Business Card Makeovers...(how do you know when you need one?)

I like my business cards... lots of color. But whenever anyone hands one to me, I immediately enter the information into my contact manager, then toss the card in the garbage. And sometimes agents will just beam their information directly from their Smart Phone to mine. It's even fun to take a snapshot of them to have in my Smart Phone, so it pops up when they call or text me. I have to wonder how many more years we'll actually use business cards.

Oh! I just thought of one way I keep them. When I'm in a transaction with another agent, I don't usually keep that agents information in my Smart Phone, because it's only needed during that transaction (unless I work with them a lot). So in those cases, I tape their cards to the front of the file that contains all the information for that transaction =)  And yes, I've seen some cards that are really cheap, and some that look nothing like their owners!

I believe having quality business cards is important. In order to make an impression, the cards have to be impressive. I can see the ones you design are.

I think it's time for a business card makeover when your photo no longer resembles you, if not sooner.  LOL.  When I changed companies recently I happily accepted the corporate cards (sometimes that's the "right" one to use) and purchased others from a template site that are "different" by most people's standards - they always catch a second look when I hand them to someone.  I guess the thing I like best about them is the back, where they'll see an invitation to visit my blog.

I couldn't agree more with Margaret's comment. Agents: get new photos every 2-3 years. Photos have never been cheaper or easier to do, especially with digital cameras. I personally know some agents in metro Atlanta who are using the same photo they were more than a decade ago. For women especially, this is crazy. You gain weight, lose weight, get glasses, change hair color, change hair style etc. and eventually look NOTHING like your business card photo. This same photo, by the way, is often the one they want me to use when I'm submitting a news release about them. So the outdated photo gets perpetuated in online and print media. Wouldn't you rather have someone stop you at the grocery store and say, Hey, didn't I just see a story about you in the local paper about having a record sales month?

If you do decide to handle the photo-taking yourselves (i.e. using an assistant, office manager, family member, etc. to take the picture), PLEASE do not pose with a tree or large plant in the background. If/when this photo gets cropped down to just a headshot, you could look like you've got something growing out of your head. Brick wall backgrounds another boring no-no. Having your dog or kid in the photo another no-no, unless you're focusing your marketing or a slogan around that. Even then, be sure to have a generic headshot handy. No business publication I know wants to include a write up about the latest sales award you received, when it's accompanied by you holding a York terrier.  Having a variety of shots available (taken same day or same time period), could prove to your advantage. Have the boring, vanilla headshot, but have another with you working at your desk, placing a sign in the yard, at a closing table, etc.

Very good points -- everyone gets a card and stays with it over the years -- you can refresh it and still keep your branding but bring it current with todays graphic standards

I like the post-- agents today need to bring their cards to today's graphic standards and make sure they highlight and focus on web site and email address for primary contact.

I still see agent with the bland white generic card?? uggh

I often have an awkward moment when someone hands me a business card with a picture, I look at the picture on it and can not hide 'the look' :'' is it really you?!''