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What's on YOUR Business Card?

By
Real Estate Agent with Falcon Property Company

Is Your Business Card Cluttered?

When I'm showing properties, I love to look at cards left on counters by other agents. I like to see their designs, their photos, and what they may be doing differently that's eye catching.


My first thought when I look at what's on so many of these cards is Clutter. My second thought is often who the hell cares? I don't need all of this information. And many times I think I wish I had brought in my glasses because I can't even read your phone number.

What You Need

So let's be honest. The purpose of your business card is to give me an avenue to contact you in the future. I need your name, of course. As Realtors, most of us are required to have the name of our company. Your cell number and your email address are probably a given. If you have an internet presence, you can even put your website if you want us to see how innovative you are. 


If you want a tagline, maybe that goes on the front or it's separate from your other information. My author business card has even less information on it. I love getting emails from my fans, but I don't want them calling me.


What You Don't Need

Please tell me why I need your other four numbers? If I call your office they are going to transfer me to your cell phone or the voice mail attached to it. If I call your assistant and you're not available, they'll either take a message or, you got it, I'll get your cell voice mail. 


I haven't sent to a fax number in I don't remember how long, and whatever I have to send will go to your email. Do I need your home number? If you're at your desk at home, I bet you have your cell phone with you.


If you look interesting, I might even Google you, but I only need your name to do that. I have a lengthy and impressive list of designations. They're just disarray on my card, and no one even knows what they mean but other agents. Again, Realtor or Client, anything you want to know about me professionally you can find on my website.


So before you have your next set of cards printed, think about how much information you really need to convey. I'm certainly not telling you what to do, just making a suggestion.

Show All Comments Sort:
Stephen Turner
House Broker Realty - York, PA
The BIG Guy of NEW HOME SALES

Thanks for the great post and for getting this dialog started. Love seeing the examples that others have attached and hearing their reasoning for their choices. 

Oct 12, 2019 09:56 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Mimi:

Great suggestions and recommendations. We are required to have our license # on ours. I need to order new cards and will work with my graphic designer to make some changes.

Jeff

Oct 12, 2019 10:04 AM
Clay R. Seay
Florida Homes Realty & Mortgage - Saint Augustine, FL

Love the view of Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods Park. Served in the Army at Ft Carson and miss that view.

Some great ideas for business cards. Thanks.

Oct 12, 2019 10:27 AM
Mimi Foster

Isn't that a gorgeous view? St. Augustine is one of my favorite places on earth. I am a fifth generation Floridian and visit St. Augustine often.

Oct 12, 2019 10:29 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

I am with you on "who the hell cares" ... a good quality branded card with basic information.  Phone, email, website. 

Oct 12, 2019 10:35 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Took those off years ago. Mine is pretty basic & one is funny.

Oct 12, 2019 11:44 AM
Margaret Goss

Funny? Please explain!!

Oct 13, 2019 03:44 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Retired Broker/Owner - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Who the 'he** cares is my thought Mimi Foster!! Alphabet soup blah blah blah.  Awhile back before I opened up my company I simply put Associate Broker....and for some reason clients thought that was special. I now have just a few intials but those are going away in 2020 with our new batch of cards coming out soon. Clean and simple - done.

Oct 12, 2019 12:09 PM
Francine Viola
Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty, Olympia WA - Olympia, WA
REALTOR®, In Tune with your Real Estate Needs

I'm finding I leave fewer and fewer business cards, but they are still important.  Printing on both sides helps to reduce the card clutter.  Great ideas!

Oct 12, 2019 03:10 PM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

An excellent read on business cards. Too much information on a card is distracting and who cares about all the designations. I put only my cell and office numbers on my cards.

 

Oct 12, 2019 08:56 PM
Mimi Foster

Good morning! Love your new pic!

