How much does appearance matter?
Recently, it was suggested that I add a photo of myself to the top of my website and to my blog page. If people can get a better sense of who I am, the theory went, they’ll be more likely to do business with me. As a service provider and sole practitioner, this is important to me. I want my customers to trust me, and feel they can work with me. This sounds like a good idea to me.
A quick review of websites of other writers and similar businesses reveals many photos (including one very awkward one that I can’t see helping). A small survey of friends reveals a split field.
So I ask you.
If you were in the market for the services of a writer, would a photo help you decide for or against someone? Would it make you more or less likely to believe in the professionalism of the service provider?
Any thoughts are most appreciated, especially from those readers who aren’t my mom. (Let’s face it, she already knows what I look like, and would probably do business with me if she ever needed a writer!)