<b>Personal Branding</b> <p>There is a certain language that we are developing around business and our expectations as owners and customers. They include terms like relevancy, authenticity, and accountability. The days of hiding behind a logo or a companies policies are waning as more information, and the speed and accuracy of that information becomes accessible not only to your customers but the whole world. It is more important than ever to look to the local community to build trust and develop relationships based on openness. Images build trust faster than any other medium in business, trust translates to business.</p><p><b>First Impressions</b></p><p><b></b>How many ignore the importance of images online? It is the purpose of any portrait to capture that moment when you are most human, most yourself and exactly like you imagine yourself at your best. A good portrait will develop trust and convey meaning beyond what you can tell people about you or your brand, in this way a photo is a 1000 words. </p><p><b>Q: </b>Is your profile image or avatar accomplishing this?</p><p><i>(def) Avatar: An incarnation, embodiment or manifestation of a person or idea.</i></p> <p>A traditional headshot in the past was used to present an image of professionalism to potential clients and business partners. The likelihood of anyone outside of this narrow group ever seeing the image remained minimal at best, your PR firm may have used it in a brochure or even put it on your business card. Traditionally these business portraits were used to build trust with people who may not have constant contact with you, professions like lawyers and real estate agents frequently updated their headshot to show their client they can still smile. (okay that last part was a dig from me.)</p> Google changed everything. Now it is standard practice to google new hires and potential clients prior to meeting them and see the drunken pictures from that frat party in college on your myspace page *and* the business headshot in the brochure. There is a merging of personal and professional lives that is more often than not referred to as Personal Branding<p>The avatar becomes an easy to manage solution, especially if you are involved in the communities on twitter, facebook, linkedin, etc. With people actively tweeting on average 10-20 times a day, that is a lot of seeing your poorly chopped and shopped photo for your followers and it makes a difference. </p><p><b>Value</b></p><p>Consider the image you use online as carefully as any other part of your business. Living in a highly visual culture clients rarely read anymore they just look and make a snap association. Nearly every member of your audience will make highly sophisticated judgements about you and your business in the first few seconds. The quality, style and uniqueness of your brand will translate instantly to new followers, clients and customers directly through your profile photo.&nbsp; </p><p><b>Look, the truth just feels different </b></p><p>Chances are you have a photo snapped by a family member or friend that encapsulates your identity (how you perceive yourself and imagine others to perceive you). However if you decide to hire a photographer keep this in mind: A photographer should take an honest portrait; to see that part of you that is authentic, beautiful and true. If you look at their work and it all feels plasitc or cookie cutter they will handle your portriat in the same way. </p><p>An honest portrait may seem idealistic or lofty as a goal and I would agree most photographers are more concerned about time, equipment and selling you pictures after the shoot. Avoid them, and seek the value in being true to yourself and open with your audience. </p> 2008-10-07T18:20:32Z -16.431 944 1892 true 18 11038 personal-image-online 8 2008-10-13T10:26:54Z 2008-10-13T10:26:54Z

Consider the image you use online as carefully as any other part of your business.

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