Since Dean and I started providing Linkedin.com profile writing services, we’ve been hearing the same question posed by nearly every person we’ve worked with—What can I do to create a profile that really makes me stand out?

Our answer is first a reminder that Linkedin.com is a social media site, where there is less of an emphasis on selling your attributes and more focus on demonstrating your value. Sure, you need to highlight your key accomplishments as reasons why you should be hired, and define specific things that make you unique from most candidates. But the compelling power of social media lies in its multi-media dimension, so take advantage of that by adding dimension to your profile.

Here’s a simple example: Which of these profile headlines are you most motivated to click open?

If you are like me, I say the third headline pops out as the most compelling. Why? Because there is a photo attached.

• A photo puts a friendly human behind a name and job title.
• A photo adds warmth and color to an otherwise neutral box.
• A photo delivers the message that you are putting yourself out there, not standing back in the shadows.
• A photo demonstrates confidence that you feel good about yourself.

One concern about adding a photo to a Linkedin profile that I often hear is the age factor. Several people have told me that they don’t want people to know how old they are, so they refrain from a photo. My response to that is two-fold:

1. They’re going to find out anyway if you ever meet them live.
2. Without a photo, you give up the benefits listed above.

With that said, is there any reason why you shouldn’t put your photo up?