Creating compelling artwork for your podcast logo is easier said than done. The art you choose to represent your brand could be the deciding factor between someone scrolling past it or pressing “play”. But don’t let this intimidate you! We’ve compiled a few tips that will help you create the perfect podcast cover photo to attract your ideal listeners.
| Also Read: Podcasting Market |
Make it simple.
There’s nothing worse than a cover art that has too many colors and fonts or is cluttered with logos and images from different sources. Use one color, one font, one logo with designhill podcasts logo maker, and one image (or use your own Instagram logo or twitch logo), and keep the message simple!
Know your audience.
The next thing you should know about your audience is that they are looking for something specific. They want to be entertained, informed, or inspired; they want to learn something new or hear their own thoughts reflected back to them in a way that feels meaningful. The best way to know how to meet those needs is by asking questions:
- Who are the people who listen?
- What types of podcasts do they already listen to?
- What topics or themes do these podcasts cover?
- Why would someone choose this podcast over others similar in genre and subject matter?
If you don’t know this information, then it’s time for some serious research! There are many ways we can gather data on our target audience (we could survey listeners via email surveys), but one of the most effective methods is simply Googling “top 10” lists related to your topic area. This will help provide insight into what kinds of content other podcasters produce and how they frame their shows in order to get maximum engagement with their listenership
Use the right colors.
The right colors can help you achieve your podcast cover art goals. Here are some tips for choosing the right/proper colors:
- Colors that are easy to read. Your cover art should be easy to read and understand, which means it should avoid complex or busy designs. You want people browsing through a crowded marketplace of podcasts, so try to keep things simple!
- Colors that are easy to identify. If someone sees your cover artwork in the wild and wants more information about it, they’ll have an easier time finding where they can learn more if you choose recognizable colors like reds and blues (for example).
- Colors that are easy to remember/recognize/think about later on in life (aka brand recognition). If people see something colorful when they’re walking around outside but can’t quite remember what it was—or even know what the word “brand” means—they probably won’t remember seeing anything at all! So while choosing bright hues like orange might seem fun now since there’s no branding involved yet (and thus no need for any specific color choice), keep this fact in mind before deciding on anything too bold or bright; usually, less is more when it comes down.
Include elements of your podcast.
You can use elements from your podcast cover art to help tell people what the show is about, and why they might want to listen.
- Use images from the logo. The logo is usually the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a brand or product, so it makes sense to use it as part of your podcast cover art. If you don’t have any images for this, you can take inspiration from other things such as social media graphics or even stock photos if needed!
- Use screenshots from episodes. If there’s anything specific about your podcast that should be represented on your cover art (for example, if there are specific recurring characters or topics), try taking screenshots as inspiration for how they look or act in real life! This will help people recognize themes while also showing off some personality through visuals within each episode itself too!
Outline the purpose of your podcast.
Before you start designing your podcast cover, it’s important to know why you’re creating one. Why are you doing this? Understanding the purpose of your podcast will help you decide what kind of cover art would best suit it and to who it should be appealing. This can make all the difference in terms of getting listeners interested. If they like what they see on social media or iTunes, they’ll be more likely to click play and listen!
For example, if your podcast is about fitness tips for runners with low motivation levels (like we have), then creating an image with a person running through a forest might not be as appropriate as using an image that shows someone doing yoga poses or lifting weights at the gym (since these types of photos/images might get viewers thinking “Yeah we don’t really want to run anymore”).
Let the cover art live beyond the podcast cover.
Once you’ve created your podcast cover art, don’t just leave it there. Make sure it lives beyond the podcast cover. That means adding call-to-actions that drive listeners to subscribe, visit your website, or find more content from you. Here are some ideas on what to include:
- Podcast name
- A link related to your podcast website (if you have one)
- A link to subscribe via iTunes, Spotify, and/or Stitcher
Clear thumbnail in active areas.
Your podcast cover art is the first thing listeners will see, so it’s important to make sure that it’s clear and easy to understand. When you’re creating your thumbnail, try to think about what someone might be looking for when they search your show. If people are searching for “all things design,” you want to make sure that “Design” is clearly visible in your image as well as the word “podcast.” This way, anyone who searches podcasts on iTunes or Spotify will be able to find you quickly and easily!
Plain text over pictorials.
As a designer, it’s important to remember that podcasts can be heard by people with disabilities such as blindness, low vision, and cognitive disabilities. In addition to this, most of your audience will not be able to see the cover art you’ve created if you’re hosting your podcast on Apple Podcasts (which is the largest podcast platform).
If your graphics are too subtle or complex, then those listeners won’t understand what they’re looking at when they browse through their library of subscribed podcasts in the app or on their website.
That’s why we recommend using plain text over pictorials: the text is more accessible than images because it can be read by people who are blind or have low vision; the text is more universal because everyone understands written language whereas images may not have universal meaning depending on cultural context; the text is easier to read than an image because people don’t have to rely on their eyesight alone; finally, text can be read by anyone regardless of age or ability level while images aren’t always accessible depending on other factors like colorblindness.
Tell a story through graphic elements.
In order to tell a story with your podcast cover art, you need to make sure that the graphic elements can be understood without any text. This means that you need to use an image or graphic element as the primary focal point of the cover art.
The three most important functions of podcast cover art are:
- Setting the tone for your podcast (e.g., lighthearted versus serious)
- Introducing listeners and helping them understand what they can expect from your show
- Introducing hosts, guests, and any other people who will be appearing on your show.
Final words
This article will guide you through the process of creating your own podcast cover art that looks professional, reflects your brand personality, and captures listeners’ attention. The best part? You don’t need to be an experienced designer to create it! Just follow our tips and tricks and you can design your own podcast cover art in no time.
