Why are images so important for Facebook ads?
One of the most important features of your Facebook ads will be the images.
Selecting the right images will be the difference between your ad being overlooked in someone’s Facebook feed or your ad stopping them scrolling and getting them interested enough to take a look.
My advice to my clients, even if they are the face of their brand, is that they have to leave their ego at the door when it comes to selecting images for their ads.
Yes, sometimes images of you will work (particularly with a warm audience) but with a cold audience, you need to find the “traffic stopper” images. And if these people have never heard of you before, why is your face going to stop them in their tracks?
Think about what images jump out at you when you’re scrolling through your feed. Try and apply the same technique to the ads for your business; put yourself in the shoes of your ideal client/customer and think about what may be enough to interest them.
As an example, one of my clients helps overwhelmed women feel calmer, and we experimented with a variety of images for her ads… The most successful? A stock image of a woman with steam coming out of her head!
I often get asked about the image sizes for Facebook ads, so here’s the main things you need to know.
Beware too much text on your images – if your image contains more than 20% text, you’ll receive “reduced delivery”. You can use the Facebook tool to double check that you don’t have too much text in your image.
However, there are some exceptions to the text rule – product images, book and album covers, games and event posters
Facebook Feed Ads Image Sizes
This is the most popular advertising position – in the user’s Facebook feed.
The sizes and specifications for Facebook Feed Image ads are:
- Recommended image size: 1200 x 628 (1080 x 1080 for a 1:1 image). No maximum size restrictions
- Images no more than 20% text
- Image file types: .jpg or .png
Facebook Carousel Ads
Facebook Carousel ads allow you to feature multiple images in one ad. Users can swipe through the various images in a carousel ad to see different items.
The sizes and specifications for Facebook Carousel images are:
- Minimum image size: 600 x 600
- Recommended image size: At least 1080 x 1080. No maximum size restrictions
- Minimum 2 cards and max of 10 cards per Carousel Ad
- Images no more than 20% text
- Image file types: .jpg or .png
Facebook Right Column Ads
Facebook right column ads are less popular than they used to be, as they’re desktop only. So with the increase in mobile usage, there’s less demand for them now.
The sizes and specifications for Facebook Feed ads are:
- Minimum image size: 600 x 600
- Recommended image size: 1200 x 628
- Images no more than 20% text
- Image file types: .jpg or .png
Facebook Marketplace Ads
Facebook Marketplace is where people can buy and sell things but you’ll still be advertising in the same way as you would elsewhere on Facebook.
The sizes and specifications for Facebook Marketplace image ads are:
- Minimum image size: 600 x 600
- Recommended image size: 1200 x 628
- Images no more than 20% text
- Image file types: .jpg or .png
Facebook Stories Ads
Facebook Stories are really popular and you can create full-screen vertical ads that appear between Stories. Photo Story images are visible for 5 seconds unless the user swipes out of the Story.
Remember to leave about 250 pixels at the top and bottom of each slide as that’s where the profile image and call to action go.
The sizes and specifications for Facebook Stories Ads images are:
- Recommended image size: 1080 x 1920 (but keep your text within 1080 x 1420)
- Images no more than 20% text
- Image file types: .jpg or .png
Facebook Collection Ads
Facebook Collection ads make it easy for people to browse a product catalog on mobile. Each Facebook Collection ad features one main video or image, along with four smaller accompanying images in a grid-like layout.
The sizes and specifications for Facebook Collection Ads images are:
- Minimum image size: 600 x 600
- Image ratio: 1:1 for square, 9:16 for landscape
- Maximum image file size: 30MB
- Images no more than 20% text
- Image file types: .jpg or .png
As you can see, there’s a wealth of different layouts and tons of ways you can really capture the audiences attention with images on Facebook ads. And if you need to find some low cost or free stock images, you can head to Pexels, Unsplash or 123RF.
If you’d like some help with your Facebook ads copy and images, or want to spend some time planning out an effective Facebook ad campaign, then you can book a Power Hour with me here. (Not sure what a Power hour is – check this out).