One way to help build your personal brand is to include a picture of yourself on your blog. I know that for many women (and men too!) this feels really uncomfortable because sometimes we don't feel good about how we look or at least how we look in photographs.

It is a really important detail though – when you include your picture it helps people to feel more connected to you as a blogger, and as a person. It adds a personal touch.

It doesn't matter what you look like either. You don't have to be beautiful or perfect. Nobody cares what you actually look like, they just want to see you. They won't make a judgment about your writing based on how you look. The point is that it allows people to get to know you better.

Believe me, I understand how some women feel uncomfortable with it. I can't stand looking at pictures of myself! But I forced myself to do it. I found a picture of me that was at least tolerable and put it up there for the world to see. It was one of the best things I ever did!

Be consistent

Use the same picture on your blog and on all the social media sites you participate in. Try not to change the picture too often, if at all. Use it on Twitter, BlogCatalog, MyBlogLog, Facebook, StumbleUpon, Digg – every site you participate in. Get a gravatar too – so people can see you when you leave a comment on gravatar enabled blogs.

This is really important to help people to recognize you and remember who you are. Success in blogging depends in part on networking and it makes it much easier for people to remember you and your blog if you use the same picture.

Have Fun with It

For some people using a silly picture might be a good idea – one of you upside down, wearing a silly hat, etc. But remember if you are blogging for business you need to look more professional. In general the image you use should reflect the tone and purpose of your blog. In any case, try to relax and have fun with it.

If you really, really can't do it

If you really, really can't bring yourself to showing your picture to the whole world then use an image of your logo or part of it. And be consistent – use that image everywhere. Or make an avatar of yourself at Yahoo or some other site. And again, be consistent and use it everywhere.

Exceptions

Some exceptions for not using your picture might be if you are blogging anonymously and not using your real name. In that case using your picture could give away your identity, but you might still be able to use an avatar of yourself.

Quality

Ignore for a minute what I said about nobody caring what you look like. Actually that's still true – but there is something to making sure the quality of the picture you use is pretty good. You don't want to use one that is real grainy, blurry, too dark, etc. It doesn't have to be a professionally taken photo though either. Mine had been taken at Target for a totally different purpose. Even a picture taken at home by someone you know may be good enough – just play around with it, relax, have a bunch taken and pick one!