Photo and Branding Tips
Your photo, company name, and tagline form the visual identity of your directory listing and profile page. This guide covers the technical requirements and practical tips for presenting your practice clearly and professionally.
Photo Requirements
Policy Stack accepts the following formats and sizes for advisor profile photos:
| Requirement | Specification | |-------------|--------------| | Minimum dimensions | 400 × 400 pixels | | Accepted formats | JPG, PNG | | Aspect ratio | Square (the upload tool includes a circular crop) | | Maximum file size | 5 MB |
Photos smaller than 400 × 400 pixels will be rejected during upload. If your photo is rectangular, the crop tool lets you select the square region to use.
What Makes a Good Advisor Photo
Your photo is the first visual element prospects see on your directory card. The following guidelines produce a photo that looks professional across the directory, your profile page, and any other surface where your avatar appears:
- Use a professional headshot — face and shoulders, centered in the frame. Avoid full-body shots, group photos, or casual selfies.
- Choose a clean background — a plain or softly blurred background keeps the focus on you. Avoid busy office scenes, outdoor landscapes, or branded backdrops.
- Ensure good lighting — even, front-facing light eliminates harsh shadows. Natural light near a window works well if a professional setup isn't available.
- Dress as you would for a client meeting — your photo sets the tone for the professional relationship. Match the level of formality your clients expect.
- Keep it current — use a photo taken within the last two years. Prospects notice when an in-person meeting doesn't match the profile photo.
Avoid using logos, illustrations, or text overlays as your profile photo. The photo field is specifically for a headshot — your company name and branding appear in their own dedicated fields.
Company Name and Tagline
Your company name and tagline appear on every directory card and at the top of your profile page. Together, they tell prospects who you are and what your practice focuses on.
Company Name
Use your official practice or firm name. Keep it consistent with how your business appears on your website, business cards, and other professional materials. If you operate under a DBA (doing business as), use the name your clients recognize.
Tagline
Your tagline has an 80-character limit. It appears directly below your company name on the directory card. Write it as a clear, specific description of your practice:
- State what you do — whole life banking strategies, capital planning, private banking systems
- State who you serve — business owners, families, real estate investors, medical professionals
- Avoid generic language — "Financial services professional" doesn't tell a prospect why to click your listing
See Optimizing Your Directory Listing for more tagline examples and guidance.
Consistency Across Professional Presences
Prospects who find you in the Policy Stack directory may also look you up on LinkedIn, your practice website, or other professional directories. Consistency across these presences builds trust:
- Use the same photo across Policy Stack, LinkedIn, and your website
- Use the same company name — variations (e.g., "Smith Financial" vs. "Smith Financial Group, LLC") create confusion
- Align your tagline and bio with the messaging on your other profiles — the tone and focus areas should match, even if the exact wording differs
After updating your Policy Stack profile, review your LinkedIn and website to make sure they tell the same story. Prospects who see consistent branding across multiple surfaces are more likely to reach out.