Must-Have Social Media Graphics to Boost Your Startup’s Growth

A social media graphics startup kit is no longer optional but essential. As of January 2025, there are over 5.41 billion social media users worldwide, according to DataReportal. With the global population at 8.1 billion and 5.35 billion internet users, that’s a massive pool of potential customers for startups to reach.

The best thing about social media is that it levels the playing field. Even without massive marketing budgets, startups can now compete with established brands, thanks to creative visuals and smart design.

But with countless brands vying for attention, it’s crucial to stand out. This is where the right social media design services or graphic design services come in. They help you craft scroll-stopping content that not only attracts attention but also builds brand awareness.

Here are some of the best ways that you can use social media to boost your startup’s engagement:

A. Original and Engaging Visuals

With all the information we are exposed to, it’s not surprising that images are easier to recall than words. Think about the last time you shared a simple text post from Facebook. It’s probably a bit more difficult than thinking about that funny meme from just a few hours ago.

These social media graphics are testimonies that you too, can boost the engagement of your startup. Whether you have limited resources, there are always options available to you that could lead you to growth and commercial success.

Here are some of the best examples to include in your social media graphics startup kit:

Example #1: Blue Apron

Blue Apron, an ingredient and recipe delivery service, uses social media for ecommerce graphics that featured dishes which generated a lot of excitement that made people want to try the recipes. Even if their fans get content from creating their own recipes and not availing of their services, Blue Apron has gained their trust and loyalty, thanks its to their social media for ecommerce.

Example #2: ModCloth

Another superb example of social media branding is ModCloth that posts graphics that contain their dresses and actively engages their fans and followers through them. This is a great way for them to advertise their wares while learning more about what their customers want. Not only does this create a positive experience for the fans, the chances of them purchasing has become higher.

B. Witty and Humorous Graphics

Everybody loves a good laugh. Humor in your social media brand strategy is one of the best ways to get your customers and prospects engaged. Furthermore, fun graphics won’t seem like you are trying to sell something, which can be annoying when all people wanted was to look at dog pics.

Before you get into a humor strategy, think about if it will help or harm your company. (You don’t want to end up on r/FellowKids!) We’ve all seen memes gone wrong, and you definitely don’t want your graphic added onto that list. When it comes to humorous posts, make sure you research your customers first, and of course, make sure your post isn’t cringy.

With that being said, here are a few companies that use humor in their social media marketing to capture their audience.

Example #1: Innocent Drinks

Innocent Drinks is a beverage company in the UK that uses wit and humor across all its social media platforms. Their website is fun and enjoyable to browse through, more so reading their Facebook posts that reflect their humor-based social media design strategy.

Example #2: Casper

This post by Casper, is a perfect example of how a social media graphic for startups can seamlessly combine wit and branding. With a mock “Accept/Decline” interface that mimics phone notifications, it taps into a familiar visual language while delivering a delightfully on-brand message: “SUMMER STATUS: Sleeping in, guilt-free.”

It’s one of those examples of social media graphics that are simple, clever, and 100% Casper. Without directly pushing a product, the brand reminds you exactly what they stand for: comfort, relaxation, and the joy of a well-earned rest. It’s definitely a good example of a social media graphics startup post that reflects branding.

C. Use Infographics

Nothing beats an infographic as part of your social media graphics startup kit if you need to get your message across to people quickly and efficiently. The reason for this is because people can understand and process information faster with images rather than with reading texts. Research shows that most users only read 28% of the content on an average visit to a website.

The information is broken down into little pieces, making them easier to digest. With the addition of icons and colorful shapes and sizes, an infographic can create interest and make people stay on your social media platforms. You are sure to boost brand awareness as well as engagement.

But we have to say, creating an infographic is not easy. If you are not a professional, you might end up having a cluttered design or layout. This can affect your brand overall. The best solution is to work with design services such as Penji and enjoy quality and high-converting infographics. The best part? You get an unlimited graphic design service, which means you can request all the graphic designs for social media marketing you need.

