The 8 golden rules of profile pictures (continued)

You may recall (unless you had a big weekend!) that last Friday we sent you ‘Part 1’ of our ‘8 Golden Rules for Profile Pictures’. These rules are in our opinion, the key factors to bear in mind when deciding which type of picture to use (or take) as a professional using Social Media. Follow these and you are setting the foundation of building trust and credibility online.

Last week we gave you Rules 1-4 and we ‘left you hanging’ a bit… so without further ado, here are Rules 5 – 8.

• Golden Rule 5. Interesting backdrops are better than plain walls – this will help your photo to stand out from the pack. You should also consider using a backdrop which complements your personality and target market e.g. if your key target client demographic reside within a rural area, a city backdrop would most likely be inappropriate for your Social Media Profile Picture.
• Golden Rule 6. Don’t be afraid to be yourself. A little personal is ok if that is how you represent yourself to clients… just make sure it reflects how you do business. Whilst some financial advisers prefer to provide advice in a formal and corporate setting, this doesn’t necessarily hold true for everyone. As long as your photo ticks the other 7 boxes, there is nothing wrong with showing part of your personal life in your Profile Picture. Just make sure it is consistent with who you are and your approach to your profession.
• Golden Rule 7. For the men – if you don’t wear a tie and jacket in client meetings, don’t wear it in your photo. If clients expect you to dress up and you don’t, they’ll feel you’re not valuing them as much as other clients. If you do dress up and clients expect you not to, it will come across as you acting out of character (they may think you’re trying to ‘put on a facade’). They key here is about managing expectations from the get-go.
• Golden Rule 8. Consider including a photo in your email signature! The more potential (and existing) clients see a photo of you, the more they will feel they know you (and therefore trust you). We send so many emails each week, that many of us are missing a huge opportunity to deepen our relationships with others over time. Whether you are trying to do business with someone or maintaining an existing client relationship, there is only upside that can come from including a photo that reflects who you are in your email signature. You should give it a go!