Social Media Icons:: Are You Using the Correct One?

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Yesterday I received a marketing email from an eyeglass company that proclaimed, “Join the Conversation.”  This was followed by three social media icons for Facebook, Twitter and Google+.  All three icons were antiquated.  Completely outdated.

outdated-social-media-icons

My response to their invitation to join the conversation was in the form of a question.  “About what?  The plastic owl frame glasses I wore in the ‘80’s?”  As a marketer, I appreciated the use of email marketing as a follow-up to an order I had placed and received.  I appreciated that they were using this follow-up email as a way to keep me connected to them by joining them on their social media networks.

As a marketer, I hated their use of old and outdated social media icons.  I understand that the social media platforms are constantly making changes and refreshing their look, but these particular icons are probably circa 2012.  It is now 2014.

Using outdated social media icons gives the message that you might not quite grasp how to use the social media networks that you are on.  After all, if you were using them regularly, you would notice that’s not what the current icon looks like.  It dates you and makes you look like the parent that wants his kids to think he’s cool and “with the times.”  It’s also a pet peeve of mine to see, especially when larger brands like this eyeglass company commit this crime.

So, to keep you from committing this travesty, here are some resources to find free or low cost icons that you can use in your marketing materials.

Icon Resources:

…and in case you do not have a clue of what the latest iteration of each social media icon looks like, here are some links to brand asset guidelines for the most popular ones.

Social Media Brand Asset Guidelines: