You only get one chance to make a favourable first impression. When it comes to your online presence, you rely heavily on your profile photo for this first impression, as people see the picture before they move on to read your profile. Research has shown that it takes less than 100 milli seconds for us to make up our minds based on seeing a person’s photograph.
A recent survey on the importance of LinkedIn profile photographs came up with these statistics:
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80% of respondents agreed that a candidate’s LinkedIn profile picture helps them get to know the person better
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70% of respondents admitted that they had turned down a candidate because of their LinkedIn profile picture
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96% of those surveyed believe that a professional LinkedIn profile picture inspires confidence
Your profile picture visually defines who you are and how you want to be seen by others. This applies not only to your profile photo on LinkedIn but on other social media platforms, and the photos that you use on your business website.
What can you do to create the best first impression? You should consider getting professional headshots for you (and your staff).
The Positive Impact of a Great Profile Picture
When you set up a profile on LinkedIn, one of the first things that you are asked to do is to upload a profile picture. The picture that you choose says everything about who you are and could make the difference between getting a new job, a new sales lead, or a new business contact
Your profile photo is visible every time somebody visits your profile. When someone views your feed on social media, views your comments, or browses your posts, they will see your profile photo.
Many people use LinkedIn to make business connections and potentially find employment. When you apply for a job or submit a sales pitch, you would not send a CV that contains spelling errors and other mistakes. Shouldn’t you place the same amount of importance on your profile photo.
By using a high-quality photo that represents you in the best light, you can show prospective job or business contacts that you are approachable, confident, and professional. This helps to build trust, helps you get noticed, and may help you get a new job or pick up a new contract.
The Negative Effect of a Bad Photograph
While a great profile photo can have a tremendous impact, a bad photograph can have the opposite effect. It can have a negative impact on how you are perceived.
How Can You Use Your Photo?
Once you have a professional photo available, you can use it in many ways. You can use it on your website and across various social media platforms as your profile picture. You may also need to occasionally supply a professional photograph for press releases, company brochures, interviews, and other forms of media.
How Can You Get a Professional Headshot?
If you are ready to benefit from having a professional headshot to use on your website and social media profiles, contact Paul Burgess Photography on 07983 394550 or book a photo session in the studio online. I will work with you to produce images that define the image that you want to put across – it’s more than just sitting in front of a camera!