Making a preview that shows the real resource
You want a picture that makes people curious without promising too much.
An accurate preview shows what a reader will really find, made by you, and dated. It should never promise more than the resource gives.
A preview is the small picture beside your invitation. It does the first bit of talking, so it needs to be honest.
What makes a preview accurate?
It matches the real thing today. If the page has three sections, the preview does not show five. If the guide is plain text, the preview does not look like a glossy app.
It also says what it is. A caption such as “Preview of a free guide on a website” removes guesses.
What makes it original?
You made it. You photographed your own printed copy, typed a simple title card, or drew a plain layout. You did not lift a picture from another site, and you did not edit someone’s screen.
This keeps you clear about who made what, and protects the owner. When in doubt, use words instead of a picture.
What should I leave out?
A short list helps.
- Logos you have no permission to use, covered in checking before you put a logo on a handout.
- Faces or names of people who did not agree to appear.
- Stars, scores or comments that look like reviews.
- Words like “calm promised” or “fix your stress”.
- Screens you have not opened yourself.
Try this: a phone preview in five steps
You need a phone and a plain table.
- Open or print the resource you are sharing.
- Put it on a plain surface in daylight, and take a straight photo with nothing personal in view.
- Crop to the part readers will actually see first.
- Add a caption saying what it is and the date you checked.
- Compare the photo with the real thing one last time. If anything differs, retake it.
How do I check a preview that is not mine?
Open the page from the preview’s link and read it. Does the page match the picture? Does it ask for anything the picture did not hint at?
If it does not match, say so kindly to the person who shared it, or do not forward it. A wrong preview is how small misunderstandings begin.
Fitting it into a real week
Previews travel in chats. A picture sent to a family WhatsApp group can be forwarded to dozens of people in an evening, with your caption stripped off.
Put the date and the source on the picture itself, in a corner, so it travels with it. Our guide on keeping source dates on a printed handout shows a neat footer, and updating a handout when an app changes helps you keep it fresh.
Where to go next
Wording the invitation itself is in writing a short optional invitation to try a resource. The full theme is on the sharing calm with family, friends and groups page.
When your preview is done, you could try the thing you are showing. Sadhguru’s free seven-minute guided meditation in the Miracle of Mind app is one optional way, and you are free to skip it.
Common questions
Can I use the app's own screenshots?
Screenshots belong to their makers, and they go out of date. Take your own, only of what you are allowed to show, or use a plain text description. Check the provider's terms if you want to use their images.
Why must a preview be original?
Copied pictures can mislead readers about who made your sheet and may break the owner's rights. An original photo or simple layout that you made is yours to use and is easier to keep accurate.
What should a preview never show?
It should not show results, happy faces as proof, or anything that promises an outcome. Show the resource itself, or the page it lives on, and nothing that claims more.
How often should I replace the preview?
Whenever the resource changes, and whenever you check it and notice a difference. Date the preview so readers can see when it was made.
Read next
If your preview is for a guided meditation, you can listen to Sadhguru's free 7-minute session in the Miracle of Mind app yourself, so your picture matches what you tried.