Twitter Tips: Create Your Company Profile Banner

When you first join Twitter, you're given a choice of pre-designed templates to customize your profile page. They look nice enough, but that design space can be put to much better use with a custom design that reflects your company image. Also, since Twitter only gives you 140 characters to say what you're all about, creating a custom design gives you a chance to include more descriptive text and contact information.

How do you create a custom background on the new Twitter? Here are the steps I took to create mine:

Step 1: Decide to DIY or Use a Service
I Googled and read several articles, this one being the best: "HOW TO: Create Custom Twitter Backgrounds." That article gives you the basic dimensions if you want to create a truly custom background and also gives you links to some free on-line background generators. I tried a couple of the generator services. While a lot of people like them, I didn't because I wanted more control over my design so it would match my brand better.

Step 2: Choose a Graphic Design Program
I'm not a graphic designer, I'm a coach. Yet I don't want to hire a professional every time I want something designed for my internet marketing. Two years ago, I found an affordable on-line image editing program I love called Picnik. Since then, they've continued to add amazing new features, too. Picnik is one of the few on-line programs that lets you add text over images and also lets you layer images on top of images--two features that you'll want for this project. (There is a free version of the program, but you need to pay for the advanced version. Well worth it! You'll use this program again and again.)

Step 3: Choose a Full Page or Left Column Banner Image
The dimensions for both are given in that article I linked to in step one. I wasted a lot of time trying to make a full page design work and don't recommend it for graphic design novices! Ultimately, I chose to go back to my original plan for a simple left-column banner that measures 229 pixels wide x 580 pixels tall. Simpler always looks better!

Update: As of September 2010, Twitter changed their layout so that the visible left margin is much smaller. The best size banner for the new Twitter is 108 pixels wide by 500 pixels tall.

Step 4: Think About What You Want to Promote
You can't go wrong by including a logo, a few words about your company, your contact information, and an offer, but I think it's much more interesting when people include some personality tidbits. Twitter is supposed to be a social networking site. Make yourself known as a person, not just a marketer!

The top of my banner describes my expertise in working with holistic businesses and invites people to have an introductory consultation with me. 

Update: You can't fit very much into a custom background for the new Twitter. I found that a vertical company logo looks best (click image at left to enlarge it.) At least Twitter improved their part of the profile, by making descriptions and website links more visible. 

Step 5: Design Your Banner in Picnik
Without getting too technical, here are some key steps I followed to make my Twitter banner in Picnik.

1. Started with a plain image the same color as my Twitter page background, so it would blend seamlessly into the background. (I used white, so it looks clean and bright like our website.) Although a contrasting color could look nice, too.
2. Using the "Picnik basket" feature, I imported our company logo and other images I wanted to use, then dragged them up onto the banner.
3. On Picnik's "Create" tab, I added geometric "Stickers" to create the colored rectangular text boxes. Then I went to the "Text" tab to add my text on top of them.
4. After several revisions, I clicked the option button to "Combine Everything," and then save the completed image.

Step 6: Insert Your Banner Into Twitter
On your Twitter page, select "Settings" from the top menu. Choose the tab for "Design" not picture (or you'll accidentally delete your avatar.) Select "Change background image," then browse, upload, and save your new image.

Step 7: Coordinate Your Twitter Design Colors
You can further customize your page by selecting "Change background colors" (also on the Design tab.) Experiment with font, link, and background shades to make it all come together. Limiting yourself to 2-4 colors will make your page look the most professional.

It was pretty easy! If you've got some basic design skills, such as having created a flyer in Microsoft Word or Publisher before, you'll be able to quickly learn how to create a Twitter banner in Picnik. Be sure to show me yours when you're done!

Follow me on Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/JayaSavannah

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