A good profile picture is essential for anyone using social networking as a business activity. Your profile picture is the first thing people see on social networking sites like Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook. The photo helps people make decisions about you – whether to add you, what type of person you are and even whether to do business with you, making it an important representation of you and your brand.

So what are the most common mistakes people make with profile photos? Check out the 7 Deadly Sins of Profile Photos:

1. Your photo is inappropriate

Avoid using profile photos that are obviously taken in social settings – bars, the beach, family BBQs or anywhere you are obviously drinking. You might like the photo of yourself – that’s great share it with friends and family, not your business connections.  Avoid using photos of groups or that have more than 1 person doesn’t help people get a sense of you if they don’t know you already.

2. Your photo tells a different story from your profile

Your photo should represent you perfectly to your target audience and compliment what your profile says. Unfortunately, even though it might seem like common sense, I see lots of profile photos that are incongruent with the profile itself.

3. You don’t look your best

Hair, clothes and lighting all make important contributions to your profile photo. Know what your colour suits you best because the last thing you want is a photo where you look washed out. I mistakenly wore yellow to a photo shoot only to find out, yellow was not my colour – the entire set are unusable. Avoid patterns and wear a colour that makes you feel confident.

4. Your Photo isn’t actually photo

This one is my pet peeve. I don’t understand how people can think pictures of their pets or children, cartoons, wads of cash or sunsets represent them favourably for business purposes. They don’t. Don’t do it.

5. Your Photo isn’t current

You might think you look better in a photo 10 years ago because you look thinner and younger, but do you want your first impression with someone to have them thinking about how you lied about how you look. Be authentic and proud of who you are now.

6. The background ruins the photo

If the background is over powering the photo, it’s time to get a new headshot. I got photos with multiple backgrounds so I could use them however I wanted. If in doubt, go with white because you can use it on websites, social networking sites and promotional materials without having to worry that the background clashes with the color scheme of the site.

7. You aren’t smiling

It’s shocking how many people don’t smile on their profile pictures making them look unfriendly, too serious or just plain creepy – would you want to connect with someone like that? Your smile tells people you are approachable, open and confident.

Have your photo professionally taken

Many people skimp out on getting photos taken professionally – either because they don’t feel good about how they look or they don’t want to spend the money and figure they can do it themselves.  Your photographer will make sure that you look your best by using appropriate lighting and backgrounds while making suggestions about your body language and positioning.

A good photo on your social networks will help people connect with you and allow them to recognize you when they meet you in person being well worth the investment.

If you are in Toronto and need a headshot, you should check out Donna Santos. My good friend and uber Hippy Marketer, Tad Hargrave is hosting a headshot day with Donna – check out the details here.