HOW CAN I IMPROVE MY PROFILE PICTURE FOR MY BUSINESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA?
Are you one of the many people who either has no profile picture or just your business logo?
I recently saw a poll on LinkedIn by Craig from Influxeo asking what type of Profile Picture do you have?
One of the poll answers was Professional. My comment was there is Professional and there is Professional. What I meant was that we sometimes think a professional profile image has to be a head shot looking smart and at the camera, when we can make our profile image stand out while still being professional (some may well disagree.)
The profile image is the beginning of people getting to know you. So if you are known for wearing baseball caps all the time then wear one. If you are wearing smart business clothes in your image but normally you wear bright colourful clothes, how would a visitor or client recognise you if they met you in person?
BEFORE TAKING YOUR PROFILE IMAGE.
Before you take your profile picture have a quick look through LinkedIn or another social media platform at people’s profile pictures. Don’t spend long looking. Very quickly scan through and open each profile that catches your eye and stands out in a new tab.
Now ask yourself what caught your eye about the profile picture. Was it the colours, the face of the person (I mean were they smiling, laughing, crying?)
Was it the colours that caught your eye? Were they the brand colours of the business?
CHOOSING YOUR BACKGROUND.
We can add our brand colours into our profile image in a couple of ways.
One is to use some sheets of paper that are in your brand colours. You will need a sheet around A2 or A1 so when you stand in front of it your shoulders are between the edges of the piece of paper. If you have a selection of brand colours use strips of paper in each colour.
If you have a logo on your wall at your business (in a well lit area) you could stand in front of this. Look at the image if you do this before uploading, in case you are blocking letters and the letters left spell something rude, or it looks like something strange is coming out of your head. You do not want to reduce your face in the profile image. So you could look at standing further away from the logo and have it still in view but smaller.
WHERE TO TAKE YOUR PROFILE IMAGE?
You are wanting a nice light area to take your photograph. One of the best areas is by a window so that you can use natural light. Try not to be stood by the window at the same time as having a fluorescent light above you.
If it is a very sunny day then you need to move away from the window, on a cloudy day you can stand next to the window. If you are not sure where to stand, just take a photo stood by the window and then move away from the window. Find the image where your face is lit evenly all over.
HOW TO TAKE THE IMAGE.
If you have a business partner or friend then this is great as they can hold the phone and take the image. If not get a shoe and slot the phone in the shoe to hold it up right.
Yes I am saying phone and not camera. This is because you can then quickly open the social media app and upload the image from the phone.
When you take the photo don’t be looking down at the camera. You need it at eye level or just a little higher so you are raising your chin and slightly looking up. (This is so people like me do not get three chins) This will mean if you are on your own finding a pile of books or something to put the shoe on to raise it up.
WHAT TO DO NOW I HAVE THE IMAGE?
Simply open the social media app and upload as it tells you to. Do not be taking it into any app to add effects on to the image.
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