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With more than 546 million professionals and 11 million-plus active job listings on LinkedIn, your LinkedIn profile gives you insight and professional access to people the World over. (I’m simply amazed at the diversity of people out there to connect with and learn from.)
To make the most of your profile, you need the right tools. None is more important than the photo you post at the top of your LinkedIn Profile. Because we’ve become accustomed to reading left to right, LinkedIn designed the page so that your picture (in the upper left corner) is likely the first thing a visitor sees when your profile appears. “It’s your virtual handshake,” says LinkedIn career guru Blair Decembrele. And, as your mother probably told you, there’s no second chance to make a good first impression. So, getting your picture right is vital.
It’s easy to ignore how critical this is to how people perceive you. We live in an instant world these days that sizes us up immediately and makes assumptions without ever really knowing us. The good news is we can control those assumptions to a great degree, but it takes effort. Your selfie or that photo taken by a tree in your back yard probably won’t cut it, depending on who your audience may be. Taking a good photo that tells the truth about who you are doesn’t just happen. So, let’s take a look at how to put our best foot forward when it comes to our LinkedIn photo.
A natural smile will open the world to you!
Smiles can have a remarkable effect on people, even to the point of allowing them to overcome their own racial and gender biases. They also decrease your own stress levels even if they feel “forced” at first. There are tons of research that show that a sparkling smile raises your scores regarding being seen as trustworthy, competent and kind. A sparkling smile, where you show your pearly whites, will take you there! When you smile, your eyes light up, your eyebrows rise and you naturally sit taller. All of this makes you more likeable.
Research also shows that the kind of smile you use matters. A smile with teeth visible gains an average of +0.22 for Influence. A closed mouth smile has about half the effect on Likability and no statistically- significant effect on Competence or Influence.
Even things you wouldn’t ever really think about—for instance, whether your full jawline is revealed in the photo—can have a significant impact on how you’re perceived.
Want to know what your photo is saying? There’s a site called PhotoFeeler, that not only offers research-backed ways to boost the impression you’re giving off, it allows you to upload a photo and get a read on exactly what others think of you based on it.
Hire a professional photographer.
Don’t even think about posting a selfie, or some casual shot someone took of you on their cell phone. This is the time to invest in some great photos that capture your professional presence. Trust me, you’ll use these pics time and again. Pros know what works and what doesn’t.
Check out the squinching.
Another effect of note is “The Squinch.” That’s when you only open your eyes a little when the camera goes off. It turns out that a little squinch is good. None is bad. The gist of the concept is this: wide open eyes commonly denote fear, whereas slightly squinted eyes portray comfort and confidence.
Dress for success!
Wear your Sunday best! For men, this means your best tailored jacket and shirt and conservative tie. For ladies, wear a jacket and keep to your most conservative jewelry. Pay attention to color. You know what colors look best on you. Play to your strengths.
Go big and make sure your face and torso take up at least 60% of the screen.
The purpose of your profile photo is to present you as credible and professional and to let people know what you truly look like. This is not the place to showcase an “artsy” low-resolution photo that only shows half your face. Save those fun shots for Facebook and Instagram.
Next time we’ll talk about maximizing your LinkedIn profile.
