My Substack Banner and Cover Photo Setup
I wasted my first banner. Wrong dimensions, no intention, blurry on every device but mine. Here is the exact setup I use now, and why each piece matters for growth.
What your Substack visuals have to do
Get the dimensions right
The banner is 1100 x 220. Very wide, very short. Simple and bold beats detailed every time. Export PNG, not JPEG, so your text stays sharp.
Your face is the brand
Substack readers follow a person. A clear, approachable headshot shows up in search, Notes, and every email. Recognition builds trust. Trust builds paid.
One cover template
1200 x 630, title in large type, same background every time. Build it once, spend two minutes per post. Consistency reads as professionalism.
The About page converts
It’s the highest-converting page on the platform and most writers throw one paragraph at it. Treat it like a sales page.
My exact visual setup
Three elements per asset. Nothing extra. Here is the order I would do it in if I were starting today.
Set the banner canvas to 1100 x 220
A custom canvas in Canva at exactly that size. Export as PNG at the highest quality. JPEG compression puts visible artifacts around your text edges.
Put three elements on it
Your newsletter name in large readable type. One line that says who it’s for, in your reader’s own words. A background that sets the tone without competing. That’s it.
Use a real headshot
Good lighting, clean background, approachable expression. Not a logo. Not a lifestyle shot. Not the blurry candid you kept because you like your hair in it.
Build one cover photo template
1200 x 630 with the article title over a simple background that matches your aesthetic. Save the template. Update the title text per post and export. Two minutes.
Write the About page like a sales page
What the newsletter covers, who it’s for, the cadence, what’s free, what’s paid, and why you. Answer every question before they have to ask it.
Then build the system
Consistent publishing, a paywall strategy, Notes, recommendations, and pricing that converts free readers to paid. The setup earns the first look. The system earns the rest.
“The visual setup earns the first look. The system earns everything after.“— Lori Ballen
A pretty banner won’t grow your newsletter. A system will.
Inside Ballen Academy, I coach you through the whole Substack build: positioning, publishing cadence, paywall strategy, and the growth loops that turn readers into paid subscribers of a sustainable, long-term digital marketing business.
Join group coaching →The 3-Bucket Business Field Notes
Your Substack is one bucket of a one-person business that runs without burning you out. These field notes show you all three and how to fill them.
Substack 101: A No-Fluff Guide to Building and Growing a Paid Newsletter
- The full setup, from account creation through launch
- Paywall strategy and pricing psychology
- Notes, video, podcasts, and recommendations
- A 30-day launch plan across 16 chapters
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Fix the banner today. Build the system next.
Join group coaching at Ballen Academy →Not ready to coach yet? Get Letters from Lori — my field notes on building a business that earns for the long haul.
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I also use AI tools to help research and create content for you! While I love sharing strategies to help you succeed, please remember that everyone's journey is unique—individual results vary, and there are no guarantees. Thanks so much for stopping by!
