Get More Business as a Consultant by Adding a Logo to Your LinkedIn Profile

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As a solopreneur, good marketing is critical. A well-polished image can attract clients by conveying competence and professionalism. It can differentiate you from competitors, and it demonstrates that you take your business seriously.

A professional image enables prospective clients to see you as credible from the very first impression. You know this, but you may still have the lame blue-gray square on our personal LinkedIn profile—the one that appears next to your current job listing.

Don’t show up like this!

By not showing an image or logo, you’re missing an opportunity to make a positive first impression. The more professional you are, the more likely you’ll be hired, and the more clients will be willing to pay for your services and expertise. You need to look like—and, of course, be—a legitimate business, not just someone doing side projects while looking for a full-time position. This means naming your business and having a logo in the place of the blue-gray square.

Be a professional and include your logo!

Thankfully, the fix is easy once you know the trick.

How to Replace the Default Blue-Gray Square

The secret is to create a company page on LinkedIn, then link to it in your personal profile.

  1. In the upper right of your LinkedIn account, click the “Work" tab to open a list of LinkedIn products.

  2. At the bottom of the list, select “Create a Company Page.”

  3. Click on “Company.”

  4. Create your company page by completing just five required fields, two of which are simple drop-down list choices. One of the optional fields is to upload your logo. You can upload a JPG, JPEG, or PNG; 300 x 300 pixels is recommended. (For tips on filling out the “About” section on your company page or creating your tagline, see the additional resources below.)

  5. When your company page is complete, go back to your personal profile and add a new position to your Experience section, linking to the company page. Type in the company name until you see the page in the list of suggestions, then select it. The logo should automatically import to your personal page. Note, you can’t edit an existing entry in the Experience section; you have to create a new one, then delete the old one.

Options for an Affordable Logo

It’s the logo on your new company page that will replace the blue-gray square on your personal profile. But what if you don’t yet have a logo? Here are a few of affordable options to get one.

  • Freelogodesign.org – Reasonably good options for free.

  • LogoClue – Starting at $29, money back guarantee

  • Looka – For a simple logo in minutes, try using this AI-powered tool starting at just $20 for a single image, although the $65 package gives you more options like a transparent background. 

  • BrandCrowd – Over 136,000 logo designs to choose from for free, or adapt one for a small fee, but read the pricing terms carefully; it may be an annual fee, not a one-time fee.

  • Fiverr – Get a logo produced in about a week for around $100. I’ve seen several that were done via Fiverr, and I’ve been impressed.

  • 99designs – If you’re looking for a more complete branding package (e.g., fonts, color palette, social media images), this is a good option.

Your logo doesn’t need to be fancy, but you should have one. Plus, having a company page on LinkedIn will take you one step closer to being paid as a vendor on 1099 tax basis. (Most vendor compliance processes require evidence of advertising to prove that you are a bona fide business, and a LinkedIn page is much easier and less expensive than a website.)

 Obviously, first impressions matter. Your LinkedIn profile is probably the first place a prospective client is going to go to find out more about you. Be sure you’re putting your best self forward, and don’t show up as a blue-gray square!

 

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