I'm Michele

With LinkedIn growing in popularity, and many people finding their next employer or business partner online, it’s more important than ever to have a clean, well-lit, and professional headshot for your LinkedIn profile picture.

Since your photo is your way of welcoming someone new to your profile page, and it shows up every time to like, comment, or congratulate a potential client or colleague, you want to make sure your eyes are looking directly at the camera, just as if you were conversing with someone in person.

I recommend an engaging smile too, since your photo is your way of welcoming someone new to your profile page to meet you and learn about your skills, talent, and profession.

Here are 5 reasons it pays to have a professional photo for your LinkedIn profile picture:

1. Your LinkedIn picture is your first impression, your virtual handshake, and quite possibly your first introduction to a future manager, employee, or business partner. Make sure it’s a good one.
   
   
2. Since LinkedIn is all about your profession, your LinkedIn profile picture should be professional too. First impressions matter, so choose an outfit for your photo that represents what you’d wear to a networking event, or when meeting a client for the first time.
   
   
3. A clean, well-lit professional photo, with clothing and hairstyle that conveys your brand values, creates consistent messaging and elevates the value of your brand.
   
   
4. People do business with people they like, know and trust. And having an engaging photo is the best way to project yourself as credible, competent, and professional, key factors in building trust.
   
   
5. You want someone who runs into you on the elevator to recognize you from your profile pic. Make sure your social media photos, particularly those on LinkedIn, represent the way you look in your professional life.

Remember, in the elevator and on the Internet, YOU are the face of your brand.

If you have any stories of how your LinkedIn profile picture helped make a great first impression or connect you with your dream job, I’d love to hear! Leave a comment below, or feel free to send me an email! 

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