I got an email from a WAHM today:

Kelly, do I have to put my picture up on the web? It seems like most do and I can see that it does help me to feel like I know them. I’m not sure that I’m up for it though. I don’t want people to judge me by my looks. Is this a silly fear?

A Silly Fear? No, not silly at all.

People are visually driven and many will make judgments based on what they see in a picture. I’ve been guilty of it myself to tell you the truth.

We look at people and develop snap opinions based on hair style, make up, clothing, background, etc.

Should we? Of course not. But do we? Definitely.

A met a gal on Ryze several years back. She was as sweet as the day is long and I enjoyed reading her posts on different networks. She seemed to have a good head on her shoulders. One day she added a photograph to her profile and I was blown away. The picture was dreadful. To say she had a bad hair day would have been an understatement. Her facial expression was as bland as could be and you could see an end table covered with coke bottles, dirty plates, a used diaper (seriously!) and an overflowing ashtray next to her.

What possessed her to post THAT picture? I just didn’t get it. It was so distracting to see that photo next to all of her network posts. I’m positive that it influenced my overall opinion of her and I’d known her for awhile. I can’t imagine what newcomers were thinking.

Is it terrible that I judged her based on that pic? It’s not that I judged HER really. It’s more that I judged her choice to put THAT picture up on the web to stand by her comments. It was such a bad choice.

We all take bad pictures now and then. Our entire lives are not Kodak Moments if you know what I mean. But bad hair days should not be shared with the world on a networking site, amen?

Better to have no picture than to have a bad picture.

Just say no to:

• Your cropped prom picture unless you graduated last year.
• Grainy blown up holiday pictures.
• The pic your brother took of you grinning like a drunk at your cousins wedding.

I’m not talking about pictures you share on your personal blog or flickr. You can be as goofy as you like when it comes to sharing pictures in a casual way. I’m talking about ‘the picture’ you post on your business blog’s About page, the face you share on your favorite networking site and the gravatar you use when commenting on other business blogs. This pic needs to represent you well.

Do you have to have a professional headshot?

Some internet marketing moms who are going for a polished presentation should have a pro take their picture and provide them with an excellent set of images that can be used for print and the web. It really depends on what you’re doing and how you want to be perceived by others. Professional photography speaks volumes. Take a peek at some of the images Wendy has had done recently.

For the most part though, the majority of us don’t need to go to the expense of a photoshoot. We just need to grab the camera next time we’re having a particularly good hair day and ask someone to take some good close ups – the more the better so you have quite a few to choose from.

When Wendy asked for a pic for this blog I cringed as usual. I hate having my picture taken. I would rather hide my chubby self to tell you the truth. But – I’ve forced myself to take a new picture for the web about once year because it DOES help people to feel like they know the real you. I just suck it up, put on some make up and beg someone to humor me by taking about a hundred pictures.

Then I sit at the puter and agonize over which shot makes me look thinnest (yeah right) and has the friendliest smile. I’m not trying to look perfect (cuz that ain’t gonna happen) but I do want to look approachable.

But do you HAVE to have a picture?

No. There’s no law that says you have to. If you don’t have a good picture – just go without until you take one you’re happy with.

If you simply never want to publish your face on the web – it’s not going to prevent you from being successful.

Just remember that for many markets people are more likely to spend money with someone they feel they have a relationship with. Your smiling face will go a long way towards creating that warm sense of security.