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How Many Realtors Need New Pictures on Our Cards?

By Sandra Williams

Real Estate Agent with Rancon Real Estate

June 20, 2007 07:44 PM

It is a hard call! Marketing gurus tell us to keep all of our marketing materials consistent and develop a recognizable look. Unfortunately after we have paid for all of the expensive postcards, cards, flyers, our crazy faces and bodys change on us! It really isn't fair. By the time I had enough money to buy the nice marketing pieces, I have lost control of all of my recognizable features.

We have a Realtor in our area that had a great photo he was standing in a blue striped shirt gesturing over our Valley. Well his new photo,with his more current face and body, looks like he is on his way to a funereal ----Now is that better marketing?Hummmm...

What do you do? You have finally developed something that people remember. Do you toss esxpensive cards, postcards, flyers just for a picture of an older face?

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Kaushik Sirkar

Call Realty, Inc. - Chandler, AZ

I agree in many respects...I've heard that we need to keep our image constant, but i've also heard that as we change, our pictures should change...

Jun 20, 2007 07:55 PM

John Lockwood

Lockwood Real Estate - Sacramento, CA

I let the lovely ladies like yourself have photos on their card. I just go with a nice Elite Properties blue on white and call it a day. I could put my picture on my card, but I hate to scare the kids away.

Jun 20, 2007 08:32 PM

Nalliah Thayabharan

Expert Building Inspections Ltd - Markham, ON

Home Inspector - Commercial Building Inspector Toronto

Hi Sandra !
Thanks for sharing this info with us. Keep posting !
Nalliah Thayabharan
Commercial and Residential Building Inspector
Expert Building Inspections Ltd

Jun 20, 2007 10:19 PM

Robert Whitelaw

Whitelaw & Sons Real Estate Services - Morgan Hill, CA

Broker, CEO, Realtor , ePro

In my marketing, I try to move away from an image of me and more toward a logo that represents my business. The only reason I put my picture on my card these days is so that people can see the face that is supposed to go with the name.

Jun 20, 2007 10:59 PM

Paul Moye

Benchmark Realty - Franklin, TN

Broker, GRI, SRES

I have a lady in my office that uses a 20 year old picture and we tease her about clients asking where her daughter is when they meet her.

Jun 21, 2007 01:10 AM

Sandra Williams

Rancon Real Estate - Temecula, CA

Kaushik, I sure can't figure it out! Just read your profile. are you still involved with engineering at all?

Siha, I'm trying to keep up but I just get cheap when it comes to throwing away all of of those glossy postcards!

John and Robert - I agree! I'm ready to get rid of my picture. Think if we didn't have pictures we could keep a consistent marketing pieces till we ran out of them! Much better that tossing them!

Paul, we had a top producer on one of our offices that still had his college picture on his card and he was 50 years old at least!

Jun 21, 2007 05:58 PM

"The Lovely Wife" The One And Only TLW.

President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Kissimmee, FL

Sandra...

We order anything with photos in smaller quantities knowing that in a years time it will be time to allow the consumer to see that we grow old too :)

TLW...ROAR!

Jul 03, 2007 04:22 AM

Alamo City Homes Magazine

Alamo City Homes Magazine - San Antonio, TX

I'm torn on the business card pic.. I have a generic looking one right now. But when I can.. I'm going to go for more of a graphic that stands out rather than my normal everyday mug...

And don't have a picture of you on your cell phone, people.. it's annoying..

Jul 03, 2007 02:00 PM

Sandra Williams

Rancon Real Estate - Temecula, CA

TLW, that is a smart move. This is the last time I'll fall for the---"look how much cheaper it is if you order a million or so---only pennies each!" My cheapness has kept me in a time warp for a while! Thanks for stopping by. I enjoy reading you!

Eric, just don't get too many or mail and hand out like crazy if you do or you will end up like me! . . .Crying as I toss out all of this great stuff. I'm thinking about getting one where I'm a tiny little figure against the beautiful rolling vineyards of our area. They won't be able to tell about my face so I'll just have to watch my weight. Much easier!

Jul 03, 2007 05:34 PM

David Slavin

Keller Williams Premier - Katy, TX

CDPE, ABR, SRES Keller Williams Premier

Not only should we keep a current photo but a professional photo! I think it is unprofessional to crop a picture that was taken by Aunt Sally! Act like a pro and get treated like a pro!

Jul 06, 2007 03:57 AM

Kathy McGraw

CELLing Realty - White Water, CA

Riverside County CA Real Estate

Not too long ago I had a rather opinionated discussion with a Marketing guy out in Palm Desert (CA) that stated we had to have our pictures on our Marketing pieces for people to recoginize our names. What???? didn't make any sense to me.....

Most of my clients come from my newsletter, postcards, and websites. I do have my photo on them only because I did it originally and have a template for the designs and don't want to change them. But it is the name of my newsletter that has name recognition, not my picture.

My daughter just took her Real Estate classes in North County and her Instructor made fun of every person in the class that has their picture on their business card......he stated NOT to put it there.

Sandra you are in my neck of the woods. I am only about an hour from you.....:) glad I came here....

Jul 06, 2007 12:54 PM

Dan Tobias

Rodeo Realty - Northridge, CA

Northridge Real Estate Expert

I never use a picture. My feeling is that if I didn`t make a good enough impression on them to remember who I am. the picture isn`t going to help

Jul 07, 2007 10:38 AM

Brian Block

RE/MAX Allegiance, Managing Broker/Branch Vice President - McLean, VA

Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate

Professional photos are a must! It shouldn't cost more than $75-$150 to have a professional photographer take your photos. I used the same great photographer who took my wedding photos. Though my wife says next time not to wear my glasses...

Jul 07, 2007 11:33 AM

Dan Homan

Coldwell Banker Ellison Realty, Inc - Ocala, FL

My question: why do we need pictures on our cards in the first place? Oh, thats right, everyone does it.

Jul 08, 2007 06:37 AM

Sandra Williams

Rancon Real Estate - Temecula, CA

Kathy, you're right, it is a toss up. Everyone has an opinion but I really wish I had kept my original marketing ided and just changes "my face" out. I actually want a half face like some of the neat ones on Active Rain!

When you get a chance, lets meet for lunch. I'll come over your way or if your daughter is in North County maybe we could meet around here!

Jul 08, 2007 06:49 PM

Lola Audu

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI

Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!

Hi Sandra, I kept my old picture for a long time for the reasons you mentioned above...always making a joke of the difference when I gave it out. When I finally changed it, I found I preferred the new picture more than the outdated one anyway. Now, looking back, I wonder why it took me so long! :)

Jul 09, 2007 10:54 AM

Sandra Williams

Rancon Real Estate - Temecula, CA

Lola, I have to say that I'm looking better with my more current do---but my face is getting wider and wider with age---not good!

Jul 17, 2007 05:26 PM

Chris & Debi Styner

Golden Eagle Properties - Menifee, CA

Most agents make the mistake of branding themselves only with their pictures; while this creates a distinctive 'identifiable' look it can become a big problem as age takes it toll. If you use your picture to brand yourself to the public, it is advisable to use it in conjunction with something that is both identifiable and static. A good example would be to overlay your photograph on another showing an area landmark that you're certain will not change during your career. This will allow you to update your image occasionally, while maintaining a consistent and recognizable brand.

Mar 11, 2008 07:35 AM