Want more proof that business portraits are important?
A 2012 eye-tracking study showed that the number-one thing viewers look at on LinkedIn pages is the person’s profile photo. There’s no reason why this behaviour might be any different on other networking sites.
This study [link to PDF] (Edit 2018: The original 2012 study has been updated and no longer includes profile photos), examined how professional job recruiters viewed online resumés.
The first thing recruiters always noticed was the profile portrait and it held their attention for about 19% of the total time spent on page.
This can be bad news or good news.
If you’re a job seeker, a business portrait included in your resumé might actually work against you. The recruiter might be “wasting time” looking at your portrait photo rather than scanning your job qualifications.
But if you’re not a job hunter, this is good news. This study confirms that having a business portrait is important and it helps you connect with people. Viewers fully expect a profile portrait and they will always spend a few moments looking at the photo (or at the empty space if there is no picture).
By the way, if someone has only an empty space, viewers might think that person is technically inept and doesn’t know how to upload a profile photo, or that they’re really ugly.
Not having a profile picture also suggests that the faceless person is trying to hide something or they just couldn’t be bothered. Either way, the lack of a profile photo always creates distrust.
The results of this study emphasize that a profile portrait (or an empty space) is indeed the first impression made on viewers.
So what first impression do you make? Sloppy amateur picture? Holiday snap? Photo of your dog? An empty space? Or a professional business portrait?
Put yourself in your customers’ position. What type of photo creates the strongest impression of you and your business?
