Social Media Profile Picture: How to Make a Great First Impression

Summary

In this video, Erin Murray from Alpha M discusses the importance of a well-chosen profile picture on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. She emphasizes the need for discretion and consistency in online presence, as first impressions can significantly impact job prospects and dating opportunities. She also introduces a website, picktricks.com, for enhancing profile pictures.

Takeaways

• 😀 First impressions in both job and dating markets are crucial and are now often formed through social media profiles.
• 🔍 Social networking profiles and the pictures you post can significantly impact your chances in the job market or dating scene.
• 🤔 Discretion is key when posting pictures or being tagged in images on social media, as these can affect your personal brand.
• 👔 For LinkedIn, a professional profile picture is essential, similar to dressing for a job interview.
• 👕 Facebook and Twitter profile pictures should be less formal than LinkedIn but still convey a put-together image.
• 🧳 Consistency across all social media platforms is important; your image should not drastically differ from one platform to another.
• 💼 Your social media persona should align with your personal brand and the image you want to project to potential employers or partners.
• 🚫 Be cautious of what you post, as every action and image can have consequences and affect your opportunities.
• 👀 Consider the message your profile picture sends, as it is often the first snapshot people have of who you are.
• 🛠️ There are services like Pick Tricks that can help enhance your profile picture by making edits and adjustments to improve its impact.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Erin Murray's discussion in the video?

Erin Murray's discussion in the video focuses on the importance of creating a positive and professional social networking persona, particularly through the use of appropriate profile pictures on platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

Why is the first impression on social media important according to Erin Murray?

The first impression on social media is important because it often precedes physical meetings, and people form opinions about you based on your profile picture and the content you post. This can impact your personal and professional relationships, including potential dating and job opportunities.

What does Erin suggest as the 'Alpha M word of the day'?

The 'Alpha M word of the day' suggested by Erin is 'discretion'. This implies that individuals should be cautious and thoughtful about the images and information they post on social media.

How does Erin describe the potential negative impact of social media on personal and professional life?

Erin describes that social media can be a double-edged sword. While it allows people to connect and network, it also exposes them to the risk of having unflattering or inappropriate images and information posted about them, which can lead to undesirable consequences such as embarrassment or damage to their reputation.

What advice does Erin give regarding privacy settings on social media?

Erin advises that while having tight privacy settings on your own profile is good, it's also important to consider the privacy settings of your friends, as they can affect what others see when they tag you in posts.

What should be the appearance of a LinkedIn profile picture according to Erin?

A LinkedIn profile picture should be professional, similar to how one would dress for a job interview. It is recommended to wear a shirt and jacket, and to keep visible accessories and facial hair groomed and conservative.

How does Erin compare the professionalism of profile pictures on Facebook and Twitter to LinkedIn?

Erin suggests that while the profile pictures on Facebook and Twitter do not need to be as formal as those on LinkedIn, they should still be put together and consistent with the professional image one wants to present.

What is the importance of consistency in social media profiles according to Erin?

Consistency in social media profiles is crucial as it helps in projecting a unified personal brand. Inconsistency can confuse viewers and may not effectively convey the image one wants to portray.

What is the website Erin mentions for improving profile pictures and what services does it offer?

Erin mentions a website called 'picktricks.com'. This site allows users to upload a picture and have it edited by Photoshop experts to improve it. Services include fixing issues like blinking, lazy eyes, or removing unwanted people from a photo, all for a fee of five dollars.

What is the additional grooming secret Erin plans to share in the next video?

In the next video, Erin plans to share a grooming secret about the best men's hair styling product he has ever used.

Outlines

00:00

😎 The Impact of Profile Pictures on First Impressions

Erin Murray from Alpha M discusses the importance of making a good first impression in both the job market and dating scene, emphasizing that social media profiles often serve as the initial point of contact. He advises using discretion in posting pictures of oneself, especially when tagged by friends, due to the potential for unflattering images to negatively impact one's personal brand. Murray highlights the double-edged nature of social media, where it can be a tool for networking but also a source of unintended consequences. He suggests that privacy settings alone are not enough, as friends' settings can affect what is visible to others. The video aims to guide viewers on how to present themselves appropriately on social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, aligning their online persona with their personal brand.

05:00

🤓 Grooming and Profile Picture Tips for Success

Continuing the discussion on social media presence, Erin Murray shares insights on how to choose the right profile picture for different platforms. For LinkedIn, he recommends a professional look akin to a job interview, suggesting a shirt and jacket with conservative styling. For Facebook and Twitter, the advice is to maintain a consistent and put-together appearance, without being as formal as on LinkedIn. Murray stresses the importance of considering every action and picture posted online, as they can have consequences on one's opportunities for success. He also teases an upcoming video with a grooming secret and introduces a website, picktricks.com, that offers affordable photo editing services to enhance profile pictures or fix imperfections in images.

