How to Create Impactful Social Media Graphics

A Guide for Non-Designers and Small Business Owners

These days, social media is a way of reaching clients and prospects without blowing your marketing budget in one place. The best part is, it’s something that can be templatized for easy and repeated use!  

While creating graphics for social media is time intensive, it is one of the easiest ways to get in front of an audience. Social media platforms are highly saturated with people that use them (and that you can potentially reach), especially with recent legislation surrounding TikTok.

As of 2025, LinkedIn has reported over 1.1 billion active users, Instagram estimates about 2 billion, and Facebook reports just over 3 billion.

Even though there are a lot of platforms to choose from, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram are still the key platforms with longevity and staying power. For most people in service based businesses, these platforms are the ones that make the most sense. 

While so many active users means a lot of potential audience, it also means a lot of other businesses like yours trying to get new business too. It’s important to be unique and stand out. Canva is a great tool to leverage for creating your posts, but beware the trap of just using a premade template and adding your own words - if you want to stand out, you have to take it one step further and do a little more work than the other guy. 

Here are three key tips to help you create social media posts that will stand out and deliver your message: 

1. Consistent Branding

   Make sure all of your posts have the same vibe.
   

   If you’re using Canva, leverage their brand kit tool to make sure you have easy access to it every time you create content there. This can include your logo, brand photos, colors, custom graphic elements, and fonts. Then, apply these elements in a consistent way.  For example, if you have a pattern that you can use as a background, a sidebar, a border etc. - always use it in the same way to maintain consistency. This will allow viewers to recognize your brand and make a connection. 

Author, Podcast Host, and Speaker Mel Robbins does a great job with consistently using a yellow highlight in her text-based posts, making them easy to spot as you scroll.

To take it one step further, add your business name or handle ON your graphics to show that the content is yours - that way, when your content gets shared, you're still being credited easily and possible connections are being sent back to you.

2. Personality

   Think about the tone behind your posts.

I'm usually quick to throw in a little humor and sarcasm into my posts, and that's how I interact with my clients too - it's just my personality!

Social media is a place for conversations and connections with people, (not businesses), so you want to make sure your personality shines through to help humanize your brand.

Are you more of a calm and serious business person? 

Are you outgoing and laid back when doing business?

Do you like to share your personal life and include your beliefs or do you like to keep that separate from business?  

Allowing your personality to shine through will help the right type of client to relate and feel comfortable in connecting with you. In most industries, people hire people and they’re more inclined to buy if they feel like they’re purchasing from a friend. 

3. Less is More, Visually

   The right balance of items in your post will go a long way.

   

   Executive Leadership Coach and Speaker (and my client!) Amber Waugaman does a great job leveraging "less is more" and overlapping elements!

   This is going to apply to several elements within your post. When it comes to content, while you want to make sure you use your branding (i.e. font), you want to make sure  the overall post is not tiring to the eye, hard to read or just overwhelming for the reader.  Keep your font clean and easy to read and keep your content short and powerful. There will be times where it makes sense to share a long post, such as an important life update or a clarification on a recent post/event, but in most cases, a few words (not even a long sentence) will suffice. If you use short, strong words, they will quickly capture the audience’s interest.  Balance is key! It helps to leave breathing room for your content - space between your words and the elements that are part of your design. Be intentional about what you include - you want to make sure it’s visually attractive, but not boring. Don’t be afraid of having design elements on top of each other. Layering photos over colored bars or something intentional is not a bad thing. 

Before sharing your post, don’t be afraid to get input and feedback from an outside perspective. Ask a friend or someone with a different perspective to take a look and help you make sure your post checks off these three key items. If you can apply these tips to your social media graphics, and mix in a healthy dose of your beautiful face, you’re much more likely to stand out from your competitors in your chosen space.

If you need help creating some templated graphics and better understanding best practices and how they apply to your brand, feel free to book a free Idea to Execution Consult below!