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.
Published: July 23rd, 2020
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.
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
Don't
Don't
Twitter
Do
Don't
Snapchat
Do
Don't
TikTok
Do
Don't
Don't
Reddit
Do
Don't
LinkedIn
Do
Don't
YouTube
Do
Don't
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.
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.
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 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:
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.
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.
a. User Name: Avenir Next Demi Bold (-10 tracking)
b. Titles/Headlines: Avenir Next Medium (-30 tracking)
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.
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:
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
Unacceptable
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
Quality Logo Products are experts on all things printed and promotional. Let our team of awesome, incredibly good looking, and fun promo nerds help you select awesome promotional swag today!
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.
Explore These Lessons
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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/
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