I’ll admit, I love a selfie. The bookcase next to my desk is adorned with photos from various trips and occasions with loved ones to brighten up my home office and make me smile!
But I understand that not everyone is as keen on being photographed. And even fewer feel comfortable sharing their selfies on social media – and that second part, I totally get. Very few of my personal photos end up on social media, on account of me being an extremely private person.
And that’s something I have in common with a lot of our clients. The first thing many of them ask when they sign up to work with us on their social media is: “Do I have to send you lots of selfies? I hate being in photos!”
You’ll be glad to hear that the answer to that question is a resounding “No!”
Here’s the truth: our experience is that posts on LinkedIn that include a compelling image do tend to perform better than text-only posts, but that doesn’t mean that LinkedIn success rides on selfies. In fact, LinkedIn is far more interested in quality posts that add true value to readers in your niche than in generic rules like “always include a selfie”.
So, now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s dive into the different ways you CAN succeed on LinkedIn without ever having to take an awkward selfie.
1. Brand photography can add a personal touch without the awkwardness
If you have brand photographs on your website – professional photos taken specifically for this purpose – these are often a really nice alternative to taking your own photos for social media.
They do add a more polished look compared to a spontaneous selfie and have the added bonus of being taken by a professional photographer who knows how to capture your best side!
You could use brand photos as they come, or add branded graphics such as a text box or your logo in the corner.
This reduces the need for you to take your own photos, while still allowing followers to put a face to a name. So, when they’re ready to reach out to ask for help with their finances, you have already built a rapport with them online.
2. Create branded graphics that become instantly recognisable to your followers
Branded graphics are a lovely way to boost brand recognition across your social media.
By including your brand colours and logo on posts and images, you ensure that followers instantly recognise your posts. It has the added bonus of giving all your marketing a polished, joined-up feel.
Here are some examples of branded graphics we’ve designed for clients on our newsletter bolt-on service Yardstick Membership+ (made with our fictional planning firm Loxley Financial Planning’s branding). See how the graphics add a more personal touch, without requiring you to share a photo?
3. Share photos of your office, workspace, and favourite places instead – anything that’s relevant to your post
Another option that I really like is to share photos you’ve taken of your surroundings. That might be a snap on your way to work, a friendly corner of the office where you have informal meetings, or perhaps your morning coffee from your favourite local cafe.
All of these things help your followers to build a picture of what you and your firm are about. It can also help to build brand awareness in your local area by sharing landmarks that are instantly recognisable by those who live nearby.
I’ve found that photos like this can also be a great conversation starter. Perhaps someone reading the post walks that same way to work or leaves a recommendation for one of the other drinks at the café you stopped at. Just another way to start conversations with the people you want to build relationships with in an authentic and friendly way.
Get in touch
If you’d like to start building your presence on LinkedIn but can’t face the prospect of doing it alone, we’re here to help. Our team has been helping advisers grow their networks on social media since 2022, so whether you’re a selfie queen or more of a behind-the-camera sort of person, we can help you establish yourself online.
Get in touch at hi@theyardstickagency.co.uk to learn more.
