No matter how creative or flashy your social media network profile page may be, the one element that will garner attention from the majority of visitors is your profile picture.
People want to know how you look.
To put it simply, your profile picture provides visitors with their first impression of you. People will take in your facial expression, clothing (or lack thereof), pets, scenery and body language, then draw their own conclusion of your personality based on these seemingly trivial elements.
As companies and business professionals journey into the realm of social media, selecting an appropriate profile picture becomes more complicated than it appears to be at first glance.
Adhering to the following guidelines should help to simplify the process:
Avoid webcam or mobile phone pictures
Most mobile phones and webcams take low-resolution photos. The context of the photo is often boring and tends to lack personality.
Invest in a professional headshot
Having a photographer take your headshot is a surefire way to get a quality profile picture. It shows that you value your career and take your business seriously. Even if you aren’t a high-powered executive, your profile picture can certainly make you look like one!
Make sure your current picture matches your current “look”
As a social media strategist, I attend networking events and conferences occasionally, and I often try to track people down using either their LinkedIn or Twitter profile picture for reference. I’ve come to notice that not everyone’s profile picture matches their current “look.” Displaying an updated photo is key to being recognized at events. If you are noticeable based on your profile picture alone, you are already one step ahead of the crowd at a conference or networking event.
Show some personality
Candid photos display the real you. Vacation, holiday and family photos are good places to start looking for a profile picture. Just make sure you’re the only one in the photo for a personal profile, and that the subject matter is appropriate for professional purposes.
Maximize your brand
One of the biggest mistakes I often see is a company branded Twitter profile with a personal image and/or background. You’ve worked too hard to build your brand to not maximize it. Company logos or products are sufficient for profiles representing a company or product.
Remember: Though it may seem trivial, a profile picture can actually draw people to your page or repel them.
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Hi Geoff:
What you say makes a lot of sense in an environment where first impressions account for a lot. It has been demonstrated time and again that people who are “good looking” on average are more successful and make higher salaries.
However we all know that this is not fair to people who are less photogenic and/or are not in the best physical condition. We should be advocating that people look beyond the physical to a person’s actual worth, so as to tear down the age old stereotypes.
I do agree with the point about current profiles as it denotes that one accepts and is comfortable with what one currently looks like.
Thanksanil
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Thanks for your comment Anil!
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Nice post–in my workshops I always tell people to add a picture to their profile to help them be more personal in a very impersonal medium (the Internet).
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As the author mentioned, a logo or some other image, as long as it is professional, could stand in for a headshot though must agree that a headshot is best. I think that a blank default image is a sign that you haven’t taken the time to create a full profile and works against you. Having a photo helps bridge the ‘virtual’ gap when meeting online.
I also think that an avatar or ‘caricature’ version of your image can be acceptable on some of the other social media sites though I would stick with a professional headshot here on LI.
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Hi Geoff,
There are some great points here that are quite valid.
I would suggest also, that a smile, a genuine smile be worn, it will be shown in the person’s eyes.
A well attired individual is pleasing to look at but he/she scores more points (in my humble opinion) if the body language reflects a positive attitude, which indicates an individual who is open and caring.
Kind Regards.
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Hi Geoff,
I was sent your information by a business associate of mine who advised that I read your post. I just want to say “I love it!”. You’ve hit the nail on the head and summed up what I try to share with many of my clients and business individuals.
I find lately that there is this misconception of what a head shot is being created for. We are not creating these for a dating website, these portraits are being created so that others can get to know who they are doing business with. It’s about putting a face with a name. It’s about looking approachable and how you present yourself (hair, make-up, and dressing professionally – corporate or business casual). As professional photographers, that’s what we capture – and we do so by using really pretty lighting. lol
So, pretty or not, as you stated in your blog article, the key here is looking like you “value your business” and as a professional, that’s the image I create for each of my clients.
So, thanks again for your post – I will be using your url and sending people to your blog!
Juliet Foster
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A professionally created photo is the best way to represent yourself. Be sure to use a photographer who knows how to put the subject at ease to get the best possible expression. Look at their samples on their web site and read the testimonials their clients have written. Here’s an example of the above: http://spectralight.com/execport/testimo.html
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Trackback from uberVU - social comments on April 26, 2010 at 8:51 am
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Geoff:
As a photographer I can’t agree more! Am I biased? – Do ya think? At one point I felt I needed more commercial penetration. When I ran some numbers, I found 41% of my business already came from the commercial sector. After looking further at the data, I realized most of this revenue came from “head shots”.
I’ve posted on this topic on my blog. Check it out:
http://athomasimage.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/business-cards-%e2%80%93-photo-or-no-photo/ -
Hi Geoff,
Juliet Foster who commented above sent me to your blog. I happen to really agree with you and that’s why I had Juliet do my headshot & use it all over… My only real question to you is where is your picture?
Carrie Greene
http://www.CarrieThru.com -
Carrie,
Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately when I post a blog or comment, my Wordpress avatar fails to appear.
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