How do you try and make sure that your Instagram profile picture is the perfect size?
Furthermore, how do you make sure that your Instagram profile picture is going to stand out from the crowd? With over one billion active daily users of Instagram, you’re going to need to find something pretty impressive to wow people and attract them to your page.
We all know that it takes a lot more than just having a good Instagram profile pic to become an influencer. However, there’s no getting around that your profile picture is the first thing that people are going to see, which means that it could make or break it for your potential target audience.
Think of it as the first impression you make on people. If they aren’t convinced by it, then they’re not going to click through and check out the rest of your content. Remember, your Instagram profile picture is a lot more than just a small insight into your account or brand as a whole. It’s a badge of honor that you can use to encourage your followers that they’re in the right place.
So, how do you get your profile picture exactly right?
Article Contents
What You Need to Know About Your Instagram Profile Picture Size
Instagrammers are going to make an impression of you based on your profile picture. While it sounds shallow, a lot of us still judge a book by its cover.
Within less than a second, your target audience knows whether they’re going to follow you or not, and support what you’re doing on social media. This means that you’ve got a very small timeframe to make a good impression on them.
The first thing that you need to figure out before you make the best profile picture possible is the best size for it.
If you’re looking at someone’s profile picture on the app, then you’ll want it to be 110 x 110 pixels, and if you’re looking at it through your computer, it needs to be 180 x 180 pixels. When your profile picture shows up on someone’s Instagram feed, then the pixels are even smaller – just 40 x 40.
If this wasn’t difficult enough to keep to, Instagram has also made all of their profile pictures circles instead of square shaped. This means that you can’t leave any of the vital details in the corners of the picture, because your audience won’t see it.
How to Adjust Your Profile Picture Size
If you’re concerned about cropping your picture to the ideal proportions as soon as you have taken it, then don’t stress.
You can actually upload pictures to Instagram that are a lot larger than the profile picture allowance. The key here to making sure that your picture is going to look good is making sure it’s square to begin with, and the aspect ratio is 1:1. This means that your image isn’t going to get stretched when Instagram puts it as your profile picture.
If the picture you’ve uploaded isn’t a perfectly square shape, try cropping it to get rid of the excess material, and remember that your main subject should be in the center. You also want to leave enough space in each of the four corners so that everything can be aligned correctly when it is placed in the circle.
To add, edit or change the alignment of your profile picture on Instagram, you can click on ‘edit profile’ on the homepage of the app. Then you can click on the ‘edit’ button that’s located in the bottom right-hand corner underneath your picture.
You can also import pictures from Twitter or Facebook if you want to keep your brand picture or logo the same across all your social media networks. You can also choose an image from the library on your computer. We recommend that you avoid taking an impromptu selfie if you want to keep it professional.
Top Tools for Instagram Growth & Engagement
| Rank | Tool | Type | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seek Socially | Growth Service | Visit |
| 2 | Nitreo | Growth Service | Visit |
The Top Tips for Instagram Profile Picture Success
So, here’s the thing about Instagram profile pictures. You’re going to need a lot more than a good eye for size and a half decent cropping tool to become a well-known influencer on Instagram.
As many as 75% of Instagrammers download something, visit a website or even buy a product after they have seen an Instagram post. However, they don’t just act because they like how you’ve cropped your picture. You also need to know exactly what your audience is looking for with your content so you can produce the perfect shots.
Whether you plan on using a brand logo or a picture of yourself for your profile picture, here are some tips to making the perfect Instagram profile picture, aside from nailing the size. These are bound to give your photos a boost and get you in front of the right people in no time.
1. Pick The Right Profile Picture
The first thing you’re going to have to decide is whether you’re going to use a photo of yourself or a picture of your logo for your profile picture. The answer is going to depend on what kind of account you want to build.
If you’re an influencer or a freelancer, then you may want to opt for a picture of yourself. Remember, people are coming to your page to invest in you, not some generic company name or logo.
However, if you are building a company, it makes sense to use your company’s logo or a picture of one of your best selling products. If the product is round, this is even better – because it’s going to fit perfectly in Instagram’s rounded profile picture shape.
Whichever option you choose for your Instagram profile, make sure that the picture you’ve selected is high quality and clear. The last thing you want is a blurry picture of yourself or a logo that is stretched or out of proportion. The more professional you can make your profile picture, the more merit your audience can give you.
2. Nail the Lighting and Background
If you don’t just plan on using a logo for your Instagram profile picture, then there are other options you can think about to improve your aesthetic. For example, what do you want to be happening in the background of your picture? We recommend choosing a plain background which is all one color.
The right shade can flatter your skin tone without drawing any attention away from the main subject, which is you. You want to get rid of any clutter or detail in the background – it’s unnecessary, and it’s just going to take away from the main subject matter. For example, if you have dark hair, then you probably want to opt for a darker shade for the background.
We also recommend taking a bit of time to nail the lighting in your picture as well. This can be hard if you’re not an experienced photographer. This is a big reason why influencers and celebrities usually get professional headshots done.
We recommend avoiding taking the picture in direct sunlight, as it can wash out your skin. You should also stay away from taking your picture in the shadows, too – unless you want to achieve a mysterious, sexy look. And creating sexy selfies is a story in itself that you need to learn. Perhaps you should try taking your picture with a number of different lighting effects and angles until you come across something that really resonates with what you’re trying to achieve.
3. Make it Consistent
While you can opt for a different profile picture depending on the social media platform, it’s best to keep it the same across the board. If your followers see you on Facebook and decide they want to try and find you on Instagram, they’re going to have a hard time finding you if you haven’t got the same profile picture. Being consistent can help to reduce any confusion someone may have around your brand or persona.
Additionally, if you use the same picture on all of your social media channels, then you will be able to build a reputation for your company a lot quicker. This is because your online presence is going to come across as much more cohesive, which is a great way to connect with your audience on a much deeper level.
Now, this isn’t to say that you can’t change your profile picture on Instagram every now and then. In fact, doing so can actually be a big help in keeping your audience engaged. However, when you do make any changes, make sure that you’re updating all your other profile pictures as well.
If you don’t want to stick to using the same picture on every social media platform, then try using different angles of the same picture so that your audience gets a similar experience across the board.
4. Show Your Personality
Lastly, making an impression on social media isn’t just about getting the size of your profile picture perfectly right. You will also need to be able to communicate what makes you original and unique through this tiny picture. This can be easier said than done. Because your Instagram picture is so small, you’ve only got a limited space to show a lot of personality.
So, how can you go beyond your profile picture to give your audience something truly memorable? Let’s take a look:
- Be approachable: keep eye contact with the camera and try to smile
- Utilize props: if you’re a writer, try posing with a pen. If you’re a photographer, try and include your camera in the picture somehow. Anything that conveys what you’re all about is going to be great.
- Experiment with unique, fun ideas: play around with a few potential images that you could use, and try to figure out what is going to really stand out for your audience and what isn’t. You can always change your picture later if you don’t think it’s working too well.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are many steps involved in making the perfect Instagram profile picture. Of course, you also need to make sure your bio is looking good too, as well as consistently post excellent content and engage with the people who are following you. However, it’s also just as important to nail the small things too, like the size of your Instagram profile picture.
So, make sure you’ve got the size of that picture right, and follow the extra tips we’ve talked about above, and you’ll gain a good amount of new followers before you know it!
