What should I put as my LinkedIn background?

A well-designed LinkedIn profile with an eye catching profile picture can help build your credibility in front of potential employers or clients. A good LinkedIn background photograph also helps in building trust between other members. So what does it take to have a great looking LinkedIn background? What kind of settings do you need to set up if you want to create a perfect background for LinkedIn? Can you use any free images to style your own profile picture? Let’s find out!

There are many ways to get started with your LinkedIn profile – whether you prefer using one of the existing templates provided by LinkedIN or creating your own from scratch. If you don't know how to go about creating your profile, we've got all the information you'll ever need in our guide to setting up a new LinkedIn account.

If you're planning on sharing your LinkedIn profile on social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, be sure to check our list of top tips to ensure your profile looks its very best. You might even consider making a video introduction instead - this way you can show off your personality while giving prospective employers more insight into who you are as a person.

What background should I choose for LinkedIn?

The first thing you need to decide when choosing your LinkedIn background is where exactly you would like to place your background image. There are two main options available on LinkedIn to pick from depending on which version of the platform you are using. The older version has square profiles whereas the newer version features rectangular ones. For the purposes of designing a nice LinkedIn background, there isn't much difference between them. However, some people may find themselves preferring the rectangular format because they feel it gives their profile room to breathe better than the smaller squares.

You could always resize your chosen image after uploading it onto LinkedIn so that you end up with something similar to the following example:

This makes your image appear larger without losing quality. It also means that you won't run into issues with cropping your image later on down the line. Just remember though not to upload anything too large – otherwise your image will look pixelated.

What is the best background color for LinkedIn?

Once you've decided on the right dimensions for your LinkedIn background, you next need to think about the colors you'd like to pair it with. Your choice of background color will depend largely upon the colors used throughout your entire profile page. Generally speaking, dark colors such as black, gray, navy blue, brown and olive green tend to work best with LinkedIn backgrounds. Try to avoid light shades like pink, yellow and orange as these will clash with the rest of your profile.

However, if you really want to use a lighter shade then at least try to keep it away from the text fields. White or silver backgrounds work well here but again make sure to stick to darker hues around the edges and corners. And finally, be careful not to overdo it with bright colors – especially red and purple. These colors may attract attention elsewhere on your profile page (especially if you have a lot of endorsements).

Should I put a background photo on LinkedIn?

As mentioned above, having a beautiful LinkedIn profile background allows you to showcase your skills and experience in a unique way. But why stop there? After all, your profile is essentially an online portfolio showcasing everything that makes you awesome as a candidate. Why shouldn't your LinkedIn background reflect your creativity and professionalism as well?

It turns out there are several different ways you can add a little extra sparkle to your LinkedIn background. One option is to simply crop a part of your original image and paste it onto a fresh canvas. This creates a seamless transition between the two photos and doesn't require any additional editing. Another alternative is to use a collage app like PicMonkey to layer multiple pictures together before adding effects and filters. This method requires no special software knowledge or technical expertise which makes it ideal for those who aren't familiar with Photoshop.

Here are few examples of stunning LinkedIn background designs created solely through apps and tools:

While none of these solutions are particularly difficult to implement, they do require time and effort. Which brings us neatly back to our earlier question regarding what kind of time commitment you plan to give to your LinkedIn profile design. Depending on the amount of time you dedicate to tweaking your LinkedIn background, you may wish to invest in either paid services or premium versions of certain apps.

For instance, Unsplash offers a range of high resolution stock photography for only $0.99 per download. Once downloaded, you can apply various filters and change the brightness, contrast, saturation, hue, etc. to suit your needs. Alternatively, you could spend just a couple dollars on PicsArt ($4.95) and create a whole collage from scratch. In addition to this, you can easily edit your LinkedIn profile background directly within the app itself rather than going through another third party tool.

Another interesting idea comes courtesy of the popular website Reddit. Users submit their favorite LinkedIn profile backgrounds for others to view and critique. As you browse through the site, you'll notice that most users opt to post screenshots taken straight from their LinkedIn accounts. While this obviously saves you a bit of time and effort, it's worth noting that the uploaded images often lack sufficient details. They also tend to be quite small in terms of file sizes as compared to those saved locally.

