How To Optimize Your LinkedIn® Cover Image

Your cover image is your billboard. It’s one of the most visible personal branding tools available to you.

Fox Tucker

Lesson Introduction

Your Cover Image is prime real-estate On LinkedIn®. Does yours effectively communicate your professional identity or personal brand?

The Importance of Your Cover Image

  • Visual Storytelling: Your cover image can tell a story about your professional journey, aspirations, or the essence of your work.
  • Brand Representation: For entrepreneurs and business professionals, the cover image is a chance to showcase your brand visually.
  • Personal Touch: It adds a layer of personalization, setting your profile apart from others in your industry.

LinkedIn® Premium Notes

On personal LinkedIn® profiles, use one strong cover image. The multi-image rotating cover feature applies to eligible Premium Company Pages, not personal profiles.

Selecting the Right Cover Image

  • Professional and Relevant: Choose an image style that aligns with your profession or industry. It could be an abstract design, a landscape, a workspace, or industry-related imagery.
  • High Quality: The image should be high resolution and appropriately sized for LinkedIn®. The recommended size is 1584 pixels wide by 396 pixels high. LinkedIn® recommends 1584 x 396 pixels. The image can crop differently depending on browser window and screen size, so keep important text and logos away from the edges.
  • Complementary: Ensure the image complements your profile photo without overshadowing it too much. Consider the colors and the overall aesthetic of your profile.
  • Subtle Branding: If applicable, subtly incorporate your brand’s colors, logo, or elements related to your business. Do note that overly promotional cover images can turn people off.

Ideas for Your Cover Image

  • Industry Landscapes: A city skyline for real estate professionals, circuit boards for tech, etc.
  • Professional Achievements: Highlighting awards, a Top Voice Badge, a snapshot from a keynote speech, or a publication cover.
  • Personal Passions: If relevant to your profession, images representing your passions can add a unique touch, like a musical instrument for a music industry professional.
  • Abstract Designs: Simple, professional patterns or designs that add texture without distraction.

Bonus Material

Canva offer 100’s of fantastic designs you can edit and use for Free. The link below shows you a few examples that I have chosen and includes an important guideline. Take a Look…

CONCLUSION

Your profile cover image is more than just a decorative banner; it’s a strategic space to enhance your personal brand and tell your professional story visually. Invest time in selecting an image that represents you authentically and professionally.

Action

Evaluate your current LinkedIn® cover image. Does it effectively communicate your professional identity or brand? If not, take some time to find or create an image that does. Remember, this visual element plays a crucial role in your LinkedIn® profile’s overall impression.

How to Update Your Cover Image

  1. Navigate to your LinkedIn® profile.
  2. Click on the pencil icon in the top right corner of your profile banner to edit.
  3. Click on “Change photo,” upload your new cover image, and adjust as needed.
  4. Once satisfied, click “Apply” and then “Save” to update your profile.
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Digital Marketing Director & Founder of Leaders Social
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Fox Tucker is Digital Marketing Director at Outlook Publishing and founder of Leaders Social. He created more than 40 free LinkedIn® media courses and specialises in LinkedIn® Company Pages, LinkedIn® profiles, digital strategy, SEO and online visibility.