Our online profiles tell the world who we are. They’re like the new business cards, and almost everyone has one. Eighty-one percent of people in the U.S. have a social media profile.

Across the world, that number swells to almost two billion people. With that many eyes on your profile pages, you need them looking great.

There’s no excuse for skeletal looking online profiles, and they’ll only hurt you in the long run. Everyone from friends to employers looks at your social media. In fact, 91 percent of recruiters admit to using some form of social media to find high-quality candidates. You could actually lose out on job opportunities because of a poor profile.

Don’t believe us? Take a look at the ins and outs of why having a skeletal online profile hurts you.

Employers

In terms of time and money lost, the number one place having a skeletal online profile hurts you is among employers.

From Facebook to LinkedIn, employers use social media to get a better idea of who you are as a person. While you don’t want less than savory pictures on Facebook, you don’t want a blank LinkedIn profile either.

87 percent of recruiters find LinkedIn the most successful platform for vetting employees. And one of their biggest turn-offs? Incomplete profiles.

Cassandre Joseph, senior talent acquisition visionary at recruitment firm Korn Ferry, said per FastCompany that incomplete profiles make a bad first impression.

It’s like real-life introductions at an interview. You wouldn’t shake someone’s hand while only telling them your name, and then neglect to say anything more.

The same goes for LinkedIn. Why have a professional profile if it doesn’t list your complete work history, in detail.

If you’re leaving things blank, it’s probably better to forge any profile at all. At least that was you’re not misrepresenting yourself to potential employers.

Instead of keeping your profile so barebones, fill it out correctly. LinkedIn is simple, and it’s easy to add your work history, job descriptions, skills, and network with other people.

Which brings us to another point. Employers want to see your LinkedIn network growing. The nature of the site is social networking, so you need to network.

Having a LinkedIn page without the networking aspect is shouting to employers that you’re only taking your professional online presence half seriously.

Dates

41 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds admit to using social media to find out more about a potential date. That’s almost half the population in that demographic. Certainly nothing to scoff at.

So why then, would you leave your online profile bare and boring when you’re aware your potential dates could see it?

You wouldn’t! That’s the only answer that makes sense. There’s nothing good about keeping a skeletal profile when you’re out in the dating world. And we’re talking any online profile. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and even LinkedIn.

People can follow your online presence across all of your social media. If you’re dating you’ll need interesting information, flattering and fun pictures, your interests etc.

Now, that doesn’t mean to go shouting your political options from the rooftops just to fill out your Twitter feed. That’s not doing yourself any favors.

However, it does mean keeping your online profiles up-to-date with interesting information about your life.Think about what you like to do. What makes you smile. You hobbies etc. If you wouldn’t say it out loud, don’t add it to your profile.

But at the same time if it positively reflects you as a person, post it already!

Friends and Family

Depending on your goals here, our advice might differ slightly. It’s all about if you’re trying to keep people in the loop or become Instagram famous.

Let’s take a look at why a barebones profile is bad for either goal.

Keeping People Informed

Your friends and family love you, and they want to know how you’re doing. Today, that means checking in on social media.

You could live anywhere, and who has time for phone calls anymore? Even texting takes too long in today’s fast-paced world.

But what doesn’t take very long, is seeing what someone’s up to on social media. In only a few clicks or scrolls of the finger, your friends and family can have the complete picture of what you’re doing.

But if your profile isn’t complete, they won’t know anything! Keep your life updates rolling in so people know how you’re doing.

Updated pictures are a must, as are updates on new boyfriends and girlfriends. Social media is how we communicate. Don’t shut your loved ones out.

Socially Famous

While the idea of social fame came around thanks to the exploits of one Paris Hilton, social fame has evolved since then.

Today, anyone with an Instagram profile and something to say can become socially famous. Even Twitter sees its fair share of superstar users.

And YouTube? While not traditional social media, it’s an online profile must for anyone trying to increase their social fame.

But people won’t follow someone who’s not sharing. Remember, you’re selling yourself to your fans, and that means selling your life. In a good way.

They want to know the latest and greatest in your life and consume your content. It’s an honor, but not one you’ll get without beefing up that profile.

You need fresh pictures and fresh ideas to wow people into following you.

Maximizing Your Online Profile

When we say online profile, we’re referring to your entire online presence. Everything’s connected, and so every profile makes up one large online “you.”

And we want that online you to shine! If you’re ready to take the next step and upgrade your social media presence, you’ll need some killer headshots.

That’s where we come in. Our job is making you look great online. We employ only the best photographers skilled in the new art of photography for social media.

We’re confident our staff can make your profile pop! Are you ready to revamp that skeletal online profile?

Take the first step with the best professional photographs today!