How to Spruce Up Your Social Media Profiles

Over the shoulder view of a person using a laptop computer which is resting on their lap. A social media profile is visible on the screen.

Is one of your New Year’s social media goals to finally make a splash and stand out online? If so, you aren’t alone. These days, everyone wants to see growth on their social media platforms by attracting more of their target audience to their content. However, it’s not as simple as just posting more often. You need to be smart about the impression you’re giving everyone.

In this post, you’ll learn a few tips that will help you spruce up your social media profiles ahead of this brand new year.

How to Spruce Up Your Social Media Profiles

The best thing about these simple tips is that you can begin working on each one ASAP. Block off some time in your schedule to review the current state of your social media presence and make changes where necessary.

1. Take a New Headshot

When was the last time you switched up your profile photo on your social media accounts? If it’s been a while, then you’re definitely overdue for a refresh. After all, the face you’re putting front and center is arguably one of the most important elements of your profile. That’s because people want to see you. It helps them to develop a stronger connection with you and your brand, as they’re able to put a face to the content you’re sharing.

Set your phone up on a tripod, turn on the self-timer, and start snapping a few photos. It really is that simple! Or if you have a friend who is willing, enlist their help to get some pictures of your bright, smiling face. These images can then be used as headshots on your profiles or in other branding materials you create in the future.

Once you’ve chosen your favorite photo, make it your profile photo across all of the social media platforms you use. This helps to create consistency and ensures you’re easily recognizable to those who follow you or are discovering you for the first time.

2. Write a More Captivating Bio

Looking for a way to spruce up your social media profiles that could also result in more followers? We all want to see more growth on social media. Part of making that happen requires you to share high-quality, valuable content your target audience is interested in. However, you also need to have a bio that’s intriguing and tells people what you’re all about.

When someone visits your profile for the first time, what kind of impression do you think they’ll get? Does your bio accurately depict who you are, what you do, and who you serve? Does it leave people wanting more and rushing to hit that “follow” button? If not, it should.

Hootsuite has some great advice for writing every kind of social media bio. Plus, there are some easy-to-use templates that will make the process even simpler.

Related: 6 Ingredients of a Twitter Bio That Attracts Followers

3. Upload New Cover Images Where Applicable

Those cover images are one profile element you definitely don’t want to neglect! On platforms like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn, your cover or header image provides some much-needed visual interest to your profile. It also provides some additional real estate for showcasing yourself and your brand as a whole. Think of it as an extension of your bio.

Your cover image can be used to drive traffic to your website or even to drive sales during a launch. They’re also great for promoting upcoming events or other content sources (like a podcast or YouTube channel). The options are endless here, so allow yourself to get creative. Choose to see your cover image as a vessel for reaching your current brand goals and it’s sure to drive amazing results in the end.

4. Create Updated Graphic Templates

If you’re really wanting to take things up a notch, you could give your social media profiles a complete overhaul design-wise. Many of us have set templates we use when creating the graphics we share on social. The reason for this is because it’s just easier. It saves time when designing. Plus, those images then become easily recognizable as your own when someone is scrolling through their feed. If you want to spruce up your social media profiles, consider giving those templates a bit of a makeover.

You can keep the same branding elements (like your logo and colors). However, a simple change in design can go a long way to create an impressive look. After all, you want to ensure you’re grabbing attention and getting people to take notice of the content you’re publishing. If you need some help in the design department, Canva is an amazing tool with tons of templates you can customize to your liking.

5. Untag Yourself From Irrelevant Posts

Odds are, there’s been a few times you’ve found yourself getting tagged in spammy posts. It seems like this happens most often on Instagram these days. Because people can easily access the posts you’re tagged in from your Instagram profile, it’s best to remove yourself. This way, you aren’t giving off the wrong impression should someone do a little digging into your account. So, if someone tags you in something that’s irrelevant or inappropriate, remove yourself right away to avoid any trouble in the future.

You can also review your photo tag settings on your social media platforms. Many platforms give you the ability to control who can tag you. And on Facebook, you can even approve posts before they show up on your feed. This should help cut down on unwanted tags and will prevent those posts from being connected back to your profile.

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