There are three types of banners you can create for your TpT Store. The first is the horizontal one at the top, which TPT calls a leaderboard (we’ll call it the store banner). The second is the vertical one in the bottom left. The final one is at the top, under your logo, called the Quote Box.
Optimize your Banners
These banners are valuable real estate. Each is one of the first (or last) things that customers will see in your store. So you want it to grab their attention and help them know what your store is all about.
Use your brand colors, fonts, and other elements that match your brand.
This is a great way to optimize your banners, by establishing your brand in their minds. Your banners can craft a cohesive message across your entire storefront, reinforcing your brand identity and making it easier for customers to connect with your products.
Get them to Take Action
I recommend you use the banners to get the viewer to take some sort of action. Draw their attention to your premium resources, tell them what you want them to download, or highlight something in your store (like a custom category).
Don’t Waste This Opportunity
I don’t recommend using a quote or pretty imagery just for the sake of conveying a message (like something that you’re passionate about or what your favorite popcorn flavor is). Instead, tell the customer what you want them to do. Then hyperlink the banner to that action you want them to perform so that the customer can do it easily.
GIF or Static Image
All three of these banners can be a GIF or a PNG / JPEG (JPG) image. Meaning they can rotate between multiple images or just be a single (static) image.
A lot of people like to use a series of rotating images (called a GIF) so that they can show off multiple items, and because it looks cool. However, it’s not safe to assume that the customer will stay at the top of your store long enough to see all of the items in the GIF. So if you choose to do a GIF, be sure to choose which things you will promote wisely, and emphasize the first one.
Another strategy for a GIF is to have one thing you’re promoting, but the multiple images only serve to add emphasis.
What to Link to
Before you make your banner images to promote your stuff, think through what stuff you want to promote.
You can choose some of your best selling items, which is a good strategy.
Another good strategy is to choose your custom categories. Instead of showing off some of the cool hands on STEM projects you have or book studies you have, you can make that one of your custom categories and then hyperlink to that category.
How to Create the Store Banner
To create the banners, you are going to need to open your image-creating program or app. Most people use either PowerPoint or Canva.
The nice thing about Canva is that it now allows you to export your Images as a GIF, instead of having to take multiple images to a third party platform to make your GIF. So if you plan on using GIFs, consider Canva. But both work nicely, so does any other software you could use.
Dimensions
The dimensions for the different banners are as follows:
- TpT Store Banner: 718 x 90 pixels or 7.48 x 0.93 inches
- Sore Page Column Banner: 160 x 200 pixels or 1.67 x 2.08 inches
- Quote Banner: 450 x 150 pixels or 4.69 x 1.56 inches
How to Set Banner Dimensions in Canva
In Canva, select “Create a Design” and choose “Custom Size” and then fill in the dimensions listed above. (Note, this could change depending on when you are reading this, if Canva has changed anything. But they haven’t in a long time, so it should probably be the same).
After selecting Cutsome Size, use the dimensions above.
How to Set Banner Dimensions in PowerPoint
You need to find the Slide Size option. This is usually under the Design menu, though in some versions it can be found under File and Page Setup. After finding the Slide Size option, click ‘Custom Slide Size’ and use the dimensions above.
Create Your Design
As mentioned above, you want your designs to be on brand. So use your colors, images, and fonts, as well as anything else that correlates to your branding.
I recommend using these banners to showcase something in the store or an action you want your potential customers to take.
Making a GIF
If you are making a GIF, you need to make multiple images (or slides). The GIF will then rotate through the images, so think through how the images will look when played on a loop.
If you’re in Canva, you can export it as a GIF. If you’re in PowerPoint, you need to save each slide as it’s own image, and then upload each image to an online GIF creator, like EZGIF.com
How to Upload Your TpT Banners
The Leaderboard Banner (we’re just calling it the store banner) and the Column Banner are found under Dashboard. Then select Marketing and Customize.
After selecting “customize” you’ll be taken to a screen with options to upload your images (or GIFs) as well as what link you want your banners to hyperlink to.
To upload your Quote box, click your logo in the top right and then click My Account.
Then select “Store Profile” to upload your quote box and to edit any other personal profile information.
Want Some Help?
Sometimes, coming up with ideas for your designs can be difficult or time consuming. If you want help, I have 17 different designs that you can easily customize to make your own.
These Templates, made in Canva, will unlock the key to professional branding and higher TpT sales conversions today!
They are designed to simplify the process of creating eye-catching banners for your TpT store, these templates are for all three types of store banners: quote box, leaderboard, and vertical column banner.
There are lots of different formats and styles so you can choose what’s best for you – and the formatting is the same for all three banners so you don’t have to do any of the hard work.
Plus, there are banners for many different seasons and special events at school so that you can change your banners as the big day approaches to draw attention to your seasonal projects.
Click here to learn more about my TpT Store banners.
