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Don't Go Without a Profile Pic on LinkedIn. Here's Why.

Don Mann • Nov 18, 2020

Your LinkedIn Profile Image Is Far More Important Than You May Think.




Don’t Go Without A Profile Pic On LinkedIn. Here’s Why.


Your LinkedIn Profile Image is far more important for life and business success than you may think. We humans are innately wired to seek after, and make snap judgements based on appearance, whether in person or in pictures.


If we humans cannot see you in person, we will seek you out in pictures on the Internet. In today’s social media world, anyone you meet or knows of you will look you up on social media, especially any pictures of you on the Internet. This includes potential recruiters, clients, customers and/or financial resources.


On LinkedIn your chief, first impression is your LinkedIn profile headshot. People look for it, and at it, instinctively. That initial first-impression is based solely on your profile image. Then they may look at your profile description. But they look at your profile image first, and then almost instantly, make that snap first impression to look for more, or not. You are now in the world of social media.


Your profile picture is a key element of your LinkedIn presence, and your effectiveness to open doors and draw opportunities. LinkedIn research shows that just having a picture makes your profile 14 times more likely to be viewed by others. 


While critical, having a profile picture is vastly different than having a 1% headshot that opens doors and draws opportunities. On LinkedIn, they measure how many connections you make, but job hunting needs, not LinkedIn connections, but job interviews. A connection is like a handshake in a crowded room, which is temporary and of little risk. A job interview is more like paying a large deposit on a house where there is performance and reputation risk involved. Not on you, but on those making decisions about you.


A job interview means far more risk for the interviewer. For the kind of image that draws interviews we look to the acting industry where high lookability, 1%, headshots produce interview requests in a highly competitive environment, and where low lookability, 99%, headshots do not. 


High-Lookability, 1% Headshot for attracting jobs, clients, customers and financing.


The only chance you have is if there are no 1% headshots in competition. But if you have a 1% headshot, you go right to the front of the competitive pile. This makes a high lookability headshot your “ace in the hole,” in a sea of poor lookability headshots made by amateurs, and even many professionals.


If you do not have a profile photo, see any of the many articles that tell you how to take a cell phone selfie that will fill a spot on a form, and that is much better than no image at all, and it may get you some connections. But will it help you on a job hunt? Probably not.


In today’s world there are hundreds of qualified applicants for every slot, all with super resumes/LinkedIn Profiles. What is in shortage is high lookability (we call these 1%) headshots that convinces the reader that you fit your super resume/LinkedIn Profile.


In reality, most headshots are so bad for personal branding success, that it is not 1%, but more like 0.001%, but that is too mathematical for most. Maybe we should call these high lookability, door-opening headshots, “one in a million.”


High lookability means the viewer will look longer than 3 seconds at the image. Otherwise the viewer looks away in a milli-second, depending on just how poor your image is. At best you may get 1/10 of a second in viewing from a better selfie or most professional headshots.


Look at the images in this article. These are proven, high-lookability, our famous 1%, one-in-a-million, headshots.


If you looked at any of these images for 3 seconds or more, they did their job.

                   High-Lookability, 1% Headshots to open-doors and draw opportunities for your success.



In reality, most headshots are so bad for personal branding success, that it is, are not 1%, but more like 0.001%, but that is too mathematical for most. Maybe we should call these high lookability, door-opening headshots, “one-in-a-million,” rather than 1%. But to keep it simple, we refer to these highly effective, marketing headshots, as 1%.


High lookability means the viewer will look longer than 3 seconds at the image. Otherwise the viewer looks away in a millisecond, depending on just how poor your image is. At best you may get 1/10 of a second in viewing for a better selfie, or most professional headshots.


And while they are looking, they see you as approachable, competent and good to work with where what they need is your priority. You move to the front of the pack, and they want to meet you and work with you. This is the path to those interview calls.


Look at the images in this article. These are proven high-lookability, our famous 1%, one-in-a-million, headshots.


If you looked at any of these images for 3 seconds or more, they did their job.


Yes, you do want a LinkedIn Profile headshot.


What does a Top 1%, Marketing Headshot cost? That is not the right question. The right question is, "What do I get?"


If you want a high-lookability, 1%, one-in-a-million headshot, give me a call. If you want a door opening, opportunity-drawing headshot that could mean thousands of dollars more for you, no matter what it costs, the value is beyond imagination, give me a call.


