Why You Should Use Canva To Liven Up Your Blog Posts.

Blog posts or articles with images get viewed 94% more than those without!

This is why you need images in your blog posts. And it is why you should use Canva to liven up your blog posts.

Canva is a fantastic graphic design tool that is easy to use.

Even if you know nothing about graphic design, you will soon become an expert by using this tool.

Let’s get started.

What Is Canva?

Canva is a cloud-based graphic design tool.

It has both a Free version and a Pro (paid) version. I have been using the Free version for about 5 years now and am very happy with it.

To sign up for your free membership, you will need to go HERE.

Once you have set up your Canva account, your Home Page will look something like this.

The templates run across the top of the page just below the blue block, and your own designs are below that.

This graphic tool will help you to create specialized images suitable to your blog posts. There are many free designs and templates for you to choose, including infographics.

You can edit anything you choose by changing colors, images, text, shapes and other elements.

In addition to making images for your blog posts, you will also find templates for Pinterest Pins, Facebook Posts, Instagram images, and even more.

You can upload your own photos to use, or other images that are not copyright.

If you want an image in a particular size, you can choose pixels, inches, centimeters or millimeters for the height and width. This is done by clicking on the “Create Design” purple button, top right and choosing “Custom Size”.

Canva then stores everything you create on your Home Page under “Recent Designs”. They are always available for you to use again, rework or change.

This is certainly the best way for you to accomplish your graphic design needs for your blog posts or social media.

And is also why you should use Canva to liven up your blog posts.

So, let’s look at some of the designs you might want to use for your blog or social media.

You Can Create A Banner For Your Blog.

A banner image at the top of your blog is important to illustrate the content of your blog.

For this website, which is focused upon online marketing, I wanted something clean that illustrated working online.

On checking my blog for the size of the Header image, I discovered that it needed to be 1600 x 500 pixels.

So, I chose that custom size, and went in search of a suitable Template on Canva.

I came across this one, which I really liked.

However, it has someone else’s name on it and also the color of the text was not quite suitable for my website.

So, I clicked on the text and changed the size and color to fit with my own corporate colors. And then I renamed it for my own website – She’s Bringing Home The Bacon – and added a border.

Here is the finished result.

Brand Yourself With A Canva Logo.

Branding is important in marketing, whether you are working online or in the retail market place.

Sometimes, the theme you choose for your website will require you to add a logo at the top. Sometimes it is optional.

If you do need a logo, do not worry. Canva has you covered.

There are many logo templates in many different categories, so you should be able to find a suitable design for your business.

Here is one that I made for my business. Alongside it is another that I made for a non-profit website that I manage. It has a Radio Show called The Conservative Thought Hour.

Create An Infographic.

Infographics are a great way to illustrate something complicated quite simply.

Canva has many templates for infographics, or you can make your own by utilizing elements and text.

Some of the infographics templates on Canva are quite busy and required high concentration to read the content. But they are well-designed and eye-catching.

You should be able to find a suitable template for your niche.

I wanted to explain simply how affiliate marketing works. So I set about making my own simplified infographics.

One design was quite basic and the other had different design elements. Both were extremely simple to follow and gave the same information

How To Design A Featured Image.

Given the information we have discussed above, that blog posts with images are viewed 94% more than those without, a Featured Image is essential for each of your blog posts.

What better way of making them unique to you than by using Canva.

I also have another blog about women’s golf, and have often used photos I have taken myself on my blog posts.

If you have a blog about, say, pets, it is likely that you own them yourself and can take great photos to illustrate the different aspects of your website.

You can also find great images on the “free to download” sites, such as Unsplash.

Whatever you choose, make sure that it is not just a random photograph, but actually is aligned with the content of your blog post.

You can either use the photo as-is and add text. Alternatively, you could add elements and levels of transparency as well. The choices are endless.

Here is one of my featured images from my golf website.

Professional-looking YouTube Thumbnails.

Many bloggers also use YouTube as a medium for their blog. This can be in addition to a written blog, or just a different way of blogging.

An eye-catching image is especially important for a YouTube video. It is the first thing visitors see.

You could just choose one of the images from the video itself, but that is not usually as engaging as a specially designed thumbnail image.

You can use your own branding for your Thumbnail (that you designed with Canva), or use one or more of the Canva templates to design your thumbnail images. The choice is yours.

I have used Canva templates for mine and here is a selection for you to see.

Pinterest Pins Are Fun To Make.

One really fun thing I enjoy making is Pinterest Pins.

Sometimes I use one of Canva’s templates, and sometimes I design my own using images and text.

One important tip I learned is that pins with text are more often viewed than those without. This is especially true if the text is large with an appealing message.

You can get quite creative with the design factors by using elements, photos, text and other graphics.

Here are two types of Pins – one using a Canva Template and one with a free design.

Social Media Is Important, Too.

If you are going to have a successful blogging business, you will certainly need to utilize social media to promote your blog posts.

So, as you explore Canva, you will also find templates and sizes for other social media. These include Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

As you can see, one of the reasons why you should use Canva to liven up your blog posts, is its incredible versatility.

Not only can you create all the images you’ll ever need for your blog posts, but also for the social media channels you use for promoting your blog.

This Is Why You Should Use Canva To Liven Up Your Blog Posts.

Canva is an incredibly versatile graphic design tool that will enable you to become your own graphic designer.

As we have discussed and illustrated, it will enable you to create:

• A banner for your blog.
• Your own logo.
• Infographics.
• Featured Images.
• YouTube Thumbnails.
• Images for Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter.

Your blog posts will become more engaging when you add images.

And, if you’d like to know where and how I set up my online business, click on the image below for your FREE TRIAL.