The Best Profile Photo for Linkedin?
Craig Fisher
Talent Operations Consulting | Recruitment Marketing Employer Branding | Recruiting/HR Technology Advisor | RecOps | RecTech | Author, Hiring Humans
Your profile photo may be the most important part of your Linkedin profile. So how do you know what makes a good pic for you?
Alison Doyle, About.com's job search and employment expert, has a nice guide on How to Take and Choose a Good Profile Photo for Linkedin.
Her suggestions differ slightly from some that Jason Seiden and I offered on the Beyond Social podcast. I like the contrast between the suggestions because I don't think the same rules apply to everyone.
Alison's suggestions:
Pick the Right Photographer. You do not need to hire a professional photographer. Simply ask a friend or family member (who knows how to handle a camera) to take several shots of you. Select someone who can make you smile in a natural way. A warm, friendly smile will make you look accessible, and encourage others to engage with you. Have the photographer (and a few other friends, if possible) look at the photos and ask them which photo makes you seem the most accessible.
If someone else is not available to take the photo, you can take a webshot of yourself using your computer’s camera (if you have one). But do not take the photo yourself using your phone or a handheld camera – self-photos often appear unprofessional.
Pick a Head Shot. Because profile photos appear as small thumbnails on LinkedIn, your photo should be of only your head, neck, and a bit of your shoulders. If you include your entire body, your head will appear too small, and viewers may not be able to recognize you.
Dress Professionally. Since LinkedIn is a professionally oriented platform, make sure that your photo depicts you in a manner appropriate for your field. Typically this means a dress shirt or blouse, a shirt and tie, or even a suit. Choose solid dark colors like blue or black. Avoid white; it can make you appear washed out. Avoid wearing a strapless dress or top; if you are showing your shoulders in the picture, a strapless top will make you appear naked (and definitely unprofessional)!
Dressing professionally also means dressing cleanly and simply: avoid wearing too much makeup, or any over-the-top, distracting hairstyles and jewelry.
Keep it Simple. Your photo should be of you, and only you. Do not include objects, pets, or children. Avoid busy backgrounds as well – standing against a solid-colored, light background is best.
Select a Current Photo. Do not include a dated photo. Use a current picture so people aren’t surprised when they meet you in person.
Be Consistent. When developing your professional online brand, consistency is key. Therefore, it is a good idea to use the same photo for all your professional and social networking profile pictures. This will make you more easily recognizable.
Craig and Jason's suggestions from the Beyond Social Podcast:
- You need a photo. LinkedIn registers a 40% uptick in click-throughs to photos that have photos vs. ones that don't.
- Your photo matters. There is actually quite a bit of behavioral science behind what makes a great photo.
- A good photo is one that drives engagement. This was implied in the show but deserves to be stated explicitly; we don't care as much about making you beautiful as we do about helping you achieve your goals.
- Men, unless you know how to smile, you might be better off... not smiling. Many of you look like you're in pain or unsure of yourself. Also, biologically speaking, there is a male/female dynamic at play as well, and women are not necessarily predisposed to favor smiling men.
- Men, think about engaging in something interesting, or putting yourself in a setting that suggests an interest beyond work.
- Men with pets works on dating sites, and we can personally vouch for it working on Twitter and blogs. (We haven't tested this theory on LinkedIn.)
- Women, smile and look at the camera.
- For both men and women, pure physical attractiveness does not account for as much as attractiveness in the compelling sense of the word.
- Women, smile and look at the camera!
- No party shots—don't have someone else's collar visible in the corner of your profile pic.
- Don't get hung up on "professional" vs. "personal" It's a "profersonal" world, and the two are intertwined.
- Your photo should be consistent with your story. If you're in a creative field, you might want a photo that's a bit more... creative. If you're selling insurance benefits, you might want a photo that demonstrates loyalty, stability, and/or family values.
- Keep your photo consistent. Your visitors are busy; don't suddenly be Gene Simmons tomorrow. That said, keep your photo up to date—no 12 year old photos of you a full head of hair and 35 pounds ago!
Hopefully somewhere here you can find the road to the right profile pic for you. I'm a big believer that first impressions matter. So don't take this lightly! People want to see what you look like.
For more tips on optimizing your profile, visit me on my blog at www.fishdogs.com, and check out the Cool Tool Show podcast that I do with Lars Schmidt, as well as our Evolver Academy for Social Awareness.
Craig Fisher is CEO of TalentNet, LLC. He uses cool tools to help make social business more effective and efficient for sales and recruiting. He writes about his exploits at Fishdogs.com and @fishdogs on Twitter.
Interim Consultant at LeaderStat
8yI like
Interim Consultant at LeaderStat
8yThanks, I need new photo
Purchasing Specialist at Resion LLC
9yJust curious where this tidbit came from? "women are not necessarily predisposed to favor smiling men" Really? I would be more inclined to accept an invitation from someone (male or female) with a smile on their face, rather than no smile at all. If you are a true professional, you smile when you are being introduced to someone, and I am pretty sure that LinkedIn was designed partly, with the thought of connecting people who don't know each other.............................