It’s a common question people have when considering if they should update their professional headshot or not. The reality is, it should be extremely obvious that an up to date headshot for your website, social media and marketing material is extremely important.
Think about yourself as a consumer. How quickly do you jump to conclusions? How quickly do you judge someone by the way they look? Have you ever been to a website and judged the salesperson by their headshot? I bet you have. And if so, that means it’s happening to you as well.
This is why updating your headshot and more importantly, creating a professional quality one, is so vital to the success of your business. This is the world we live in. Ignoring it will ultimately negatively impact your business. Embracing it will help you grow your following and grow your customer base.
Here are some things to consider.
You have 7 seconds to make a first impression.
According to an article by Forbes Magazine, you have 7 seconds to make a first impression. Guess what? That’s what your headshot can do for you. Nowadays, it is your virtual introduction. It will create an almost instantaneous trust or distrust. There is no doubt it’s a double-edged sword.
That’s why it’s so important to invest the time and energy into getting a professional portrait taken. The kicker is, it’s not that expensive. Most high-end photographers will be in the $150-$200 range for a fully edited headshot. Totally worth the investment when you consider what’s at stake.
Branding.
You are your brand. This can’t be the first time you are hearing this. Doctors, lawyers, insurance and real estate agents – you are the face of your companies. People are online. They’re on LinkedIn, websites, social media and more. Are you using your last family vacation picture as your professional headshot? Even worse, are you using some lame iPhone picture? Sure, nothing screams “Spend thousands of dollars with me! I can be trusted!” like a half-assed headshot. Be your brand!
Build Credibility.
At this point, it should be sinking in. A professional headshot lends to your credibility as a professional. Did you know a LinkedIn profile with a picture gets 14 times more clicks? This is a fact and something we should all be concerned with.
Not only will your headshot help you build credibility, it will help give you and your business a more professional look. And we all know, people want to spend money with people they feel they can trust. There is no better way to build instant trust.
If you are interested in making the best first impression possible by updating your headshot, contact us to set something up. We look forward to helping you build the best digital impression possible.