Profile pictures in social and more importantly professional networks always provoke much discussion and debate: why do you need them? Are they risky? Which should you use (formal? informal? Representative and abstract?)
Why are they important?
First and foremost, your profile picture stands for your online identity, of who you are. The basic essence of a Profile Picture is equal to proving ownership of a profile: this is not just a test, or some random activity of someone. There is a real person behind this profile. And not just any person, your picture confirms it is really you behind the virtual wall. Having no profile photo can be compared to sending someone to a cocktail party to give away your business card – how would someone know it is really YOU? It also helps personalise interactions and build relationships and trust that then enhance face to face encounters.
After deciding to put a picture on your profile, the next question would then be what is the type of profile photo you will choose to have there?
What’s the proper profile photo to put on your profile page?
- Formal?
- Maybe less formal to give a flavor of other aspects of who you are?
- A headshot?
- Full body?
- Animated?
- An avatar?
- An image?
There are no rules here, I would encourage you to choose a picture that reflects who you are and that can be a profile picture of something a bit more creative. Here are some ideas below:
- Use the picture from your LinkedIn profile
- Use your best shots from a holiday or event
- Choose an image that reflects a hobby
- Choose an image that reflects an experience
- Create a unique avatar of yourself
There are a couple of options to get you started below to give you some ideas
The default image is a 'Coming Soon' picture and I'd really like to try and reduce the number of 'Coming Soon' pictures and replace them with real people. Real people like you who can bring colour and vibrancy to the community and help you connect with other members.
If you need help in cropping an image or picture then watch this one minute video here
Once you've got a picture you can upload via 'option' in Your Profile
I hope to 'see' you online very soon
Mike
Replies
Hi Mike, I can't get a photo or a Doppelme to upload at all - they just keep saying there's an error. Any tips?
Thanks
Clare
Hi Clare,
Have you tried to upload a photo via settings - if it isn't uploading at all it might be a browser issue.
Try using Google Chrome or FireFox
I'm not sure on Doppelme as it's a 3rd party software however I used Pick-a-face recently to create Sean Ryan's picture
Let me know how you get on as happy to help if I can
Mike
Hi Mike, I had tried via settings with a normal photo and it didn't work - however you were right - it was a browser issue, when I tried it when on Google Chrome it worked perfectly! Thanks for the tip!
Hi,
Thank you for this, I have just used the DoppleMe link to create a mini Avatar of myself instead of a normal pic ! It was not only easy to use, but great fun to create ! Since uploading my "Avatar"I have had a comment to say that it is a very true likeness too. Highly recommend to anyone that is slightly shy or doesn't have an original pic to upload ! Thanks Mike :-)
Hi Melanie - it looks fab!! Funnily enough I was only thinking that i didn't remember seeing your pic before! What a great idea - I might give it a try myself :)
Fiona
The good thing is it is easily changeable.... which I may do as mu pic has have just been likened to Thelma from Scooby Do ! :\
Lol! Nothing wrong with that - she's the one with all the brains :-)
I'm going to sending this discussion out again in our weekly message and let's see if we can get some more profile pictures added to the community.