By Gail Z. Martin
Have you ever gone out to someone’s Facebook or LinkedIn profile only to find a gray outline instead of a photo? That image always reminds me of the people you see on the news who are only shown in profile because they’ve ratted on organized crime and fear for their lives. They’re anonymous because they’re in the Witness Protection Program and they don’t want to be identified.
Those people have a reason to hide, but if you’re on social media for business, you don’t have any excuse. The truth is that people like to do business with people—not with companies, web sites or products. Customers want to meet you out there on Facebook and other sites. They don’t want a photo of your dog or a creative snapshot. They want to get to know a real, live person well enough to trust that person (you) with their money.
Getting to know someone before making a purchase is one way buyers decrease decision risk. That’s why it’s so important to have your photo on your social media profile, and why it’s a great idea to use web audio and video to give even more of a sense of who you are. Your prospect may never meet you in person, but a photo, audio and video can go a long way toward creating a sense of trust and confidence.
Make a commitment to completing your profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other social media pages with a current professional photo and complete business information. You’ll be glad you did!
