<\/span><\/h2>\nIf you don’t have an Etsy account, first create a profile.<\/p>\n
When you arrive on the website, click sign-in and instead of filling in your login details, select register.<\/p>\n
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After you’ve completed the registration process, you’re ready to begin.<\/p>\n
Log in to your account and click on Shop Manager\u00a0on the top right of the dashboard. This will take you to a new page where you will see a range of options.<\/p>\n
Look for your shop name at the bottom of the page under Sales Channel.<\/p>\n
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Next, click on the “Settings” option.<\/p>\n
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Click on the pencil icon next to your store name, and you will be taken to yet another page.<\/p>\n
Here, click on the change layout option.<\/p>\n
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Next, you will be asked to choose a banner type; either cover photo, mini, or none.<\/p>\n
Remember to select the cover photo option.<\/p>\n
Upload your newly minted banner photo created with Pixelied.<\/p>\n
And that’s it!<\/p>\n
Tip:<\/strong> While the free version of Etsy gives you three banner options, if you have a premium Etsy Plus account, you will have some additional design options.<\/p>\n\n- Carousel banner<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
This option lets you add four different images as your cover photo instead of just one.<\/p>\n
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By having more room to showcase your products or tell your brand story, the previously small space is now suddenly much larger.<\/p>\n
Why is this important?<\/p>\n
You have the opportunity to drive more engagement to your store.<\/p>\n
But be careful.<\/p>\n
If your images don’t relate to one another or share different messaging, you will end up only confusing your visitors.<\/p>\n
\n- Collage banner<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
This option lets you add two, three, or four images into one single large banner.<\/p>\n
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This option is a great way to show off your most popular or newest listings.<\/p>\n
By being able to show more of your products from the get-go, the collage banner is a great way to maximize sales.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Best Etsy Banner Examples And Practices<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\nAs you have seen now, creating cover photos is pretty straightforward.<\/p>\n
But the real challenge lies in the design.<\/p>\n
How can you communicate your brand ethos in such a small space? While difficult, it’s not impossible, especially if you follow these proven practices.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Aim For Consistency With Your Store<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nBeing consistent is important when it comes to branding.<\/p>\n
Consistency in this context means that your target audience is exposed to the same core message and experience while browsing or shopping in your store.<\/p>\n
This includes everything from how your cover photo appears to how you provide customer service.<\/p>\n
For example, one way you can help promote consistency is to make sure that the color scheme used for your product listings matches that of your cover photo.<\/p>\n
For example, Dye For Yarn showcases a cover photo that resembles its product listings below.<\/p>\n
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Remember that a banner sets the tone of the core message you want to communicate with customers.<\/p>\n
If you remain consistent, you’ll start to gain recognition from customers.<\/p>\n
And in a competitive and saturated marketplace, being recognized means winning half the battle.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Choose Contrasting Colors To Stand Out<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nTo grab a user’s attention, your banner needs to stand out.<\/p>\n
One way to do this is by using color contrast to your advantage.<\/p>\n
Since, the human eye is more sensitive to bright hues, so bright red, yellow, and orange will always perform better than green, blue, and purple shades.<\/p>\n
But that doesn’t mean you\u00a0always<\/em> have to use bright colors to achieve this effect.<\/p>\nFor example, Tram21 was able to draw attention to their products by placing them in the banner on a dark backdrop.<\/p>\n
The result?<\/p>\n
Products that look exceptional and more importantly, customers could immediately know what the brand is all about in a single glance.<\/p>\n
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<\/span>Clear Use Of Text<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nWhile images alone can be effective, don’t underestimate the power of text.<\/p>\n
Often an image alone might not be enough to convey your value proposition, so adding text to your banner is a great way to communicate what your brand is all about.<\/p>\n
Remember to keep it short and concise, though.<\/p>\n
For example, if your store specializes handmade bracelets that make great gifts, you might add: “A bracelet for all special occasions”.<\/p>\n
Here’s an example of how Stampoutonline uses text in their banner image to cleverly to answer who they are and what they do.<\/p>\n
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<\/span>Leverage Whitespace<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nWhitespace is integral to good design practice.<\/p>\n
But what is it exactly?<\/p>\n
It’s space that is intentionally left blank to minimize confusion. You don’t want too much happening in your banner and make readers guess what you are trying to say.<\/p>\n
So, be careful not to add too much\u00a0<\/em>information in your banner image.<\/p>\nInstead, try to use white space to highlight design elements and highlight your key message.<\/p>\n
Here’s an example<\/p>\n
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<\/span>Make Use Of Social Proof<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nEver been in a crowded marketplace, trying to figure out where to eat?<\/p>\n
If you’re like most, you’ll end up going where other people are.<\/p>\n
Why?<\/p>\n
Humans are psychologically hard-wired to copy the behavior of strangers when it comes to making a decision.<\/p>\n
Similarly, online shoppers are tired of marketing campaigns and will be influenced by the wisdom of the crowds when it comes to deciding whether a product or brand is worth buying.<\/p>\n
Notice how Bloom Valley Market’s cover photo utilizes people to showcase how their products can be used in everyday situations.<\/p>\n
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Here are three ways how you can integrate social proof in your banner:<\/p>\n