Why You Should Create Custom Social Media Templates in Canva

Here’s a reality that may change how you approach your social media: most people aren’t going to your page to see what you’re posting. The majority of social media users only visit a page when they see something in their feed. This makes your challenge two-fold. First, you need to create content that gets pushed to timelines. Second, you have to make sure that content stops users in their tracks and gets them to engage. The easiest way to do this? Create quality content that users both want and instantly recognize as your brand while scrolling. Today, we’re focusing on the latter: how to use custom design templates to stop the scroll.

The Importance of Consistency

Consistency in graphics across platforms builds trust and familiarity. When users scroll, they notice visual cues from certain brands and will stop for those they recognize, checking out what the post is about.

Do your posts need to look identical? No, and that can actually lead to them being ignored because they look like an ad. Instead, your posts should have key hallmarks that signal to users it’s you—so they slow down and engage.

What hallmarks work?

• Colors, fonts, and accents

• Emoji placement and combinations

• Your logo

• A specific style of photo or graphic

By creating a distinct, cohesive look, you’re more likely to catch attention and boost engagement. Remember, only about 8% of your followers see your posts in their feeds, so grabbing their attention and encouraging engagement is vital.

The easiest way to incorporate these hallmarks? By creating custom templates for your social media posts in Canva, instantly signaling to that 8% that it's your content, and worth stopping for.

How to Create Custom Social Media Templates in Canva

This is an important (and often overlooked) strategy when it comes to social media marketing. It can seem overwhelming at first, but I’ve created a simple process that will help boost your social media engagement without reinventing the wheel.

Step 1: Sign Up for Canva

Start with Canva’s free version. Canva is an easy-to-use platform for creating graphics, with tons of elements designed specifically for social media trends.

Step 2: Create Graphics for Each Platform

For every platform where you post, create one new graphic using the dimensions for that platform. If you’re on Instagram and Facebook, create “Facebook Posts” and “Instagram Posts” files. If you’re also on Pinterest, create a separate file for that, too. You get the idea!

Step 3: Build a Standard Template

Use your brand colors, fonts, and logo to create a standard template for your posts. It can be as simple as a small flourish or your logo in the corner. Apply these elements consistently across all of your social media templates in Canva.

Step 4: Duplicate and Customize

Every time you create social media content, make sure to use the correct file. Hit duplicate, and then build the post using your template. This subtle addition will add visual consistency that stops your fans mid-scroll and draws them in to see what you’re up to.

Track Your Analytics Before and After

Ready to take your social media engagement to the next level? Start using your custom templates today and track your analytics over the next 6-8 weeks to see the impact. Need help creating templates that stand out? Let’s talk—I'll help you craft the perfect look to boost engagement!