But regardless of which method you choose to use, remember that nothing beats practice. It takes less than five minutes to shoot and share a decent LinkedIn background photo. All you need is a smartphone camera capable of taking clear images in good lighting conditions. Then sit back, relax and enjoy watching your followers' reactions.

What is the best type of profile picture for LinkedIn?

LinkedIn uses the same basic profile layout across both desktop and mobile devices. That said, the overall appearance of each device differs slightly due to screen resolutions and browser functionality.

The biggest differences lie in the width and height of your photo. On desktop computers, your profile image appears centered horizontally and vertically. On tablets and smartphones however, they appear side-by-side. You can adjust the placement of your photo accordingly by clicking "edit" under each section.

Aside from adjusting the center alignment, there aren't any other major changes made to your profile pic on mobile. You can click anywhere inside your picture frame to zoom in or out. Additionally, you can rotate your image clockwise or counterclockwise using your finger.

With all this being said, it's important to note that your profile photo plays a vital role in how your audience perceives your identity. Make sure you select an appealing shot that accurately represents who you are. Remember, you can never go wrong with a portrait orientation, as opposed to landscape.

And now that you've found the right fit for your LinkedIn profile, let's move on to finding the best color combination to match your background.

One of the first things people see when they land on your LinkedIn profile page is your background or "cover" photo. It’s an important part of any social media platform because it represents who you are professionally and personally. And if you don't know what to do with yours, here’s how to find inspiration and get started.

LinkedIn has some pretty strict guidelines about what makes a good cover photo—it needs to be at least 1,200 pixels wide by 720 pixels high. The file must also be in PNG format and not larger than 2MB. If you're looking for something more creative, there are plenty of sites dedicated to free LinkedIn profiles that will give you a blank canvas to start from. If this isn't quite right for you, consider these tips next time someone asks you which color background is best for LinkedIn.

What color background is best for LinkedIn?

The truth is, no one really knows. There are too many variables involved, including the colors used on your computer monitor and whether or not you've adjusted them since installing Windows 7. So let me ask you another question instead: What color works well for your business card? Or maybe even better yet, what color looks nice against your skin? Those two examples represent just a few of the possibilities available to you, but remember, anything goes!

In general though, most people prefer a light-colored background. This is especially true of those applying for jobs where they'll need to show their resume online before an interview takes place. But keep in mind that different types of work require completely different approaches. For example, if you want to showcase your skills in graphic design, then using dark colors such as black, navy blue, or gray may look great. On the other hand, if you're an accountant, then pastel shades might be more appropriate.

It all depends on what type of job you're applying for and how much information you'd like prospective employers to dig into after seeing your LinkedIn profile. In fact, some companies actually discourage employees from putting photos up because they think it could distract from the content itself. That said, studies suggest that having a photo on your LinkedIn profile increases your chances of getting hired.

Does LinkedIn background photo matter?

As far as I'm concerned, yes—I always include one on every single one of my LinkedIn profiles. At the very least, it shows potential clients that I care enough about my career to take the extra step of putting together a professional profile. You never know when someone might search your name online and stumble upon your LinkedIn profile. Plus, while the majority of users won't click through to read beyond the headline, they still see your header image. After all, it's often the only thing that catches their eye.

That being said, you shouldn't feel pressured to create a full-blown portfolio. Instead, choose a simple background that highlights your experience and accomplishments without going overboard. A solid background can help set you apart from others in your industry and inspire confidence among future colleagues. As long as it doesn't detract from your message, go wild!

Should you have a background photo on LinkedIn?

Yes! Whether you decide to upload a new background each month, change your background weekly, or simply stick with the same image year round, you'll benefit from adding variety to your profile. Remember, we live in a digital world now, so why would you settle for less? Even if you decide to stay consistent, changing up your background gives you flexibility to update whenever you feel inspired. No matter what you choose, though, it's always worth considering the impact your choice will have.

For instance, if you pick a bright color, you might unintentionally send the wrong signal to certain viewers. After all, if you're trying to appear successful, wouldn't a darker backdrop reflect that success? Conversely, if you opt for a neutral tone, you risk making people wonder what else you've got hiding under there. Either way, you want to avoid sending conflicting messages.

