LinkedIn is the world’s most widely used professional network, offering freelancers a universe of opportunities to connect with potential clients. And what is the first thing visitors will notice when they check your profile? The background. That’s why it’s crucial to create a LinkedIn banner that immediately captures attention.
In this post, you’ll discover other reasons why having an optimized LinkedIn banner is essential, along with the steps to design an effective one and the proper dimensions it should have. Lastly, we’ll recommend the best 5 tools that will help you create a professional banner quickly and easily.
LinkedIn banners can be just as important as your profile picture—if they’re well-designed and attractive. They can serve as an extension of your personal branding if you use fonts and colors that reflect your style and personality.
If you're using LinkedIn to land freelance work, a well-designed banner can project professionalism right from the start. Additionally, it communicates your values and the type of services you offer.
In short, banners are key to conveying messages, making a good professional impression, and boosting your visibility.
Your banner design should help your profile stand out to potential clients or employers. Here are some key steps:
1. Use impactful images: Choose clear, professional images that reflect the tone and style of your business or brand. This will grab the attention of those visiting your profile.
2. Play with colors to create contrast: Combine colors that contrast with the text and other elements to create a visually striking effect, making sure that the information is easy to read and stands out.
3. Integrate relevant visual elements: Add your logo, slogan, or any graphic that identifies your brand. This will make your profile easily recognizable.
4. Keep the design simple and direct: Avoid cluttering the banner with too much text or graphics. A clean design can be more effective in delivering your message clearly.
5. Create an adaptable banner: Ensure that your background looks good on all screen types. Remember that LinkedIn is used across various platforms, so it’s worth testing your design in different formats.
6. Use templates to streamline the process: There are many programs with templates designed for LinkedIn backgrounds. They’ll save you time and ensure that your banner is optimized for the correct dimensions.
With these tips, you’ll be able to create eye-catching LinkedIn backgrounds and strengthen your presence on the platform.
The ideal size for a LinkedIn banner depends on the level of visual quality you want.
The platform sets a standard of 1584 x 396 pixels, which is a suitable size if you don’t have much space to work with.
Otherwise, LinkedIn recommends backgrounds of 2184 x 528 pixels to maintain better visual quality. This is an optimized size that ensures your banner will look sharp on all screens and devices.
So, it’s preferable to use the larger size if possible, as it will make your background clearer and more attractive. These LinkedIn backgrounds will capture the most attention from your contacts.
If you want to search for remote work on LinkedIn as a freelancer, you need to make sure your banner looks professional.
Don’t know how to do it? Here are the top 5 tools to create professional LinkedIn banners and backgrounds:
PosterMyWall is a beginner-friendly marketing and design platform that stands out for its ease of use, extensive template library, and affordable marketing tools. It’s ideal for freelancers and small businesses who need to create high-quality LinkedIn banners, carousels, and promotional graphics without hiring a designer.
With its built-in publishing tools, content scheduling features, and robust performance tracking, PosterMyWall goes beyond basic design, helping users create, share, and analyze their LinkedIn content from a single dashboard. You can track your performance in real time, checking engagement metrics such as reach, shares, likes, clicks, and more, enabling you to continuously refine your content strategy for better results.
The platform offers thousands of customizable LinkedIn-ready templates, including animated banners, event promos, and branded content. Users can also resize their designs for other platforms like Instagram or email with a single click.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
All-in-one design and publishing tool. Huge template library optimized for LinkedIn posts and banners. Extremely user-friendly, even for non-designers. Built-in post scheduler and email campaign tool. Supports animations and stock video for LinkedIn feed engagement. Affordable pricing for freelancers and solopreneurs. | Brand Kits require a paid plan. Limited team collaboration features compared to other tools. |
Creating banners and backgrounds for LinkedIn is also simple, fast, and effective with Canva. Here, you’ll find many editable templates and easy-to-use tools.
Powered by AI to create free banners, Canva can even suggest ways to improve the appearance of your banner.
