Graphics

Graphics used on any UPIKE social media accounts should always adhere to the University of Pikeville Brand Guidelines.

Use of text in graphics

Avoid creating text-heavy graphics for social media. Graphics that have too much text can be overwhelming, inaccessible and visually uninteresting. If you have a lot of information to convey, consider including that text in the post’s caption or on a website that you link to. Less is usually more for social graphics — only include what is essential.

Integrate photos

Many social media graphics perform better when the foundation of the graphic is a photo, rather than a solid color or pattern. Photos add visual interest and can help make your content feel more natural in someone’s social media feed that’s already filled with other photos. It’s best to use images that are unique, fresh and interesting.

If you find that you need to use stock photography rather than original photos, make sure that you are not violating someone else’s copyright. Pexels and Unsplash are both great sources of royalty-free, free to use stock photography.

Include alt text

Whenever possible, enter alt text on a post that includes a graphic to describe the information or text to people who use screen readers or have impaired vision.

Avoid QR codes

Do not include QR codes on social media graphics. QR codes are great for signage, but since most social media posts are viewed on a person’s mobile device, there is no easy way to scan the code. Include the link in the post instead.