A Guide to Using Social Media Logos in Advertising

Social media is a major part of almost all our lives. We use it to stay connected with our aunt who lives across the country, to creep on a potential new love interest, and sometimes, to follow brands and companies. This is why it's important for businesses to mind the rules and know what they can and can't do with the distinct logos for these platforms.

How can your business use social media logos? What are the rules? Finish that status update and get ready to learn more about printing social media icons.

How Do You Print Social Media Icons?

Each social media platform has certain rules about how a business can use their logos. Before we dive too deep, here's a general overview of what does and doesn't fly when it comes to printing social media icons.

Facebook
Do

Keep enough space around the logo so it's legible and uncluttered
Maintain the proportion of the logo
"Facebook" should be in the same font and size as the surrounding text on your website
Capitalize "Facebook," even if it's part of the web address
Include a call-to-action such as "Like Us," "Follow Us," etc.
Print the logo side by side with other social media platforms
Link directly to your Facebook page when using the logo online
Be consistent with the font and size of the rest of the content
Request permission for use in film or television broadcast through the Brand Permissions Request Form
Pay mind to Facebook's Terms and Policies

Don't

Modify the logo's color, size, or shape
Assert rights over the Facebook brand either directly or indirectly
Imply sponsorship or partnership with Facebook
Trademark anything that could be confused with Facebook
Combine Facebook's name with your brand name
Use "Facebook" as a verb
Use the logo in place of the word "Facebook
Print the logo or name on promotional products without permission from the social media platform
Make the logo the most prominent feature of what you're creating
Use the "Like" or "Thumb" icons in Facebook Ads
Use the "Thumb" icon alongside any other Facebook symbols
Add filters, animation, effects, etc. to the logo
Include the logo with assets associated with pornography or illegal activities

Click here to Learn More About Facebook Rules

Instagram
Do

Link directly to your Instagram page when using the logo online
Balance the Instagram logo with your brand's logo
Make sure only 50% or less of your content is dedicated to Instagram
Be consistent with the font and size of the rest of the content
If your app uses Instagram's APIs, specify that your app is "for Instagram" or "on Instagram"
Print alongside Facebook and its companies
Capitalize "Instagram," even if it's part of the web address
Request permission for use in film, television broadcast, or any advertising larger than 8.5 x 11 inches through Permission Requests
Pay mind to Instagram's Terms of Use

Don't

Modify the logo's color, size, or shape
Assert rights over the Instagram brand either directly or indirectly
Make the logo the most prominent feature of what you're creating
Trademark anything that could be confused with Instagram
Imply sponsorship or partnership with Instagram
Combine "Insta" or "gram" with your brand name
Translate the word "Instagram" into other languages
Use a hashtag that contains "Insta" or "gram" on any other social media platforms
Print the logo or name on promotional products without permission from the social media platform
Add filters, animation, effects, etc. to the logo
Include the logo with assets associated with pornography or illegal activities

Click here to Learn More About Instagram Rules

Twitter
Do

Only show the logo in Twitter's blue or white
Pair the blue or white Twitter logo with the username and hashtag in black
Scale the hashtag to be 100% the height of the logo
Use any typeface for your hashtag
Keep empty space around the logo to at least 150% the width of the logo
Size the logo at 16 pixels wide or larger
Maintain the integrity of the logo's form
Use the white logo when placing on an image
Apply a 10-20% black tint to white logo when on a light background
Try and keep the logo out of a container, but if needed use a circle, square, or square with rounded corners
Print the icon alongside other social media icons at the same size
Include this disclaimer when using Twitter trademarks: "TWITTER, TWEET, RETWEET and the Twitter logo are trademarks of Twitter, Inc. or its affiliates."
Pay mind to Twitter's Terms of Use

