Why: Horizontal images take up more screen space and are easier to read without zooming.

Recommended dimensions:

Avoid: Tall vertical images with stacked text—they're hard to read at a glance.

Since people can't zoom in anymore, your text needs to be readable at thumbnail size.

Guidelines:

Bad example:

Small paragraph of text explaining an offer (unreadable without zoom)

Good example:

Large, bold text: "₹150 OFF" with minimal supporting text

Everything important should be visible in the image itself.

What to include in the image:

What to keep in the message body:

Example breakdown:

Image text:

Here's your district VOUCHER WORTH ₹150

Valid on purchase of minimum 2 movie tickets

Message text:

Your Blinkit order has been delivered. As requested, your movie booking code is BLF1150. Click below to proceed.

Result: Message stays short and transactional. The promotional content lives in the image.

Since tapping the image now opens your link, design it to invite the tap.

Tactics that work:

✅ Add a visual button to the image

Example: A fake "Tap Here" button or "Claim Now" graphic overlaid on the image

✅ Use directional cues

Example: Arrows pointing outward, hands pointing, "Click here for magic" text

✅ Create curiosity

Example: "Your surprise is waiting..." or "See what's inside"

✅ Show the product with a clear CTA

Example: Product photo + "Shop Now" text on the image itself

Real example (inspired by Blinkit):

The image shows a movie poster with bold text announcing a voucher. The visual draw is strong enough that people instinctively want to tap to learn more—and when they do, they land on the conversion page.

Your logo should be present (for brand recognition), but it shouldn't dominate the image.

Best placement:

Avoid:

Problem: People can't zoom in anymore. If your text is tiny, they can't read it.

Fix: Make all text minimum 28pt font size. Headlines should be 48pt or larger.

Problem: Long messages hurt delivery rates and look spammy.

Fix: Move key info to the image. Keep the message body short.

Problem: A pretty photo doesn't drive action if there's no clear next step.

Fix: Add text, buttons, or visual cues to the image that invite interaction.

Problem: You design the image for aesthetics, not conversion.

Fix: Treat the image like a second CTA. Make it tappable and inviting.

Before sending your next template or broadcast, run through this checklist:

✅ Image is horizontal (landscape orientation)

✅ Text is large enough to read without zooming (48pt+ headlines)

✅ Key offer or message is in the image itself

✅ Message body is short (under 100 characters if possible)

✅ Image invites interaction (visual button, CTA, or curiosity hook)

✅ Brand logo is visible but not dominating

✅ Image and message work together (image = offer, message = transactional)

You don't need to be a designer. Use these tools:

Free options:

Paid options:

Pro tip: Create a template once with your brand colors, fonts, and logo placement. Then duplicate and swap out text/offers for future campaigns.

WhatsApp's image behavior change is an opportunity if you adapt your design strategy:

✅ Use horizontal images with large, readable text

✅ Move promotional content to the image, keep messages short and transactional

✅ Make images "tappable" with visual CTAs or curiosity hooks

✅ Treat the image as a conversion tool, not just decoration

✅ Test the utility message hack (offer in image, transactional text in message)

✅ Don't worry about the exposed tracking link—customers barely notice it

Brands doing this well see: