Having an eye-catching background photo on your LinkedIn profile can be an effective way to make a strong first impression and showcase your personality to connections and potential employers. However, there are also considerations around professionalism and practicality that are important to weigh when deciding whether or not to use a LinkedIn background photo.
The Pros of Using a LinkedIn Background Photo
Here are some of the potential benefits of using a background photo on your LinkedIn profile:
- Makes your profile stand out: A background photo gives your profile visual interest and personalizes it amidst the sea of profiles on LinkedIn. This can help you grab attention and be remembered.
- Shows off your personality: A background photo gives you a chance to showcase your style, interests, and personality through visuals. This can give viewers a better idea of who you are.
- Makes a strong first impression: An eye-catching or professional background photo can contribute to the crucial first impression your profile gives to visitors.
- Reinforces your brand: For creators, entrepreneurs, and public figures, a background photo can reinforce your personal or company brand through visuals that align with your branding.
- Visually tells your story: Background photos allow you to communicate things about your background, interests, travels, and aspirations through images rather than just text.
- Provides conversational fodder: An interesting, unique, or conversation-sparking background photo can give connections an easy icebreaker or talking point when reaching out.
Potential Downsides of a LinkedIn Background Photo
However, there are also some potential downsides to keep in mind when using a LinkedIn background photo:
- May seem unprofessional: Candid photos, party photos, or quirky images may undermine your professional brand or be off-putting to some viewers.
- Can be distracting: A busy, cluttered, or overly personal background photo could distract from your profile content.
- Limitations on mobile: Background photos don’t always display well on mobile, which is important given LinkedIn’s mobile usage. The photo may be cut off or not visible at all on mobile.
- Reduced profile visibility: According to some experts, background photos can reduce the visibility and searchability of your profile in LinkedIn searches. A plain background may get more visibility.
- Extra work: Sourcing, selecting, editing, and optimizing an appropriate, high-quality background photo takes effort.
- Dated photos: Outdated photos could have unintended implications, like suggesting you haven’t updated your profile in awhile.
Tips for an Effective LinkedIn Background Photo
If you do opt to use a LinkedIn background photo, here are some tips for making it as effective as possible:
- Select a high-quality photo: Use a high-resolution photo that looks crisp and visually appealing as a background. Poor image quality will detract from your profile.
- Consider dimensions: LinkedIn recommends an image of at least 1400×425 pixels. Anything smaller may be blurry or pixelated.
- Use relevant images: Choose a background image that communicates who you are and aligns with your professional brand – whether it’s an industry-relevant graphic, a landscape from your hometown, or a snapshot of your work life.
- Keep it professional: Avoid candid personal photos and opt for images that reinforce your professionalism. Be mindful of any unintended implications an image could give.
- Highlight your interests: If appropriate, select images that provide visual evidence of your interests, hobbies, or travels relevant to audiences you want to connect with.
- Consider backgrounds carefully: Busy backgrounds can be distracting. Opt for a solid color background or shallow depth of field in your photo.
- Use motivational quotes or text: Overlaying a motivational quote or inspiring text on your photo can reinforce your brand while also humanizing your profile.
- Update regularly: Don’t let your background photo become outdated. Update it regularly to keep your profile looking fresh.
Ideal Types of LinkedIn Background Photos
Depending on your goals and industry, some common types of LinkedIn background photos that tend to be effective include:
- Professional headshot: A sharply dressed headshot against a plain backdrop projects professionalism.
- Workplace photo: Candid or PR-style photos of you in your workplace help humanize your profile.
- Industry imagery: A background directly related to your industry communicates your professional focus and passion.
- Conference photos: Pictures of you speaking at industry conferences showcase your thought leadership.
- Award ceremonies: Photos of professional award wins highlight your achievements.
- Travel photos: Unique travel snapshots can showcase your cultural awareness or international expertise.
Should You Use a LinkedIn Background Photo?
Whether or not to use a LinkedIn background photo depends on your personal brand, industry, goals, and preferences. Here are some key questions to consider:
- Does a background photo align with your professional brand?
- Does your industry tend to favor more creative versus more traditional profile aesthetics?
- Do you already have a strong professional photo presence on LinkedIn without a background?
- Do you have a high-quality, relevant image that adds value without distracting?
- Do you prefer a more stripped-down, text-focused profile?
- Do you regularly update your profile images to keep them fresh?
Weigh your options carefully. A background photo has the potential upside of showcasing your brand and interests visually if executed tastefully and strategically. But a background-free profile has its merits too, especially if you already have a strong photo presence or value a more pared-down profile.
Conclusion
In closing, a LinkedIn background photo can personalize your profile, reinforce your brand, highlight your interests, and help you stand out from the crowd. However, maintaining a professional image, choosing appropriate images, and considering how backgrounds display on mobile are key. Evaluate your specific goals, audience, and industry, and opt for a background photo only if it authentically and strategically enhances your personal brand on LinkedIn without undermining your professionalism.
