As the old saying goes, first impressions are everything. That can be said about how an author’s profile reflects on your work, especially in romance.
In a writing group on Facebook today, I came across a post asking about the use of a chibi or anime-style avatar for an author’s profile image. The author mentioned her friend told her it was not a good choice for her author image. She was right, and here is why…
Typically, your profile photo is the first impression a reader gets of who you are as an author, along with your book. Most readers want to know you, and when you are hidden behind a cartoon image, it may not be giving off the best first impression. But anime is popular, right? Everyone is doing it. Yes, but when you are presenting yourself as a professional, is that the impression you want to make?
I see it a lot, starting with app-based writing communities. There seems to be this trendy cult following where everyone does what the person before them did. That follow the leader mindset does nothing to make you stand out. In fact, it is how a lot of writers get lost in the fold. Using a cartoon avatar puts you among so many others doing the same thing. No one stands out, and you get overlooked. Let’s face it, most anime images tend to look the same, especially when they are created with AI. It makes it hard for readers to distinguish you from thousands of others.
There are options, though. If you’re set on the anime style, try incorporating it into your logo and find ways to make the image clear that you’re an adult and your writing is serious. Make sure that your writing is consistent with the brand you set forth, and consider how the image can portray the genre in the best way to represent your work. Just a cute image doesn’t cut it when trying to reach the right readers. If you have a cute chibi image and you’re writing dark romance, those two visuals don’t coincide. So it’s important to be sure your image is cohesive throughout.
Branding is everything. When considering my branding, I decided to use two images that set me apart from my peers: my business logo for author accounts, and my face for personal accounts. Both work with each other, because on places like Amazon and my website, you can find both, making it clear that the person behind the brand is a real person. My logo is not only used for an avatar, but throughout my branding content, so it is clear who the book is from and where to find it.
You might not want to show my face. That’s fine. You don’t have to. Using a logo still represents you. For things like videos, get creative. Something as simple as your hand holding a book, or the book neatly placed among relevant props, is just as impactful. There are lots of creative ideas for faceless branding that will still reach readers and make them feel like you are a real person. Research on TikTok on how other faceless authors are doing their marketing, and think of ideas that will set you out above the rest.
One of the main reasons I tell authors not to use cartoon or AI profile photos is simply maturity. At first glance, anime or chibi characters can give the impression that the person behind the account is a child or just outright immature. When writing romance, it is important to show maturity because of the content you may be putting out. If you are writing spicy romance, it should be immediately clear to readers that you are an adult writing for adults, and this is something many authors fail to consider.
At the end of the day, your profile image is part of your brand and your first point of contact with potential readers. Make sure it supports your work, reflects your professionalism, and helps readers take you seriously at first glance.
Loretta Kendall 