On top of that, you want to ensure that your chosen image fits within LinkedIn’s official standards. Since the site uses a square shape (1,200 x 720) rather than a rectangle (960 x 540), you'll probably end up cropping off parts of your image depending on its proportions. Keep in mind that images uploaded in JPG format tend to lose quality over time as people save them to their hard drives. To prevent this problem, try uploading your files in GIF or PNG formats.

With that in mind, here are ten ideas for your LinkedIn background that can reinforce your professional value and personal brand.

A personal portrait

An inspirational quote

Your company logo

Your favorite hobby

A recent accomplishment

Something funny/interesting

A travel destination

A memorable event

Any combination of the above

Whatever you choose, remember that your main goal is to convey the essence of who you are. While the specifics might vary based on your industry, your desired audience, and your desired result, the overall idea remains constant. Think about the person behind the screen. How does he or she communicate? Is the message clear and concise, or is it cluttered and confusing? Does the language match his or her personality? All of these questions affect how your LinkedIn background photograph will come across.

And in case you were wondering, you can always add text to your LinkedIn background. However, doing so requires a separate account for your personal branding efforts. You'll also need to submit a request to LinkedIn requesting permission to use their copyright material. Once approved, you’ll receive access to several tools designed specifically for creating custom layouts. Some allow you to write directly onto your background, while others offer additional options like adding links and videos. Whatever you decide, it's always wise to consult with experts before jumping into the deep end.

This article was originally published in February 2020 and updated regularly. We strive to bring you the latest articles relevant to our readers.

1) A picture of a book

This classic cover will remind you of books you read in school and inspire you to use this image on other platforms.

It also works great as a blog header or website banner. Try placing it at the top of your Facebook page and Twitter bio too!

If you're not sure where to start, try asking some friends about their favorite authors so you can take a look at the covers of those books. You may even be able to identify one of these authors by looking through old library catalogs online.

Now that you've got a good idea of where to go from there, let's move onto our next suggestion...

If you're looking to get hired or land more job offers in this day and age of technology, it is important to make sure your online presence stands out from the crowd. That means making sure your LinkedIn profile looks great - which includes choosing an appropriate background.

There are two ways to set up your LinkedIn account -- either with no background at all or one that features a default grey-blue gradient pattern. However, if you want to really stand out among other candidates, there are plenty of options available when it comes to setting up a custom background on your LinkedIn profile.

Whether you have a basic profile or a premium version, here we'll go over some essential tips for creating a perfect LinkedIn background so you can showcase your skills. And remember, not only does having a good LinkedIn background help you look like a serious candidate but it also helps boost your chances of getting hired faster too!

Should you add a background on LinkedIn?

A lot of people start off their profiles without any kind of background because they think it doesn't matter what they choose since everyone else has one already. But adding a background to your LinkedIn profile shows potential employers that you care about how you present yourself online. Plus, even if you don't use it often, a background adds visual interest to a dull profile page. It gives your profile a sense of personality and creates a unique aesthetic appeal.

You may find that many companies offer free backgrounds that can be used on your profile. If you'd rather pay for something than have them provided by LinkedIn itself, check out these sites that let you create high quality images:

Unsplash (Free)

Canva ($5/month)

Pixabay ($10/image)

But if you would prefer a professionally-made background, then consider using a service such as Canva, Pixabay, Unsplash, or Getty Images. You can easily upload photos into those platforms, edit them however you see fit, and download them once ready. These websites come with millions of stock images for you to pick from and they're easy to customize. So if you need a specific type of image, you won't struggle finding it.

And just like anything else, there are pros and cons to doing it yourself versus hiring someone else. Sometimes, depending on where you work, it might be difficult to bring in outside contractors. Also, if you do decide to hire a designer, keep in mind that most freelancers charge a flat rate per project, regardless of how much time it takes. This could mean paying upwards of $100 for a simple design change. On top of that, you'll still need to spend money on editing services and hosting costs too. The bottom line is that while outsourcing isn't always ideal, it can save you money in the long run.

Should you put a background on LinkedIn?

Yes. Even though you shouldn't feel pressured to show off every single part of your life on LinkedIn, including a full resume is still extremely important. Your LinkedIn profile serves as a place where you can highlight relevant details about your education, employment history, experience, and achievements. A well-thought-out career summary goes hand-in-hand with your overall LinkedIn profile to give potential clients a complete idea of who you are and why you're qualified for the role.

