5 Signs Your Headshot is Losing You Money

One of the most common misconceptions for business owners is that a great professional headshot is something that’s nice to have, but that if you don’t have one, it’s not a big deal. The reality is that you’re not just missing out on the benefits that a strong headshot could bring you - having no headshot or a poor headshot could actually be costing you clients.

Prospects will form a first impression of you, and your headshot helps to determine whether that impression will be positive or negative. Here are some signs you might be missing out on business because of your headshot.

• Your Headshot is a Repurposed Photo

As a business owner, I certainly understand wanting to keep your costs down, so I understand why you might say, “Oh that’s a nice picture I took at that event or on that trip, I can crop it and use it as my headshot.” Your intentions are good, but clients can tell that it’s not a professional photo. It can hurt your credibility because, to them, it looks like you don’t take your business seriously enough to get a headshot taken. It might even make them wonder whether your business is legitimate.

• Your Inquiries Are from Clients Who Aren’t a Good Fit

Do you find yourself repeatedly fielding inquiries from prospects who aren’t a good fit for your brand or your services? For example, maybe they’re customers whose budgets don’t align with your price point, or customers who want a different experience than what you provide. In these cases, your headshot (even if you have a professional one) might be making the wrong impression or targeting the wrong clientele.

Remember, if your headshot is sending a different message than you want it to, you won’t just attract the wrong customers, you might be unappealing to the clientele that does fit your business.

• Your Headshot is Outdated

If your headshot is more than two or three years old, it might be more noticeable than you think. Maybe you look younger in your headshot than in the current photos and videos you’re posting, or the styles and fashions in your headshot are outdated. This can create the impression that you’re out of touch or that you’re not attentively keeping up with your business. If customers see a big difference between your current photos or videos and your headshot, it might even make them wonder if they can trust that your branding represents the experience they’ll have with you.

• Your Headshot Doesn’t Match Your Branding

Maybe you’ve rebranded your business but didn’t update your headshot, or maybe you haven’t invested in a professional and on-brand headshot. Whatever the reason, if your headshot doesn’t match your business, it creates an inconsistent image and can confuse clients who aren’t able to get a solid understanding of what your brand is. To establish a strong brand, all of your imagery needs to align with that brand, including your headshot.

• Your Post Content That Gets Views but Not Leads

If you’re posting regularly on social media but you aren’t getting leads from your social media, especially if your content gets views but those views never translate to leads, it might mean that your social media isn’t giving a strong impression to potential clients. There are plenty of reasons why this might be, but your headshot is one of them.

If any of these rings true for you, I can help! Contact Jaimié Birtel Photography, and let’s start planning your headshot photo shoot.