How to Update a LinkedIn Banner

Your LinkedIn banner is the first thing people see when they land on your profile, yet most professionals upload a generic image and never think about it again. Treating this space as an afterthought is a missed opportunity to tell your story, showcase your value, and make an immediate impact. This guide will walk you through exactly how to update your LinkedIn banner, what to put on it, and the common mistakes to sidestep so you can make a powerful first impression.

Why Your LinkedIn Banner Is Your Most Underrated Branding Tool

Think of your LinkedIn banner, or cover image, as your personal digital billboard. It sits right at the top of your profile, taking up a significant amount of visual real estate. Before anyone reads a single line of your "About" section or scrolls through your job history, their eyes land on your profile picture and your banner. This visual one-two punch sets the tone for your entire professional brand.

A well-designed banner can:

• Communicate Your Value Instantly: In a few seconds, it can tell visitors who you are, what you do, and who you help.
• Build Credibility and Trust: A professional, on-brand banner signals attention to detail and shows that you take your online presence seriously.
• Promote What You're Working On: It's the perfect spot to advertise your latest book, a new service, an upcoming webinar, or a portfolio link.
• Make You Memorable: A generic blue gradient banner helps you blend in. A custom banner that reflects your personality and expertise helps you stand out.

Leaving it as the default or using a low-effort stock photo is like showing up to a networking event without business cards. You're simply not using the tools available to you. Let's change that.

LinkedIn Banner Size and Technical Specs for 2024

Before you start designing, getting the technical details right is half the battle. Using the wrong dimensions will result in a stretched, pixelated, or poorly cropped image that undermines your credibility. Here are the specifications you need for both personal profiles and company pages.

For Personal Profiles:

• Recommended Dimensions: 1584 x 396 pixels
• Aspect Ratio: 4:1
• File Format: JPG, PNG, or GIF
• Maximum File Size: 8 MB

For Company Pages:

• Recommended Dimensions: 1536 x 768 pixels
• File Format: JPG or PNG
• Maximum File Size: 4 MB

Important Note on Mobile View: On mobile devices and smaller screens, your profile picture will cover the bottom-left portion of your banner. Avoid placing any logos, text, or essential design elements in that area. Keep your main content centered or toward the right to be safe.

How to Update Your LinkedIn Banner: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Uploading your new banner is a simple process that only takes a minute. Here’s how to do it for both your personal profile and a company page you manage.

For Your Personal Profile:

1. Log into your LinkedIn account and navigate to your profile by clicking your name or "Me" in the top navigation bar.
2. In the introduction card at the top of your profile, click the small pencil icon in the top right corner.
3. Another box will appear. In the top right corner of the banner preview area, click the pencil icon again. This will give you the option to "Change photo."
4. Select "Upload photo" to choose your new banner image from your computer.
5. Once your image is uploaded, you can drag it to reposition it, zoom in or out, and apply simple filters if you wish. Take a moment to see how it lines up with your profile picture.
6. When you're happy with the placement, click "Apply."
7. Finally, click the "Save" button at the bottom of the intro card editor. Your new banner is now live.

For a Company Page:

1. Navigate to the Company Page you manage. (You'll need to be an admin).
2. Click the "Edit Page" button located below the company name.
3. In the edit view, you’ll see your current cover image. At the top of this, click the pencil icon that signifies "Edit."
4. Click "Upload cover image" and select your new banner file from your computer.
5. You'll be able to drag and reposition the image to frame it correctly.
6. Once it looks good, click "Save." Your company page is now updated with the new banner.

7 Impactful LinkedIn Banner Ideas to Inspire You

Knowing how to update your banner is easy. Knowing what to put on it is the bigger challenge. Your goal is to use this space to tell a story and add context to your profile. Ditch the generic city skyline photo and try one of these strategic ideas.

1. Your Brand's Value Proposition

This is the most direct and effective approach for consultants, founders, and service providers. Use simple, bold text to state exactly what you do and for whom. For example, a content marketer's banner could say, "Helping DTC Brands Grow with Content That Converts." In a single glance, a visitor knows your specialty.

2. A Professional Workspace or "In Action" Shot

Instead of words, use an image that shows you in your element. Are you a public speaker? Use a high-quality photo of you on stage. A software developer? A clean, well-lit shot of your desk setup. This approach gives a behind-the-scenes look at your work and adds a human touch. Just make sure the photo is high-resolution and not visually cluttered.

3. Showcase Your Accomplishments or Social Proof

Turn your banner into a gallery of your wins. You can feature the logos of well-known companies you've worked with, publications you've been featured in, or awards you've won. This is a subtle way to build immediate authority and credibility without having to write it out in your summary.

4. Promote a Lead Magnet or Call-to-Action (CTA)

Use your banner to drive a specific action. Are you trying to grow your newsletter? Create a banner that says, "Download my Free SEO Checklist for Marketers" with an arrow pointing toward the link section in your profile. Promoting a book or a course? Use the book cover or course branding as your banner.

5. Consistent Brand Colors and Imagery

For those who prefer a more minimalist approach, a banner that simply uses your brand's colors, fonts, and patterns can be very effective. It creates a clean, professional, and visually consistent experience for anyone who visits your profile, reinforcing your brand identity. It’s simple, but it looks pulled-together and intentional.

6. Announce Something New

Your LinkedIn banner is dynamic, so treat it that way. Use it to announce a product launch, an upcoming talk, or a new role. This turns your profile into a current-events board, letting your network know what's new and relevant in your professional life. Just remember to change it once the event is over.

7. Company Mission or Team Photo (For Company Pages)

For company pages, the banner is an opportunity to communicate culture and mission. A powerful mission statement lets visitors know what your company stands for. Alternatively, a photo of your team (not a stiff, corporate group shot, but a genuine photo of people collaborating) can humanize your brand and make your company a more attractive place to work.

Common LinkedIn Banner Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

A poorly executed banner can do more harm than no banner at all. Here are the most common pitfalls to sidestep:

• Forgetting About the "Mobile Safe Zone": The biggest error is placing important text or logos on the bottom-left, where your profile picture will block it on mobile. Always design with this in mind and preview your profile on your phone after uploading a new banner.
• Overloading it with Text: Your banner is a billboard, not a novel. Keep it short - a single sentence or headline is best. Too much text is hard to read and looks cluttered. Let the rest of your profile do the heavy lifting.
• Using Low-Quality Images: A pixelated or blurry banner screams unprofessionalism. Always use high-resolution images that are properly sized. If you need a stock photo, use a reputable site known for high-quality visuals, but custom graphics or personal photos are almost always better.
• A Jarring Visual Clash: Your banner and your profile picture should work together, not fight each other. If your profile photo has a blue background, don’t use a clashing orange banner. They are viewed as a single unit, so make sure they are visually harmonious.

Final Thoughts

Updating your LinkedIn banner is a quick but incredibly mighty way to refresh your professional brand and catch the attention of profile visitors. By using the right dimensions, choosing a strategic design, and uploading it correctly, you can transform that static header into a dynamic tool for networking, promotion, and personal branding.

Keeping your social media profiles polished and cohesive is one of those small details that makes a big difference, but it's also another task on an already long list for busy marketers and founders. It’s part of the reason we built Postbase - to create a clean, modern hub where you can plan, schedule, and analyze your content across all your platforms. It helps you manage the daily content so you have more brain space for the bigger picture: building a brand that truly connects with people.