Why is your Linkedin Headshot important ?

Linkedin Headshot

Why is your Linkedin Headshot important?

Having a presence on Linkedin is something that most business people should do, even as an undergraduate you are encouraged to start with a basic listing.

Why?

Why Not!

Linkedin is the major platform where business and careers is at the heart of what it is about, it the place people go to find jobs and business connections and at present it is free .

If you want to connect to potential clients or just get hired, your Linkedin listing is possible the first time you are seen by the ‘potential’ so what do we know about first impressions?

They count!

As in life we rapidly make judgements, we are not been shallow, its just that what someone looks like tells you so much about them, 7 seconds is all it takes, but it is usually less although we have to remember that you ca’t judge a book by its cover.

However, if you are interested in progressing your career, gaining new clients, you do want to make a good impression, don’t you?

On your Linkedin page you have the opportunity to show a great headshot, but also every communication on the platform uses that as an icon for you, so it has to be good!

This can be where it gets tricky, the image is very small, so it has to be ‘simple’ it is just your head and a bit of your shoulders, however it should be of decent resolution and ideally well lit.

Even is that small round frame your expression can be read!

Should you smile?

That is up to you, what is your personality? Are you an artistic or creative type, are you very precise? Do you have authority ? Are you well organised?

It sounds like a tall  order, but a good headshot can project the person you are or maybe want to be?

One thing is for sure, you don’t want a busy or distracting background, not trees growing out of your head or a colour that distracts.

If you are with a company and there are brand guidelines for staff it maybe there is a guide,

Colour or Black & White?

Many headshots are now delivered in Black & White, if well executed it can be a great way to stand out, however it may indicate it was taken a long time ago and you are not what you seem?

What Background

If you have a Brand colour or style, that can dictate the background, but a neutral white or grey are most effective, a black can be very good, but on a poor screen it can be too low key.

Deliever a

A portrait photographer should be able to take your photograph and deliver an image that does represents you and who you are, however if you don’t have the budget ! Here is a suggestion

Take your own headshot.

As a professional photographer it is not something I should recommend, however it is better to have a headshot on your Linkedin profile than not, so here are a few handy tips.

Stand with a plain wall behind you.

Get someone to hold your phone ideally a couple of meters away on the long/ portrait lens, have them stand in-front of a window, so the light is behind them and hold the phone at eye level or slightly above, avoid looking under your chin (or Chins).

Take many shots, 10 is a good start, start with a serious face then smile and then laugh, in one you are going to look OK, some you blink, some  will look like a stranger and one you will think is OK.  Delete any you don’t like, you don’t want them again do you?

If you are unable to get a friend to take the shot, at least get a plain background, stand in the shade if you are outside or look toward a window, hold the phone up and away maybe with a timer shoot many shots. Repeat.

Writing the profile is another matter, but now you are a real person and not an avatar!

Whatever you want from Linkedin I wish you well and maybe we can connect or follow me ?

Lorentz Gullachsen – linkedin