How to create a background image for your LinkedIn Profile

I do not personally utilise my Background Image on LinkedIn. I still think of the Background Image as a ‘corporate’ identity feature and I am somewhat reluctant to personalise this too much. However, for the right individual personalising their LinkedIn Background Image can improve their personal brand and help their profile standout. A great example is writers/authors – the right background image (usually tied in with their other social media profiles for consistency) can work very well.

What Background Image should I use?

When choosing a LinkedIn Background Image this should (for maximum benefit) match your overall personal brand and be consistent with your other social media profiles while still being unique. If you are self-employed you can use your company’s logo and tagline. However if you are an employee and you want the image to reflect YOU it can be a bit more difficult. Usually your image should be professional with a bit of personality while still reflecting what you do (which is why some people struggling finding a good image to match their profile). The examples I usually see on LinkedIn are:

• Images of products that the individual sells or produces
• Images of office building or interior of office building
• a team photo
• graphic or illustration
• Picture of individual doing a presentation

Now, let’s create the background image.

Interested? Once again need yet another different sized image – this time the image can be an image file (JPG, PNG or GIF) less than 8MB and is 1400 x 425 pixels.

Need help creating an image? Read: 5 easy ways to create a brillant background for your LinkedIn Profile

Editing the Background Image is simple. Go to your LinkedIn Profile and select edit profile – at the time of writing there is an ‘add a background photo’ button that comes up at the top of the profile page where the Background Image would other wise be. Click on this and it will give you an option to upload your own personal image from your computer. Just select the background image you want and click on upload to load your preferred image.

As mentioned about the optimum size for the image is 1400 x 425 pixels but you should remember that on a smaller screen size or device may alter how the image is viewed. Therefore if it is important that a particular element of the image is visible you should give it a test run.