Want Your Employees to Use Your Branded LinkedIn Headers? Read this.

As a former corporate marketer and now a LinkedIn coach / trainer, I have helped to guide employees and clients on the importance of having a company-branded LinkedIn header on your LinkedIn profile, if you are an employee of a company.

WHY is this Important?

• LinkedIn is a professional networking site. Yes, we each have our own identity, but in the case of LinkedIn, I believe that identity is tied in part to your employer. Or better said: people ASSOCIATE you with your company on LinkedIn.

• Company leaders (directors and above, VPs, C-suite, etc.) who do NOT have any header at all -- or a non-branded header -- don't look like they are supporters of the company. Not a good look, IMHO.

• Using a branded company header shows you support your company (and your paycheck!).

• Even if you're considering a career move, having a branded company header makes you look like a good employee -- who would be a good hire!

So Here's What I Share with my Executive Clients:

Send an email to your head of marketing, and copy/paste the following.

Feel free to use this!

SUBJECT: LinkedIn Branded Header Images?

BODY OF EMAIL:

Hi (Firstname), do we have a library of images our employees can use for their LinkedIn profile headers? I was chatting with Brenda Meller today, and she highly recommend that our marketing department creates a LinkedIn header image library for our employees. This helps to create brand consistency for our employees, and is something she highly recommended, especially for your leadership team.?

Here are some guidelines that Brenda shared with me, for your consideration:

• Create a minimum of 4-6 header images that align with our company branding, key messaging, etc.

• Dimensions: 1584x396px. Brenda suggests creating these in png format.

• Don't put any important images in the lower left corner, which will be covered by our LinkedIn headshot photo.

• Once or twice a year, email the link to the header image library to our employees, along with instructions and an explanation on why we'd like employees to consider using a branded LinkedIn header on their profile. Note that this isn't a requirement (because some employees won't want to be forced to do so), but rather a guideline to help them with their professional use of LinkedIn, as an employee of (CompanyName).

• Add a few new header images to our library every year -- or perhaps for key seasons (holidays, etc.) or during product launches, and update as needed to align with our brand guidelines.?

Read this blog for more info:

https://www.mellermarketing.com/blog/your-linkedin-header-is-free-marketing-for-you

Brenda also offers a "Power Hour" session where she can provide some additional LinkedIn strategy guidance to help us level up our LinkedIn company page and presence. You can learn more here: https://www.mellermarketing.com/1-to-1-linkedin-coaching