Linkedin Pictures, Sir Richard Branson Wins the Award

LinkedIn pictures have become a topic of discussion, as Sir Richard Branson shows us they can be a lot of fun. Most are professional, some people opt out completely or upload an alternative image. What type of picture is most appropriate?

Recently came across a question posted in a Linkedin Group reading, "Linkedin Pictures, I'm interested in learning more about peoples opinions and experiences - especially if they've tried both a more formal and informal photo. What is the "netiquette" on LinkedIn? Does your photo brand you? Should you keep the same photo indefinitely or is changing it regularly a good tactic?

Great question, wish I'd thought of it myself. It sparked a lot of conversation, about 95% of the respondents tended to be of the same mind set, the picture should depict a professional image. Here are sample responses:

"If you are truly representing yourself on a professional/business website like Linkedin, then the photo should also look professional or business-like.

"Social" images are more appropriate on Facebook or YouTube. ""For business, I like business dress, suit-up" and"company logo or professional dress".

"Definitely professional, save the cute stuff for your friends"

"Linkedin is for business professionals, if you want to be take seriously use a headshot"

"Fun is for my kids on facebook. Headshot is best"

Of course, I was the one voice that disagreed with the majority. Linkedin has emerged as the top social media tool for business purposes, but not all businesses are alike, nor is their brand statement or customers. In my view, it depends on 3 critical things:

1. What's your objective with Linkedin?

2. What's your business personality or culture?

3. Who's your target market and whey do they expect?

Visual Branding
As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, think of your picture as a visual representation of your organization or brand. While many believe it needs to be a professional head shot with a white background, I recommend professional creative pictures that tell a story. Case in point, Sir Richard Branson, his picture depicts fun, confidence, adventure, intelligence and much more. There is no suit, background is outdoors, and he appears to be laughing.

Richard Branson
Title: Chairman at Virgin Group
London, United Kingdom Leisure, Travel & Tourism

There are several examples of professionals on Linkedin using their picture to project positive images about their organization and brand including Thomas White, CEO at Small Business Radio. His picture shows him with headgear on in the studio. It’s a visual into his everyday work life and shows his focus, intensity, and joy while on air.

Thomas White
Title: CEO at SBradio
Greater Chicago Area Media Production

Tell Your Story

You may not be the CEO of an organization, but you do have a compelling story to tell. Just like the drummer in a new age jazz band using a picture of him playing, from the base of the drum set up. A nature photographer with a picture of her on the ground taking pictures in central park. Or in a more conventional setting, a picture of a university professor directing the interaction during a heated class discussion.

In each of these instances their picture describes who they are, what they do, the culture of their business, and gives their target market an idea of what to expect. The key is to be creative, think about the answers to the questions above - they'll lead you to the image that's best for you.

About the Author:
Alane Anderson is the founder and President of Vision Project Management, Emarketing & Social Media Marketing Firm. An award winning professional who has combined her experience in technology, marketing and sales to help others bring their business into the new era of internet marketing & social networking.

After forming Vision Project Management, Inc. in 1995 Alane and her team of professionals have worked with many clients to build their unique online presence including, Virgin Unite Foundation, Indian Wells, Avery Dennison, Weyerhauser, Trus Joist, Mitsubishi, to name a few.

Connect with Alane:
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/alaneanderson
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/alaneanderson
Facebook http://bit.ly/ATVxT

Market Your Buiness like Oprah

So here’s the thing, you want to market your business and get results like Oprah but don’t have the time to do it all. Here’s a tip, save time and let others do the work, use word-of-mouth!!

When people say good things about you, it gives you instant credibility. Think about the power of Oprah’s “Favorite Things” show. After being on the show, businesses are immediately jammed with customer orders, so much so that it’s often caused servers to go down, phone overload, and backlog of orders.

While you might not have Oprah recommending your business, you do have satisfied clients that send nice emails, recommend you to others, product reviews, seminar feedback, awards, or perhaps a customer satisfaction rating system. In other words, material for word-of-mouth.


Too often great word-of-mouth is hidden; unbury it by placing it on your home page complete with customer reviews. I’ve used the technique of announcing a sold out seminar with customer feedback and links to pictures. Worked great. You could use the same technique or thank your customers for coming to an event and share their feedback.


Don’t just announce your award, let everyone know why you were chosen, something like “expert panel for fishing chose us as the Number One Online Store for Supplies, here’s what they said!" Include the names of the judges and link to their web site.

The challenge is getting the word-of-mouth out in front of your next customer when they are ready to buy. You won’t be able to keep the sold out sign or award announcement up forever. You can, however, put it in your header with a link, banner, ads, and facebook or linkedin profile with links.

Remember, other people's praise is always better and far more powerful than what you say about yourself.

How to Twitter on #FollowFriday | eHow.com

How to Twitter on #FollowFriday | eHow.com

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Consitency Builds Credibility

So many options so little time. With all the new media outlets: twitter, linkedin, facebook, blogs, web, affiliates, and more; the risk of negative brand credibility is even greater.

Branding Tip: Build your Brand through Consistency

Customers seek out credible resources by asking smart questions; they want to know:

Who your are
What you do
Where is your expertise
Why should they choose you

If you waiver from your position customers, current and potential, become confused and aren’t easy to deal with. You appear undecided and misdirected to the marketplace. Credibility suffers and clients become apprehensive of working with a company that can’t seem to pick a direction. It’s not that they’re harder to deal with it’s that they don’t how to work with you effectively. So how do you build consistency so consumers will decide that the company is confident, stable, and yes, credible?

Visual Image: You want to use the same picture and/or logo across all your media platforms. This lets the consumer know you can be found on the web through multiple channels and it’s the same company regardless of the location.

The visual look will most likely evolve over time. Think of Apple Computer’s logo design that’s changed to keep up with modern technology and evolving product offerings. Over the years, Apple’s consistent brand image has built consumer recognition, loyalty, and trust.

Written Image: Written content is your voice and opportunity to communicate a message that supports your core business offerings. Much like your visual image, your written message needs to be consistent across all channels of communication. What you create, the content, will very much depend on your target audience. Use the same font or typeface with consistent color ranges so that everything is visually the same. It should provide information, insights, and define your unique position in the marketplace. Consumers will recognize it as belonging to your business identity and distinguish it from competing brands.

With all of the distractions out there it will take a few times, or impressions, of people seeing your consistent brand before it stays in their mind. On average, you’ll need to make at least 3 consistent brand impressions before someone takes notice.


By implementing brand consistency you’ll be able to take advantage of the many benefits that go along with it, stability, trust, confidence clarity, recognition, and stability; all of which funnel into a significant competitive advantage, customer loyalty.

Connect with Alane:
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/AlaneAnderson
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlaneAnderson
Twitter: @AlaneAnderson

Customer Impressions are Brand Reality

Have you ever tried to develop your brand? It’s not easy, as mom always said; you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. Your brand is the impression others see of you; it’s their perception of who you are and what you have to offer. So how do you make sure their perception and your reality are the same?

Tip #1: Discover your brand from your customer’s point of view.

Write down thoughts about your skills, services, products, offerings, etc. Talk to people or customers who know you and ask how they would describe your business. To brand yourself properly, you want your network to agree with you and vice versa. If you write down creative, you want customers to say your business is creative too.

What happens when what you’ve written doesn’t match up with their perception? That’s when confusion happens, customers are expecting one thing but you’re delivering something else. This leads to frustration, lack of customers, repeat business, sales, you get the picture. That’s why it’s so important to LISTEN to others and develop a brand that makes a great impression.

More tips to come next week. Until then don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis, as Nike says, Just Do It.