How To Use Canva to Create A Stand Out LinkedIn Profile Banner
If you’ve never used Canva before, get ready to feel like a graphic designer. Canva is an awesome graphic design platform that’s made to be user-friendly. You don’t have to have any design experience to get started either. There’s a premium subscription, but the free version works just as well and has hundreds of templates to choose from. To freshen up your LinkedIn page, Canva is the perfect place to design a banner that will help you stand out.
To get started, sign up or log in to Canva. In the top right corner, click “Create a design” and type “LinkedIn Banner” into the search bar. Select the option that measures 2000 x 600 px. This is the standard banner size that you’ll want to use. Now, it’s time to design.
1. Figure Out Your Brand/Theme
What kind of professional are you marketing yourself as? The corporate type? A creative? Figure this out and use this as a starting point. If you’re looking for a corporate-type role, you might want to stick to modern fonts and neutral, calming colors. If you’re a creative, it might be more impactful to try script or display fonts with unique designs that show off your style. Whatever your career is, use design themes that will translate as relevant and fitting to your industry. If you’re making a banner for your business, make sure to use colors and fonts that match the brand. If you have a logo, be sure to include that, too!
Examples of clean, modern fonts: Glacial Indifference, Code, Montserrat Classic
Examples of script or display fonts: Oleo Script, Amsterdam One, Notable
2. Decide What Your Banner Will Communicate
As a writer, I find this to be the fun part. Your LinkedIn banner can say anything from your name and title, to a quote you like, to a motto or short description of you or your business. Get creative here, but also remember to keep things short and sweet. This isn’t the place to list off everything you do or all the skills you have. Save those things for previous job descriptions and your “About” section. Your banner will be one of the first things people will see when they click on your profile, so make the text clear, easy to comprehend, and easy to read. Here are some examples:
Name and title:
John Smith
Freelance Graphic Designer
Quote:
“Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.” - Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Motto/Short Description:
J.S. Consulting: Marketing Strategies That Make An Impact
3. Time To Design...
Like I said, Canva has hundreds of templates to choose from. But just because there are templates, that doesn’t mean you have to stick to them. That’s the great part about Canva—you can take what you want from the designs they have, but the options are endless. Once you have your general theme and text figured out, it’s time to design!
If you want to start with a template, browse the templates tab on the left-hand side or filter your options by typing in things like “clean” or “creative.” Now, select the template you like. From here, you can change the colors and fonts to fit the theme you’ve chosen, as well as move around different designs to arrange them how you like.
If you’re wanting to make something totally original, start from scratch and use the tips laid out in this blog post to create your own unique banner. Play around with colors, layering different elements, or even upload a photo to really make it your own.
A bonus tip, make sure to keep things centered or right-aligned so your design won’t get covered up by your profile picture once you upload it to LinkedIn.
Happy Designing!
No matter what theme or message you’re trying to convey through this LinkedIn banner, using Canva to create something unique will help you stand out. Think of it as a kind of extra credit—it’s the little things that will help show clients or employers that you’re detail-oriented and willing to take that extra step.
Related:
Canva Series: Make A Virtual Business Card To Use As An Email Signature
To Follow or Connect? Simple Tips To Navigating LinkedIn Networking
Why LinkedIn Isn’t Working For You: 4 Mistakes You Might Be Making Right Now
5 Tips To Elevating Your LinkedIn Profile Headline To Get Noticed Fast
Meet The Writer!
Hello! My name is Lea Rose and I am an avid writer with a love for all things international. I recently graduated from UNC Charlotte with degrees in Communication Studies as well as Dance Performance and hope to be a full time travel writer one day. My writing primarily focuses on the ways places and experience shape us as individuals. Please feel free to check out my blog or connect with me through LinkedIn or Instagram @writtenworldblog.
