When I begin discussions with a potential new client I always invite them to review my website, visit my Style Counsel Facebook page, follow me on twitter and read about me on LinkedIn.  These are elements of my digital brand and enable a client to establish an idea of who I am and what my business is all about, sometimes before they've even met me. From my digital platforms, they achieve a first impression of me and my services.  Hopefully its a good impression.

Well, guess what?  I do the same thing!  I visit all the social platforms to get an idea of who my potential client is as well.  What I run across so many times is the complete absence of a photo of them on their LinkedIn page. It's one of the biggest mistakes I see!  

Have you ever gone through real estate listings and wondered why there is no picture of a house on sale? Your assumption is that if there’s no photo, something’s wrong. You are seven times more likely to have your profile viewed if you have an image on LinkedIn.  In fact, HSN Beauty found that, when paging through LinkedIn profiles, 19% of recruiters look only at your profile picture.

Please put up a picture!  But make sure its a current professional picture!  This is not your personal facebook page, so no kids on the beach with the dog--especially if you are a mom ready to get back to work.  You want your picture to announce that you are a professional and ready for a full time career.

Another photo blunder is misrepresenting your age.  Do not use old photos. If you are called for an interview, the interviewer, instead of focusing on your answers, is distracted by the thought that you might be deceptive or lack confidence.  You have knowledge, experience and wisdom.  Own it.

So be authentic, be confident and be professional. Appearance matters!

I spent the evening last night on twitter with image consultants @Sylvie_diGiusto, (Sheila Anderson) @ImagePowerPlay, and @ColleenHammond watching the entire GOP debate on CNN and assessing the candidates on their overall appearance, dress, communication, body language, oh, you know, the stuff that makes an image consultant giddy!

In a spot-light situation like a debate, where the candidates are vying for attention for their ideas and positions it is most important to not only convey authority and leadership through power dress, but to do so in a manner that prevents distractions or subliminal bad impressions.

We each had opinions for best and worst, and mutually spotted some glaring wardrobe choices.  For me so many simple distracting details like unbuttoned coats, off-center ties and out-of-place hair were overlooked by the male candidates and could have easily been corrected during the breaks.  

My distractions: 

Ben Carson’s pin striped suit!

Donald Trump’s vivid striped tie dancing outside his jacket.

Ted Cruz’s ill-fitting and gaping jacket collar.

Rand Paul’s  bunchy shirt…. and hair.

Marco Rubio’s shiny red tie.

Chris Chritie’s tight fitting jacket.

All those unbuttoned jackets!

Body language and facial expressions were also distracting last night and had me wondering what the candidates were really thinking, rather than listening to what they were saying.   I understand it was an exhausting night, but the presidency is an exhausting position.  Many candidates actually leaned on the podium!  At one point John Kasich stepped back from the podium and stuck his hands in his pockets.  What?  And Donald Trump, hard to believe, I know, blushed at one point.

For me, the image winner was Carly Fiorina who presented her brand decisively.  Her presence, appearance, communication skills, discipline and energy conveyed a stately persona.  She chose a great color for her classic suit, kept her jewelry to a minimum, her hair was elegant and she displayed a tremendous amount of poise.

Although my colleagues might disagree, I thought Scott Walker looked good.  I actually noticed him for more right reasons than wrong reasons.  But Sylvie’s TV picked up pattern and texture on his suit that mine did not, so, that’s out for debate!  Her TV also picked up some vivid colors mine did not.  So, to give everyone an undeniably fair assessment at the October debate, I need a new TV!