How to make Social Media Profile Photos to Boost Brand Recognition

Consistency goes a long way when building brand recognition among consumers. Following these simple guidelines for how to make social media profile photos will boost your brand recognition, give you a professional look and make you easily identifiable across all your accounts.



Prefer video? Watch 'How to use Social Media Profile Photos to Boost Brand Recognition' on Skyberry's YouTube channel.

What is a profile photo?

Your profile photo is a square or round image used in your social media account to identify you. Your profile photo is the one photo that people will continually see - it is how people recognize you in social media. It is placed alongside any posts or comments you make and shows up in other users searches, messages and notifications.

"Your profile photo is the most prominent image on your social media page and the most viewed image you will upload." Tweet this

Remember to crop your photo for the perfect headshot

How to make profile photos

Follow these general guidelines when creating your profile photo.

Image Size

Use an image with a minimum image size of 400 x 400 pixels, as this is the current, largest size your profile photo will be displayed (currently, only Twitter requires an image this large - other sites will scale your image down to size). Profile photos are always square (the same width and height) so keep this in mind when choosing your photo.

Quality

Use a high quality photo with good color & lighting of high resolution with no fuzziness.

Imagery

Use a headshot with your face being the most prominent part of the photo. Crop large photos if necessary, some social media sites allow you to crop when uploading, others you will need to crop prior to upload. Don't use a shot of the back of your head, people want to see your face. Don't use your pets, kids or family photos. As much as we like to know you are human, shots like these are considered unprofessional for business, save them for your personal accounts.

Consistency

Use the same profile photo for all your social media accounts. Each social media platform may use your profile photo differently, for example profile photos on Facebook are square while Pinterest uses round, but by using the same photo there is no mistaking that each account belongs to the same person.

Tips for Business Owners

If you are a business owner and using social media for business purposes, I recommend a scaled down version of your logo, such as the logos mark, be used as your profile photo. This image should be the same across all your social media accounts to increase your brand recognition.  By having the same profile photo for all your accounts, you are making your business easily recognizable. For instance, users who may follow you on Twitter, could also find you on Facebook and Like your Page because they recognize your brand from your Twitter profile when searching for you. If you had different photos for Twitter and Facebook, the user may not be able to determine if it is the same business.

Example of a business logo (left) and their social media profile photo (right)

Tips for Individuals

If you yourself are your brand, for instance if you are an actor, author, musician or video blogger - you should use a photo of yourself for your profile photo, even if you have a logo because you are the face of your brand. Professional headshots are best with good coloring or a black and white. Also, remember profile photos are often used at very small scales so be sure your face is the most prominent thing in the photo so you are easily recognizable.

Example of where to crop a photo of yourself for your profile photo

Want to know more? Watch the video

Visit Skyberry on YouTube to watch ‘How to use Social Media Profile Photos to Boost Brand Recognition’ presented by Creative Director, Lacey Johnston.