Keywords

💡First Impression

First impression refers to the initial perception one forms about a person or thing, which can significantly influence subsequent interactions. In the video's context, it emphasizes the importance of the profile picture on social media as it often serves as the first impression for potential employers or romantic interests before a physical meeting occurs. The script mentions, 'that first impression is coming along before you ever meet the individual due to social networking.'

💡Social Networking

Social networking encompasses the use of digital platforms to connect and interact with others. The video discusses how social networking plays a crucial role in modern society, both in professional and personal realms. It is highlighted as a platform where one's image can be assessed before direct interaction, as Erin states, 'you never get a second chance to make that first impression but nowadays that first impression is coming along before you ever meet the individual due to social networking.'

💡Profile Picture

A profile picture is a personal photograph used to represent an individual on social media platforms. The video underscores the significance of a well-chosen profile picture, as it can influence others' perceptions and opportunities. Erin discusses how a profile picture can 'determine whether you get a date or a job,' urging viewers to be selective in the images they choose to present to the world.

💡Consistency

Consistency in the context of the video relates to maintaining a uniform image or brand across different social media platforms. It is important for individuals to ensure that their online persona aligns with their personal brand to avoid confusion or misrepresentation. Erin advises, 'all of your profiles need to be consistent,' highlighting the importance of a cohesive image in portraying oneself authentically and professionally.

💡Personal Brand

Personal brand is the unique set of attributes, values, and experiences that define an individual in a professional or social setting. The video discusses the concept of personal branding in relation to social media, where one's image and content reflect their brand. Erin states, 'everything has a brand... we as individuals are no different,' emphasizing the need to curate a social media presence that aligns with one's desired personal brand.

💡LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that is highlighted in the video as a place where a conservative and polished profile picture is essential. Erin suggests that a LinkedIn profile picture should resemble a job interview look, indicating the platform's professional nature and the importance of making a good impression in a business context.

💡Facebook

Facebook is a social networking site that is mentioned in the video as one of the platforms where individuals need to be mindful of their profile picture and overall online presence. While it may not require the same level of formality as LinkedIn, it still plays a role in shaping one's personal brand, as Erin points out the need for consistency across social media platforms.

💡Twitter

Twitter is another social media platform discussed in the video, where the profile picture and the content shared can contribute to an individual's personal brand. Erin groups Twitter with Facebook in terms of the level of professionalism required in the profile picture, indicating the importance of a balanced approach to self-presentation on this platform.

💡Grooming

Grooming in the video refers to the process of maintaining a neat and polished appearance, particularly in the context of profile pictures on social media. Erin advises viewers on the importance of grooming for profile pictures, suggesting that facial hair should be well-groomed or shaved and that one's hairstyle should be conservative for a LinkedIn profile picture.

💡Discretion

Discretion is the quality of being careful and prudent, especially in matters involving personal information or images. The video emphasizes the need for discretion in choosing which pictures to post on social media and in managing tags from friends. Erin uses the term when advising viewers to be selective about the images they allow to represent them online, noting the potential consequences of unflattering or inappropriate pictures.

💡Picktricks

Picktricks is a website mentioned in the video that offers photo editing services to enhance or alter profile pictures. Erin introduces the service as a solution for fixing imperfections in a favorite picture, such as removing an undesired person or correcting a blinking eye, which can be crucial for maintaining a polished online image.

Highlights

The importance of first impressions in both the job and singles market is emphasized.

Social networking profiles and pictures are often the first impression people have of you.

Profile pictures can eliminate you as a potential date or job before you meet someone.

The word of the day is 'discretion', which should be used in social media interactions.

Unflattering pictures posted by friends can negatively impact your image.

Privacy settings on social media are crucial, but also consider your friends' settings.

Examples of unintended consequences of social media posts are provided, such as inappropriate pictures ending up on porn sites.

Blocking your profile or hiding it completely is not recommended as it defeats the purpose of social networking.

The profile picture is crucial as it forms the basis of your personal brand.

LinkedIn profile pictures should be professional, similar to a job interview.

Consistency is key across all social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter.

Every action and picture posted on social media has consequences and should be thought through.

The speaker will share a grooming secret and the best men's hair styling product in the next video.

A website called Pick Tricks is introduced for fixing profile pictures and other photo issues.

Pick Tricks allows users to upload a picture, make changes, and download it for a small fee.

The service is not limited to profile pictures but can also fix other photo issues like blinking eyes or unwanted people in the picture.

The website is described as a cool and useful tool for enhancing personal images on social media.