To those who want to succeed in life, a high lookability headshot is as important as your cell phone, as it makes connections for you while you sleep or are otherwise busy.



QUESTIONS



 Phone: 302 - 561 - 5555 | Email: Info@DonMannPhotography.com | Rates & Booking    


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"I've bought and sold more than 10 properties in my life, and worked with real estate agents on each one of them. I wish I had known then what I know now about the psychology of headshots, it would have left them with much more than just a single commission." Don Mann Real estate agents are well aware of the importance of proper staging -- and this "lookability" goes for agents as well! Are you looking to increase your attraction rate to homebuyers? Learn the differences between good and effective headshots below.  If You Want a Cheap, Ineffective, Money-robbing Headshot, Stop Reading. Based on my looking at numerous LinkedIn-realtor headshots, not to mention a lifetime of billboards and sales brochures, few in the real estate industry seem to understand and appreciate the power of an effective headshot. The psychology of headshots makes this a critical factor for real estate professionals. They all have a real estate headshot, but most of these headshots repel rather than attract prospects. They all have them, but they obviously do not know how to tell good ones from bad. My hope is to help all sincere real estate people get and use effective headshots. Your headshot is the first introduction to who and what you are. It is a handshake with your unseen prospects. You may be a wonderful, warm, exciting person and problem solver in the flesh, but if you don't win that first digital introduction of your headshot, you will never know. If you don't win that first opportunity at a great impression they will move on, and move on in microseconds, never looking back. This is called "repelling at first opportunity." Many treat their business headshot as a perfunctory requirement and spend little effort on them. Their mantra is, “Make it quick, I’ve more important things to do.” Yet studies prove that a headshot is one of the most potent human interaction tools there is. Ignore them at your financial peril and personal risk. Your modern, real estate headshot is critical to your success in today’s overwhelming digital, image-driven world. As prospective clients search for agents online, their first impression is with your real estate agent headshot, whether online or in print. It is entirely possible to make headshots that when people see them, they want to stare at them, not to look away, but want to get to know the person, and work with them. We call this “lookability.” These are extremely rare in the world of portrait photography, while we at Don Mann Photography make them every day. It is my gift to those who trust me enough to create high lookability headshots for them. The awesome thing is that lookability is not beauty. It is the ability of a picture to show the real person behind the face, beautiful or not, in such a way that it draws people in to want to work with them. This is the Holy Grail of all marketing images, and you can have one of these top, 1% headshots on your business card, your mailers, and on your website. Your business life and your personal life can reap the bountiful rewards of such power. All found in a simple, but extremely rare, high-lookability headshot. The right headshot can make you seem friendly, approachable, engaging, confident, trustworthy, and professional. That means it’s worth the investment to make sure you get your real-estate headshot right, the first time. And if you don't have one, maybe even swallow your pride and fears, and get one. So how can you ensure your headshot puts your best face forward? Here are a few pointers to help you get the perfect shot. People Overwhelmingly Buy Through Real Estate Agents First, let’s look at some facts. A 2018 study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) found 87% of home buyers purchase their home through a real estate agent. It’s evident there’s a large market for real estate agents. But how can you reach prospects? Most agents rely primarily on personal referrals, and it is key. But before prospects contact you, they will research you. And that is where your headshot makes or breaks that potential connection. 55% of people will search online for reviews and recommendations before making a purchase, with 47% visiting the company website, 26% checking out the physical store, and 23% of people talking with friends and family. (KPMG) Based on these numbers, 55% of friends and family referrals will be researched on the Internet. Others suggest 70-80% will online research before they make a purchase/engagement decision. This means 55% to 80% of your prospects will research or confirm their willingness to work with you by Internet research. And the primary thing they look at is your headshot to consider you. Based on this data, with an ineffective headshot most real estate people are leaving at least 55% of their potential business on the table. What would your life look like if you had 55% or even 80% more business? Let’s dream for a moment. Imagine what your life will be like WHEN you have our jaw-dropping headshots working for you 24x7 to improve your fortune? Our headshots feature you with confidence and approachability to draw prospects favorably to you. Headshot Impacts Can Last For Years Besides pictures of babies and puppies, people love pictures of other people, especially headshots. A poor headshot will make the viewer go from “open” to “Ugh!” If it is an agency website, a mailer, a brochure, a print ad, your business card or a For Sale sign, you will never know how many a poor headshot is not just being ignored, but actually repelling potential clients. And those poor impressions can last for years! When a prospect goes to your agency website, what do they see? 