Here is an excellent post from ThoughtPick about this very topic.
What do you want your avatar to say about you? What do people feel when they look at it?
- Trust
- Sense of Humor
- Good Cheer
- Professional
Having the right avatar can help you attract followers and build readership.
An avatar is a small thing, but online small signals matter. Before someone reads a profile closely, they often notice the image, the tone, and the first impression. That can affect whether they follow, reply, click, or simply move on.
The best avatar is not necessarily the flashiest one. It should match the message you want to send: trustworthy, friendly, professional, funny, or approachable. For anyone trying to build readership or a community, that little square image can become part of the relationship with the audience.