Transcripts

hello I'm Erin Murray no from alpha M

and I don't have to tell you you know

already how ultra-competitive

it is out there in the job and singles

market you also know that you never get

a second chance to make that first

impression but nowadays that first

impression is coming along before you

ever meet the individual due to social

networking now you don't even get the

chance to dazzle them with your charming

ass personality because they've already

eliminated you for a potential date or a

potential job simply based on the

profile picture that you chose to use

and so I thought it'd be a good idea to

talk about your social networking

persona and the pictures you're using

tagging and posting alright so the first

thing we're going to talk about today

are the pictures you post of yourself in

your food we're also going to include

pictures that you tagged and/or tagged

in all right so the Alpha M word of the

day is discretion same with me people

discretion you need to start using it

you also need to start using it for your

friends who have the uncanny ability to

tag you in some unflattering situations

you need to use discretion when it comes

to any picture that is of you on social

media because as it turns out social

media is a double-edged sword on one

hand it's fun it allows you to connect

with long-lost friends and more and more

people are using it to network and look

for jobs and all no flip side people are

posting information and pictures about

themselves and their friends for the

world to see and sometimes those

unintended consequences are less than

desirable and I know that some of you

are like you know up I'm cool bro my

privacy settings are tight and that's

great but you don't know what your

friends privacy settings are and you

hear it all the time some girl all upset

because she flashed her boobies somebody

snapped the picture its up on somebody's

page or tag or whatever and it ends up

on some porn site right and she's like

oh my god I had no idea my dad's going

to see it well yeah he is going to see

it says the whole world next time before

you flash your boobs for a string of

beads you may want to read the fine

print genius and who blocks their

profile completely other than my

psycho ex-girlfriend Janice and if you

see Janice or her friends with her tell

her I'm sorry about the cat it was an

accident we were perfect

besides totally hiding or blocking your

profile sorta defeats the whole purpose

of social networking and so if nothing

else you have a profile picture that is

public that everybody can see alright so

now let's talk about that sexy-ass

profile picture and the message that

it's sending all right like we said in

the beginning of the video that first

impression people are forming opinions

of you when they first meet you but now

it's happening long before they actually

physically meet you it's based solely on

that picture that image that you're

projecting or presenting for them to get

a picture a snapshot of who you are it

might be a potential boyfriend or

girlfriend but it also may be an

employer and you only have one shot to

get it right think of it like your

personal brand everything has a brand we

as individuals are no different and we

need to make sure that your social media

and social networking persona is in line

with the brand that you are trying to

present three sites we're going to talk

about are going to be MySpace just

kidding Facebook LinkedIn and Twitter

the first thing we're going to talk

about is going to be LinkedIn this

profile picture you need to look like

you're going on a job interview because

in most cases it is shirt I jacket are

recommended pants are definitely

optional if you're wearing visible

accessories take them out your hair it

needs to be fixed and I would err on the

side of conservative if you currently

wear a spiky style tone it down a little

bit just for this picture as far as

facial hair I would recommend shaving

for the picture but if you won't do it

if you don't want to do it then make

sure that you are groomed to polish

perfection I would say that Facebook and

Twitter about even as far as the

professionalism of them now you don't

necessarily need to have a profile

picture as dressy or as dressed up as

your LinkedIn but at the same time you

want to make sure that you are put

together remember all of your profiles

need to be consistent you can look like

a schoolboy and Linkedin but then a

facebook you're doing a keg stand you

fail consistency it really comes down to

being consistent you take time and

energy putting the best

package you can to go face the world

conquer the world you need to put the

same time and energy into developing a

social media persona or presence don't

just throw any open you got to think

about it every action that you have

every picture that you post has a

consequence you need to think it through

before you post it I really just want

you to be successful to achieve

everything that you want to achieve and

I don't want anything standing in your

way and something as simple as a profile

picture or a picture of you that is less

than flattering needs to be addressed

because that could be the difference

between you achieving and you're not

achieving and I don't want you missing

out on any opportunities so gentlemen I

also don't want you to miss out on what

I'm going to talk about next week I'm

going to share a little grooming secret

the best men's hair styling product I

have ever used so make sure to tune in

so you two can have wano hair

end on a related and super awesome side

note I also found a website that might

help you out in the profile picture

selection you got a picture that you

love but there's just something wrong

with it well now there's a place where

you can go to get it fixed the site is

called pick tricks and you upload a

picture it sends it off to some expert

in Photoshop they change what you want

changed and you can specify anything

they send it back to you if you like it

you pay five dollars you download it

seriously five bucks and it comes back

to you in 24 hours but the site's cool

it's not just for profile pictures any

pay you got a picture where you and all

your boys and everybody looks great

except you cuz you're half blinking it

looks like you got a lazy eye or maybe

you have a lazy eye it can fix it just

tell them fix the lazy eye you got a

picture in that ex-girlfriend of you

cheated with your boy and you're like I

dude you look awesome but she's in it

you can get rid of it

yeah I'm telling you it's so super cool

here are some other examples of things

they can do

pink tricks calm supercooled site

supercooled company link below