Here are a few ones designed by our experts here at Penji:

D. Consider Influencer Marketing

Traditional marketing can no longer cut it. You have to find new ways to get in front of your audience. Thankfully, with social media, you have a lot more freedom to showcase your products. The best part is, you don’t even need to take the photos yourself.

Social media celebrities are exactly what you need if you want more engagement on your social media platforms. Turn their following into your customers. When you pay or gift your product to an influencer, they will have the creative freedom to present your product in their style.

With the high amount of influencers for you to choose from, you should do your research and filter through micro-influencers and influencers with a high follower count. Many times, you can also give suggestions on how you want the content to look. When you receive the images or videos, you can use it any way you like including social media posts, ads, email graphics, and more.

Here are a few examples of how the content from influencers can work in your favor.

Example #1: Artist Couture

One such example is Artist Couture, whose founder, Angel Merino, is also an influencer. For startups, working with influencers can be a powerful way to gain credibility and reach niche audiences without a massive ad budget. Influencers already have the trust of their followers—so when they feature your product, it feels more like a recommendation than a promotion.

Example #2: Glossier

As most startups have limited resources, you would think that getting an influencer would cost you an arm and a leg. Not so, in the case of Glossier, a beauty line that started out as a makeup blog. In this social media graphics startup post, Glossier put a twist on the usual influencer marketing tactic by partnering with Magnolia Bakery, a dessert brand with its own solid following.

E. Create a Promo or Offer

Everybody loves free stuff! Contests and giveaways are a hit and can boost engagement on any type of social media platform. You can easily get customer emails to add to your mailing list by having them fill out an entry form, or add a call to action button that can lead to sales.

Use a promo code to track how well each offer does. You’ll be able to separate what works and where it works. Whether it is on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or email, you’ll know which platform to push for the next promotion.

See how these companies presented their offers.

Example #1: Catherines

Catherines‘ cleverly-used imagery in this graphic to sell their products. This promotional graphic does more than just advertise a sale—it invites real connection. With the headline “Become the Face of the Brand That Fits You Beautifully,” the campaign highlights a contest to find new brand ambassadors, offering a full NYC experience, monthly outfits, and creative input on future collections.

Example #2: Hype

Before becoming one of the UK’s most popular clothing brands, HYPE started out as a small, self-funded project. Their Cyber Monday promo uses a glitchy, hacker-inspired theme with neon green text and coding overlays to stand out in a sea of standard sale posts. The headline is straightforward, creating a strong sense of urgency. With its nostalgic tech aesthetic and aggressive discount messaging, the graphic not only grabs attention but also reinforces the brand’s edgy, youth-oriented identity.

F. Use Compelling Headlines 

Great social media graphics have the power to catch your audience’s attention, but the use of killer headlines can drive clicks up the roof. According to Hootsuite, businesses are running to Instagram and other social media channels, making it difficult to get prospects to notice your startup. This is the reason you need to level up your social media campaigns with compelling headlines. 

Example: Upworthy 

Looking through some of Upworthy’s Facebook posts, you’ll think that they’ve mastered the art of catchy headlines. They capture the audience’s interest using a good hook of a headline that truly delivers. This goes to show that clickbait will just turn off your followers instead of engaging them with stories that they would love to read. 

G. Don’t Be Afraid of Emojis 

You might think that emojis aren’t worthy of anybody’s time. Sure, they may look unprofessional at first, but a SaaS startup Scoro study shows otherwise. They found out that Facebook Ads that use emojis have higher click-through rates (CTRs) than those that don’t. This tip applies especially to your captions—where a well-placed emoji can add personality, emotion, and emphasis to your message.

Where to get social media graphics

Inspired by the social media post designs above?

If you’re a startup in need of social media graphics, you’ve come to the right place. Penji has helped countless startups create everything from social media content, branding materials, and even website graphics.

Here are a few examples of social media graphics by Penji:

Final Thoughts 

With the help of good social media graphics, a startup has a strong fighting chance of going towards success and increasing its sales and revenues. Follow these simple steps, and as you move on, you’ll get a better understanding of what works for you and how to make them better.

No time to study the science of social media graphics? Just reach out to the Penji team and we will do the rest for you. View a short demo and see why Penji is the go-to service provider of brands all over the world.