When you’re first setting up your Twitter account or any other social networking account, one of the things that you need to figure out pretty early on is what picture you’re going to use for your profile or avatar. If you’re using the account strictly for personal reasons what photo you choose just a matter of personal choice. But if you’re using the account for business, you need to be a bit more thoughtful the photo you choose.
Your profile or avatar picture is one of the first things that potential customers see when they visit your Facebook page or Twitter account, so it needs to be something that give them a good impression. So therein lies the dilemma…what should that image be? A picture of your artwork? A picture of yourself? A picture of your company logo? All of these choices have their own benefits:
- a picture of yourself- shows that you’re a real person and allows people to connect with you on a personal level
- a picture of your artwork- gives people a taste of what you create and can stir interest in your artwork
- a picture of your logo- can make you look more professional and can make your account consistent with your brand
What you choose for your photo depends on what kind of impression you want to give to the customers. For example, I have separate Twitter accounts for this blog, my freelance business, and my jewelry business and I use all three methods. The Twitter avatar for this blog is a picture of myself because I want my followers to see me as a real person, while the Twitter avatar for my freelance business is my company logo because I wanted potential clients to see me as a professional business. Finally, I use a photo of my jewelry for the Twitter account I have for my jewelry because I want people to be interested in my jewelry.
So what do you think? What photos do you use for your social networking avatars? And why did you choose it? Leave a comment and let me know!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
You have made some nice distinctions between photo, artwork and logo.
When choosing a photo…it should be a current one. I dislike folks who use a baby photo, of themselves or a glamor shot or one that is 15 years old.
I really like seeing the “real person.” as they are in present time.
I use my fish logo on almost everything except for facebook – and I’m using Snoopy at a typewriter there. The only place you’ll ever see an actual photo of me is places where I have to have a byline when I publish an article. I once had a problem with an internet “friend” who tracked me down to an airport where I was taking flying lessons. I decided then and there — I preferred anonymity.
Nicolette, This is very informative to a computer novice like me. Thank you. Oh, “Angeline-Marie sent me.”