Is Your LinkedIn Profile Photo Reflecting Your Professionalism?
This week, I am focusing on your LinkedIn Profile Photo.
Your LinkedIn Profile Photo is the small photo of you that sits under the large background image at the top of your profile.
Where is my Profile Photo Seen?
When you send out an update on LinkedIn, this photo will accompany the update.
It is also seen when you like, comment or share anyone else’s posts.
If you create a LinkedIn article, your profile photo will also be used.
Given the different places your profile photo is used, it’s important to get it right and is a key aspect of your profile.
No Photo, No Trust
If you have no photo on your profile, people may not connect with you or contact you to work with them. It doesn’t give a great first impression or promote trust.
Conversely having a photo here means your profile will get 14 x more views, a pretty staggering statistic. A profile photo will instill confidence & encourages people to find out more about you and your business.
Here are some examples of profile photos I put together where everyone looks relaxed, friendly and approachable.
This may sound obvious but your profile photo should show what you look like today. On a number of occasions I’ve worked with clients who had photos that were 1o – 15 years old and they had changed dramatically in some cases.
Use A High Quality Photo
Make sure you use as high a quality photo as you can. If your photo looks blurry, what does it say about you and your business?
What Should I Wear For My Profile Photo?
Some people get into a tizzy about what to wear for a LinkedIn Profile photo. My advice is to be as authentic as possible. As long as you look smart and yourself, that’s great. Make sure to smile as this will make you look more approachable and encourage visitors to connect with you.
Professional Headshot
My overall advice is, if you can afford it, get a professional profile headshot done.
Although the photo of me below was not officially a professional headshot, it was taken by my videographer with professional equipment.
She was testing out her video cameras to ensure they were in the right position for filming and took some photos to check if I was happy with it.
The video recording session that keeps on giving!
On my LinkedIn profile photo below, the background is cut out and my face fills the frame.
If you have a good photo of yourself, zone in on your face and very little of the background will be seen.
The dimensions of a LinkedIn profile photo are 400 x 400.
If you are just starting out and don’t have the budget, ask someone to take your photo with a good phone camera and I’m sure it will look great.
For the first 5 years on LinkedIn I used a decent photo someone had taken of me.
Like everything when the budget allows, you can upgrade.
That’s it for today – have a great week!
Marian