The Art of Online Portraiture

Social-media profiles are increasingly important in building your business identity. "It's a hugely powerful branding tool—and you have to be very strategic about building it," says Nicole Williams, connection director for LinkedIn.

A key component is the profile picture. The New York City-based Ms. Williams, who primarily splits her time among three social-media sites—Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn—says it is crucial to strike the right tone.

First, you should have a profile picture. LinkedIn research shows that a page with a profile picture is seven times as likely to be viewed as a page without one, she says.

Think of these pictures as the modern-day version of the oil paintings that estate owners once commissioned. The smallest details in them will convey volumes. It's best, Ms. Williams says, to have your profile picture feature you alone, not your pet or significant other. "Being so strongly identified with your dog or your husband might not be appropriate unless you're a vet or a marriage counselor and that's part of your professional image."

The way you are dressed should reflect the norms of the profession that you're in or hope to join. "If you're looking for a job in media or fashion, then you can wear more color in the picture, have more jewelry," says Ms. Williams. Still, it's usually best to "nix the glitz," she says. "What you don't want is to meet with a client or walk into an interview and have the person say, 'I wouldn't have recognized you, you look so different.' "

While people often post photos of daily minutiae such as food, Ms. Williams is careful to post only photos that relate to her own image, have "a great story attached," or have a point she would like to make. "I don't think anyone cares about what coffee I'm drinking in the morning, no matter how flavorful it is," she says.

Ms. Williams, who has written several books about careers and lifestyles, occasionally posts a photo of her son, who is now 6-months old. People "respond to authenticity," she says. Even so, Ms. Williams is careful not to do it too often. "People would very quickly get bored with that." (Ms. Williams carefully monitors the number of responses she gets to her postings to gauge which ones have broad appeal.)

Even the most carefully managed social-media profile can be ruined by a photo someone else thoughtlessly posts. Ms. Williams is always on the lookout for photos in which others have "tagged" her or identified her by name.

Recently, she was horrified when a relative tagged her in a picture showing her drinking wine at a family party.

"I have professional people on this network—I don't want them seeing what I'm drinking on a Sunday afternoon," she says. She immediately untagged herself.

Source:wsj

About LaraNet: We are a web design firm focused to help you to grow your business and communicate with your customers and prospects using two simple but powerful tools: 1) Interactive Website and 2) Internet Marketing Strategy on social networks like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc …
Whether you want to work with just a web page, or launch or improve your presence on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn or communicate with your customers through newsletters, or improve the location of your business in the search engines through Search Engine Optimization, or start marketing your products or services online, in LaraNet we can help you.

Web Design in Houston

Keywords: Website designer in Houston, Web Designer in Houston, Web Site Developer in Houston, Webmaster in Houston, Internet Marketing Agency in Houston, Website Consultant in Houston, Enrique Antonio Lara Vidales, LaraNet, Web Design in Houston, Website Development in Houston, Open Source Content Management, Internet Marketing Services, Houston Small Business Websites, Integrated Internet Marketing, Content Marketing Specialist, Community Manager Specialist, Houston Internet Marketing for Small Business