If you ask me this question, I’ll reply that your photo is very important – and that many people are missing the boat in this area.
I check out people’s social media profiles all the time. And I am always amazed at the absence of any photo or the presence of a photo that is basically useless.
For example, I’m the owner of the “Book Marketing” group on LinkedIn. Although I switched this to an open group, LinkedIn sends me requests to join when people have zero or only a couple of connections.
I looked at one such author’s photo and had to squint to figure out what the photo was of. I finally realized it’s a tiny black and white photo of a woman’s head lying on something.
Yes, the author is also a photographer. But if she wants people to respond positively to her photo, she would be better served to choose a photo in which her face is front and center.
And no photo at all is worse. As social media is about creating relationships, it’s hard to create a relationship with a blank space where the photo should be.
If you are using social media to create relationships for your business or your career, do consider what photo is best for your profile rather than just uploading any old thing (or nothing at all). If you’re going to spend time creating relationships, first spend time on your photo.
You know the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Make sure your thousands words are effective.
© 2011 Miller Mosaic LLC
Phyllis Zimbler Miller (@ZimblerMiller on Twitter) has an M.B.A. from The Wharton School and is the co-founder with Yael K. Miller (@MillerMosaic on Twitter) of the social media marketing company Miller Mosaic LLC.
Phyllis and Yael work with companies to help them use social media effectively to connect and engage with their current and prospective customers.
For free reports on social media, see www.millermosaicllc.com/miller-mosaic-free-reports
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