Don't

Modify the logo's color, size, or shape
Assert rights over the Twitter brand either directly or indirectly
Make the logo the most prominent feature of what you're creating
Trademark anything that could be confused with Twitter
Imply sponsorship or partnership with Twitter
Surround the logo with other birds or animals
Refer to the Twitter logo as a bird
Accessorize the logo
Put the logo into a speech bubble
Personify the logo
Use old versions of the logo
Incorporate Twitter marks or its name in your brand
Print the logo or name on promotional products without permission from the social media platform
Add filters, animation, effects, etc. to the logo
Include the logo with assets associated with pornography or illegal activities

Click here to Learn More About Twitter Rules

Snapchat
Do

Only use the official Ghost logo with a yellow background or black or white
Display the Ghost logo side-by-side with other logos and keep it the same size as the others
Keep the empty space around the logo 150% the width of the logo
Size the logo at 18 pixels wide or larger
Publicize your Snapcode on your website, printed materials, and social media
Always pair usernames with the Ghost logo
Include a call-to-action such as "Add us on Snapchat," "Snap us," etc.
Present your snaps in the way they were created and include your username on the top left corner and the ghost icon on the right corner
Use your Snapcode on product packaging
Capitalize "Snapchat," even if its part of the web address
Be consistent with the font and size of the rest of the content
Request permission to use on TV, film, books, or plays by emailing the marketing team at branding@snapchat.com
Pay mind to Snapchat's Terms of Use

Don't

Modify the logo's color, size, or shape
Assert rights over the Snapchat brand either directly or indirectly
Make the logo the most prominent feature of what you're creating
Incorporate anything related to Snapchat in your logo, domain name, trademarks, etc.
Trademark anything that could be confused with Snapchat
Imply sponsorship or partnership with Snapchat
Copy the Snapchat look and feel
Surround the logo with other characters
Use old versions of the logo
Refer to any other product than Snapchat with the Ghost logo
Use Snapchat as a verb, plural, or separate it into two words "Snap" and "Chat"
Use the Ghost logo in place of the word "Snapchat"
Print the logo or name on promotional products without permission from the social media platform
Add filters, animation, effects, etc. to the logo
Include the logo with assets associated with pornography or illegal activities

Click here to Learn More About Snapchat Rules

TikTok
Do

Take advantage of TikTok advertising opportunities which includes in-feed ads, hashtag challenges, and brand takeovers, which are full-screen ads that appear when a user opens the app
Report copyright infringement if you believe it has occurred on their platform
Review TikTok's Terms of Use
Follow TikTok's Community Guidelines

Don't

Modify the logo's color, size, or shape
Assert rights over the TikTok brand either directly or indirectly
Emulate the "look and feel" of TikTok
Incorporate anything related to TikTok in your logo, domain name, trademarks, etc.
Imply sponsorship or partnership with TikTok
Print the logo or name on promotional products without permission from the social media platform
Include the logo with assets associated with pornography or illegal activities

Pinterest
Do

Use only the Pinterest badge without the name "Pinterest"
Always include a call-to-action
Display your Pinterest URL when displaying the badge
Make sure the logo is proportionate to the call-to-action text
Print the most updated version of the logo
The Pinterest logo should be smaller in scale than your logo
If using the Pinterest interface, make sure the web version and mobile version are properly represented
Include a clear link back to your profile when using the logo in broadcast media
Request permission to use on TV, film or video at least 10 days in advance
Pay mind to Pinterest's Terms of Service

Don't

Modify the logo's color, size, or shape
Assert rights over the Pinterest brand either directly or indirectly
Imply sponsorship or partnership with Pinterest
Combine "Pin," "Pinterest," or any variation to your brand name
Trademark anything that could be confused with Pinterest
Add a call to action without your Pinterest URL displayed
Print the logo or name on promotional products without permission from the social media platform
Add filters, animation, effects, etc. to the logo
Include the logo with assets associated with pornography or illegal activities

