Seen the value of a call-to-action on your Facebook Cover photo?
Great!
Now I’ll show you how to easily add a call-to-action button in the free image editor, pixlr.com. This will make your CTA really POP!
NOTE: Your cover photo button won’t link directly to your desired URL. Clicking it will bring up the photo viewer with the description, where you’ll add your link as described in this post.
Easily Add a Call-to-Action Button to Your FB Cover Photo
Head over to pixlr.com. Open your photo. If it’s not already the correct size of 851 x 315 pixels, follow these directions to size your Facebook Cover Photo.
In the Layers box at far right, click the icon to add a new layer.
Working on the new Layer, use the Marquee tool to create a box the size of the button you want. I recommend putting it on the right side of the Cover Photo. Lots of stuff overlaps the left side, especially on your hovercard, and the mobile app.
Go to the Color Selector to pick a color that goes with your design, yet stands out. You can use either the color wheel and tint/shade box, or the sliders at the bottom. Click OK.
Now click on the Paint Bucket icon, and fill the marquee shape you drew with color.
If you’d like to add some dimension to your button, Go to Layer… Layer Styles in the top menu bar.
Click on Bevel and adjust to your liking.
To add a shadow under your button, I use Outer Glow. The Drop Shadow feature adds a hard-edged shadow I don’t like. Try it out and adjust to suit your taste. Be sure to click OK before closing the Layer Styles window.
Note: You can always use the History palette if you want to go back and redo something.
If you’d like to save this as a layered file, choose the .pxd format. That way, you can go back and move (or remove) the button. When complete with your text, save for Facebook as a JPEG (best for photos – PNG is great for images in primarily flat colors).
Now you’ve got an eye-catching call-to-action button on your Facebook cover! Next, add type as described in this post.
Malla Haridat says
Many many thanks Louise for this detailed description of how to edit photos and add a call to action box that is classy…and doesn’t cost a ton of money to make.
Louise Myers says
Glad to hear it helped, Malla!
Ivan says
Hi, great
I didn’t understand how to insert url in button
Tnx
Louise Myers says
Hi Ivan, my apologies. Refer to this post: How to Use Your Facebook Cover Photo to Get More Leads to see how this works for a FB cover photo.
Felicia says
Hi Louise,
Thank you so much for the information and leads to enhance social media marketing tips…there are really helpful. I am still having an problem with sizing a flyer and posting it to FB..a little discouraged about it too. how can I get an 8×11 photoshop designed jpeg or png to look crisp and sharp when I upload it to facebook? when you click on the image it looks fine…but on the newsfeed its blurry and seems unattractive too me…please help. Thanks so much for taking the time and helping the little/beginner GDer’s..:)
Louise Myers says
Hi Felicia,
If the image looks great in the photo viewer, that’s probably the best you can do. It has to be reduced a lot for the newsfeed, so small type and such will be unreadable.
The other options would be to crop just part of it to post on Facebook, or design something for Facebook that has less type or details. Maybe ask people to click thru to a blog post for more details.
Good luck!
Ileane says
Hi Louise!
Love this tutorial! I often use Pixlr but I admit I haven’t done much with the layer styles. This tutorial is great incentive to get me in there playing around and making something creative.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Thanks!
Louise Myers says
Thanks so much for stopping by, Ileane! Have fun 🙂
Bledi says
I don’t find the reason of writing a post named “How to Add a Call-to-Action Button to Your Facebook Cover” and write how to make a colored box inside of an image!!
Your other post which you told to Ivan to check up, also does not involves how to attach an URL link inside of an mage button.
This post should be named how to add a box inside of an image not how it is named.
Thanks for wasting my time.
Louise Myers says
I’m sorry to hear of your disappointment, Bledi.
I completely understand the confusion if you don’t arrive here from the previous article. I apologize for not realizing that sooner.
I added an explanation above the tutorial so others will understand that you can’t make a direct link. The link has to go in the photo description.
Please accept my apology and have a great day.
toyin says
Thanks for this. Sounds helpful, hope to try it out. Is it free to use pixlr.com?
Louise Myers says
Yes it is free!