how to create customized linkedin backgrounds
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How to Create CustomizedLinkedIn BackgroundsBy John Nemo
Published June 2, 2015
Do you want to stand out on LinkedIn?
Have you added graphics to your profile?
One of the most noticeable changes on LinkedIn inrecent months is the site’s transition to a more visualfocus. Do you have a strong and striking visualpresence using the background image on yourprofile page?
In this article I’ll share a fast, easy, effective way to create a one-of-a-kind,customized background for your LinkedIn profile .
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Discover how to create customized LinkedIn backgrounds.
Custom LinkedIn Background ImagesThe LinkedIn background image is the first thing visitors see when they land on yourprofile, along with your actual profile photo. Images add instant branding, credibilityand trust to your LinkedIn profile.
Neal Schaffer added a catchy background image to increase his visibility and grab the attention of
users w ho visit his LinkedIn profile. View ers know immediately that Neal is an author, a speaker
and a consultant.
If you have a premium (or paid) account, LinkedIn will offer you a large selection ofpre-made, pre-sized images to choose from and use as your background.
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LinkedIn offers a selection of stock background images to users w ho have upgraded to a premium
account.
Another option is to upload a custom image . If you go this route, LinkedIn suggestsyou use a JPG, PNG or GIF under 4MB in size. Recommended resolution is1400 x 425 pixels.
Upload your ow n jpg, png or gif image to LinkedIn
so you can use it as your LinkedIn
profile background.
When you create a customized image, it increases your visibility on LinkedIn. Peoplewill see who you are before they even read a word of text about you.
The Keys to a Killer LinkedIn BackgroundImageVisually convey three critical elements with your background image :
Whom you serve (target audience)What you provide (product or service)
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What makes you different (credibility, authority, approach, etc.)
When you share that information with your background image, the more likely you areto receive positive results and more leads. People who land on your profile will want toconnect, and at some point, do business with you.
For example, Bob Burg is an international bestselling author and public speaker. Heuses his LinkedIn background to brand his book, as well as his personal andprofessional image.
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Bob Burg uses his LinkedIn background as branding for his book and his personal image.
Bob is well-known in business circles for his book, The Go-Giver.
Bob features an image of his book cover prominently in the top left corner of hisbackground image. In the middle he has a couple of key identifying phrases (“KeynoteSpeaker” and “Bestselling Author”). On the far right side of his background image,Bob has a larger, fuller version of his profile photo with him smiling and looking directlyinto the camera.
Through his background image, users are immediately introduced to Bob and his keyofferings.
John Beresford Marshall is an equity investment expert based in Egypt, whosebackground emits a real sense of his image and expertise. It blends everything intoone cohesive visual narrative.
On the far left is an image of John Marshall speaking at an event, which conveys hiscredibility and authority. It also plays well visually, because users will follow his gazetoward the middle of the image, where his key phrases (“Growth Stocks” and “EquityInvesting”) appear.
John Marshall’s background is designed to give his audience a visual sense of his expertise.
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Finally, on the far right is the name of his fund, along with a bright red arrow pointingto the fund’s positive direction via a growth chart. This is something any potentialinvestor will want to see.
Author, business coach and speaker John Michael Morgan has a clean, black-and-white background that exactly conveys what he offers, as well as social proof andcredibility from recognizable clients.
The top line of the image states who he is and what he does. The bottom portion ofthe background has the logos of John’s big-name clients, like Google, Twitter andDreamWorks. If someone is looking for a speaker or business coach with credibility,this guy certainly has it. And users can tell that at a glance.
John Michael Morgan uses a direct (mostly text-based) approach to share his offerings, social
proof and credibility in the background image.
When you’re deciding what to put in your background image, don’t overthink it. Ifyou’re a known author, include your book cover. If your successes can bedemonstrated with a chart, add on. If you have top level clients, use their logos. Youwant to use anything that brings instant credibility and the interest that goes with it.
That said, don’t try to get too cute or creative. Keep your background imagesimple and clear. Above all else, help others figure out who you are, what youoffer and why they’ll want to work with you as quickly as possible.
Closing Thoughts
With more than 360 million members in 200 countries, and two new members joiningevery second, LinkedIn has become a powerhouse social network for professionals.So take advantage of LinkedIn marketing to its fullest.
As LinkedIn has gotten more visual, it keeps getting easier to upload and share
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photos and videos within the news feed, LinkedIn Publisher, media items on the profilepage and more.
However, the LinkedIn background image is still the most important piece of digital realestate on the platform. Add more than just a stock photo or static background behindyour profile picture.
While you can use your favorite image editing tool to create an image that stands out,the examples in this article were created using Youzign.
What do you think? Do you have a background image on your LinkedInprofile? What elements did you include to promote your expertise? Whatsoftware did you use? Has it helped your LinkedIn performance? Please shareyour thoughts and recommendations in the comments.
Tips for creating custom LinkedIn
backgrounds.
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Tags: custom linkedin background, john nemo, linkedin, linkedin background image, linkedin image, linkedin networking, linkedin
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR, John Nemo
Soc ial media consultant John Nemo is the author of LinkedIn
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7 Comments Social Media Examiner
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• Reply •
jemmm200 • 17 hours ago
The samples used are too hardcore "salesy" for my tastes but I agree with the advice. △ ▽
• Reply •
John Nemo • 14 hours ago> jemmm200
Thanks @jemm200 - I certainly understand how people decide to explain/share/promote/visually representthemselves on LinkedIn or other networks is of course up to each individual. But glad you found the posthelpful! :)
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• Reply •
Cypher - Mass Planner • 17 hours ago
I have never really thought of this and didn't know that this feature exist. I will try it out on my LinkedIn profile. ThanksJohn
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• Reply •
John Nemo • 14 hours ago> Cypher - Mass Planner
You bet @Cypher - Mass Planner! Glad you enjoyed the post and excited to see what you come up with! △ ▽
Luca Leonardini • 16 hours ago
Thank you John, I love this post, I find it very useful. It's important to think about a great banner image.
I went to check all the profiles and they seem a bit "photoshop adjusted" in their real dimensions. I have created myLinkedIn background image, but I certainly do not have the same height space available I see in the suggested profileimages: the space I have it's much thinner therefore it's more difficult to optimize it with graphic elements or with text.
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• Reply •
I really would love to read another post that explains how to use the full height size of the LinkedIn background image.;-)
For your information, my background image was made with Canva. △ ▽
• Reply •
John Nemo • 14 hours ago> Luca Leonardini
Hi @Luca Leonardini! I used Youzign to create those images and sized them 1400x425 for the standardLinkedIn background ... keep in mind too that "how" your header image looks for you will be DIFFERENT ifyou are looking at it on your own (from your "Edit Profile" page, etc.) versus how someone else sees it! Icovered that in the video demo linked at the end of this post as well because that can confuse people. Theclosest way to see how your LI profile header will "look" to others is to log in as someone else on LinkedIn (ifyou can) and then view your profile, or else click the "View Profile As" button while in your Edit Profile pageand that will give you a pretty good idea of how your profile header image will render. I will say too dependingon your browser type/computer or device/window size and other factors the header image can renderdifferently. It takes a bit of trial and error too, and typically I'll keep Youzign open and make small tweaks in theactual file (resizing graphics, making font smaller, etc.) as needed based on how the LinkedIn profile "looks"on the actual LinkedIn page. Hope that helps!
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• Reply •
Luca Leonardini • 2 hours ago> John Nemo
Hi @John Nemo! Thank you so much for your answer: it surely helps. I will immediately try toimprove my LinkedIn background image.
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