updates

One of my go-to sites, The Next Web, which is a great online and social media resource, posted THIS article about updating Twitter profiles. It’s a clever little tutorial that shows you how to update your background, header and profile images.  It seems it was needed, as many celebrities, athletes, brands, teams – you – have yet to take advantage of what I like to call, social “real estate.”

I cannot get over how few high profile individuals and brands have updated their Twitter profiles to include the new header image. There is a lot of room for creativity here!. Two athletes I wish would update their profiles? Hello @TimTebow, and Apolo Anton Ohno! I’m surprised at Apolo who is normally very socially savvy. Here are the few athletes, celebrities and brands I did find who have made great use of the header image. They’re all linked, so click away to view their profiles…

ATHLETES

@FranklinMissy USA Olympic Swimmer

@LarryFitzgerlad NFL, Arizona Cardinals

@karrileewalsh USA Olympic Volleyball  

@Matt Barkley USC Quarterback

@NastiaLiukin USA Olympic Gymnast

 

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENTS

@HarvardCrimson The background is fan-centric, the header image is seasonal and the profile image is simply their logo. But it all works well together.

@BaylorAthletics Love the use of the header image to point to other social sites.

@UWAthletics Nice motto to go along with that bio and images! Background images features coaches – Sweet!

@TechAthletics Simple but effective. Lots of red!

@Brutus_Bukeye Great use of Mascot as official account and answers the question, “What IS a buckeye, anyway?”

 

ATHLETIC BRANDS

@Padres

@espnW

@LAKings

@Packers

@BrooklynNets (I’m not sure I love this one, except that it is consistent.)

 

CELEBRITIES (Hard to find celebs who have updated!)

@Jason_Mraz

@RyanSeacrest (Probably the best of all with the most thought put into it.)  

@TheEllenShow

@richardbranson ( i suppose he’s a celeb too!)

@MariahCarey (I don’t love her so much, but her Twitter profile looks cool)

 

When people find you on Twitter, your background and header image can help you make a good first impression. Here’s some ideas for different individual use of the header image:

Student-Athletes: You can use your header image as a rotating billboard to promote yourself. Try posting your team’s stats or your batting average or that you got an A in chemistry. Post a team photo or one of you in action. You have to be strategic about your photo here.

Students: You might use the header image to highlight what is important in your life. You can put up a photo of your family or beloved pet, maybe your group of friends at the beach or all dressed up at the school dance. College students might post a photo of yourself at a famous spot on campus. Your header image can match your Facebook cover photo so that you present a well thought-out personal brand.

Coaches: Throw up an old photo of you when you were in the pros or in college. Current and prospective players will get a kick out of it, but it also gives a hint of your story. Get the athletic department to help you with a graphic that has your team schedule for the month. Spotlight any of your team members who make Athlete of the Month or achieve other awards. This shows you are focus on your players’ personal achievements, too.

Brands: You have so much opportunity here. Highlight your product. Give some face time to the hard-working employees who make your company a success. Give a shoutout to your favorite customers. Take a pointer from @BaylorAthletics and give your followers reason to click on another social site.

Professionals: Here’s a chance to tell people what you are all about. Are you artistic and creative? Do you love sports? Are you musically inclined? Do you love inspirational messages? Take this opportunity to showcase the best of you so that when that hiring manager or prospective client find you on Twitter, they are WOW-ed the moment they land on your page. (Writing this blog post actually inspired me to do more with my background and header images – even without fancy software, I can create something nice. My current photos are part of my brand design, but the backgrounds are too busy.)

 

Many social sites, like Twitter, continue to add features to improve the user experience and provide opportunities for visual appeal. It’s easy to understand from first glance who you are and what matters to you when someone sees your Twitter profile. Give them something great to look at and something that will drive their attention to what you are tweeting. If you see a great Twitter header image, leave a note in the comments so we can all see!  Now watch this video and then take advantage of the image “real estate” on Twitter – Make it work in your favor!