving a bad impression.
Pick eye-catching visuals
Opt for interesting, bold images that will immediately grab attention. Is your product photogenic? Does your company logo have a unique design?
Convey your brand identity
Let your featured photo speak to your brand values, personality, and mission. It should complement your cover photo and profile picture.
Highlight your product or service
Showcase your offerings in an enticing way to generate interest. For example, lead with your most popular product.
Use relevant text overlays
Text on images can help convey key messages. But keep overlays short and make sure they don’t clash with the photo.
Optimize for multiple devices
The Desktop view is most important, but test your featured photo on mobile as well. Center focus and adapt text size as needed.
Change it up frequently
Update your featured photo every few months to keep your page looking fresh. Tie it to seasons, promotions, events, or other themes.
Ideal Types of Featured Photos
What should you actually show in your featured photo? Some effective options include:
Product Photos
Highlight your star product or flagship offering. Style it in an appealing, natural way. Include some negative space around it so the image isn’t too cluttered.
Company Logos
If you have a strong, recognizable logo, putting it front and center is a smart move. This builds brand familiarity.
Behind-the-Scenes
Give audiences a peek inside your company culture. Show staff collaborating and enjoying their work to humanize your brand.
Event Images
Promote an upcoming event, conference, or webinar with a featured photo. Include eye-catching graphics and event details.
Founder/CEO Portraits
Put a face on your company by featuring portraits of leadership. Human connection builds trust and loyalty.
Infographics
Present key data, stats, or facts about your industry in an easy-to-digest visual format. Overlay some text to summarize.
Customer Testimonials
Social proof is powerful! Show satisfied customers actively using and enjoying your products.
Dos and Don’ts
Here are some key dos and don’ts to keep in mind:
DO:
- Pick a high-quality, eye-catching image
- Choose photos that align with your brand identity and target audience
- Highlight your key products, services or differentiators
- Use clean compositions and draw attention to your focus elements
- Change your featured photo regularly to keep things fresh
DON’T:
- Use pixelated, blurry or low-res images
- Choose generic stock photos that have no connection to your brand
- Overcrowd images or make them too busy
- Use overly promotional photos that look sales-y
- Leave the same featured photo up for years without updating it
Optimizing Based on Industry
Certain types of featured photos tend to work best for different industries. Here are some examples:
Retail
Product photos, new arrivals, storefronts, branding
Restaurant
Food presentations, chefs at work, restaurant interior
Hotel
Exteriors, interior design, pool, signature amenities
SaaS Company
Screenshots, infographics, branding
Agency
Happy clients, team headshots, creative portfolio samples
Nonprofit
Causes & missions, events, donor impact stories
Look at competitors in your niche to see which types of featured photos resonate best with your target audience.
Design Tips
In addition to choosing the right content, proper design is crucial for maximizing impact:
- Use the rule of thirds to place key subjects off-center for balance
- Ensure the focal point stands out clearly
- Include negative space around focal elements
- Use clean, simple backgrounds that don’t distract
- Make sure any text overlays are big enough to read
- Overlay text over solid backgrounds or dark gradients for legibility
- Use attractive, on-brand fonts and colors
- Employ drop shadows if needed to make text stand out
Tools
Here are some helpful online tools for creating and optimizing featured Facebook photos:
Canva
Intuitive graphic design platform with templates, fonts, images, and tools for resizing/cropping.
Crello
Graphic design and image creation tool with customizable templates.
PicMonkey
Photo editor with design effects, touch up tools, graphics, and text options.
ResizePixel
Easy-to-use image resizing tool to get perfect dimensions for featured photos.
Optimizilla
Image compressor to reduce file sizes without sacrificing quality.
Compressor.io
Online compressor with settings optimized for Facebook image requirements.
Conclusion
Featured photos are a simple but impactful way to boost your Facebook presence. The right image quickly conveys your brand identity and grabs attention in crowded News Feeds. Dedicate time to creatingoptimized featured photos that showcase your products, people, and personality. Combine compelling visuals with smart design techniques for maximum effect. Change it up regularly and adapt it for your industry to drive engagement on one of the world’s top social platforms.
| Type | Examples | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Product Photos | Flagship product, most popular offering | Showcase key offering, highlight product benefits |
| Company Logos | Polished logo on white background | Build brand familiarity and recognition |
| Behind-the-Scenes | Staff collaborating, office environment | Humanize your company, show culture |
| Event Images | Conference graphics, event sneak peeks | Promote upcoming events and webinars |
| Founder/CEO Portraits | Individual or group portraits | Put a face on your brand, build trust |
| Infographics | Stats, facts, key data points | Present information in visual format |
| Customer Testimonials | Happy customers using products | Social proof, show authentic experiences |