Been designing templates for content creators for years now. Here are the patterns I see over and over that tank engagement:

1. Too many fonts. Pick two. One for headers, one for body. That's it. Your audience scrolls fast — visual consistency builds trust in milliseconds.

2. Low contrast text on busy backgrounds. If your viewer has to squint, they're already gone. Use semi-transparent overlays or text shadows.

3. Ignoring safe zones. Every platform crops differently. If your key message gets cut off on stories or reels, you've wasted the post.

4. Overdesigning. White space isn't empty — it's breathing room. The best-performing templates I've built are always the simplest ones.

5. No visual hierarchy. If everything is bold, nothing is bold. Lead the eye: headline → supporting text → CTA.

I build ready-to-use templates that solve all of these at Ink and Sealed Studio. Every asset is tested across platforms before it ships.