We all have phones with good cameras, so many of us question the need to pay for professional pictures for our online presence.

The hard truth

Professional profile photography should be at the top of our essential business expenses list.

Here are three reasons to invest in a high-quality professional profile photograph.

  1. First impressions last

The most significant reason you need a professional headshot is to ensure a positive first impression. Research has shown that it takes a tenth of a second to form an image of a person from their face. And the imprint on the brain doesn’t change much regardless of the information that details our career and qualifications.

  1. You represent your brand

Your profile photo represents your brand. Low-quality, amateur photos will communicate the same about your business and services.

  1. Content is king, including your profile photo

When marketing your business online, you’ve probably heard the phrase “content is king.” This has been the case for a while now, and it still holds. But many of us don’t accept that profile photos are a powerful and versatile form of content.

Invest in your future

Whether to get the next job, a new promotion, or a new client, your profile photo represents who you are to your connections. As a result, the possible return on the investment far outweighs the minimal upfront cost of a professional photo.