LinkedIn Myths: Myth #4: Profile pictures aren’t that important.
We often have people tell us how they think LinkedIn works and it is not always correct. There are a lot of myths about what it takes to make LinkedIn work so we have created a series of blog posts to dispel the most common myths we see.
Myth #4: Profile pictures aren’t that important.
Au contraire. There is a plethora of studies which show that a) you only have a few seconds to make an impression and b) people will make judgements about you based on your picture.
Think about what kind of first impression you want to make. Do you want a prospective client to see a picture of you taken on holiday? Your company logo? A group photo? You only have a few seconds and a few megapixels to make a good first impression. Use them well.
What many people also don’t realise is that their LinkedIn profile picture actually appears quite prominently in searches. So your LinkedIn profile picture is central in managing your online reputation and image well beyond LinkedIn.
Professional photographers – who are making increasing use of the platform to advertise their own services – are starting to offer packages specifically for clients who want a professional quality image for LinkedIn. My advice on profile pictures is always the same. Simple, professional and appropriate should be the three guiding principles when it comes to choosing an image for LinkedIn.
