Last week, Twitter rolled out its new header photo design feature for user profiles. Now, all Twitter profiles can include not just an avatar image, but also a large header image that appears at the top of their profile timelines, similar to the Facebook cover photo design.
The launch of Twitter header photos gives brands another way to visually connect with consumers, and already, brands are getting creative with header photos that enhance their Twitter profiles in a variety of ways. Following are four ways that brands have already found to wow audiences with Twitter header photo designs. Take a look at these great early examples and think about how you can turn your boring Twitter profile into a visualization of your brand promise with a great header photo.
1. Show Your Products
Imagine a bakery with a Twitter header photo filled with delicious treats or a high-end jeweler displaying its beautiful designs. Already, brands like Starbucks and Vanity Fair have rolled out Twitter header photos that show their products in very different ways.
2. Show Your Employees and Offices
What better way to make your brand more human than by showing your employees in your brand’s Twitter header photo? It’s a smart move for a brand like Ford. You can also give your audience a peek into life at the company and people behind the brand by displaying photos of your office or working environments. Take a look at the Twitter header image from The Huffington Post below for a great example.
3. Show What You Do
Service organizations and non-profits might not have tangible products to display in their Twitter header photos, but they can show photos of what they do. Check out the Twitter header photos for Charity: Water and Greenpeace to see what I mean. Also, take a closer look at the Greenpeace header image and you’ll see a clever design trick where the avatar image matches up exactly with the larger header image behind it. Instead of using the organization’s logo, like most companies and organizations do in their Twitter profiles, Greenpeace focuses more on the brand’s mission in its avatar and header photo.
4. Show Your Brand Promise
Brands like Nike and Red Bull use inspirational and motivational images in their Twitter header photos, which reflect the brands’ promises. These are brands that connect with consumers on an emotional level, and the decision to use visuals that represent the brand promise rather than products is a smart one for both brands.
Have you seen any brands with amazing or creative Twitter header photos? Leave a comment and share your favorites to date.
Susan Gunelius is the author of 10 marketing, social media, branding, copywriting, and technology books, and she is President & CEO of KeySplash Creative, Inc., a marketing communications company. She also owns Women on Business, an award-wining blog for business women. She is a featured columnist for Entrepreneur.com and Forbes.com, and her marketing-related articles have appeared on websites such as MSNBC.com, BusinessWeek.com, TodayShow.com, and more.
She has over 20 years of experience in the marketing field having spent the first decade of her career directing marketing programs for some of the largest companies in the world, including divisions of AT&T and HSBC. Today, her clients include large and small companies around the world and household brands like Citigroup, Cox Communications, Intuit, and more. Susan is frequently interviewed about marketing and branding by television, radio, print, and online media organizations, and she speaks about these topics at events around the world. You can connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Google+.
