Mark Zuckerberg likes to remind us that Facebook is all about the image. His most recent, very forceful reminder came when Facebook purchased image-editing app Instagram for $1 billion (An 8 person company bought for $1 billion… obviously we should have gone into the app-building industry…)
The recent change to the Facebook Timeline layout emphasizes that focus on the image, with a large cover photo taking up well over a third of every user’s screen. For those using Facebook for business, this means that your cover photo is the single largest image that your customer will see. First impressions loom large for online users, so your Facebook timeline cover photo should be creative, engaging, and should send the right message about your business.
The Facebook terms of use do not allow direct links or call to actions in your cover photo, but there are ways to subtly promote further engagment with your business. These five Facebook business page cover photos do a great job of providing compelling images that also compel further actions from users. Check it out and get inspired for your own business cover photo!
5 Cover Photos That Spark Business Without Making Facebook Mad
Verizon put their cover photo in their customers’ hands, asking Verizon users to take pictures with their phones and send them in to be considered for Verizon’s cover photos. Their current cover photo features a collage of many submissions, but we like their older photos that give credit to individual users.
Photo: Verizon (and Jose, of course)
With each photo, Verizon gives credit to their users while also subtly promoting the phone that each photo was taken with. This photo contest concept is a great way to encourage user engagement without being overtly promotional.
This swanky car compnay has a creative cover photo that manages to be both retro and informative. The faded purple map creates a compelling image, while the scattered car icons usefully point out where to find the company.
Photo: Uber
One thing Uber does not do is give more information in their cover photo caption. The cover photo caption is a great place to share call-to-actions. In this case, Uber could list the various locations of their businesses and how to contact each one.
Fanta is known for their creative advertising, and their Facebook Timeline cover photo does not disappoint. Fanta uses an image from a current ad campaign, which is a great way to provide continuity within your various marketing platforms.
Photo: Fanta
Fanta’s information section encourages users to “like” the page in order to find out more about the interactive campaign.
While it may not be the most thrilling Facebok page of all time, the Lawyers.com Facebook Timeline cover photo does a great job of promoting its website’s current content. The image creatively references new blog posts, while the caption provides actual links to each post.
Photo: Lawyers.com
This a great way to promote your new blog posts without overtly including a call to action in your cover photo image.
For our last example, we decided to give a little love to fellow online marketing firm Dynamics Online. We like their cover photo because it embarces the human element of business, giving a face to what might otherwise seem remote technology.
Photo: Dynamics Online
A photo of your employes gives a friendly face to your company, perfect for the image-based community that Zuckerberg insists Facebook be.
For more great examples of Facebook timeline cover phoots, check out this Hubspot article.
