Eye-catching imagery

Relevant (but not necessarily literal)

High resolution: this is so important; blurred, low-res images make your content look less appealing. For best results, we recommend referring to this article on image dimensions.

If you don't already have an image, Turtl is integrated with a free stock images website. This allows you to easily search for quality images without leaving the Turtl editor. Learn more about adding images here.

Check for signed-off images and videos that may be sitting in your company's image Library.

Stick to a theme of color or subject matter for a curated look. Why not try having a thread of one color running through all of your images?

No $ to spend? Our favorite free sites include Pexels (great for video), Unsplash, and Rawpixel

Have a budget for images? We recommend Shutterstock, iStockPhoto. or Adobe Stock

Consider the load speed recommendations outlined in this article.

Taking screenshots - instead, right-click and save elements from your original source.

Using tacky stock images.

Mixing multiple types of imagery in one Doc (think portrait, architecture, still life, landscape).

Overlooking diversity. Be inclusive in your image choices to reflect people of different ethnicities, genders, and backgrounds.

Getting creative with column options – four or five-column Immerse pages offer the most flexibility and creative freedom.

Using column breaks to create large areas of white space. Find inspiration on using white space in this crisp Turtl Doc.

Toggling on Turtl's baseline grid to ensure neat alignment and spacing between elements.

Check out what the column dimensions are in this article.

‘Blocky’ layouts where all elements are constrained to a single column. Try spanning elements across multiple columns for an editorial feel.

Using the wrong column layout for the job – one and two columns are for basic layouts, whereas three, four, and five allow you to get more creative.

Using Text boxes to span columns – it’s the only way to set text over multiple columns.

Layering text within plain Text Boxes over images, but beware, this requires careful image selection.

Using them as spacers – remember that you can always use plain Text Boxes without text and hide them on mobile.

Text boxes can also be used as a structural device. Simply remove any text from the Text Box, and use it as a block color fill.

Using large, block-color Text Boxes for headings, as this will disrupt the natural page flow. Plain Text Boxes are more elegant and less 'shouty'

Using lots of plain Text Boxes for long passages of text. Try to keep body text free-flowing to avoid issues like text-clipping on desktop or unwanted line breaks on mobile.

Using snippets of text to style up as standout quotes, which can then be shared on social channels for better reach.

Adding a poll throughout your document to gain interaction.

Note: See this video where Turtl's CEO, Nick Mason, breaks down how Standard Charter Bank's use of polls in a Turtl Doc increased performance by 167%

Adding an 'About us' chapter/section at the end of your public-facing content. It's a great excuse to use interactive maps, videos, charts, and call-to-action buttons.

Reproducing content like for like because we're trying to #KillthePDF for a reason! Always look for ways to add extra value.

Too much interactivity within a single page e.g. multiple videos could be distracting.

Place widgets on top of images for an editorial, magazine-y feel – think text boxes and polls.

Layer images on top of other images to add texture.

Use full-bleed images to break out of the grid structure and create a more artful look.

Make sure you check how the layout looks on mobile.

Obscuring the focal point of an image by layering elements. Try holding the option/alt key and using your cursor to reposition the image.

Interrupt the flow of text. Layouts must always be easy to read.

Heading and subheading styles are set with a consistent style throughout the whole Doc (i.e. a combination of large headings and small headings).

Remove lonely words on a single line of text by adjusting letter spacing (hold control+option and adjust with left and right keys).

Going overboard with letterspacing as this can warp text at the expense of text readability and accessibility.

Using the same line height or size for icons throughout a Doc.

Switching on the baseline grid to check your spacing is consistent.

Switching off 'Fill frame' in the image settings.

Adjusting icon size for mobile by using the mobile tab in image settings

Increasing the size of an icon simply to fill the space in a layout. Keep icons small and subtle instead.