Have you already hopped on the new Etsy banner bandwagon?
Or is your shop still sporting the old look?
(For a quick refresher, check out this article. It explains everything about the new banner options and more.)
If you’re sold on the new, fresh and impressively large Etsy banner (so large in fact that it warrants the name cover photo), keep on reading to find out how to use it to its full potential. Spoiler: You may have to get down and dirty with a graphic design app – eek! Trust, you can do this. Let’s go!
Etsy Cover Photo – General Guidelines
- Hit Them With Your Best Shot: Make sure your cover photo is strong enough to attract clients and keep them scrolling all the way down to your products.
- Keep It Cohesive: If you have a nice logo or visual identity, use them as a starting point for your new cover photo.
- Pay Attention To Color: Color-coordinate with the main hues in your product images or go for sweet contrasts. Don’t know how to do that? Use the classic color wheel as a guideline (remember, opposites attract) or use this fun online visualization app from Adobe.
- Make It Dynamic: Not all the elements of your cover photo have to fit between the boundaries. A few that seem to slide in or out of the frame will make the final photo look fun and inviting.
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Add Some Text: This is a good spot to insert taglines, promotional deals etc. However, do remember to keep them short and to the point.
Etsy Cover Photo – Graphic Suggestions
- Use A Product Shot: The easiest way to take advantage of the branding space is to use a professional shot that you already have on hand. Easy-peasy!
- Use Your Shop Logo And Tagline On A Neutral Background: Self-explanatory and very impactful.
- Use A Pattern: Add your logo on top of it and voila! A clean and almost instant new Etsy cover photo.
- Create A Flatlay Of Your Best Sellers: If you’re set on going all out, shooting a flatlay with some of your products is a fabulous way to compose your Etsy banner. Mind the landscape orientation!
- A Medley Of Your Best Sellers: Give a first-time visitor a 360 view on what your shop’s about. Add in your logo if you’re feeling creative.
Etsy Cover Photo – Resources
Some of the graphic suggestions above require some sort of a graphic app. However, don’t panic. The following tips will have you set up and running in no time.
- Canva: A popular pick for Etsy sellers everywhere, Canva is an online graphic app. Its pre-made Etsy banners are easy to customize even if you’re a beginner. It is officially endorsed by Etsy and it’s free to use – you only pay for certain images. Starter instructions can be found here.
- PicMonkey: Another popular pick for online banner-making is PicMonkey. You can use it for everything from putting together a collage to creating a new banner from scratch. For instructions on how to get started, click here.
- Locally Installed Software: If you wouldn’t exactly call yourself a graphic design newbie and you already have something like Adobe Photoshop (paid) or Gimp (free) installed on your computer, you can easily go the DIY route. For free commercial use fonts you should check out Font Squirrel, and for free commercial use stock photos, start with Unsplash.
Sizing reminder:
According to Etsy, the minimal size for a good cover photo 1200 x 300 pixels. The ideal one is 3360 x 840 pixels. This bigger size will look better on larger screens and retina devices.
Alright, that’s it!
How will you create an irresistible cover photo for your shop? Comment below!