If you’re still branding yourself as the faceless phantom on LinkedIn, or the white egg on Twitter, then maybe it’s not that important for you to get noticed. I know you’re too busy or just didn’t get the time to do it – that’s fine, but the longer you procrastinate the more people lose interest and might not take you seriously.
Oh Wait, you do have one.
Is it the same picture in Facebook, the one with you picking your nose or is where you’re with your significant other, holding a beer bottle, wearing something sexy, or represented by a logo?
Maybe your Facebook image (even on Twitter) will fly with your FB crowd, but getting serious props in LinkedIn may be another matter. I know, a lot of the execs are using family pics from their home album – but then again they’re the guys you’re trying to impress and not the other way around (although it’s still advisable that they do change it to a more professional headshot considering that LinkedIn is the business version of Facebook, just saying…).
So let’s assume that you did agree with me (it’s okay to pretend), you can go to the nearest Wal-Mart, Sears or photobooth and get one (passport photos do come cheaper, but you have to scan them and save as a file), or spend the money and get a professional headshot (believe me the quality is better and have a few images to choose from).
In any case, your decision to get one is really important for your profile online as this will represent your professional demeanor. Just like an interview, first impression is everything and your online profile relays the same message especially if your work experience is visible.
Here's a YouTube video on the subject:
Still not convinced?
Here’s a few comments that I ran into one of the LinkedIn forums (also found on AO-Portraiture blogpost) which may help:
· Not having a profile picture is like attending a networking event with a brown bag over your head!
· Pictures are important if you are the face of your business. I know I like buying from people I can see and have a good relationship with.
· I was persuaded some years ago to include a photo on my website and that it was money well spent to have this done professionally. The result was a series of formal/informal shots that show me looking relaxed and smiling – not possible with an amateur shot!
· When deciding whether to accept/initiate a connection or not, I go to their profile page, then to their website, and if they are intriguing enough I might follow their trail around the web! Usually, somewhere along this trail I find a picture. But if I find none anywhere I might hesitate or click “ignore.”
· I personally don’t like profile’s that use anything other than a self photo, to me, this is one of the first steps to connecting with someone.
· I tend to click on more profiles that have a picture than those without.
· We do create an impression in how we present ourselves, almost immediately, so it’s important that it’s the impression we want to make. As this is a business network, I’ve been really surprised at some of the images people use to represent themselves.
· I know I’m far more likely to follow or connect with someone with a picture, whether here or on Twitter etc. It’s not that I distrust those who don’t have one but in a time-pressured workday, a picture helps me find a connection. Content is more important long-term but the image is what we see first.
· As a LinkedIn expert, let me share with you that having a good profile picture is vital to your success on LinkedIn. Like it or not, people do judge on appearances. And they like to put a face to a name.
· I have to say that having a picture is a great positive. People like to connect with the person that they are about to enter into a relationship, business or personal for whatever reason. It is part of the chemistry/energy connection that draws people together.
· For me having a photo adds a human Touch … I also have a nightmare at getting the right photo and I went to a professional photographer for my LinkedIn picture. I always want to appear professional in my business photos but always try to smile in order to get across my warmth and friendliness. Also, it’s a great way to recognise someone at a meeting or networking event if you haven’t met them before but need to meet them.
· At a practical level it’s about creating familiarity – seeing the same image when you go into discussions, or spot someone on another networking site, simply creates comfort with the ‘known’. A logo can do that too, which is what branding is about, but if I’m going to be meeting up with a person rather than just purchasing a product, I do like to see the face first.
Seeing an actual person’s image presents a human touch, it provides a familiar face in forum discussions, ownership to a professional profile and also shows how serious you are with your LinkedIn account. Just make sure that it’s an updated photo and not 10 years ago when you still had hair or still rockin’ the 80’s hairdo – that would be false adverting.
It's also best that you own your name with a face - do you have any idea how many John Smith's, Jose Cruz's and Mohammad Ali's are listed on LinkedIn?
