When people look you up in Google Images, what do they see? A polished-looking portrait, or casual photos from your summer vacation? According to personal branding expert William Arruda, it’s in every businessperson’s best interests to invest in a selection of headshots that present you as the qualified professional you strive to be.
First, have a professional photographer (or someone you know with good skills and a nice camera) capture you in a variety of different business outfits and poses. This will give you a selection of photos from which to choose–the more options on Google Images, the better, as it helps you appear more accomplished.
When you take your photos, make sure you are looking your best. If you need a haircut, shave, or manicure, do it before your shoot. Wear clothes suitable to your particular office environment, and adopt poses that seem natural (the chin resting against a fist is a bit too cliche). Avoid props and elaborate backgrounds.
Once your photos are complete, upload them to Flickr, taking care to save the files under your name, which will help them come up in Google searches. You can also upload them to LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and any blog or web page you may have. Not only will this help build your image, but it will give people a face to put with the name. When you attend events and networking mixers, people may have more familiarity with you because they have already seen your photo. Who knows what sort of boost that could give your career?
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