<aside> 💡 Want to flip through this? I posted it as a carousel on LinkedIn here.

</aside>

The targeted use of graphic design is powerful.

It:

• Captures attention (increasing dwell time)
• Increases engagement
• Improves digestibility
• Improves brand affinity

If you care about content quality, graphics should not be an afterthought.

✅ Header Graphic

This is one of the first things people see when landing on most blog posts.

• Is yours on-brand?
• Does it help meet search intent?
• Does it speak to the reader clearly, leaving nothing up to the imagination?

Every header graphic should add value to the reader in some way. Be it clarity, emotion, or education. They should never just show a slightly related stock image.

What not to do

(sorry hubspot, but wut?)

What to do

Note how this one, while simple, reiterates what the blog is about, talks directly to the reader, and uses design to show them they’re in the right place.