How to Make Your Multi-Image Posts Popular? An Approach to Enhanced Grid for Nine Images on Social Media

TL;DR

This study explores how different image arrangements in a nine-grid layout influence social media post popularity, identifying aesthetic-based schemes as most effective through user surveys and annotations.

Contribution

It provides empirical evidence on optimal nine-grid image arrangements, emphasizing aesthetic quality to improve attractiveness and user engagement.

Findings

Aesthetic-based layouts outperform others in attractiveness.

Sequential and center-prioritized arrangements are preferred by users.

Layout optimization enhances social media post popularity.

Abstract

The nine-grid layout is commonly used for multi-image posts, arranging nine images in a tic-tac-toe board. This layout effectively presents content within limited space. Moreover, due to the numerous possible arrangements within the nine-image grid, the optimal arrangement that yields the highest level of attractiveness remains unknown. Our study investigates how the arrangement of images within a nine-grid layout affects the overall popularity of the image set, aiming to explore alignment schemes more aligned with user preferences. Based on survey results regarding user preferences in image arrangement, we have identified two ordering sequences that are widely recognized: sequential order and center prioritization, considering both image visual content and aesthetic quality as alignment metrics, resulting in four layout schemes. Finally, we recruited participants to annotate various layout schemes of the same set of images. Our experience-centered evaluation indicates that layout schemes based on aesthetic quality outperformed others. This research yields empirical evidence supporting the optimization of the nine-grid layout for multi-image posts, thereby furnishing content creators with valuable insights to enhance both attractiveness and user experience.