Your banners, favicon, and logo are among the most noticeable elements of a new site. This article explains how to bring these important graphical elements into your Connect platform.
Desktop and Mobile Banners
Perhaps the most recognizable element of a Connect platform is the banner that runs across the site. All brand-new platforms feature the default Galaxy Digital banner, shown below.
Your site will need two unique banners (one for desktop screens, and one for mobile). One of your first tasks as a site manager is to ensure that your site has an eye-catching banner that fits the necessary dimensions and is fully branded for your organization. Once you've uploaded your banners, they will replace the default banner shown above.
Banner Dimensions and File Types
Banners must be saved as jpg, png, or gif files. They should be the following dimensions (in pixels):
- Desktop banner: 1600px wide by 300px tall
- Mobile banner: 960px wide by 360 px tall
Most Connect banners feature the organization's name and logo. Many include a photo, and some include taglines and other marketing copy. If you're looking for ideas, your Customer Care agent can send you some links.
Designing the Banners
Your Connect platform does not include a tool for designing your banners. You can, however, use any graphics tool, (such as Photoshop, Illustrator, SnagIt, or even Paint). If you're not a graphic designer (and you don't have access to one), we recommend using Canva.com, a free, online tool for designing sharp, professional-looking graphics. You can find easy-to-use tutorials on the Canva website.
Uploading the Banners
Once your banners are ready, it's time to upload them to your site. To upload your banners:
- From your site manager panel, go to Settings > Main Settings.
- Under Site Design, scroll down to the Banners and Icons section.
- For the Desktop Banner, click Choose File.
- Browse to and select your desktop banner and click Open (or double-click).
- Repeat the Choose File step for the Mobile banner.
- Click any Update Settings button to save your changes. The new banners will appear on your settings page and on the front end of your site.
Favicon
A "favicon" is the icon that appears in the browser tab for a person visiting your site. The favicon is also displayed in the "Favorites" toolbar if your site is bookmarked. You may already have a logo that you can use, but if you don't, you can use Canva.com (or any other graphics software) to create the favicon.
The favicon itself appears as 15 x 15 pixels, but it can be any size; the size will be adjusted when you upload it. The default favicon (a black box with "GC" inside it) is shown above. When you upload your new design, it will replace the default.
To upload your site's favicon:
- From your site manager panel, go to Settings > Main Settings.
- Under Site Design, scroll down to Favicon field in the Banners and Icons section.
- Click Choose File.
- Browse to and select your favicon and click Open (or double-click).
- Click any Update Settings button to save your changes. The new favicon will immediately appear on your settings page and in your browser tab.
Site Logo
Your site logo is larger than the favicon and appears primarily in the in-app messaging inbox. It also appears on Volunteer Impact Pages (VIPs), if you have selected to display a "Powered By" message for data. The image below shows your Connect platform's default logo in the in-app messaging inbox.
The logo also appears when the in-app message alert is clicked:
When you upload your own logo, it replaces the default. To upload a logo:
- From your site manager panel, go to Settings > Main Settings.
- Under Site Design, scroll down to Site Logo field in the Banners and Icons section.
- Click Choose File.
- Browse to and select your favicon and click Open (or double-click).
- Click any Update Settings button to save your changes. The new logo will now appear in the in-app messaging inbox.