Avatar Branding Consultant
For a while I have realised that your avatar is important. It is a physical display of your presence. It is how people know you and recognise you on social networks.
The main avatar I use is
The thinking behind the design is; I wanted to use my face to present a human connection, but I wanted it to be partial. Implying there is a lot more to see, or is it that I’m hiding a huge boil?
I chose a hard red because most websites the avatar appears on are soft blues and greens, even most other avatars have very soft, washed out colours. This means I stand out. Which is my intention.
However, on Digg, none of the successful avatars have a human face on. I think this is a cultural thing reflective of the user base. I have now changed my digg avatar to Iggle Piggle from the Night Garden, a kids show in the UK.
Recently I have been getting more front page success on Digg, however I have also changed my digging style. In the past I submitted stuff I thought cool, now I am more tactical and submitting only what I think the hordes like.
So, where are the avatar branding consultants? Does such a position exist? Is someone out there helping brand avatars in exchange for cold hard cash?
This post was inspired by an excellent post over at sitevisibilty.com, a bunch of people who offer seo in Brighton
You can see that the top avatars have visually striking images. Of course getting noticed isn’t the only factor, but if you do not get noticed. Well, you just don’t get noticed.
September 1st, 2007 at 10:01 am
I think visual branding is an important part of any social media techniques its interesting that Diggers prefer to hide who they are but given the nature of the site this is not really a surprise. I had a quick look at the top 100 stumblers where the distribution of real pictures to true avatars seems to be higher but still only 13 out of the top 50 stumblers.
however certainly on smaller forums a growing trend seems to be shifting away from Avatars to real photos so perhaps this will shift to social media scene to.
September 1st, 2007 at 1:14 pm
I am trying to keep my SU account related only to the stuff I personally like, at least as far as submissions.
I use a face on SU, but then I look on it slightly more as being a blog rather than a news or bookmarking service.
Maybe I will try my avatar there to see what difference it makes.
September 1st, 2007 at 2:43 pm
I use my real picture and name on SU and other sites; I think this sends the right message. For at least some people, the Avatar in combination with a created profile name provides a cover under which the poster expresses opinions that they would not normally be willing to do in public. I think it’s also worth mentioning that Avatar Branding Consultants “red” avatar is really a stylized photo, and very different than the blue one below.
September 1st, 2007 at 3:32 pm
I am in the process of revamping mine. I will take all of your suggestions ot heart! Glad to see you…you were gone for awhile. :-)
September 3rd, 2007 at 12:09 pm
All this talk of Avatars is making me feel self conscious when it comes to mine!
September 4th, 2007 at 7:44 am
Coming from a Blackhat background, I have always used avatars over photos, even thou I always used my real name. It has only been about 9 or 10 months that I have started converting my avatars over to a photo
September 6th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
Lyndoman,
I think it’’s high time someone wrote on how to build outstanding avatars. What say?
Cheers!
Mani
September 6th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
[...] lost, post comment if you know which one I am talking about) whilst others believe it’s a cultural thing reflective of the user [...]
February 4th, 2008 at 10:52 am
[...] mentioned before how important you think the avatar is in social media and how it brands you online. If you were forced to change avatars, how much of a blow do you think that would be to your social [...]
April 16th, 2008 at 4:52 am
visual branding is a keytool for web marketing. it enchances recall for your brand.