Moreover, it’s one of the best free pictogram creators, allowing you to create logos, posters, diagrams, and even resumes.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Intuitive interface suitable for beginners and design experts alike. The free version comes with various tools. Available for web and mobile. Professional designs in minutes. Automatically generates a color palette based on uploaded images. | The best features and design elements require a Canva Pro subscription. |
Adobe is one of the most well-known software options for designing professional LinkedIn banners and backgrounds.
We’re talking about a suite of design and graphic editing tools, including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Adobe XD. These are the industry standards for creating high-quality banners and other visual content.
So, if you have Adobe on your PC, don’t hesitate to use it.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Professional tools with advanced editing features. Precision and control to fine-tune details. You can create a LinkedIn banner in any resolution. Extensive customization options. High-quality file formats. | Can be challenging for those with no design experience. |
We start with Pixlr, an image editing app where you can design the best LinkedIn banner. It’s a cloud-based platform, perfect if you’re looking for a quick, accessible, and hassle-free option.
Pixlr’s graphic editing features are versatile, and you won’t need to invest in high-cost software.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Designed for beginners. Fast editing from any browser or device. Advanced features like layers, filters, and effects. Different editors. AI-powered to create banners for free. | May fall short for complex designs or advanced customizations. |
Another excellent tool for creating LinkedIn banners and backgrounds is Fotor, an online photo editor with graphic design features and simple-to-edit templates.
Fotor offers an AI-powered banner generator to save you time. You can edit, resize, add effects, logos, and anything else to enhance your LinkedIn profile.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Templates tailored to your needs and ready for customization. Minimal learning curve. Free version with templates, text tools, and customization options. Library filled with design resources. Numerous icons, fonts, illustrations, and emojis. | Advanced templates and features are limited to the paid version. |
Your LinkedIn banner is like your personal billboard at a professional fair: it’s often the first thing people notice, and if it doesn’t send the right message, the chance to make an impact can slip away in seconds. Many people underestimate its importance, leaving the default image or adding a random photo that says nothing about who they are or what they do.
However, a well-designed banner can tell your professional story at a glance and leave a lasting impression on potential clients, employers, or collaborators.
Think of your banner as a tool that should align with your personal brand, convey trust, and reinforce the image you want to project. It’s not just about making it look “pretty” — it’s about communicating strategically. Here are some ideas to inspire you:
Show your industry in action: If you’re an architect, use a background with blueprints, renders, or real project images. If you’re a chef, feature a professional shot of your kitchen or creations. If you’re a consultant, choose a design with charts or data visuals that convey analysis and strategy.
Use phrases that highlight your value proposition: A short, punchy slogan can stick in the mind of anyone visiting your profile. Example: “Connecting brands with the clients that matter.”
Incorporate your brand colors: Keeping a consistent color palette reinforces your professional identity and makes your profile more recognizable.
Integrate elements from your portfolio: A composition with thumbnails or snapshots of your best work is perfect for creative professionals like designers, photographers, or developers.
Go for simplicity with a distinctive touch: A minimalist background with one striking visual element can be more memorable than an overloaded collage.
Feature your city or a cultural symbol: Great for professionals who want to highlight their connection to a specific market or region, projecting approachability and belonging.
Always make sure your banner looks good on all devices. Test it to confirm that text isn’t cut off and important elements are centered. Remember: your banner isn’t just decoration — it’s a personal marketing tool that works for you even when you’re offline.
These 5 tools allow you to create effective LinkedIn banners, perfect for helping freelancers enhance the perception of their profiles. They also help project professionalism and creatively communicate your services.
However, you may need to subscribe to fully unlock their potential. In some cases, you’ll need to pay in USD, so we recommend considering DolarApp as your payment method. This way, you won’t have to bear high currency conversion costs.
It’s also a good option if you’re thinking of subscribing to LinkedIn Premium to make the most of the platform.
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