I suspect there is not a Realtor who has not been asked why we have our pictures on our business cards. My most frequent response has been something about it being a custom in our industry and as I rattle that off it doesn’t make me very independent or strong. I want and need a better answer! No other profession has such an overload of mug shots and since we are selling structures why do others need to know what we look like? Deciding if I will keep a picture on my business card required some research and thought. I wanted to find out what others in the real estate industry thought about pictures on business cards and if there were many who are bucking the custom. I know I will be asked again about why Realtors use pictures and I want to have a thoughtful and reasonable answer, at least for me.
Finding out what other agents are doing and what they are saying about pictures on business cards is a when the internet is a very valuable tool.
It isn’t just business cards, agents and others in the real estate industry publish their photos everywhere, business cards, websites, advertisements and even on signs in front of houses.
Here are some answers and comments about using pictures from other real estate professionals:
Real estate sales is a person-to-person industry. The product is real estate, but it's people-to-people. So the original concept was, 'Let's show people who they may deal with.
The face blitz is marketing for ourselves. To me, if someone connects a face with a name, it's a stronger bond than if they just get a name.
Including pictures is a way to accomplish personal branding, a desire of agents to market themselves independently of their umbrella firm.
Although we don't expect to see a photo on a business card from a lawyer or plumber, it's de rigueur for agents.
Their face is their logo. It also has something to do with humans feeling more comfortable while looking at pictures of faces.
It helps with face recognition and that people are less likely to throw out marketing materials with a face on it.
At some point, someone thought it helped personalize the agent, to bridge a better connection between the consumer and the agent.
I’m hopeless with names, but very good with faces, and often times, if it weren’t for the fact that some of these folks ugly mugs were featured I’d have absolutely no idea who they were or how the hell they made their way into my binder!
When people have open houses and 30 real estate agents show up, the photos allow you to go back through the pile of business cards two days or a week later and figure out who you actually wanted to do business with. “No, not the nasty cow with the blond hair, you remember? Yes, that one, the brunette with the large t*ts, that’s her!
I fear that the faceless agent would miss out.
Headshot is agent-centric. However, I think in marketing it is really helpful. People from my neighborhood, my church, and my networking group tell me that they have seen my ads. Without the head shot many of these folks wouldn't put the ad together with me. Photos help brand us in a way that a logo might not.
I thought it was State Law we had to have a 20 year out of date photo on business cards.
Believe it or not one person responded to why Realtors have pictures on their cards by saying, “If you can’t see the picture, you run the risk of accidentally setting up meetings with people of color, or women.”
There are Realtors and others in the industry bucking the custom of using pictures on their business cards and many of them seem passionate about their decision.
An agents actions are more likely to make them memorable than a mugshot on the biz card. I won’t be putting my photo on my business cards anytime soon
.
I always thought a photo on a business card was kind of dumb. Like, if a buyer only wanted me to be his agent (or not) based on my looks, did I even want his business?
You need to start thinking differently than all the others in order to stand out. By being different you will be remembered.
I would argue that a face not only detracts from what the consumer is really looking for which might be homes or neighborhood information
My philosophy is that people look at property brochures to find out more about the home, they use my business card to get my contact information.
When and if they need to see my face I am happy to show it, but prefer to focus on them until we have been properly introduced.
Personally, I don't use my picture on my materials, but I have considered it. As others have mentioned, one reason for me is that other professions don't do it.
I don't choose my attorney because of his photo on his card or website. I go with the attorney that has great referrals, highly educated, experienced, specializes in the area of law that I need, knows his stuff, etc. Why should it be any different when choosing a real estate agent?
I refuse to put my face on my marketing materials, business cards or listings. It's not about what we look like. It's about how well we can service and represent our clients.
After reading what other real estate professionals had to say about pictures on business cards and marketing material I looked at my cards and some old ones without my picture. I looked at some of my marketing material and imagined what it would look like without my picture. I will admit that I don’t particularly like looking at my own photo but I came to the conclusion that cards with photos are more visually arresting. They command more attention and if you are using your photo on other marketing material and on a website it is consistent with the overall marketing design. In addition I have decided my picture on my business card and marketing material helps people recognize me and it is my implied guarantee.
Having my picture on my business cards is part of my overall marketing design; it helps people recognize me and is my implied guarantee to provide high quality service.
Note: The above quotes were taken from a number of websites and in each case I elected to remove the agent or writers name.
|
Contributor's Note
About the author: Julie Jalone is an experienced Realtor serving the needs of buyers and sellers in the Sacramento area. To learn more about Julie and to find more of her articles, visit her personal website at www.jalone.com.
|
