It takes only 1/10th of a second to form a first impression of a person. Websites are no different. It takes about 50 milliseconds (that’s 0.05 seconds) for users to form an opinion about you.
Did you know LinkedIn has over 760 million users across 200 countries? 260 million are active users, and nearly half (~130 million) access LinkedIn daily. However, as much as LinkedIn is used, users don’t spend a lot of time on the platform – so you only have a few seconds to make an impression. People use LinkedIn to discover leads, job recruitment, and networking. It’s the world’s leading go-to platform for working professionals to connect.
How does this tie in with your LinkedIn profile pic? That’s what this article is about. When you only have seconds to make an impact, the best way to stand out is with a powerful and memorable image of you.
Put Your Best Face Forward
Whether we like it or not, first impressions matter a lot. Whether we believe humans can make good and accurate judgments in a matter of seconds, ultimately is of little importance. What counts is what most of us believe – and most of us believe we can. We call it our gut instinct. It happens on a subconscious level. Knowing we know about how we judge each other, it’s just good strategy to get off to the right start and increase your odds of making a powerful first impression with a professional headshot.
Do What Successful People Do
Aside from looking your best from the start, a professional headshot for your LinkedIn profile helps you stand out in a way you want to. Individuals with a selfie or no profile pics typically stand out in the wrong way and get ignored. If your goal on LinkedIn is to use your profile as networking leverage or as a kind of digital resume – best practices are to keep it simple and do what other successful people do – use a professional headshot. Standing out the right way is always a good strategy.
Standing out the right way is always a good strategy.
Why are Professional Headshots Important?
Your headshot is viewed as the logo of your personal brand. Aside from capturing your best look, it demonstrates professionalism and maturity. Anyone can have a great looking professional headshot. And because anyone can have a great looking headshot when you choose not to, it raises several questions that don’t help you. Assumptions and questions enter the viewer’s mind when they see a non-professional headshot. They might think you don’t go out of your way to be your best, or worse, that you’re not aware of what is and isn’t professional – not good if you’re using LinkedIn for professional networking as most people do.
LinkedIn Profile Picture Tips
- Follow the Rules – LinkedIn has clear rules for profile pictures. Landscape photos, pictures of animals, and other types of imagery are prohibited. After three warnings, LinkedIn can block you from uploading an appropriate headshot.
- Use a Recent Photo – As tempting as it is to pick a great picture from 10 years ago when you were 20lbs lighter, it’s important to represent your current self accurately. If a potential employer meets you in person or through a Zoom interview and doesn’t recognize you, that’s a red flag.
- Color – Be intentional about your background color or the color of the shirt you are wearing. Use something with a little bit of pop so that your image stands out when people are scrolling through.
- Dress for Your Profession – Wear the type of clothing you wear at work. If you’re in finance, a suit and tie is a good choice. If you’re a computer programmer, a collard semi-formal shirt will look better than a suit.
- Smile – If you look grumpy in your LinkedIn (resume) photo, you’re not going to come off like a team player. Think of something or some event that you really enjoy during your photoshoot. The more genuine and warmer you look, the better.
- Hire a Professional Photographer – If you’re committed to having a great headshot, consider hiring a professional. A professional photographer will ensure the lighting is perfect, use the best camera equipment, and digitally touch up your photos to give you a polished look.
Ready to Get the Perfect Headshot for Your LinkedIn Profile?
Denver Headshot Company makes getting the perfect headshot easy. We’ll provide you with multiple digital sizes, including one that’s formatted, sized, and ready to upload to your LinkedIn account with no cropping or adjusting needed. You’ll get dozens of different headshots to choose from, multiple background choices, and a fast 72-hour turnaround.