Click here to Learn More About Pinterest Rules

Reddit
Do

Use the "Snoo head" logo with the name "Reddit" whenever possible
Print accurate Reddit logo colors: (HEX #FF4500,, PMS 172 C)
Link to Reddit with their logo graphic using either the round, square, or silhouette icons
Capitalize Reddit's name
Align the wordmark with the Snoo logo horizontally
Leave enough space between the Reddit logo and name and other image assets
State when content is pulled from Reddit
Properly use Reddit terminology
Take advantage of Reddit's logo assets, which can be downloaded directly here
Use Reddit's content templates when displaying a post
Embed Reddit posts directly into your website to ensure proper attribution
Get permission from the original poster if you're looking to include a specific post or comment
Submit proposed use of the Reddit logo to press@reddit.com
Contact licensing@reddit.com if you have additional questions

Don't

Modify the logo's color, size, or shape
Assert rights over the Reddit brand either directly or indirectly
Incorporate anything related to Reddit in your logo, domain name, trademarks, etc.
Imply sponsorship or partnership with Reddit
Print the Reddit logo any smaller than 24x24 pixels
Alter the post or comment's title, text, or meaning
Screenshot Reddit content
Print the logo or name on promotional products without permission from the social media platform
Include the logo with assets associated with pornography or illegal activities

LinkedIn
Do

Use 0.25 in. between the name LinkedIn and the logo in print
The minimum size on screen should be 21 px
Always include the Registered Trademark or Trademark symbol
Write LinkedIn as one word
Use the IN logo to link to your profile, company, or group
Words next to the IN logo should be in a different font and color
Include a call to action such as "Follow us," "Join our group," etc.
Use screenshots from LinkedIn for instructive, educational, or illustrative purposes
The logo stands alone and has enough space from other graphics or textual elements
Use the logo in color for online use unless the color version isn't practical
If LinkedIn requests you to stop using their logo, you must comply in no more than seven days after the request
Request permission to use in film, TV, media, books or any other printed materials by filling out this form
Pay mind to LinkedIn's Terms of Service

Don't

Modify the logo's color, size, or shape
Attempt to replicate the LinkedIn logo
Assert rights over the LinkedIn brand either directly or indirectly
Make the logo the most prominent feature of what you're creating
Imply sponsorship or partnership with LinkedIn
Incorporate the LinkedIn name or logo into your brand
Use the IN logo as a word
Make LinkedIn plural or possessive
Trademark anything that could be confused with LinkedIn
Use LinkedIn in the title of a blog post
Print the logo or name on promotional products without permission from the social media platform
Add filters, animation, effects, etc. to the logo
Include the logo with assets associated with pornography, gambling, or illegal activities

Click here to Learn More About LinkedIn Rules

YouTube
Do

Allow for safe space that is free of imagery and text
Use half the logo's width to determine how much space should surround the logo
Print the logo 24dp or higher in digital content; 0.125 in. in print
Only use YouTube's red, white, or black
Use YouTube's typeface
The triangle in the icon should always be white
Use the YouTube icon without the name only if you don't have enough room to print the full logo at the appropriate size
Add a link on the YouTube icon without the name only if the destination is a YouTube channel
Make sure the logo is legible by using one of the different versions
Secure permission to use in media, TV, film, books or any other materials in print
Pay mind to YouTube's Terms of Service

Don't

Modify the logo's color, size, or shape
Assert rights over the YouTube brand either directly or indirectly
Imply sponsorship or partnership with YouTube
Trademark anything that could be confused with YouTube
Change the spacing between the icon and the word "YouTube"
Use the logo in a phrase or sentence
Print the logo or name on promotional products without permission from the social media platform
Add filters, animation, effects, etc. to the logo
Include the logo with assets associated with pornography or illegal activities

Click here to Learn More About YouTube Rules

Now let's get into all the fine details! Each of these platforms has their own set of guidelines for how to go about using their logos.

Facebook

If you have Facebook's permission and adhere to their rules as listed in the chart above, you can print any of these trademarked logos!

Another important tip to keep in mind for Facebook is to use the right logo when appropriate.

Use the logo with the blue box on white or light colored backgrounds.

Use the logo with the white box on blue or dark colored backgrounds.

Facebook has many different logos and trademarks. If you're ever unsure about how to use their icons, reach out directly to their team or read their official guidelines.

