Have you seen the new Twitter profile header image option? Much like Facebook’s Timeline cover image, this new feature allows you to add some snazz to your profile.

The background image, of course, has been around for years. This is best used to brand your profile with your company colors. You also have roughly 200 pixels of horizontal space on the far left, to throw in your logo, a message, or some other branding element. The new header image, on the other hand, gives you a canvas to throw in a little more flavor. At the same time, it does (as at least one designer on Twitter pointed out) run the risk of cluttering up the clean aesthetic of the profile page – so it’s a judgment call on whether you use this new feature or not.

Is the header image right for your brand? 

Here is an example of how your data gets rearranged:

The text runs over the top of your photo, and the only color choice (as of this writing) is white, so be aware of those limitations if you decide to use the new header image option.

If you go that route, you can be clever, cute, creative, dramatic, or any of a lot of adjectives with your personal profile. When creating an image for a corporate account, we suggest creating something that reinforces your brand. Holiday Inn features a beauty shot of one of their hotels. The Today Show is another fine example.

Note that just because you can do something new, it doesn’t follow that you must or that you necessarily should. Opinion has been mixed in the online community regarding the rollout of the header image. By and large, however, we anticipate that the header image will be fairly widely used before too long. Which do you prefer: old or new?

To add a header image to your profile, head over to Settings – Design, and click the Change Header button.

While a small thing, the header image if used correctly is an excellent opportunity to augment your company’s brand. The bottom line is, be strategic about what image you use, and even about whether you include an image at all.

UPDATE: For anyone registering a new account with Twitter, the header image (and its associated layout) are NOT optional – the layout is there, and if you don’t upload a header image you’ll have just a big blank rectangle at the top of your profile, with your main photo or logo floating in the middle.