Your LinkedIn profile is often the first impression you make with potential clients, professional connections, and potential employers. While your profile picture is crucial and the image most people first notice, your background image is an often-overlooked opportunity to showcase you and what you offer. In this article, I’ll review the pros and cons of each of the four main LinkedIn profile background options to help you make the best choice for your LinkedIn profile.
1. LinkedIn’s Default Background
The default LinkedIn background is a safe choice, but it doesn’t differentiate you from other professionals. While it ensures your profile looks neat, it also suggests you haven’t invested thought or time in personalising your online presence.
Pros:
Requires no effort at all
It avoids potential image selection mistakes
Ensures a clean and professional look
Cons:
Misses an opportunity to stand out
Fails to showcase your personality, brand, or uniqueness
It may come across as lazy
2. Upload a Personal Image
A personal image can be a powerful way to express your individuality and make a memorable impression. Whether it’s a landscape that inspires you, or a personal image of you for personal branding reasons, a well-chosen personal background can spark conversations and help you connect with others on a more personal level.
Pros:
It allows you to showcase your personality
It helps you stand out from other profiles online
It provides flexibility in choosing an image that represents you
Cons:
Requires careful selection to maintain professionalism
It may not align with company branding if you’re representing an organisation
It could potentially be off-putting if not chosen wisely
3. Upload a Company Branded Image
Using a company-branded background is ideal for those in a client-facing role. It shows commitment to the company and enables potential clients to experience consistent branding on employee accounts, the LinkedIn company page and the website, which builds confidence and trust.
Pros:
Ensures consistent branding across employee profiles
It can look highly professional and polished
Demonstrates company loyalty
Cons:
It may not differentiate you from colleagues
It could be seen as less authentic or personal
Limits personal expression
4. Create a Slideshow
A slideshow background is a new feature added at the end of 2024 for the majority of LinkedIn users (some at the time of writing are waiting for it to be rolled out).
It essentially allows users to add multiple images, which provides you with more opportunities to give a fuller picture of what you can help people with.
Pros:
Allows for dynamic content presentation
Can showcase multiple aspects of your brand or career
Engages viewers and encourages profile exploration
Cons:
More work to create
More complex to get right
It could be distracting if not well-designed
Making Your Choice
When selecting your LinkedIn background, also consider these factors:
Your goals: Are you job hunting, building a personal brand, or representing your company?
Your industry: Some sectors may expect more creativity, while others value traditional professionalism.
Your role: Business leaders and client-facing professionals may benefit from more polished, branded backgrounds.
Your audience: Think about who you want to impress and what would resonate with them.
In Summary
There is no right or wrong option. It’s a personal choice. What is best for you will depend on your unique situation, and perhaps for some, a hybrid version of personal and company may work best. Whichever option you choose, keep your background professional, high-quality, and reflective of who you are as a professional.
Your LinkedIn background is an extension of your personal brand, so use it wisely to make a lasting impression in the professional world. It’s one of the first things people see when they visit your profile page, so make it count.
P.S. Remember to check your LinkedIn background image on both desktop and mobile to make sure it works for both.
How to Choose the Right LinkedIn Background
How to Choose the Right LinkedIn Background
Your LinkedIn profile is often the first impression you make with potential clients, professional connections, and potential employers. While your profile picture is crucial and the image most people first notice, your background image is an often-overlooked opportunity to showcase you and what you offer. In this article, I’ll review the pros and cons of each of the four main LinkedIn profile background options to help you make the best choice for your LinkedIn profile.
1. LinkedIn’s Default Background
The default LinkedIn background is a safe choice, but it doesn’t differentiate you from other professionals. While it ensures your profile looks neat, it also suggests you haven’t invested thought or time in personalising your online presence.
Pros:
Cons:
2. Upload a Personal Image
A personal image can be a powerful way to express your individuality and make a memorable impression. Whether it’s a landscape that inspires you, or a personal image of you for personal branding reasons, a well-chosen personal background can spark conversations and help you connect with others on a more personal level.
Pros:
Cons:
3. Upload a Company Branded Image
Using a company-branded background is ideal for those in a client-facing role. It shows commitment to the company and enables potential clients to experience consistent branding on employee accounts, the LinkedIn company page and the website, which builds confidence and trust.
Pros:
Cons:
4. Create a Slideshow
A slideshow background is a new feature added at the end of 2024 for the majority of LinkedIn users (some at the time of writing are waiting for it to be rolled out).
It essentially allows users to add multiple images, which provides you with more opportunities to give a fuller picture of what you can help people with.
Pros:
Cons:
Making Your Choice
When selecting your LinkedIn background, also consider these factors:
Your goals: Are you job hunting, building a personal brand, or representing your company?
Your industry: Some sectors may expect more creativity, while others value traditional professionalism.
Your role: Business leaders and client-facing professionals may benefit from more polished, branded backgrounds.
Your audience: Think about who you want to impress and what would resonate with them.
In Summary
There is no right or wrong option. It’s a personal choice. What is best for you will depend on your unique situation, and perhaps for some, a hybrid version of personal and company may work best. Whichever option you choose, keep your background professional, high-quality, and reflective of who you are as a professional.
Your LinkedIn background is an extension of your personal brand, so use it wisely to make a lasting impression in the professional world. It’s one of the first things people see when they visit your profile page, so make it count.
P.S. Remember to check your LinkedIn background image on both desktop and mobile to make sure it works for both.
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