Okay, I’ve stayed silent on this long enough… But as the branding guy, and the founder of our “Stand 4 Your Brand” Revolution, I feel I must speak out: What’s with you folks with no photo??? Invisible people, please, I implore you: Get a head shot and post a photo! Nothing says “ignore me” more than a profile with no photo… Same deal with Twitter, Facebook, your website, etc.

Your photo (or lack thereof) is the first impression your colleagues and clients will have of you. And, just like mom and dad said, first impressions are lasting impressions! Why would you want to be invisible and anonymous? If you’re brand is “the mystery entrepreneur,” then that’s one thing. Otherwise, post a picture, dammit!

Believe it or not, your fellow revolutionaries care about you. We want to know more about you. We’re curious. But with no photo, and no way to put a face to a name, you are “persona non grata.” You literally have no image! You are invisible and, let’s all be brutally honest here, you’re making yourself a second-class citizen when it comes to connecting. (For the record, I will NOT friend people on Twitter or Facebook who don’t have a photo – and I know I’m not alone!)

No excuses. Snap a photo. Take a picture. Post it. Should it be professional? Absolutely. But is a home-made photo better than no photo at all? Yes, it’s a start. I’m sure you’ve seen those little devices called cameras. Use one! Inquiring minds want to know who you are, what you look like, and what you’re all about. That’s nearly impossible if you are one of the “no-show” crowd. Use your cell phone camera, your webcam, your digital camera, whatever you’ve got – just get that photo up!

Seriously, folks… It’s Branding 101. Post your picture and join in crowd…

Stand 4 Your Brand!

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This entry was posted on Saturday, November 14th, 2009 at 12:46 pm and is filed under Internet Marketing, Marketing Planning, Networking. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Lou Bortone is a long-time marketing and branding consultant who helps entrepreneurs build breakthrough brands on the Internet, with services such as copywriting, online video production, coaching and creative support. Lou is a former television executive who worked for E! Entertainment Television and later served as the Senior Vice President of Marketing & Advertising for Fox Family Worldwide, a division of Fox in Los Angeles. Lou is an author and ghostwriter of six business books, a Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach and a Book Yourself Solid Certified Coach. For more information, please visit Lou's website at http://www.OnlineVideoBranding.com