While most LinkedIn users are aware they can add a photo to the top of their profile, and eventually get around to doing so, far fewer people seem to realize that the wallpaper image (the background banner) behind the photo is also fully customizable.

Sure, one could argue that this aspect of a profile isn’t all that important in the big scheme of things. But there’s also no denying that visuals do count to some extent and that, whether consciously or subconsciously, people scrolling through a long list of LinkedIn results will be more drawn to those whose wallpaper image stands out from the crowd.

So I’d encourage all of you who haven’t already done so to jazz up your profile with a unique, appropriate graphic instead of falling back on the boring default images we’ve all seen countless times, like the omnipresent green/aqua banner with the light stripe in the middle.

As for some sources of good imagery for your LinkedIn wallpaper:

  • Pixabay: For starters, I steer a lot of people to www.pixabay.com, which is a free stock image site containing over 6 million royalty-free images. Once there, just enter a phrase like “accounting imagery” or “abstract design with a blue color scheme” and see if you can find an image that would either complement your photo or communicate your career focus in a memorable, metaphorical way. Here’s one of my all-time favorites in that regard, as an example.

  • Canva: Secondly, if preferred, you can access some really slick and distinctive LinkedIn banner templates on the popular design site Canva. As you’ll see if you pay the site a visit, many of the designs allow you to incorporate some text on the banner, too, which can be a nice touch—though it ultimately comes down to personal choice.

  • AI Generation: Lastly, in a development that’s been several years in the making, some AI tools finally allow users to create images in the required 4:1 LinkedIn wallpaper dimensions. For years, this wasn’t possible, but in experimenting with this idea recently, I’ve had the best luck going to Google Gemini, pasting in a screenshot of the top of one’s existing profile (showing your photo), and entering a prompt like the one below—just changing the final line to reflect the particular career path or theme you want to emphasize:

“Analyze the attached screenshot and create a 4:1 LinkedIn banner concept (no text, no photos) that complements the individual’s headshot and color scheme—with the focus of the image in the right center. Have the image communicate the idea of business strategy in a subtle way.”

Alas, while the AI may not give you the perfect image right out of the gate, you can refine the concept further with additional prompts to see if you can generate one that is truly unique and that you feel complements your photo in an appropriate way!