Today, Jason Seiden and I hosted the first episode of a new radio show, Beyond Social, that we are doing for our social media strategy and training company, Ajax Social Media.  Jason did a nice summary of the show on the Ajax Blog that I posted below.

Tune in to blogtalkradio.com/beyondsocial every Thursday at 10am CT for more great tips to improve your social profile for business on Beyond Social.  And follow the conversation on Twitter at #BeSoc. 

You can listen to the first episode where we discuss the psychology of profile pictures here:

Beyond Social Episode 1 - Profile Photos 

by Jason Seiden

Big thanks to John Jorgensen (@jkjhr), Jeffrey Ringgenberg (Evolyte), Carol Roth, and of course, Steve Boese for joining Ajax hosts Craig Fisher and Jason Seiden for today's show. Notes from today's episode:

1. You need a photo. LinkedIn registers a 40% uptick in click-throughs to photos that have photos vs. ones that don't.
2. Your photo matters. There is actually quite a bit of behavioral science behind what makes a great photo.
3. A good photo is one that drives engagement. This was implied in the show but deserves to be stated explicitly; we don't care as much about making you beautiful as we do about helping you achieve your goals.
4. Men, unless you know how to smile, you might be better off... not smiling. Many of you look like you're in pain or unsure of yourself. Also, biologically speaking, there is a male/female dynamic at play as well, and women are not necessarily predisposed to favor smiling men.
5. Men, think about engaging in something interesting, or putting yourself in a setting that suggests an interest beyond work.
6. Men with pets works on dating sites, and we can personally vouch for it working on Twitter and blogs. (We haven't tested this theory on LinkedIn.)
7. Women, smile and look at the camera.
8. For both men and women, pure physical attractiveness does not account for as much as attractiveness in the compelling sense of the word.
9. No party shots—don't have someone else's collar visible in the corner of your profile pic.
10. Don't get hung up on "professional" vs. "personal" It's a "profersonal" world, and the two are intertwined.
11. Your photo should be consistent with your story. If you're in a creative field, you might want a photo that's a bit more... creative. If you're selling insurance benefits, you might want a photo that demonstrates loyalty, stability, and/or family values.
12. Keep your photo consistent. Your visitors are busy; don't suddenly be Gene Simmons tomorrow. That said, keep your photo up to date—no 12 year old photos of you a full head of hair and 35 pounds ago!