LinkedIn Top 5 Photo #Fails
Greg Cooper
Mentoring for Small Business Owners┃Prince's Trust Business Mentor ┃Climate activist 🌍
According to LinkedIn’s own research profiles with photos get 11 times more views than those without. For most of us the prime benefit of being on LinkedIn is to raise our individual and business profile not having a photo is a major own goal.
Choosing the right photo however is equally important.
LinkedIn is a professional network. Your profile is your professional shop window. A carelessly chosen photo can completely undermine your credibility.
As you may have noticed there are many examples of inappropriate photos on LinkedIn. Perhaps these are attempts to express individuality - to stand out from the crowd - or just simply a case of grabbing the nearest image to hand.
If you are reading this and beginning to have a few doubts about your photo, here is my slightly lighthearted list of the 5 P's to avoid when it comes to choosing your LinkedIn photo:
5 P's to Avoid
Pets and partners
It’s surprising how often favourite pets from cats to horses make an appearance on LinkedIn. You may also have a pet name for your partner but there really is no place for them in your profile photo.
Pubs and parties
Alcohol relaxes us and can stimulate conversation but the only time you should have a glass in your hand on LinkedIn is if (like one of my clients) you are a wine merchant.
Posh hats and weddings
Wedding photos are a pretty common sight on LinkedIn – after all they cost a fortune and were professionally taken weren’t they?
And that hat might have cost a fortune and impress at Ascot but it won’t impress your business connections.
Parents and babies
Yes little William is gorgeous but incongruous next to your impressive job title.
Pot smoking and pop festivals.
Let’s face it we all let our hair down at times but LinkedIn isn’t the place to advertise this. Festival frolics should stay on Facebook.
And finally one more bonus P to avoid……..
The Pygmy photo which is so tiny that even your mother wouldn’t recognise you.
Make the right first impression
Once someone lands on your profile you probably have less than two seconds to make a good impression. Having a professional and friendly looking head shot will provide important reassurance and create a positive emotional connection with the viewer. Is your photo failing this test?
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A version of this article was originally published on the Front of Mind Coaching website.
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Greg Cooper is a Marketing Coach and LinkedIn specialist and Google+ trainer based in Bristol, UK. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Direct Marketing. For over twenty years Greg ran an award winning direct marketing agency working with leading technology companies like IBM, SAP, and Siemens. Today he works with SMEs and Business Units of larger companies. He is an accredited coach on the Government sponsored Growth Accelerator Programme.
For an individual discussion of your business's needs email or call +(0)7917 360222. You can also follow Greg on Twitter.
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8y...and ladies don't use your " Hey Baby" photo.
Returners Programme at Hargreaves Lansdown
8yTopic of the week, it seems. Here is what Lidia Drzewiecka says: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/key-tips-your-perfect-linkedin-picture-lidia-drzewiecka My own picture was taken with an older digital camera, and I think we shot about 150 pix, most of them unusable. The one I'm using was a lucky shot in that I relaxed and looked happy, rather than trying to look... professional. In choosing this I felt that it made a good counterweight to the otherwise rather dry and matter-of-fact language of my profile copy. But I'm not sure if it actually works as I intended. I do get some random profile views, usually from guys and from anywhere on the planet.
Fotograf og digital billedbehandler
8yI couldn't agree more...
REALTOR - New Construction Specialist serving heroes: Educators, Veterans, First Responders and Healthcare Pros with special incentive programs
8yMissing or goofy profile pictures is absolutely one of my pet peeves. I put into my profile Summary that I will only connect with people with a FACE! :-)
Retired from paid employment - so if it doesn’t involve Golf/Dancing/Travel - I AM NOT INTERESTED :-)
8yI hope a DJ isn't number 6...but its got me thinking !