LinkedIn Background Photo

Why do I need to add a background photo to my LinkedIn profile page?

Adding a background/cover/banner photo to your LinkedIn page will help make your profile look more professional and give a better impression to the viewer. If you do not add a background photo and leave your profile with the default background image, your profile looks incomplete and unprofessional.

How do I know what to use as a background photo?

LinkedIn is a database and business social media platform. Your profile page needs to reflect which business sector you work in. Along with your profile photo, your background image needs to indicate to anyone viewing your profile page that you are a professional working in a certain business role.

Where can I get a good background photo or image?

You can pay a professional photographer or illustrator to create a background image. This allows you to have a unique image that is tailored to exactly fit your requirements. If your budget does not run to this then you can buy a royalty-free image from a growing number of picture libraries. You can also search for non watermarked images that you do not have to pay any copyright fees to use.

How do I add my background photo?

Login into LinkedIn. Go to your profile page. Click on the camera icon that is in the top right corner of your default background image. Click on ‘Upload photo’ then select the image you want to use from your computer and click apply. If you want to replace, delete or reposition your background photo then follow this process again.

What size does my background photo need to be?

The ideal size for your background image is 1584 W x 396 H in pixels. The file size needs to be smaller than 8MB and it needs to be formatted as a JPG, GIF or PNG file.

What is the best kind of LinkedIn background photo?

LinkedIn suggests that photos work better than images with logos. If you want to use your business logo as a background image try and capture it in a photo. Make sure your photo is crisp and sharp. Low-resolution photos will look pixelated and blurred. Use photoshop or other photo software to improve your photo and to resize to best fit the LinkedIn background format.

This is a LinkedIn background photo we created to demonstrate that we supply corporate headshots for our London clients to use on their company websites and their individual LinkedIn profile pages.

LinkedIn background banner cover photo sample.

For further information please visit the LinkedIn Help page about background photos.