Creating a Strong LinkedIn Headshot

YOUR HEADSHOT IS ONE OF FOUR IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF YOUR PROFILE

  1. Headshot
  2. Headline
  3. Summary
  4. Background

WHAT NOT TO DO:

  • Don’t use selfies – save them for Instagram or SnapChat
  • Don’t use images where you’ve cropped others out of the frame
  • Don’t use a logo in place of your face. As proud as you are of your company, using the logo takes the humanity out of your profile
  • Don’t use images with multiple people
  • Don’t leave it blank – this makes you less real and more dubious in the virtual world
  • Don’t have a background that is so busy it detracts from the headshot – or worse, a background that makes you look unprofessional or disorganized

WHAT TO DO:

  • Invest in a professional headshot
  • Face forward; avoid side views and shadowy shots
  • Smile – it’s the universal welcome symbol
  • Choose a simple background or one that truly exudes your personal brand
  • Dress in a way that reflects who you are and is relevant for your target audience
  • When it’s time to upload your new pic, crop your image so about 60-80% of the real estate is your face
  • Make sure to name your headshot file “yourname.jpg.” That way, when someone does a Google image search on you, it will show up in the results

Arruda, William. “The Best LinkedIn Headshots And How To Create Yours.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 7 Sept. 2018, www.forbes.com/sites/williamarruda/2018/09/05/the-best-linkedin-headshots-and-how-to-create-yours/#3b4732826d2f