Now that social media (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) is firmly a part of the Internet landscape, it's becoming more and more important to manage your online image effectively - particularly if you are a small to medium sized business owner, solo-entrepreneur, or job seeker. In those cases, you are hoping potential clients or employers will look for you online...and you want to manage what they are seeing.
Most social media sites now offer you the opportunity to post a small picture of yourself (sometimes called a "thumbnail"). This is actually a great feature, because it helps you personalize your online persona.
If you haven't taken advantage of this feature, I encourage you to do so. Not only does it help your old high school friends recognize you Facebook (!), a good picture lends credibility to your image.
It should be close enough to recognize that it's you in miniature, lack a distracting background, and be relaxed yet professional. A smile is also a positive feature. People will form conclusions about you based on your picture, so make sure it's sending the right sort of message. If you have a friend or family member who's good with a camera, have them take your photo with a digital camera and just upload. No need for a formal head shot.
As an alternative, many people are using "avatars" in place of a photo. I've seen lots of them in Facebook and on Twitter - and I've used one myself. But - as an entrepreneur, I wanted a more consistent image across all social media platforms. I encourage you to consider the same.
Thanks for the reminder, Jane! It is easy to get crazy with these sites. Got to be aware of the presence it creates online just as one does in person.
Posted by: Julie A. Berg | August 12, 2009 at 05:32 PM