Meet Canva: An Online Picture and Video Design Tool for Social Media
Updated: Nov 29, 2020
Canva provides a graphic design platform for everyone to use. Anyone can create documents, presentations, posters, social media posts, and other visual content items with this tool. Although it is free to use, paid subscriptions offer added functionality for Pro and Enterprise users.
If you create something on Canva, you can also pay to print and ship physical products to meet your content creation, public relations, and general marketing needs.
What can you achieve with Canva? If you need royalty-free videos, stock footage, animated characters, or 3D animation, this intro maker offers the versatility needed to capture the attention of your prospects.
Canva is also much more than that. Once you start using it, this platform will be your go-to tool for public relations, social media, general marketing, sales outreach, and much more.
Getting to Know Canva a Little Better
Melanie Perkins first got the idea to develop an online picture and video design tool in 2007 because there was nothing online or in the marketplace that offered comprehensive solutions.
Perkins studied at the University of Western Australia while teaching students how to use the current design programs in the marketplace. Tools like Photoshop and InDesign were massively influential in those days, but they were incredibly challenging to learn.
Melanie thought that there had to be an easier way to let people design the graphics they needed for various applications. That's how the first thoughts of Canva were born.
Over the next five years, she, Cliff Obrecht, and Cameron Adams would build the idea into a company that would eventually become successful. Part of the reason why Canva could reach that thriving waypoint was the decision to bring social media guru Guy Kawasaki to the company to serve as their brand promoter.
During its first year of release, Canva had over 750,000 users. In June 2020, the company received a valuation of $6 billion. In 2020, approximately 30 million monthly users in over 190 countries were using the platform, creating 3 billion designs.
What Are the Benefits of Using Canva?
Canva is a fantastic design tool for anyone within the public relations realm. It offers a straightforward methodology and enough customization that anyone can use it for virtually anything socially or promotionally related.
If you post anything on social media, send out press releases, or need to create designs for any reason, Canva provides several benefits to consider.
Canva is almost entirely free
When you start using Canva, you'll discover that it offers several graphics and fonts that won't cost anything to begin using. It is free to activate your account, try out the
service, and even use some of the designs created during
that time.
That's right! You can use many of Canva's best features on more than a trial basis. Subscriptions are optional with this service.
If you upgrade to the paid options, you'll discover an even bigger creative world to explore.
Canva makes designing fun and easy
Several preset templates and sizes are available on Canva to make several marketing items. You can quickly make flyers, cards, posters, social media posts, banners, postcards, and more.
These preset options are a massive timesaver when you need to create something quickly!
All you need to do is click on the content type you prefer. Canva lets you start creating within its platform
immediately, which means your item is already perfectly
sized for your needs. Instead of worrying about your
graphics' technical components, Canva lets you focus on your creative spirit.
Canva designs are easily shareable
Do you work with a PR team that needs to review all of the content for brand-centric messaging, colour consistency, and other factors? If so, Canva has that sharing option allowing you to send what you're working on to someone else.
All you need to do to share your Canva design with the rest of your team is to enter each recipient's email address. You can have up to 1,000 shared designs before reaching the limit where a paid plan becomes necessary. It's another way to see if you like using this platform for your design needs!
Canva saves each design automatically
How many times have you been in the middle of working on something when the power goes out, a plug gets pulled, or your equipment crashes? It doesn't often
happen these days, but it can be a significant headache when it does if you haven't saved your work.
Canva takes the stress away from this situation. It automatically saves your work.
You also get the benefit of having your designs available through the Cloud with Canva, allowing you to access your past work wherever you travel. Instead of packing your laptop or securing a flash drive to continue working, all you need is a data connection.
Canva allows uploaded images in the designs
You can certainly use the stock images and design options on Canva to create some stunning pieces.
This platform lets you upload the logos needed for your business or personal designs without charge.
Canva even saves your image uploads in your account drive to use them in future designs. When you need that logo or picture in something you're making, it only takes a couple of clicks to get things lined up the way that you want.
How to Edit Online Photos and Videos for Free
With Canva's unique template-based system, you have a direct shortcut to create the photos and videos you need. Each item is 100% customizable so that you can change the images and colours to match your needs.
You'll discover tens of thousands of different templates waiting for your creativity,