What Does Your LinkedIn Banner Say About You?
As a career coach, LinkedIn article author and connector of people, I am on LinkedIn a lot. I've earned a bit of a reputation for being obsessed with LinkedIn and started designing LinkedIn banners for friends and family when they asked.
What is a banner?
A professional LinkedIn profile banner is the first image presented to someone when they see your profile. Shouldn't you make it a fantastic one?! Yes, yes you should. So what does that entail? Let’s break it down…
File Type
Banners should be high quality digitals such as PNG files, which show clear and sharp on your profile. Your banner needs to be visually appealing and a high resolution file ensures colors pop and attract the reader’s attention.
Size
LinkedIn recommends that banner or what some refer to as your profile cover image, should be 1584 x 396 pixels. If your image doesn't quite fit those specifications, LinkedIn adjust the image to fit the screen when you upload it and from there you can crop or move it around.
Text
Your banner is another way to show your personality and brand. I like a simple “Hello, let’s connect” as it is simple yet highly effective. It shows you are open to connection and are interested in meeting new people.
Color
Depending on your industry and profession, color can be muted or extreme. I like to have a few different options at the ready so I can easily rotate through different levels of color and design. I change my banner about once a month to keep it fresh and exciting.
Message
If you’re a student or actively seeking a position, there are many ways to attract a recruiter’s attention in the banner section. For students, adding in your major or industry is a very focused and strategic way to show your interests i.e. “Meet the Future of Finance”. Adding in your traits, skills or abilities in your banner is a great way to communicate your expertise in your field.
Parting Words...
Think about the impact your banner image has on your profile. Your LinkedIn banner shouldn't be the most interesting thing about you, BUT, it does set the tone for the rest of the user experience when learning about you, your work and your professional brand.
Having a boring LinkedIn banner is a choice. Don't make that choice.
Related:
Why LinkedIn Isn’t Working For You: 4 Mistakes You Might Be Making Right Now
To Follow or Connect? Simple Tips To Navigating LinkedIn Networking
5 Tips To Elevating Your LinkedIn Profile Headline To Get Noticed Fast
Meet The Writer!
Hi! My name is Nadia Ibrahim-Taney and I help people design happy and fulfilling careers through authentic career coaching. My expertise includes career exploration guidance, resume writing, interview prep and LinkedIn profile optimization. My pronouns are She/ Her/ Hers and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I focus on how diverse identities impact and influence folks holistically and professionally. Please connect with me on LinkedIn or at Nadia@beyonddiscoverycoaching.com
