Create easy images with a free online program.

We’ve often discussed strategy, targeting and making the best use of an ad, but—how does someone create an ad? Or a graphic for an ad?

That’s where Canva comes in. It’s a free online program that’s easy to use, aimed at people who aren’t graphically inclined or artistic. Best of all, they have an entire template designed for service and tires!

If you don’t know where to begin, Canva makes a great starting point. You can edit whatever you create, change the colours, and update as you go along. Don’t know what size to make your graphic or ad? They have all different sizes, for Facebook ads, display ads, website banners, email blasts and more.

This can play a huge part in your marketing because you can create custom pieces that are as unique as you are. Instead of just using text to display your message, you can make it stand out with custom graphics. There are even animated graphics.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

We all know a picture is worth a thousand words. Now you can level up your marketing efforts, and create something that’s physically attractive, to pull customers into the different types of service you have to offer. 

Graphics are sometimes seen as overwhelming, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Sure, a program like Adobe is a whole graphics, video and editing solution that’s very expensive and takes training. And you can get access to a million different marketing combinations if you have the expertise and the budget. 

But if you just want to do something simple, Canva can give you an easy solution to execute a graphic for Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. It will tell you the sizes that are necessary for those platforms and take out the guessing. 

It’s a great way to get your feet wet and play around, creating a few things here and there. Canva does offer more advanced packages, some of them paid. Otherwise, it’s a smart way to keep design in-house without being expensive and difficult.

Try a few different approaches, and see which one you like. You can even do tests to see which gets the best response. Canva lets you make one graphic, copy it and edit it five different times, and have different versions of the same content. You may surprise yourself and find you have a real knack for it!

Step-by-step instructions

Often, tire shops will use stock images, or whatever cookie-cutter assets a brand will send over. Anybody can use them, which is fine. You can still do that, but you can also upload these images into Canva and add your graphics! You’ll get step-by-step instructions. Canva even offers classes on how to use their product, where you can start from the beginning, slowly learning and progressing. 

This is perfect for a small tire shop that may not have the budget for a graphic designer. Frankly, if you’re not adding custom graphics to your advertising or website, you’re missing an important piece of marketing.

That’s because search engines like Google and Yahoo are constantly scanning platforms like your website, your Facebook page, and wherever you are listed. These search engines are looking for something that sets you apart as a unique entity.

Custom graphics play a big role in creating your branding, and making your digital storefront as appealing as your physical storefront. There are no limits to what you can do. It’s pretty foolproof and will benefit you by setting you apart from the competition, making you stand out, and ultimately drawing in more customers.