Dear Amy: The #SMEtiquette of Profile Photos
Not all questions of etiquette are really cut and dry. Some are truly a matter of preference. Some might not really consider this a matter of etiquette, but I'm asked this question a lot, about profile photos. What do you do?Submit your questions!
Dear Amy:What makes a good profile picture? Am I supposed to use the same one on all social networks?Sincerely,Puzzled Profiler
Dear Puzzled:Every site is different. Technically, there is nothing wrong with having different profile photos on each network.That said, it does make it easier for others to know that a profile is yours if you are using the same photo. I use the same photo on most of my social networks, though not all. Part of that is that all my profiles are both personal and professional, so it makes sense for me to have the same photo. That's not the case for everyone, though.On Instagram, for example, I use a different photo because when I opened my account, I didn’t have access to my usual profile photo via mobile. And then I’ve simply never updated it. That would be due to laziness, however, as opposed to strategy.If you don’t care about having a photo that clarifies who you are across networks, then there are some basic guidelines to follow:• LinkedIn – a reasonably professional headshot. Don’t use a photo where you’ve cropped out other people, just because you like your hair in it. A full-on headshot. If it’s not just a headshot, make sure you’re dressed neatly. Dressing for work is different now than it was even a few years ago, so that doesn’t need to be a suit and tie. But jeans with holes? Ratty sneakers? Hair needing a basic combing? That’s just unprofessional. Out of focus? Weird cropping? Pixellated? Would you hire someone who couldn't find a decent headshot to post to LinkedIn?• Facebook – this is the personal network. It should be you. If it’s a photo of your children or your pet, the people you know are going to have more trouble figuring out the profile is yours than if it’s a photo of you. That said, I have some friends who never use a photo of themselves. By design. That's fine. They don't want their photos out there.• Twitter – a headshot is the best here, because the photo space is so small. That makes it more difficult to decipher the photo. If you use an illustration, again, a headshot is the best, or a strong logo. If it’s a full-body image, it’s a lot harder to differentiate it from other avatars.• Google Plus – a headshot is best, again, for the size. There is plenty of other room on G+ for other photos. Do you want people to know it’s you without seeing your name? Make sure it’s your face.I do generally suggest that people use the same photo across networks, for consistency’s sake. It makes it easier for everyone to know it’s the person they think it is. But not everyone wants to connect with all the same people across networks. So maybe you don’t care about that and would even prefer to have different usernames and images – that’s fine. That’s your personal choice, and if you’re using the sites for fun and not any professional purposes, go ahead.Just remember, these photos, along with your bio and your posts will be how you are initially judged. On LinkedIn, you probably don’t want to have a photo where you’re partying. On Facebook, you may not want a photo of you at your job.What generally works best is a clear headshot, but it all depends on why you have the account. You can be a lot more fun and flippant on Instagram than on LinkedIn.What works for you?[listly id="Css" layout="gallery" show_header="true" show_author="true" show_sharing="true" show_tools="true" per_page="25"]