Top 5 LinkedIn Profile Photo Mistakes

“LinkedIn is the most important social media platform for business professionals. It's where you go to establish your credibility and showcase your expertise.” - John Nemo

What does your profile photo say about you? Especially the one you use on the most respected online platform for business professionals.

LinkedIn is not a social media platform. It's a professional networking site. Your profile IS your professional brand. Savvy users leverage it to showcase their skills, experience, and education to stand out in their industry. With over 1BILLION users, LinkedIn is the top professional platform worldwide with 16.2% of it's users active daily - that's 134.5 million people! 77% of marketers agree that they see the best organic results from LinkedIn.

If these stats aren't enough to convince you to up your game on LinkedIn, you can check out more data over at the Social Shepard

With that said, let's not overlook one major component in your profile - your headshot! It's your digital calling card, your visual accompaniment to your professional achievements. But there are 5 common mistakes people make with their profile photos! Remember, you are building your personal and professional brand, and your headshot should align with those goals.

1. Choosing an Unprofessional Background

A cluttered or distracting background can overshadow even the most engaging of smiles. It's imperative to opt for a clean, neutral backdrop that doesn't steal the spotlight from where it belongs - on you.

2. Low Quality Images

Grainy or pixelated photos do not convey professionalism. They suggest a lack of attention to detail which could reflect poorly on your work ethic and dedication.

3. Using Old or Irrelevant Photos

Your LinkedIn photo should be current and reflect how you would appear if walking into a meeting today. Outdated images can lead to confusion and diminish your credibility. This same rule applies if you are tempted to grab that cool vacation photo and crop out extra people or the environment.

4. Inappropriate Attire

Even though LinkedIn is an online platform, consider it akin to any other professional environment where business attire is expected. Dressing too casually can send the wrong message about your work attitude. If you aren't trying to attract connections that expect a suit and tie, then don't wear them. But if you are seeking roles and connections where these would be normal, then dress accordingly. It's a balance between dressing appropriately for the connections you wish to make and being authentically you.

5. Neglecting Your Brand

Remember that your photo should align with your personal brand. A mismatch between what you represent professionally and the image you project could result in missed connections. This is where you need to spend some time thinking about everything from your hair cut and style to the choice of wardrobe that most closely aligns with the expectations of the connections you seek, as well as being honest about your personal brand image.

Not sure what your Brand Identity is? Check out our FREE Brand Identity Quiz that will help you gain powerful insights into your most authentic brand image.

Here's the good news!

It's really very easy to avoid these mistakes by hiring a professional photographer to create on-brand headshots for you! If you are in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, take advantage of my Business Headshots for Individuals, offered multiple times each month in my Colleyville Studio. You can choose between the lightweight, straightforward traditional headshots created in my 15-minute Express Headshot sessions, or dig a little deeper and create a variety of images in alignment with your personal brand in my Signature Headshot sessions. Book yours today and be on top of your LinkedIn Profile Photo game!