Optimized images for social media: a practical guide

A pixelated, badly cropped or slow-loading image conveys a careless brand image. Optimizing your images for each network is a small detail with a big impact on how you're perceived.

Each network, its format

Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X have different ratios and resolutions. Posting an image at the right size avoids automatic crops that cut off heads or text, and ensures it looks sharp on any screen.

Weight and speed

An image doesn't need to weigh 8 MB to look good. Compressing in the right format (WebP or optimized JPG) reduces weight without visible quality loss, which speeds up loading —key both on social media and on your website.

• Use each platform's recommended ratio
• Export as WebP or optimized JPG, not heavy PNG
• Mind the contrast so text is readable on mobile
• Keep an aesthetic consistent with your brand

Visual consistency sells

The ratios to remember

• Square (1:1): the feed all-rounder — works almost everywhere
• Vertical (4:5): takes up more screen in the Instagram feed; ideal for product
• Stories and Reels (9:16): full screen; keep top and bottom margins free of text
• Horizontal (1.91:1): shared links and headers — the ratio of your website's Open Graph images

That last point is always forgotten: when someone shares your website on WhatsApp or LinkedIn, the preview image is also "a social media image". In our web design projects we configure them for every page.

Beyond technique, what builds loyalty is a consistent visual identity: same colours, same fonts, same photo style. At Somia Digital we create your social media imagery and give you ready-to-post templates, no headaches.