If your online presence doesn’t feel like you, you need to get yourself shot.
Being Awesome In Real Life doesn’t cut it anymore; we’re meeting and judging each other’s Twitter profiles, websites and blogs before we’ve even shaken hands.
It’s 2011, first impressions are made online, and your headshots are boring or non-existent.
Why are you underselling yourself?
it’s your brand
Let’s say you already appreciate the importance of looking good online.
You’ve invested in a great logo, your colours and typography are beautiful and consistent, your website is fresh and relevant.
Great! But:
- Are your photos consistent with your brand, or do they cheapen it?
- Do your photos look and feel like the people inside, or are they staged and stiff?
- Are your photos prominent and engaging, or are you hiding behind your logo?
Your headshots are inextricably linked with your personal or corporate brand.
A quality headshot can inspire confidence and excitement around your brand where a weak headshot (or none at all) would have made you completely forgettable.
Are you missing an opportunity here?
your first impression
Imagine, if you can, that you’ve never met yourself.
Just for a moment, try to forget how sexy, talented and charming you know you are.
Pretend you’re being introduced to yourself for the very first time; you have no idea what sort of person you might turn out to be.
Close your eyes, if you must. Breathe deeply. Hum quietly. Whatever it takes!
Now, as soon as you feel ready, cast a critical eye over your profiles on social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.), then move on to the “about” page of your website, if you have one.
- Look over each page as quickly as you imagine other visitors would.
- Absorb the impression created by the photos and content you’ve added.
- Ask yourself: “How would a random visitor to this page feel about me?”
How did you go? Does your online presence feel like you? Does it feel like your brand?
If not, you should be shot. (By a professional.)
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Daniel Borg - Well said Luke, I agree that your company image which includes your brand, also includes your staff personalities… which are now even more important with social media. Great article.