We’ve been talking about Twitter a lot lately. We’ve talked about the recent profile updates. We’ve talked about Twitter etiquette. We’ve even talked about how to appropriately respond to follows, replies, and mentions. Needless to say, it’s been a Twitter packed couple of weeks.
Don’t worry, the Twitter insight continues. As with most aspects of business, three posts barely scratches the surface. While we’ll eventually change topics, there are a few more important Twitter-need-to-knows we want to share such as, how to use images effectively on Twitter.
On average, Twitter has observed that tweets with photos receive 35 percent more retweets than those without. This means photo tweets not only rock at attracting engagement, they’re superstars at word of mouth marketing.
Share Images Selectively
Does this mean you should start only tweeting photos? No. Using an image in every tweet reduces their impact. By sharing images selectively, you give each image tweets more of a presence.
Why is this important? Because not every message you are sharing is equal. Some are more important than others. Having a way to call attention to those which are is a powerful tool.
What’s the perfect tweets with images to tweets without ratio? Sadly, there isn’t one. But, look at your profile timeline stylistically. What allows you to best breakup your images? We’ve found sharing an image every third or fourth tweet to be incredibly effective.
Share Images with a 2:1 Aspect Ratio
To ensure Twitter displays your entire image, you need to make sure it has a 2:1 aspect ratio. The aspect ratio refers to the width and height. Therefore, your pictures need to be twice as wide as they are tall.
Ideally, you want to use images that are 1024 x 512 pixels. This will provide the best image resolution on even large desktops. At a minimum you want to use an image that’s 440 x 220 pixels to ensure Twitter doesn’t have to stretch your image.
What if your image isn’t a perfect 2:1 rectangle? This certainly isn’t the end of the world. Most likely, not every image you share will be perfectly designed for Twitter. However, you should recognize that for images that don’t have the 2:1 aspect ratio, Twitter will display the center of the image in the tweet preview.
Use Images with Meaning
Just because images can help your tweets, doesn’t mean every photo is worthy of a tweet. The images you use should convey a message and be inline with your brand. Try to select images with a single focal point that can be seen and understood quickly. Additionally, bright, clear images with bold colors tend to leap of the screen, attracting more attention.
Don’t Rely on Your Image
Use images to enhance tweets not to explain them. Your tweet should always make sense without your image. Why? Because not all Twitter apps display images. And, some users have discovered ways to turn them off on their mobile devices.
