We know that professional relationships are moving from the Rolodex to the social networks. LinkedIn is designed for specifically for business professional networking, while Facebook is a bit more casual. Yet, I do professional networking on Facebook and I'm noticing a number of colleagues are too. I wrote about this in a post called "Just for Fun or Part of Your Professional Work?"
On Facebook, you need to set up an individual profile and if your organization has a presence on Facebook, no doubt you will be representing your organization. (Yes, you can get a business account with features and just log in to administrator your Fan Page). One of the most important decisions you'll be making is selecting a photo to use.
Nick O'Neill, blogger at AllFacebook, has a post that dissects the different styles of photos you commonly see on people's Facebook profiles. It's called "The 30 Standard Facebook Profile Photos." He does a content analysis of the different styles that range from very informal to very professional.
He used my Facebook profile as an example of a "Personal Branding Master." The description:
People that are focused on their personal brand will post photos of themselves during moments of authority. Most often this a photo of themselves speaking at an event or just speaking in general to a group of people. I have to say that I currently fall into this category. That’s because I have tons of friends on Facebook that are affiliated with me through my professional life, not through my personal life.
The other styles appropriate for "professionals" include the professional portrait and "this is me" shot.
What's your photo style? Why did you choose that particular photo for your Facebook profile?
I seem to have a combination. I'm well-established as an authority at my day job as a video and metadata expert at Adobe. One of my less-established lives is as a photographer and Photoshop artist, the other is as a Photoshop instructor. I chose a professional self-portrait wherein my face is obscured by a mask of my own construction, and the whole image has undergone serious post-processing in Photoshop.
It was a fairly conscious choice; it is the most popular image on my Flickr (except for some Creative Commons textures), and it reveals my artistic bent and skills. Among Nick's archetypes, it shares elements with "The Modified Cartoon Portrait," the "I'm a Photographer" (read it), the "Branding Master" (establishing my authority with the art itself), "The professional headshot" (though a flawed one) and, compositionally, the "in a mirror" shot. While it doesn't follow the compositional format of the Branding Master, the photo itself was chosen because it establishes my authority and personal style in an area that I'd like to emphasize.
Posted by: Mike Jennings | March 04, 2009 at 04:09 PM
Quite frankly, I don't have any good, recent photos of myself because I am always the one taking all the pictures. Plus, I never think any of my pictures come out nice anyway.
My Facebook pic should be more professional. You're right. The photo I am using now is one that my hubby recently snapped of me after the Goodwill Industries Charity Event. We were dressed up.
It's okay - but not outstanding. I like the one in the comment thread - how cool is that!
So, it's not for lack of creativity, or lack of resources, just mainly a lack of time. Thanks for the reminder...I do need to get a good photo (or 5) done. After all, it is called "Face"book.
Posted by: Laurel LaFlamme | March 05, 2009 at 12:28 AM
Hi Beth! I totally agree. At first my Facebook profile pic was one of me at a party of with friends, but as I have begun to connect with more and more people professionally on Facebook, I've actually changed the picture to something more neutral - some flowers!
Posted by: Katherine Osgood | March 05, 2009 at 06:59 AM
Funny -- my facebook photo is the same professional headshot I use for everything, but only because I have very few photos of myself -- I'm extremely camera-shy. It took a lot for me to suck it up and have the photo done at all.
And I've been worried that it looks too corporate and stuffy for facebook. Still am.
Posted by: Maryann Devine | March 05, 2009 at 01:00 PM
I got on Facebook for NPCA when it was still college students and you needed an .edu address. Man, I felt - ahem! - old! lol. I chose a photo of me during my Peace Corps service...not only because that's what my presence and communication on Facebook is all about, but because at that time it helped me fit in visually with the then demographic of Facebook. I also had photos of the "current" me if anyone was/is curious there. My LinkedIn profile is a recent photo.
Posted by: Erica Burman, Director of Communications, National Peace Corps Association | March 20, 2009 at 11:44 AM