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If your headshot does not win this super-quick attention battle, you have lost your opportunity with that viewer. Headshots with those critical engagement features are as rare as hen’s teeth. While anyone with a cell phone can take what they call a headshot, few know how to work the light for you, and even fewer know how to coach and then capture those compelling headshot expressions that upgrade your future. Yet most realtors are happy with a headshot that fills in a form, or has what they consider a good headshot. And since few spend all day reviewing headshots, they have no idea what makes an effective marketing headshot. What they usually use for comparison are what they see on TV or the Internet, where effective headshots are as rare as cats barking. So their standard is bad headshots, not good ones. These are the people that tell you your headshot is “good enough, there is more to life, move on.” And you are left with a headshot that repels opportunities for years to come. A simple test is the typical school headshot picture. Parents are happy if their child has a nice smile, but none consider if that image evokes approachability and confidence in the viewers. And few photographers are aware of what it takes. Especially in a production mode where each child sits for 2 minutes or less in a chair for their picture, or each real estate agent in a production-line headshot session, so they spend only 30 seconds on one of the most important marketing tools there is. Now you know why top actors and models spend days on their headshots, their very working lives depend on them. But There Is Hope Do you want more calls from prospective buyers, more calls from property owners for you to list their property? More buyer calls, more listing calls, more deals closed! More calls for you to join investor teams. More access to financing and suppliers for your projects. Or simply more MORE! All this is made possible by our compelling, proven-results, top 1%, headshots! If done right, a great headshot can enhance the feeling of intimacy between you and your viewer to build trust and acceptance. The viewer sees you and wants to work with you, and if a prospect, they now want to contact you. All this while you are not there! Bigger Than You Think I just discovered another headshot concern. Our neighbors just listed their house, and of course we looked up the listing. On the house’s page there was a small headshot of the listing agent. In fact all you could see was that she was maybe smiling. If you then clicked on that picture, you got a headshot the entire size of the cell phone screen. Wow, she looked terrible. It was an obvious cell phone shot with poor lighting, and rather scary. It repelled both of us at the same time. Short change your headshot and you short change your life. A prospect has no intention of trying to work with someone who ignores basic details! I routinely get post-card real estate mailers. 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COVID-19 IMPACTS: With stay at home orders in my immediate region – Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, much less most of the world – our portrait photography creation has been curtailed until these restrictions are relaxed. The good news is that most of my photography can be done at distances of 6 feet or longer, so we can maintain our social distancing. For our individual headshot business, we can move outside for greater safety. With all the job changes, our door-opening, connection-building, professional headshots are more important than ever. While I don’t think anyone could notice, as always, for any clients who feel our COVID-19 shots limited them, we will be happy to re-shoot as a gift, once the crisis is over. I can wear a mask, even gloves and a lab coat as I did for many years in high technology, while my subjects can remain without PPE for the shoot. And if they want shots with a face mask on, no problem. They can arrive and depart with them, especially face masks. Of course frequent washing of hands/disposable wipes is part of this. For studio shoots we can go outside for most shots. And of course, we have a great property for model comp card shots and general portraits. Our make-up artists can work just as the salons in Georgia are doing now. Of course we put in a HEPA filter that serves the studio. The biggest impact is on our coverage for indoor group shoots such as events, meetings, and some indoor commercial shoots. The biggest difference is less close shots with 15-50mm lenses, and more with my 70-200mm or longer lenses. I even have a 600mm from my nature photography. At a 6 to 10’ appropriate social distance we can get great shots as needed. We expect group shots limitations will be gone by June or July, so we can book them even now. The biggest impact on me has been my network marketing. For now inside group meetings are off, but I can do some cold phone calling, even exterior commercial shots, especially if owners can turn on some interior lights. For example we prefer to do restaurant or other business shots before service start and then add the staff portraits after the staff arrives. So bringing in a few staff should not be a problem. I have to confess the crisis has not been all bad for me. My son and his family live with us. I get to spend many days playing with my 5 year old grandson – time that can never be replaced, and I wish I had done more of when my children were smaller. Now he did take over my office to do home schooling on my large monitor. Even golden clouds can have a black lining! QUESTIONS Phone: 302 - 561 - 5555 | Email: Info@DonMannPhotography.com | Rates & Booking
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