A campaign’s success relies on more than just the content and images–even the background can impact your conversion rate. 

The Best Image Type for Facebook Ad Backgrounds That Convert  

We all know the adage, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” This couldn’t be a more applicable metaphor for how to go about creating Facebook or Instagram ads. Whether you’re promoting a brand, product, or service, the visual background you use plays a key part in communicating with your audience. 

So, let’s get into the real meat and potatoes of how ad backgrounds can make—or break—a successful campaign. 

Why Does Background Image Type Matter? 

The backdrop of your ad can mean the difference between scroll-stopping, or eye-rolling. 

When it comes to ad backgrounds, it’s important to stay on brand and maintain an authentic visual representation. If the image inaccurately reflects your brand, you risk confusing (and losing) potential customers.

But it’s about more than just being true to your brand. When you think of ad backgrounds, think of the Academy Awards category of Best Supporting Actor—it’s there to accentuate, but should not distract from, the focal point. Therefore, keep in mind, an advertisement with a busy background or distracting graphics can hinder your campaign more than help. 

Possibly the most important aspect of ad backgrounds is that they are something you can A/B test. Whether you’re rapid-fire testing or taking a step-by-step approach, A/B testing backgrounds can provide invaluable insights into how your audience is receiving your campaign.  

Ad Background Types

Here are some suggestions on where to start when designing your ad backgrounds. As for which of these will be the most effective for your specific audience, we suggest choosing a few variations to A/B test against each other to find out which performs the best.

Solid Colors

• Complimentary, solid-colored visual scape is classy, but when done wrong, boring. 
• Helps to keep your product the focus of the ad, effectively eliminating any potential for distraction.
• See how color psychology can guide you in color palette decisions.

Patterns

• Highly effective way to show some personality, an opportunity to stand out as not just another ad in the feed. 
• Don’t fall for the mistake of using patterns that are graphically busy, or combining too many contrasting patterns in the same visual space. All roads lead to the product. The background shouldn’t detract from the focal point.

No Background

• Using a backgroundless PNG allows for versatility when editing.
• Having no background, or a transparent background, may be a missed opportunity to communicate your brand or product. 

Free vs. Paid Image Sources 

The interwebs are bursting with gorgeous, tantalizing images that might be just perfect for your ad campaign. Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an image for your ad, using just any old photo you find on the internet puts you at risk of, well, plagiarism. 

Perhaps you’ll already have photo assets of a product, or you may be in search of an image to represent your brand or product offering. In this case, it’s important to source images in a way that is legal. 

If you’re working with a larger budget, hiring a photographer is a fool-proof way to ensure quality of your images—and you’ll be supporting an individual or small business. If this isn’t in your budget, consider exploring one of the following platforms that offer limited free image downloads, without the legal risks.   

Unsplash

Unsplash members have access to 3 million photos, supplied by professional photographers, hobbyists, and everyone in between. And yeah. It’s free. For a more exclusive experience, Unsplash+ offers member-only content (updated monthly), extra legal protection, and unlimited royalty-free downloads, all for $7 per month. 

Shutterstock 

With a library of 400 million photos and 24 million videos, and including other categories such as editorial, music, and creative flow+, Shutterstock has vast resources to draw on. Although they have a free 1-month trial, membership prices range from approximately $29-$479, depending on how many downloads per year and number of users.  

Adobe Stock 

With another chance for a 1-month free trial, Adobe Stock has four subscriptions to choose from that range from $29.99 per month for 10 standard downloads, to $199.99 per month for 750 standard assets or 25 videos. You can also purchase credit packs, which would appeal to those looking for a pay-as-you-go option.  

iStock 

iStock’s three subscription plans give subscribers plenty of versatility. Whether you only need 10 downloads a month ($29/month), or would be better served with a Premium + Video subscription (up to $125/month), iStock has several options to pick from, as well as credit packs. 

How to Edit Images Yourself 

Now that you’ve got an idea for how you want your ad backgrounds to look, it’s time to talk editing. 

Canva is an easy-to-use and free creative tool that requires absolutely no design experience.

Although you can access Canva for free, Canva Pro has some valuable perks, for just $119.99 per year. Check out the Brand Kit feature, which allows you to create and easy-apply your brand style to any design, or the Magic Resize option, which is a no-joke time saver. 

Want Help With Your Ad Background Images? 

Just because they’re called ad backgrounds doesn’t mean they should be in the back of our minds. Building cohesive, intentional, and effective marketing starts with backgrounds, and whether you go with simple or intricate, it’s important to make the right design choices from the get-go.

Looking for some helping creating these vital ad elements? Social Ktchn has got your back. 

We pride ourselves on creating authentic and inspiring ads for our clients, regardless of industry or niche. Our goal is to use our expertise in Facebook and Instagram ad creation, so that our clients can focus their time on growing their business.   

Let’s create something beautiful, shall we?

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