Having an eye-catching yet professional background photo on your LinkedIn profile is a great way to make a strong first impression and showcase your personal brand. However, with LinkedIn’s layout being optimized for desktop, mobile, and tablet devices, it can be tricky to select the right image size that will look great across all platforms.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the recommended dimensions for a LinkedIn background photo in 2023, along with tips for designing a visually appealing image that aligns with your professional goals. Whether you’re looking to give your profile a mini makeover or craft a background from scratch, read on for the best practices to make your photo pop.
What are the ideal dimensions for a LinkedIn background photo in 2023?
LinkedIn recommends uploading a background photo that is at least 1400 x 425 pixels. This ensures the image will look crisp and not be distorted across desktop, mobile, and tablet.
Here are the optimum sizes to aim for:
Desktop
– Width: 1400-1920 pixels
– Height: 425-554 pixels
Mobile
– Width: 560-768 pixels
– Height: 175-220 pixels
Tablet
– Width: 1128-1440 pixels
– Height: 352-425 pixels
As long as your image falls within those parameters, it will fit nicely into the confines of the LinkedIn profile canvas without awkward stretching or pixilation. The maximum file size LinkedIn allows is 8MB.
How do you design an eye-catching, professional background photo?
When creating your LinkedIn background image, you’ll want to find the right balance between visually appealing and appropriately professional. Here are some tips to design an attractive background that aligns with your personal brand:
Choose relevant, professional imagery
Pick photography or graphics that relate to your industry, job role, skills, or interests. Popular choices include:
– Skylines or cityscapes of places you’ve lived/worked
– Abstract shapes or textures related to your field
– Nature landscapes if you have an eco-friendly brand
– Books or tools of your trade
Stay away from distracting stock photos or overly personal images. Remember, this backdrop represents you professionally.
Use high-quality images
Invest time finding a high-resolution photo that will look clear and crisp behind your profile photo and text. Images that are grainy, pixelated, or watermarked will diminish your profile’s overall polish.
Select a cohesive color palette
Opt for a coordinated color scheme pulled from your profile photo and description colors. Cool tones (blues, greens) convey trustworthiness while warm hues (reds, yellows) give off vibrancy.
Add text sparingly
You can overlay some text on your background image, but keep it minimal. Your name, title, and maybe a tagline or quote work nicely. Avoid big blocks of text that are tough to read.
Use editing tools to perfect your photo
Take advantage of editing software to crop your image, adjust color and lighting, remove imperfections, or add subtle text overlays. This helps your background look clean and professional.
Preview it on desktop and mobile
Since LinkedIn profiles have different dimensions across platforms, preview how your image appears on both desktop and mobile before uploading. Make sure it’s not stretching awkwardly or getting cut off.
What types of background photos work best on LinkedIn?
With endless options for background photos, which styles tend to make the biggest impact on LinkedIn? Consider these standout choices:
City skylines featuring famous landmarks
Famous skylines like the New York City skyline, Paris cityscape, or Hong Kong waterfront make dynamic backdrops and convey a worldly, well-traveled vibe. Just ensure landmarks are recognizable.
Award ceremonies or conferences related to your industry
Photos taken from industry events, conferences, or award ceremonies (that you attended) uplevel your authority and thought leadership.
Books, tools, or iconography linked to your profession
Incorporate subtle props or icons tied to your job, like cookbooks for a chef, architectural blueprints for an engineer, or lab glassware for a scientist. This provides visual clues about your career.
Abstract graphic prints or textures
Geometric patterns, watercolor textures, whimsical illustrations, or abstract shapes make artistic, modern statements. Just ensure your profile photo stands out against busy patterns.
Travel landmarks not overly identified with a certain location
Bridges, paths through forests, shorelines, and similar travel images read as well-traveled without screaming that you visited a specific place.
What types of background images should you avoid on LinkedIn?
While you have lots of flexibility with your background photo, there are some types of imagery that come off unprofessional or distracting on a career-focused platform like LinkedIn:
Personal vacation photos
Avoid obviously personal travel photos with you, friends, or family in them. LinkedIn isn’t the place to showcase vacation experiences.
Images with text that’s hard to read
Text overlays should be very minimal with only a few words that are sized appropriately. Avoid long quotes or big blocks of text.
Obvious stock photos or clipart
Cheesy stock imagery and generic clipart look low-quality compared to custom photos. Stick to original imagery.
Outdated-looking background photos
Make sure your photo looks modern and sleek, not dated. Faded imagery or obvious signs of aging come off as unappealing.
Anything overly personal
Remember this background represents you professionally, so avoid personal family photos or pictures that reveal too many personal details.
Images with busy, distracting elements
If there’s too much competing for attention in the photo, it becomes difficult to focus on your profile. Streamline your background.
Watermarks or logos
Any obvious watermarks, logos, or commercial branding look unprofessional. Purchase commercial license or use mark-free images.
How often should you change your LinkedIn background photo?
There aren’t any hard rules around how frequently you must update your LinkedIn background photo. The frequency depends on factors like your industry and how quickly your personal brand evolves. Here are some best practices:
Update it when you change positions or companies
Consider switching up your background when you change jobs or take on a new role. This signals evolution.
Change it if the image feels dated
Swap it out if your photo starts to look noticeably outdated. Keep your profile looking fresh.
Modify it when your brand or interests change
If your personal brand shifts significantly, update your background to reflect your new identity.
Consider seasonal or timely updates
Seasonal backgrounds (fall foliage, summer beach scenes) help you stand out while fitting the time of year.
Change it every 1-2 years
Aim for updating your background every couple years as a good rule of thumb for staying current.
Tips for creating a quality LinkedIn background photo
Follow these pro tips for designing a captivating yet professional background photo that elevates your LinkedIn presence:
Invest in a quality image
Splurge on a high-res, mark-free image instead of choosing a free low-quality photo. This makes a big difference in the finished look.
Make imagery relevant to your industry or interests
Customize the photo to reinforce strengths you want to highlight, like your career niche or unique skills.
Use editing tools to perfect your image
Crop, adjust lighting, remove imperfections, add text overlays, and enhance your photo with professional editing tools.
Keep text minimal
Let the image make the bold visual statement by keeping text simple. Stick to minimalist phrases and quotes.
Preview on both desktop and mobile
Thoroughly check how your photo looks on different screen sizes to ensure it works for LinkedIn’s responsive design.
Tweak it if you change roles or companies
Leverage a background photo shift to signal your professional growth when you take on a new position or job.
Putting it all together
Maximizing your LinkedIn profile with a polished, eye-catching (yet appropriate) background photo is a key way to make a great first impression and stand out from the crowd. By following the recommended sizing guidelines and design best practices outlined above, you can craft a background image that consistently looks great across desktop and mobile.
Focus on selecting a high-quality photo that communicates your personal brand and industry expertise. And don’t be afraid to change up your background periodically when you want to demonstrate professional evolution. With a little strategic effort, your background photo can take your profile to the next level.