CentreO Blog

There have been plenty of articles on the topic of “how to choose the best picture for Linkedin” and yet mist of us still choose not to give it the needed attention.

A recent experiment caught my eye, when a company CEO, unable to choose what picture would work the best for him,

Started changing his profile pic regularly for several months and measuring the results (by contact requests, messages and page visits). He finally did find the perfect picture he was looking for, but what was surprising is hoe much of a difference these pictures actually made.

Here are a few interesting tips:

–       the toughest thing is combining the professional with the personal. The picture should represent your company and yet is a picture of you as an individual.

–       Look alive: the worst thing you can do is look tired and worn out in your profile picture. So if you are doing a professional shot, make sure you sleep well, have a good breakfast and channel that positive energy through the camera!

–       Be genuine: when taking a picture, think about something that really excites you about your job. A recent success, a favourite client, an upcoming deal…Whatever it is for you, it will shoe in your eyes, giving them that natural spark of energy and enthusiasm.

–       Don’t get big: a headshot is perhaps the most popular choice for Linkedin pictures. However, avoid doing extreme close-ups, which make your face the ONLY thing in the frame. These pictures may come across as arrogant.

–       Don’t hide: no matter how shy you are about your looks, replacing your face with a silhouette, cartoon character, slogan or logo is not the way to go. No one would trust Bug Bunny with their business, especially online. Showing your face is a big trust factor.

 There are definitely a lot more things to take into account. But the truth is, a different approach would work depending on your industry, Linkedin goal, profession and job title. So why not try a small experiment of your own?

And if you are looking for a professional photo-shot session, do not hesitate to contact us at sales@centreo.hk!

 

Posting interesting and useful updates can be a great treat for your clients and help out with your Google search rankings.

So how often should you update? Different ruleas apply to different companies, industries and social media. But the majority of experts agrees on the following breakdown:

Facebook – 3-4 times a day.

Twitter – around 7 times a day

LinkedIn – 3-4 times a week

Instagram – Around 1-2 times a day

Businesses are also encouraged to invest time in analysing their clients’ habits, as these rule are by far not universal and a tailored approach would work wonders for your company.

So, pay attention to your clients’ social media activity. Which of the posts get the most likes? As what times are your clients most active online? If you are willing to seriously commit to the task, making a chart of your clients’ online activity on different social media pages would help you have perfect timing on your posts.

Anyone who has ever had a dog, would probably (definitely) agree with the popular saying: “A dog is a man’s best friend”.

But some of us would go as far as to say that we can not only be friends with dogs, but we can also learn from them.

A recent article on Entrepreneur.com on the same topic even strengthened my belief.  So what is it that dogs do so much better?

Positive attitude

Dogs seem to have a generally positive outlook on life. They are excited about life in a way that is hard for most of us to understand. They are happy to go out, happy to come home, happy to see a car or a cat and just as happy to find an old tennis ball. And that gives them energy and enthusiasm that we are so eager to have in our business lives.

Lesson to learn: We look for it in yoga, training sessions, meditation and self-help books. But perhaps a simple key to having more enthusiasm at work is being happy about it or working on increasing that level of happiness.

Working smart

Dogs are great at being dogs and they never get lazy. Why? They have plenty of rest and are extremely focused. A dog may sleep through half a day, but when they are “on the job”, their attention is at its peak. They are ready to take commands, run, jump and give it their all.

Lesson to learn: do not overwork yourself. Take your time, rest. But when on the job, give it everything you can.

They live to serve

Not in a bad way, associated with lack of self-confidence. They simply love to see others happy, especially if all it takes is to fetch.

Lesson to learn: When you serve your client from heart, they feel it and respond. A passion for providing the best service is what truly makes a business stand out.

They communicate

Dogs are simply great at getting their feelings across. They wag their tail, growl, follow you if hungry or drop a ball at your feet to play. There is no drama, passive-aggressiveness, hidden feelings or held grudges. What you see is what you get.

Lesson to learn: Communication in business can make or break you. And no matter how hard it sometimes is to be direct, it is often the most effective and honest way to communicate with your colleagues and partners.

They get over things

Dogs make mistakes and are often punished for them. Eating from the garbage can, tearing tissue paper, eating shoes…And the feedback comes quickly and often harshly. But how dot hey take it? They get quiet, they listen and …they move on

Lesson to learn: Criticism and negative remarks can not hold you back. Move on quickly and confidently with as much new knowledge as you can.

So take a closer look at your dog.  And this time do you best to get past the cuteness to the wisdom within.