So yes, you absolutely should include a LinkedIn background on your profile. Just know that you shouldn't fill your entire profile with one huge photo. Instead, try incorporating multiple smaller ones to break things up instead. For example, you could take three different pictures and arrange them side-by-side to form a collage-like effect. Or you could crop each individual piece separately and stick them together in Photoshop. Whatever method you choose, it needs to be consistent throughout your whole profile.

Also, make sure you've got everything covered before uploading your new profile. Check your email inbox first to ensure that you didn't miss any critical information, then review your phone messages and voicemails. Make sure you answer any questions that were left behind, otherwise it can affect your application process negatively.

Finally, make sure to follow our guide on how to optimize your LinkedIn profile and maximize its effectiveness. We cover everything from optimizing your headline to writing compelling content sections, plus we share valuable tips for improving your network and building relationships with others.

What should be your LinkedIn background?

Now that we've gone through several reasons why you should definitely put a LinkedIn background on your profile, we can move onto figuring out exactly what that background should look like. There are tons of possible styles out there, ranging from minimalist designs to bright colors and bold patterns. Let's explore some of the common types of backgrounds that you can use.

White Backgrounds

Sometimes called "neutral", white backgrounds aren't necessarily boring. They can actually convey a sense of calmness to your profile. In fact, studies suggest that white backgrounds tend to increase productivity levels and reduce stress amongst employees. It makes sense, then, that you'd want to use a similar style on your own profile.

However, you may want to avoid going completely white because it can look cold and sterile. To balance out the monotony, you can play around with light blue tones to give the appearance of daylight. Another option is to pair the white backdrop with a darker shade underneath. Doing so provides contrast between the two shades to visually draw attention to both areas.

Monochromatic Colors

Another popular choice for backgrounds is black and white photography. Black backgrounds usually depict a solemn mood whereas white backgrounds typically portray a feeling of peace. As such, they're especially effective when paired with dark hues. Try pairing a neutral gray tone with a deep red hue for instance, or maybe even a purple.

In addition to providing a calming vibe, a monochrome background can also serve as a powerful tool to emphasize certain keywords within your profile. For example, if you specialize in software development, you could incorporate elements of code into your profile design. Or perhaps you worked at NASA during college and want to point out that you graduated from MIT. Either way, you can achieve the desired impact by highlighting key phrases in various parts of your profile.

Gradients

If you're trying to go for a clean and minimalistic look, gradients are a fantastic alternative. Simply select a solid color, then drag across a line to gradually blend it with another color. Gradient backgrounds allow you to display a variety of textures within your profile while still maintaining a cohesive theme.

For example, you could mix different shades of green together to represent nature, or you could combine orange with yellow to signify warmth and cheerfulness. With a few tweaks, you can turn your boring standard LinkedIn background into a gorgeous masterpiece.

Patterned Backdrops

One last type of background worth mentioning is the patterned backdrop. Because they're very textural, they're often associated with modern art. And unlike traditional backdrops, they're often filled with vibrant color combinations.

To pull off a patterned background, you simply need to print a copy of the shape onto paper and cut it out. Then you can paste it onto your computer screen and position it wherever you desire. Patterned backdrops are particularly useful for showing off logos and company names.

The sky's the limit with this technique. By combining different shapes, sizes, and patterns, you can create countless variations. So whether you want to show off your passion for fashion, your appreciation for science, or your entrepreneurial spirit, patterned backgrounds are just right for you.

Is a LinkedIn banner necessary?

No. While adding a background to your profile can improve your visibility, it's not required. After all, you always have access to your profile via desktop, mobile app, and web browser. So unless you're worried that potential employers won't recognize your name, there's nothing wrong with sticking to a plain old profile layout.

That said, you probably do want to invest in a stylish logo or header. Not only does it provide additional branding opportunities, but it will attract more visitors to your profile for the sole purpose of checking out your logo.

Plus, if you'd like to impress future colleagues, bosses, and co-workers, adding a signature to your email signatures, social media posts, and business cards is a must. Your digital footprint reflects your reputation, after all.