Instagram

For the most part, Instagram follows the same rules as Facebook. Both platforms adhere to community guidelines that protect users from anything malicious, such as spam or inappropriate photography.

Like other social media platforms, you do not have permission to use the Instagram logo on promotional giveaways like tote bags or pens without getting approval via a written request.

Be sure you're mindful of the safe, positive environment Instagram strives to create. When in doubt, ask an official for clarification on what you can print or read their official guidelines.

Twitter

Twitter is another great avenue for promoting your business, and like other social media platforms, they have branding guidelines that are important to follow.

Aside from everything in the chart above, it's important to remember that Tweets are created with Helvetica Neue Bold font, which is a common typeface for the brand and was even a trending hashtag in the past.

You will use this font for the following:

Tweets
Display names
Timestamps
User name

Luckily, Twitter has made it super easy to stick with their format. You can download a media kit, complete with all the logos and brand resources you can possibly need.

If all else fails, you can double check their official guidelines for more details.

Snapchat

You don't want the >Snapchat ghost to haunt you for not following their rules! That's why it's important to stay up-to-date on their branding guidelines. These change every year, but for the most part, a few main points stay the same.

1
Use only the official Ghost logo, which you can download directly on their website.
2
The Snapchat brand is represented by Avenir Next font.
a. User Name: Avenir Next Demi Bold (-10 tracking)
b. Titles/Headlines: Avenir Next Medium (-30 tracking)
3
Snapchat has a few terms they use within their platform:

Bitmoji
A person or company's personal emoji that can be sent to other users via a sticker in Chat and on Snaps

Collections
Brands link to their products without the users needing to swipe on the ad to make a purchase

Filter
A visual overlay that's added to a Snap; many are customized based on location, holidays, etc.

Geofilter
Filters that appear in specific locations like neighborhood, landmarks, restaurants, etc.

Lens
Add real-time special effects and sounds to your Snaps

Memories
Personal collection of Snaps and Stories saved by the user

My Story
Compilation of Snaps posted over a 24 hour period; played in chronological order

Our Stories
Compilation of Snaps taken by users at an event or place

Publisher Stories
Collections of Snaps from publishers like CNN, Buzzfeed, Mashable, etc. that are updated every day

Shows
Original programming produced and shot for mobile

Snap
Picture or video taken on Snapchat; decorated with emojis, captions, filters, Lenses, and more

Snapcode (n.)
Unique, scannable codes that make adding new friends and opening content on Snapchat easier

Sponsored Lens (n.)
Companies create their own special Lens to represent their brand, promotional events, etc.

Do you have more questions? Reach out directly to the Snapchat team by emailing branding@snapchat.com. You can also download their official guidelines for more information.

TikTok

Launched September 2016, TikTok is a relatively new social media platform. Their branding guidelines are constantly changing and adapting to meet the user's needs.

If you do use TikTok, you should never post any of the following:

Threats or imagery that implies organized violence
Hateful content related to an individual or group
Slurs or offensive terms, even if they're used in song lyrics or a movie quote
Claims of supremacy over any group
Content that depicts physical harm or illegal activities
Images of self-harm or dangerous acts
Harassing or bullying comments or images
Any nudity
Articles that contain misinformation or fake news

TikTok has over 680 million monthly active users, and it continues to grow in popularity. Keep in mind that minors are able to use their platform, so be mindful of what your brand is posting.

People should be able to easily find your profile on Pinterest. That's why you have to include some kind of call-to-action with the logo.

Pinterest has a list of acceptable and unacceptable call-to-actions for you to print:

Acceptable

Find us on Pinterest
Follow us on Pinterest
Visit us
Find more ideas on Pinterest
Get inspired on Pinterest
Popular on Pinterest
*only for high impressions

Unacceptable

Trending on Pinterest
Trending Pins
Using "Pin" as a verb

You have freedom to play around within those acceptable phrases, such as "Visit us on Pinterest," "Get inspired," etc. You also need to make sure your Pinterest URL is included. Still have more questions? Check out their official guidelines!

