Momentum - Business to Business Online Magazine MOMENTUM May 2019 | Page 28

MARKETING
ANDREA SMITH
Vernon Graphics & Promotions
www.myvernon.biz/brianstottlemyer
A Picture is Worth
A Thousand Sales?
A
picture is worth a thousand
words; but could it also be
worth a thousand likes? What
about a thousand sales? Not
long ago first impressions
were made by a friendly phone call or a
personal visit complete with a smile and a
handshake. But today, first impressions are
often left to a social media connection or
even worse…no social media connection
at all.
Your profile picture is key to your
personal brand and online networking. It
has an impact on your job opportunities and
ultimately, your career. It should represent
you as you would represent yourself in a
first interview or business meeting, your first
opportunity to make your first impression.
Show YOUR face. Don’t show a cartoon
or your favorite dog breed. If you wouldn’t send Betty
Boop to your job interview on your behalf, then she
shouldn’t represent you in your profile picture. YOU
represent YOU. And make eye contact with the camera
like you would make eye contact with a client. People
want to see if you’re confident and professional, so post
YOUR face.
Frame yourself. Make your face front and center.
Not too far away, not half of your face, not from ten feet
away, and definitely not awkwardly close. You’re not
going to be trusted to make well-centered decisions
on behalf of your customers if you can’t even center
yourself!
Smile. At least a little. If you would smile at an
interview, then you should smile in your photo. Looking
stern and unapproachable won’t land you any followers,
friends, or sales.
Dress the part. If you’re a salesperson, dress like one.
Although done correctly, very little of your attire would
even make the cut, it’s still important. Unless you’re
auditioning for Baywatch, spaghetti straps are a NO!
The same goes for too many accessories and too much
makeup. If you wouldn’t put a hibiscus flower in your
hair for an interview, then it shouldn’t be in your profile
photo. And leave the hats to the cowboys and bakers.
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MOMENTUM
Background.
Because you ARE being judged by
your picture, you probably shouldn’t have a local sports
bar in the background. Not that there’s anything wrong
with frequenting a sports bar, but do you really want a
neon beer sign to represent what you’re about? Choose
a simple background that doesn’t steal attention from
YOU.
Get your brand on, subtly. Especially if you’re in
sales. Wear brand colors or a shirt or tie bar sporting
your company logo. Let potential clients know that you
stand behind the company you represent. Do not wear
clothing with any other writing, logos, or busy patterns.
Leave those selfies for weekend posts, not profile
pictures.
Consistency. Use the same profile picture for all of
your professional social media accounts. This makes
you much easier to find, especially if you have a
common name. Leave the photo with the grandkids and
labradoodle for your personal pages.
Quality. Don’t use a grainy, low-resolution photo.
If you won’t take the time to post a quality photo of
yourself, then how can customers or employers trust
that you will take the time to do quality work for them?
If you want people to take you seriously, then you
need to take yourself seriously. Paying a bit of attention
to your personal brand (YOU) is worth the time and
effort.