Create social media graphics
You'll end up with: a set of on-brand social media graphics ready to post
Cramming too much text onto one graphic. Social media graphics should have one clear message per image. If you have 5 points to make, create a carousel with one point per slide instead of squeezing everything onto one image.
- Know your brand colors and fonts (or pick them as you go)
- Free Canva account — takes 1 minute
- The text/message you want on the graphic
Pick a Canva template for your platform
Browse pre-sized templates so your graphic fits perfectly on each platform
1. Go to canva.com and sign in (or create a free account) 2. Click "Create a design" in the top right 3. Search for your platform: "Instagram Post" (1080×1080), "Instagram Story" (1080×1920), "Facebook Post," or "LinkedIn Post" 4. Browse the template gallery — filter by style, color, or theme 5. Click a template that matches your vibe to open it in the editor 6. If you want a carousel, search "Instagram Carousel" to get a multi-page template
Customize with your brand and message using Magic Design
Replace placeholder content with your text, colors, and branding
1. Click on any text block to edit it — replace the placeholder with your message 2. Keep your main message to 6–8 words maximum for impact 3. Click on colors to change them to your brand colors (use the hex code if you have one) 4. To use Magic Design: click "Magic Design" in the toolbar and describe what you want — e.g., "motivational quote post in blue and white" 5. Upload your logo by clicking "Uploads" in the left sidebar, then drag it onto the design 6. Adjust font sizes so the most important text is the largest
Generate any custom images with AI
Use AI image generation if you need unique visuals beyond stock photos
1. If you need a custom image (not a stock photo), go to ideogram.ai 2. Sign in with your Google account 3. Describe the image you need, e.g.: "Flat illustration of a woman working at a laptop in a cozy cafe, warm colors, minimal style" 4. Select an aspect ratio that matches your design (1:1 for Instagram posts, 9:16 for stories) 5. Click "Generate" and wait 15–30 seconds 6. Download your favorite result and upload it to your Canva design 7. In Canva, right-click the image and choose "Set as background" or position it as needed
Export and schedule your posts
Download your graphics and post or schedule them on social media
1. Click "Share" in the top right corner of Canva 2. Click "Download" and choose PNG format (best quality for graphics with text) 3. If you made a carousel, make sure "All pages" is selected 4. Click "Download" to save to your computer 5. Upload to your social platform manually, or use Canva's built-in scheduler: click "Share" > "Schedule" to post directly to Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn 6. Write a caption that complements your graphic — add the details that didn't fit on the image itself 7. Add 5–10 relevant hashtags