Reddit is a world of its own, and as such, the community has distinct words and phrases. Are you new to the platform? Here's a cheat sheet of all the Reddit terminology you need to know!

Communities:
The various discussion spaces on Reddit

Front Page:
Popular feed on Reddit with aggregated content

Home Feed:
User's personalized feed of content

Karma:
Points that Reddit user's receive every time they participate on the Reddit platform

Snoo:
Name of Reddit's alien mascot

Voting:
Reddit users can upvote or downvote content the community contributes. The more upvotes, the higher the content appears.

LinkedIn has bundled all their brand assets in a pretty package to make it easy for you to print their logo. In order for their icon to be visible, they have different versions for you to choose from, some with their full name and others with only the IN logo.

For other questions, you can reach out directly to the LinkedIn team at brandrequest@linkedin.com. Be sure to also check out their official guidelines!

YouTube

Similar to other social media platforms, YouTube has different versions of their logo depending on where it's being printed. All these logos can be downloaded directly from their branding guidelines.

The options are:

1. Traditional red, white, and black logo
2. All black logo
3. All white logo
4. Red "Play" icon

You can use any of these logos, so long as they're legible and you leave them uncluttered with other images and text.

If needed, you can also use monochrome versions of the logo for visual-heavy backgrounds. This version comes in both all-black or all-white.

Finally, you have the option to use their simple red "Play" icon. This should only be used when there isn't enough room to print the logo with YouTube's name. You would follow all the same rules for using this logo.

It's always a good idea to be knowledgeable about YouTube's rules. Feel free to reach out directly and be sure to take a look at their official guidelines to learn more!

Which Colors Are Used in the Social Media Icons?

Following the branding guidelines is only part of the battle. You also need to be sure you're using the correct logo colors. The RGB color model and hex codes are used when it comes to printing images. Both rely on a mix of red, green, and blue tints to make distinct shades.

Below is a chart with the RGB color model and hex code for each social media icon.

