Twitter's header is the first thing many people see when they visit your profile page. It's also one of the very few things you have complete control over. Your Twitter header can be a creative opportunity to showcase your personality or expertise, or it can help you stand out in a crowded newsfeed. With these 10 tips, you'll know how to make your Twitter header work for you!

illustration by Andrea Lesia Emery

1) Keep it simple and clean.

Make sure the text is easy-to-read and doesn't take up too much space on the screen. The best headers are typically 1/3 to 2/3 text size at 72pixels x 72pixels (or smaller). You should also avoid using more than two fonts in your design, as well as any colors other than black.

2) Avoid text because it's even less readable when it's stretched out across a big screen.

Many people like the look of large text on their Twitter background, but it tends to get jumbled and hard-to-read when viewed on larger screens (like computer monitors). Instead of using text, consider using an image of your favorite quote, a photo of yourself, or your logo.

3) Keep it relevant to your profession/passions.

Your Twitter header should be designed to showcase the expertise you want people to associate with you online. If you're in PR, include an image of someone (or something) famous, like Meryl Streep. If you're a writer, use your latest book jacket photo!

4) Make sure it fits with your existing online branding.

Is the rest of your Twitter background fairly business-oriented? A header with a toy stegosaurus probably won't fit in aesthetically. On the other hand, if you regularly post about going to the gym or out for drinks with friends, your Twitter header should reflect that.

5) Use a website like Venngage to make it easy on yourself.

Venngage is an online infographic maker that makes it easy to create simple images that can be used as infographics, headers, etc. Just pick one of their free Twitter banner templates and change the text, font, color, etc. A few minutes in Venngage can lead to a much more professional-looking Twitter header. Here are some Twitter header examples from their website!

6) Uploading your own photo is your best bet if you're looking for something custom.

Yes, it's easy enough to grab an image from Google, but unless you have really good skills in Photoshop it's unlikely to be something you're proud of.

7) Make it original!

Don't use the same header image as all your friends or everyone online, unless you want people to think that they know everything about you just by looking at your background. Instead, create an image that reflects your personality.

8) Use a clever hashtag to help you track mentions and conversations about yourself.

Has your company recently launched a new product? Are you hosting an event? Include the relevant hashtags to let people know what's going on! For example, if you're hosting a big networking event, include #networking or #eventsummit in your header image.

9) Don't forget to include your avatar.

Twitter users who use the same Twitter background and profile picture everywhere on the social network are much easier to recognize — but don't get lazy with this step! Cool Twitter headers have both a custom background and a custom avatar.

Remember that your Twitter header doesn't have to include your logo or company name. After all, people don't use Twitter to learn more about you — they follow you because they already share some of the same interests. So before you start designing your new Twitter background, think about who are you and what do you want to convey to others online and if you’re ready, click here!