One thing I’ve realized since starting with Twitter is that most folks really don’t take it that seriously. I can understand why that is, Twitter seems like just a silly way to chat and hang out with online friends. But it can be so much more when properly used!
Most people don’t take advantage of all the tools at their disposal when it comes to Twitter to promote their online presence and by extension their online brand. One extremely important thing they can do on Twitter is by creating a custom background image for their twitter page. A custom background image helps you to promote your blogs, spread your contact info, and even connect a bit more with your readers.
Problogger had a guest post on his new twitter blog recently that stressed the importance of adding a custom background image to make you stand out. Let’s look a little bit more at adding a custom background image below.
Adding a custom background on Twitter
First, let’s discuss the mechanics of adding a custom background to your twitter page. It’s relatively easy to do, just follow these steps.
- Select the “Settings” link in the top right row at the top of your Twitter page.
- Click on the “Design” tab and then click on “Change background image“.
- Select your new background image, and click “save changes” to upload. (Images must be smaller than 800k. GIF, JPG, PNG. The smaller the file size, the better in my opinion)
- Change the color settings of your twitter page to complement your new background image. Click on “change design colors” and select colors that complement your design.
- Save your changes, and enjoy your new custom background!
What goals should I have with my custom background?
When I setup my new custom background image, I had several goals I wanted to achieve.
- Build my brand: I used the custom background image to build my brand and stress my online presence. To do that I kept the colors and design consistent with the colors and design on my blog, tweetertips.com.
- Personalize your page and connect with readers: To personalize the custom background you can add a photo of yourself, or do a custom logo of some sort for your site.
- Let them know how to connect with you by including a “business card”: On my custom background I have a “connections square” or “business card” thanking people for connecting with me on twitter, and letting them know of a few other places that we can connect. I’ve included the urls of my 3 websites, urls to my plurk and friendfeed profiles, as well as an invitation to consider using me to design a logo for their website through my design blog at http://www.logosforwebsites.com. In addition to adding contact info to your background image you’ll want to add your main site URL to your twitter profile as well. I’ve found quite a few people connecting to my sites this way.
- Make it pleasing to the eye: I always want to make my twitter profile pages pleasing to the eye. While having a nice looking background image may not get people to follow you or keep them around, the lack of an eye pleasing design can definitely keep them from sticking around. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve decided not to follow someone because their profile background image is cluttered, distracting or otherwise offensive to the eye.
Want your own custom designed Twitter background?
I have designed quite a few custom Twitter background images now through my other website, logosforwebsites.com , and people have been pretty happy with the results. Here are a few of the designs that I’ve done:
- http://twitter.com/moneymatters
- http://twitter.com/thatonecaveman
- http://twitter.com/jnickles
- http://twitter.com/frugaldad
- http://twitter.com/ncheapskate
Want to get your own custom background image designed for your Twitter page? Just go to this page and click on the link to purchase a “custom twitter background” for $25. Once you’ve paid, go to this page and let me know what things you want included in your custom background. You’ll have your new background image up and running in no time!
Even if you don’t use me to design your custom background, you should consider setting up a nice background for your twitter page. It’ll make your presence seem more professional, help people connect to your online presence and in the end bring more people to your blog.
What do you think about adding a custom background image? Do you think it makes a difference? Do you have one on your twitter page?
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for the helpful advice. I didn’t know you could do those things on Twitter.
adding a backgrounds is fine but it is covered up by the central panel and each one you have as examples like this one
http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/9/9/209573/cover.png
OK – I see if you open browser full screen your can see the left hand with their browser window so large. Better to put information down the edges so it shows in the normal viewing space.
Here is an example – it still will not show if browser window is too small but does if it is about average size
http://twitter.com/stocktiger
I think you have to toe the line between having the right information, and fitting it for most users. I can’t fit it to look good on every browser resolution, but I can fit it so that most will be able to view it as it should be.
Well, i use my custom background on tweeter http://twitter.com/julioverani but in my case, your tips about adding information on the background shows some problems, since i’ve got a heavy image, and needed to low the quality of it. informations such as texts would show really scary with a 25% quality JPG.
But, for some othe cases, i guess your tips would be very usefull!
Congrats to your post!
sometimes you have to have a shorter background image as well – and have it so that it fades into a background color instead – that way you can minimize the size, but still include a lot of the important information. On yours for example, I think you could have faded out your image to a light gray color, reduced the graphic size, and still had the look you wanted. Just an idea.