Why do people hide on LinkedIn? Do sales people not realize that LinkedIn is a powerful social networking opportunity? That LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network on the Internet with more than 332 million members?
It always surprises me when I see a LinkedIn profile with no picture. Who are they hiding from? Why do they not want to include their picture? Some pictures are not as professional as maybe I would have. They may be in their wedding gown, holding a stein of beer in their hand, or cropped a loved one out of the picture – but at least they have a picture.
Look, I realize there are people who are pros at using LinkedIn for all kinds of things like prospecting, content sharing and brand awareness, to name a few. Some people spend tons of time – reading content, publishing content, sharing content, liking content, creating discussions, answering others queries – but I am not talking about that. I am talking about the simplest of things: not putting a picture on LinkedIn.
Everyone has at least one good picture of himself or herself. It takes a second to go to your LinkedIn profile, go to edit, add the picture, crop it and viola – you have a picture on LinkedIn.
I know many people, myself included, who cannot take anyone seriously who has not taken those few seconds to add a picture. Why should anyone agree to connect with you? How will I know what you look like when I have to meet with you? I ask again and again – why are you hiding?
Janice Mars, principal and founder of SalesLatitude, is a senior business and sales executive with more than 30 years of experience helping companies build successful sales teams. She has parlayed that experience to help her clients to improve their sales processes, accurately forecast revenues, ensure focus on winnable opportunities, and attain consistent results. View my LinkedIn profile | Twitter
consistent results. View myLinkedIn profile | Twitter
