Having a good playlist cover is nearly as important as the music itself. Your playlist cover will be what separates your collection from the rest and encourage engagement. Say you’re making an indie rock playlist, well you’ve already got the disadvantage of competing against about a million others (probably more honestly). Why should someone care about yours? Because your aesthetic stands out from the rest, that’s why. Because no one else has your template, at least that’s what you want to strive for. Playlist covers are the first impression anyone will have about your playlist. It’s best to make a cover standout, but also easy to grasp the meaning of, whether it be through typography or an image that mirrors the vibe.

Playlist covers should also be consistent if you’re looking to attract more followers. In order for a tastemaker to carve out their own identity, having consistency across your covers is key. You want to try to have a style that’s recognizable, which is partly why I would encourage putting in the work to make your own. It’s easy to get a head start by using template creators such as Canvas, but the extra effort to learn photoshop can go a long way.