If you want the best business and career opportunities to come your way, you’ll need to make a great first impression. One of the best ways to do that is through a well-made website build to support your personal brand.
Another excellent way to make a positive first impression on your audience is through your LinkedIn profile. Whether you already have a LinkedIn account or you’re looking to create a new one, you’ll want to make it as interesting as possible. Among other things, this means having a top-notch LinkedIn photo.
This LinkedIn photo guide will tell you all you need to know about creating the perfect LinkedIn profile picture and how to stand out from other applicants at first glance. Let’s dive right in!
How Important Is a Picture on LinkedIn?
In a world ruled by Zoom meetings and social media interactions, it is a good idea to remind people that behind your online persona, there is a living, breathing individual. LinkedIn itself says that having a profile photo dramatically improves your chances of getting noticed.
On average, profiles with photos receive nine times more connection requests and as many as 21 times more profile views.
What Kind of Photo Should I Use for LinkedIn?
As obvious as this may sound, your photo should reflect what you look like in real life. You’ve probably had the experience of running into a person you had previously only seen on social media, only to find that they look nothing like their online photos.
This can leave a bad taste in your mouth, and you may even question the person’s credibility, and that is definitely bad for business.
So, if there’s one piece of advice that we can give you about what kind of photo to use on LinkedIn, it is this — use an up-to-date profile picture that reflects your day-to-day appearance.
How to Get a Good LinkedIn Photo?
Some people choose to enlist the help of professional photographers for their LinkedIn photos. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that approach, chances are you can snap some pics of your own that would work just as well. You’ll just need to be mindful of a few things, such as your equipment (smartphone or dedicated camera), background, lighting, and wardrobe options.
When it comes to creating a high-quality headshot, location is a crucial factor, not only in terms of the look of the background but also your mood. A relaxing and comfortable location will help you appear more welcoming, for example. Here are a few helpful tips on capturing a top-notch LinkedIn photo:
- Minimize headwear, accessories, and jewelry
- Make eye contact with the camera
- Smile with your eyes
- Choose colors that complement your skin tone and hair
- Pick clothes that flatter your body style
Be prepared to take lots of photos. Chances are, you will not be happy with the first few attempts unless you have a lot of modeling experience. Patience is your friend here.
Best Poses for LinkedIn Photos
As we mentioned above, you’ll probably need to take lots of photos before you get the one you’re happy with. That’s fine. A high-quality LinkedIn Photo will be worth the effort. Here are a few poses and technical tips to help you along:
- If you choose to sit, face the camera directly and smile
- Capture mid-chest up or waist-up
- If you choose to stand, place one foot slightly in front of the other and stand at a 45-degree angle
- Use a solid single-tone background, but avoid white
- Avoid fluorescent lighting, shadows, and direct sunlight
LinkedIn Cover Photo Size
Your cover image and profile photo must combine into a unified whole. Think about how the two play together. In terms of size, LinkedIn has a clear set of specifications for each image, including the cover photo.
[Source: LinkedIn]
How to Add a Photo on LinkedIn?
Ok, so you’ve completed the photo session, picked out your favorite snapshot, made sure it fits all the relevant criteria, and you’re finally ready to upload. But how do you do that? Don’t worry; adding, changing, deleting, and editing your LinkedIn photo is quite simple.
All you need to do is navigate to your profile through the Me icon at the top of the homepage. From there, click on your existing profile photo or the Camera icon that substitutes it.
You’ll be presented with a pop-up window allowing you to upload the photo from your device. Just follow the on-screen prompts, cropping, adjusting, or changing the size/position of your profile picture. Once you’re happy with the results, click Save photo, and you’re done!
How to Change a LinkedIn Cover Photo?
Changing your cover photo is a similar process. You’ll be navigating to your profile through the Me icon again and clicking on your background photo. You can choose to Reposition, Delete, or Change the image from here. Once you’re finished, click Apply, then Save.
How to Change Cover Photo in LinkedIn App?
Things are not much different in the LinkedIn App either, except instead of clicking, you’ll be tapping the buttons on the screen.
To reach your profile, all you need to do is tap your profile photo. From there, you can tap the cover image and choose the Camera icon to take a new picture or upload an image from your device’s library. Click Save when you’re done, and your new cover photo is ready to go.
How to Delete a LinkedIn Photo?
Whether you wish to delete your profile pic or your cover photo, all you need to do is follow the steps outlined above (both on desktop and in the mobile app). Once you’re in your profile, all you need to do is tap/click on the image you would like to remove and hit Delete. It is as easy as 1-2-3.
Is It Appropriate to Use a Selfie as a LinkedIn Profile Picture?
Taking your profile picture with a cellphone is perfectly fine. Photos taken on today’s smartphones are becoming indistinguishable from those taken using professional cameras, so you should have no problems in terms of picture quality.
That said, if you want to stay in line with the best company branding advice and appear trustworth and professional, you should probably avoid using a selfie as your LinkedIn photo. If you can’t get a family member or friend to take the picture for you, there’s the option of setting the phone against a piece of furniture or using a tripod if you happen to have one.
How Can I Effectively Use LinkedIn to Build my Personal Brand?
Your LinkedIn profile is the best way to make a great first impression with a potential employer or business associate. As important as a top-notch profile picture is, it is only the beginning. You’ll need to create a LinkedIn presence that speaks to your audience; otherwise, you will not get their attention.
Since a great LinkedIn profile can be the difference between being overlooked by prospective employers and landing the opportunity of your dreams, we recommend taking the time to set it up properly. To help you do this, we’ve created a LinkedIn Profile Guide, so we recommend that you check it out.
