LinkedIn allows you to upload GIFs as your profile picture, enabling you to stand out with an animated avatar. An animated profile photo can showcase your personality and make your profile more engaging. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing an animated profile picture for LinkedIn.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about animated profile pictures on LinkedIn, including:
- The benefits of using an animated profile photo
- LinkedIn’s requirements and specifications for animated photos
- How to create your own animated GIF
- Tips for selecting the right animated photo
- How to upload an animated GIF as your LinkedIn profile picture
Whether you want to better showcase your brand, highlight your creativity, or just add some visual interest to your profile, this guide will walk you through the process step-by-step. Let’s get started!
The Benefits of an Animated Profile Photo
Using an animated GIF as your LinkedIn profile picture can provide several benefits:
- Makes you stand out: Most people use static photos for their profile picture, so an animated image will help you grab attention.
- Shows off your personality: Animations allow you to showcase your style, interests, and what makes you unique.
- Engages viewers: Animated images inherently catch the eye more than static ones.
- Increases sharing: Profile photos with motion may be more likely to be shared or reacted to.
- Branding opportunities: You can incorporate branded elements or logo animations.
The slight motion of an animated profile photo brings your image to life. This can help viewers better remember you and prompt them to connect.
LinkedIn’s Requirements for Animated Photos
While LinkedIn allows animated GIFs for profile pictures, there are specific requirements they need to meet:
- File type must be GIF, under 10MB in size
- Dimensions should be 400 x 400 pixels minimum
- Aspect ratio must be 1:1 (square)
- Animation length should be 3 seconds or shorter
- Frames per second (FPS) should be 24 max
- Should contain minimal or no flashing imagery
Meeting these specifications ensures your animated photo renders properly across LinkedIn and doesn’t negatively impact performance. Stick to these guidelines when creating your GIF to avoid issues.
How to Create an Animated GIF
To use an animated profile picture on LinkedIn, you’ll first need to create or obtain a GIF. Here are some options:
1. Convert a video
One of the easiest ways to make a GIF is to convert an existing video file:
- Trim the video to 3 seconds or less
- Use online tools like Giphy, Imgur, or GIFMaker.me to convert video to GIF
- Optimize settings like frame rate, dimensions, and file size
Short, looping clips from a trip or event work great for this.
2. Design your own animation
For full control over the content, you can create your own animated graphic using design tools like:
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe After Effects
This takes more effort but allows you to craft something personalized.
3. Generate from images
Another option is to assemble a GIF from separate image files:
- Collect or take a series of photos
- Arrange images in animation order using editing software
- Export the sequence as an animated GIF
You can get creative with this approach by using candid photos, illustrations, or other assets.
4. Find a GIF online
If designing your own animated image feels overwhelming, you can source one from free galleries and tools online:
- Giphy
- Tenor
- Gfycat
Just ensure any GIF you use is original content or you have the rights to share it.
Tips for Selecting an Animated Profile Photo
When choosing or creating your LinkedIn animated picture, keep these tips in mind:
- Pick something eye-catching and unique to you
- Avoid overly complex or distracting animations
- Make sure the first frame works as a static photo too
- Use high resolution, quality images
- Showcase your brand, industry, interests, or personality
- Get feedback from others before uploading
You want something memorable but not chaotic or unprofessional. Aim for smooth, clean motion that loops seamlessly.
Uploading Your GIF to LinkedIn
Once you have an animated GIF meeting LinkedIn’s specifications, uploading it as your profile picture is easy:
- Access your account settings
- Click on the profile photo icon
- Choose to upload a new photo
- Select your optimized GIF file
- Crop and adjust the image as needed
- Save your new animated profile photo
Your gif should now be active on your profile. You can swap it out for a different one at any time through your settings.
Ideal Uses of LinkedIn Profile GIFs
To summarize, some top ways to effectively utilize an animated profile picture include:
- Incorporating your company’s logo or branding
- Highlighting your creative skills or work
- Showcasing your personality and interests
- Celebrating career achievements or milestones
- Promoting your products, services, or industry
- Animating headshots or avatars of yourself
Profile GIFs work best when kept short, polished and tailored to your goals.
Bottom Line
Animated GIF profile photos can help you stand out on LinkedIn and engage your professional network. Just be sure any image you use aligns with LinkedIn’s specifications and portrays you in the right light. With an eye-catching and tasteful animated photo, you can spark interest in connecting and interacting with your profile.