Facebook

Dark Blue

Hex: #0e1f56
RGB:
14, 31, 91

Regular Blue

Hex: #3b5998
RGB:
59, 89, 152

Medium Blue

Hex: #6d84b4
RGB:
109, 132, 180

Light Blue

Hex: #d8dfea
RGB:
216, 232, 234

White

Hex: #ffffff
RGB:
255, 255, 255

Instagram

Magenta

Hex: #cd486b
RGB:
205, 72, 107

Blue

Hex: #4c69d7
RGB:
76, 104, 215

Purple Violet

Hex: #8a3ab9
RGB:
138, 58, 185

Red Violet

Hex: #bc2a8d
RGB:
188, 42, 141

Red Orange

Hex: #e95950
RGB:
233, 89, 80

Orange

Hex: #fbad50
RGB:
251, 173, 80

Yellow

Hex: #fccc63
RGB:
252, 204, 99

White

Hex: #ffffff
RGB:
255, 255, 255

Twitter

Blue

Hex: #1da1f2
RGB:
29, 161, 242

Black

Hex: #14171a
RGB:
20, 23, 26

Dark Gray

Hex: #657786
RGB:
101, 119, 134

Light Gray

Hex: #aab8c2
RGB:
101, 118, 134

Extra Light
Gray

Hex: #e1e8ed
RGB:
225, 232, 237

Extra Extra
Light Gray

Hex: #f5f8fa
RGB:
245, 248, 250

White

Hex: #ffffff
RGB:
255, 255, 255

Snapchat

Yellow

Hex: #ffc00
RGB:
255, 252, 0

Black

Hex: #000000
RGB:
0, 0, 0

White

Hex: #ffffff
RGB:
255, 255, 255

TikTok

Black

Hex: #010101
RGB:
1, 1, 1

Light Aqua

Hex: #69C9D0
RGB:
105, 201, 208

Red

Hex: #ee1d52
RGB:
238, 29, 82

White

Hex: #ffffff
RGB:
255, 255, 255

Pinterest

Red

Hex: #bd081c
RGB:
189, 8, 28

White

Hex: #ffffff
RGB:
255, 255, 255

Reddit

Red/Orange

Hex: #FF4500
RGB:
255, 69, 0

White

Hex: #ffffff
RGB:
255, 255, 255

LinkedIn

Medium Blue

Hex: #0077b5
RGB:
0, 119, 181

Light Blue

Hex: #00a0dc
RGB:
0, 160, 220

Black

Hex: #000000
RGB:
0, 0, 0

White

Hex: #ffffff
RGB:
255, 255, 255

YouTube

Red

Hex: #FF0000
RGB:
255, 0, 0

Black

Hex: #000000
RGB:
0, 0, 0

White

Hex: #ffffff
RGB:
255, 255, 255

Can you imagine the more muted Instagram yellow in Snapchat's logo? What about Facebook in Twitter's light blue? It's important to use the correct colors when representing any social media brand or you run the risk of changing the appearance of the logo.

You can alter the RBG color directly in Microsoft Word. Simply go to the color changer, go to "more colors," select "custom," and enter in the correct numbers.

What Are the Rules of Printing Social Media Logos?

When it comes to printing social media icons, no matter which one, there are a few key points to keep in mind. These rules work across all platforms and help ensure you're using the logos correctly.

Here are the most important rules for printing social media icons:

• You cannot print the icons on promotional products or use in media without permission.

• Always print the logo colors in the designated hex code or RGB numbers.

• Make sure the logo is legible on what you're printing.

• Do not modify, animate, or alter the logo in any way.

• Reach out to each platform's designated branding team if you have any questions.

While each social media platform has individual rules, these are the ones that stay the same across the board. The finer details for each social media platform are listed above!

Why Should You Be Active on Social Media?

In this digital world, your business needs to be active on social media. Why? For starters, it helps you connect directly with your audience. Not only that, but many people are accessing these platforms from their phones and using them to find deals on new products. Make sure your presence on social media is known everywhere, from your website to your advertising.

Stats for Success

2.34 billion people around the world are on social media.

71% of consumers who have a good social media experience with a brand are likely to recommend them to others.

96% of small businesses use social media to advertise.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to social media logos, it's important to follow the rules. Remember, you cannot print these icons on your promotional giveaways. You also have to request permission to use them in books, TV, film, or any other media. If you're ever unsure, reach out to the teams directly for more information!

Alyssa Mertes

amertes@qualitylogoproducts.com

866-312-5646 x 277

Alyssa is the Lead Copywriter at Quality Logo Products. As a promo expert, she's uncovered the world's first custom tote bag, interviewed the guy behind rock band ACDC's logo, and had a piece published by the Advertising Specialty Institute, a leader in the promotional products industry.

References

ColorSwatches. (2018). Facebook Blue. Retrieved November 6, 2018, from https://colorswatches.info/facebook-blue

Schwarz, D. (2017, June 28). Fonts and Colors Used by Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and More. Retrieved November 6, 2018, from https://www.sitepoint.com/fonts-colors-used-facebook-twitter-google/

Locke, J. (2018, August 16). Social Media Colors 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2018, from https://www.lockedownseo.com/social-media-colors/

Georgiou, N. (2016, May 24). Instagram New Logo (2016) Color Palette. Retrieved November 6, 2018, from https://www.designpieces.com/palette/instagram-new-logo-2016-color-palette

Hainla, L. (2018, July 5). 21 Social Media Marketing Statistics You Need to Know in 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2018, from https://www.dreamgrow.com/21-social-media-marketing-statistics/

LYFE Marketing. (2018, March 5). 30 Social Media Statistics That Will Change the Way You Think About Social Media. Retrieved November 7, 2018, from https://www.lyfemarketing.com/blog/social-media-marketing-statistics/

Other Lessons in This Course

Which Social Media Icons and Logos Can I Print?

Use only the official Ghost logo, which you can download directly on their website.

The Snapchat brand is represented by Avenir Next font.

Snapchat has a few terms they use within their platform:

What Are the Rules of Printing Social Media Logos?

Why Should You Be Active on Social Media?

The Bottom Line

Alyssa Mertes

References