How to Create a Fan Banner

Fan banners are the Internet's equivalent of a branded T-shirt.

Fan banners are image files that users can copy to their web pages, to show they like what you do. They come in a variety of sizes and are easy to make, using the right software. Standard sizes are the 468 by 60 pixel banner; the 728 by 90 pixel leader board; the 88 by 31 pixel button; and the 120 by 600 pixel skyscraper. Each has its advantages, and it is best to give fans the option of choosing the one that suits them.

Things You'll Need

• Image-editing software

Instructions

1. Open the graphics program of your choice. (Photoshop or its free equivalent, The Gimp, are excellent choices for this job.) Create a new image using File > New. A dialogue box should appear and let you set the image size to the dimensions you want (e.g. 468 pixels wide and 60 pixels high). If no dialogue box appears, adjust the software's sliding scale function to change its dimensions to the size you want.

2. Choose either to fill the background with color or to use an existing image as the background (see Tips). If filling with color, select the required color, and then use the bucket fill tool to color the image.

   If you're using an existing picture, open the picture as a new file. Use Edit > Select All, then Edit > Copy to copy the image to the clipboard. Close the image, and use Edit > Paste to add the image to the banner. Move the image around or re-size it as necessary.

3. 

   Slogans help in branding your product.

   Select the text tool and click the position in the image where you want to put text. Enter a slogan or a website or product name. This will brand the fan banner, so viewers know what it is about. Consider adding another line of text (use the text tool again) to add a URL for your product or website.

4. Save the fan banner as either a JPG or PNG file, to maximize the number of people who can view it. To do this, use either File > Save As (or in Photoshop, File > Save For Web). Give the banner a simple filename (such as banner468x60.png). Do not use spaces; if you do, the file can't be linked from elsewhere on the Internet. Upload the banner to a website such as Flickr or your own site.

5. 

   The code for a fan banner is very simple.

   Make a note of the web address (URL) of the banner. On Flickr, the URL is shown under the image when "All sizes" is clicked on. Tell fans the banner exists and how to use it, either by adding a new page to your site or editing an existing page. Make using it simple by giving the fans the code they need for it. The code is <a href=[Your URL]><img src=[URL of the fan banner image]alt=[Your slogan]></a>.

Tips & Warnings

• Complex backgrounds make reading text difficult. Try altering the size, color and position of the text to maximize visibility. Also consider making the image slightly transparent, or lightening it.

• Lots of text makes a fan banner confusing and less appealing to users. Remember that this branding relies on fans thinking it is fun, so keep it simple and fun. This will maximize its appeal and make more people want to use it.

• When using images found on the Internet, make sure they are licensed for commercial re-use. If in doubt, ask the owner for permission. Alternatively, only use images you have created yourself.

• If uploading the image to your own site rather than somewhere like Flickr, make sure that you have the bandwidth to cope with displaying the image all over the web, in case it becomes very popular.

References

• "Shannon Kay": Mini Fan Banners