Oct 13, 2019 07:39 AM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375
Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside - Atlanta, GA
Concierge Service for Our Atlanta Sellers & Buyers

Mimi Foster 

Such a good point on the numbers -- one is it! I also agree about the disarray of too many designations! All the best - Lynn

Oct 12, 2019 09:00 PM
Richard Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

This has been one of my favorite subjects discovered decades ago. One day I decided to take this on. I collected everyones business card, searched the subject matter, applied sense, function and what works and created my own. Then, I tested/refined it. Today, I have a double-sided wonder-card that when triggered launches results...Note: its just a yellow brick road that leads to the wizard

Oct 13, 2019 06:39 AM
Mimi Foster

Love that, Richie!

Oct 13, 2019 07:40 AM
Gordon Crawford
Gordon Crawford Home Selling Team - Morristown, NJ
Your Morris County Specialist!

Mimi, great post.  We all love simple!  I tell sellers all the time, get rid of the clutter, open spaces, less stuff is more attractive to buyers.  As you said, same goes for business cards

Oct 13, 2019 07:46 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

I completely agree, Mimi! Less is cleaner and I belive, classier too. And being one who now needs readers again (I had Lasix 11+ years ago), I detest having to pull them out to read what's on a biz card!

Oct 13, 2019 09:28 AM
Karen Climer
Demetree School of Real Estate - Orlando, FL
Teaching people to pass the real estate exam

Couldn't agree with you more about the designations.  No one knows what they are.  If I had a PhD, MD or JD (which I don't), I might put that after my name.  But to make a big deal out of taking an 8-hour class?  And to have a huge list of your designations?  

Designations are the real estate version of a participation medal.  If you participate in this two-day class, you will get to put 2D after your name.  There is no test, no profject, no requirements other than to show up and pay your fee.  Yep, most of them are participation medals.

Oct 13, 2019 11:13 AM
Margaret Goss
@Properties - Winnetka, IL
Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

The only thing my card needs is a new PHOTO! Boy, those years creep us fast!

Oct 13, 2019 03:46 PM
Mimi Foster

AMEN to that !!!

Oct 13, 2019 07:09 PM
April Swenson
Coldwell Banker Ocean Shores Brokers - Ocean Shores, WA
CRS and Managing Broker - Ocean Shores Real Estate

I actually have a picture of the beach and the crashing waves that I personally took on the back of my card and it says welcome to Ocean Shores and the North Beach. I like that option because it gives them something pretty to look at and possibly keep and a reminder of this pretty area.

Oct 14, 2019 10:26 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

 Good evening Mimi Foster ,

Love this post..so on point...simple clean and the important stuff..your name and how to reach you!

Oct 14, 2019 06:12 PM
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

What is on my business card is pretty basic and partly driven by legal requirements. Brokers' name, license number must be shown.

Oct 15, 2019 05:18 PM
Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400
The Top Team @ Charles Rutenberg Realty 255 Executive Dr, Plainview NY 11803 - Plainview, NY
Long Island Condo and Home Specialists

I can't understand why any agent puts all those designations in tiny fonts on their business card. No one can read them, and most do not know what they mean...

Oct 17, 2019 11:45 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

I think there should be an element of authenticity and also personality and just the right portions

Oct 26, 2019 11:18 PM
Adam Feinberg
Elegran - Manhattan, NY
NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

Just the basics...just the basics. As to all those certifications- great that you are well educated- but those certifications are meaningless to clients. They are not known like someone that is a CPA or JD, which are a meaningful designation. If the goal is to show how knowledgeable you are and the training extremes you have gone to- it will shine through without needing to list them on a business card. I don't have any designations- and while there might be particular courses that I find useful, I have no reason to pursue having additional letters after my name. My knowledge and expertise shines through- with or without designations.

Colorado Springs is a terrific town. As a teenager, I won multiple scholarships to study numismatics during the American Numismatic Association's annual summer seminar.

Nov 09, 2019 09:42 AM
Mimi Foster

It really is an amazing town, especially downtown. Good for you! The Numismatic Association is a secret treasure here.

Nov 09, 2019 10:04 AM