One of the first questions that comes up during any social media training session has to do with the importance a profile photo has on a person’s social networking.  It should not be a surprise to know the photo a person chooses to show the public is very important in order to be accepted by others into their social network.  The image someone presents online only gets less than 2 seconds to impress someone on who they are.  What someone sees in those 2 seconds could make or break their overall acceptance by many into their social network.

No matter if you are out to use Facebook to connect to only family members or using the internet as a validation of professional endeavors, it is the photo used, or the image provided to the public, that is judged first for social or professional acceptance.  If that first test is not passed most everyone is fighting a losing battle.

Show Your Face

Studies are currently in progress to review the change in culture taking place with many people seeing the impact photos have on their acceptance as a Real Person.  Recent surveys are showing an alarming number of people who use Facebook only for personal reasons frequently changing  their profile photos for snapshots of their children, wedding album picture or pets.  This action is causing tremendous confusion, even amongst close family members.

Feedback obtained concerning the thinking these people have for posting such personal photos generally indicated they do so as their way of expressing an interest in showing the world things of personal pride.  Feedback results from business people who post logos, or other characters instead of their personal photo, stated they did so in an effort to ‘Brand’ their product or service. 

The reaction by most people when seeing a very personal photos is not positive.  Even close family members who know the family member who is posting the very personal photos react to thinking negatively to the magnitude of widespread viewing of the photo by non-family members.  Outsiders who possibly would be a close friend or close acquaintance are reporting to quickly click off the profile of a person showing something other than the person’s face.

On the business side of things, positive consumer reaction to Logos or brands used in social networking profiles is limited only to the major product lines.  For small business people, start-ups and sole proprietor businesses, those posting logos or product photos are quickly clicked through by the majority of viewers.  For the small business person to post a Logo as their photo in their social networking profile is seen by the consumers and colleagues as a ‘Hide-behind’ image. 

Clear Message

Branding a product or service online is proving to be only accomplished in the social networking arena when the product is represented by a person who posts their photo.  The reasons for this change occurring has to do with the increase level of deception allowed to propagate online.  Though there is evidence of a moderate level of increase in views to a business’s Facebook page for those who post a logo, most of the studies are finding no way to validate if who is following them or gathering on their fan page are real people or BOT programs.  The businesses showing increase of viewership and enhanced revenues report significant increases of real people photos in their following than photos of logos, characters or pet pictures.

The message in the now consumer driven economy is very clear. If someone is wanting to do business in a social network they are going to have to show their face…not their product..not their logo..not their brand…not their dog Fifi.  If someone is wanting to be just social..the same applies.  Seems reality of online social networking is starting to show its true face…(pun fully intended)…so why are you not showing yours?

Let me know how I can help.