To Be... Or Not To Be...

I personally don't care for pictures.  I'd much rather have good quality contact info. and websites, and emails, etc. that are readable.  And here in Louisiana when we had the serial killer, we were discouraged from using picutres as he was targeting certain types of womesn.

You're gorgeous so use it!

Although I have a professional photo that is recent and even looks like me it is not on my business card.

I guess it depends on how your mug comes across! And I dont mean only attractive or not.

As you described in one of your earlier blogs... having a nice smile really sends a message.

If you have a friendly, welcoming photo, I think it goes a long way to making the potential client feel that you are approachable.  I think it makes people more likely to reach out for that initial contact if your photo is welcoming.

I dont think it is necessary to plaster my face on every piece of promotional material, but I do like the branding aspect.  Especially when it comes to internet marketing.  I like that people are recognizing me because of my snowflakes behind my photo.

I don't think it matters.  It's doubtful that someone spends that much time looking at your business card.  What is probably most critical is that all your pertinent contact information is there and easy to find when they get ready to get hold of you.

I like having my photo on there and also I like it when other business owners have photos because I am not very good with remembering names but great at recognizing faces. Card will stay with people for a long time and when they pull it out and see your smiling face, they will remember meeting you! I don't think it matters how attractive you are.

I have always had a problem with pictures on business cards.  The problem occurs in this industry because unfortunately it has become common practice.  In other industries that I was in before real estate, I never had my pic on a card or received a card from another professional with a pic on it.  To this point I have never or ever intend to put my photo on my business card.

I agree that you should have photos on some materials and websites for branding, but feel that a business card is for your contact information only.  If you are attractive or not, it has absolutely no bearing on how you preform your duties as a real estate professional. 

One of my closest friends is a very attractive female agent who actually got tired of driving people around that were only posing to be prospects to see if they could get a date with her.  I suggested that she get rid of the photo on the card.  It has saved her an incredible amount of wasted time with these posers that have alterior motives.  Now, she has fewer "clients," but at least they are CLIENTS! 

I am for the picture on the card!  I do think it needs to be a fairly recent picture that resembles the agent!  My picture makes me look friendly and honest, I think ( or should I say, I hope!)

Put YOUR picture in for branding purposes and because you look good.

I have mixed feelings about the picture, although mine is on there!  Our company has tasteful cards and the image isn't very big and I like it.  I might change it up when I run out of cards, but I also wear lipstick and people recognize me as the girl with the lipstick.

What drives me crazy is when cards look nothing like the real person or are from 20 years ago!

Picture on the card for sure, it makes us look more...approachable and friendly. You have a beautiful smile, that should deffintly be on the card! Oh yeah and update them yearly!

I used to put my pic on TONS of stuff. I have shied away through the years. Not sure how much it helped. Both sides - people need to see your face ... but you don't want them thinking you feel you are "god".  So my final answer - I hav ea personal brochure that I hand out, and I have the websites etc.  But I don't necessarily mandate it goes on my marketing material. 

You know how I feel about this one Monica...A picture is wort a thousand words!

Monica,  I like the picture on the business card. I don't think it is necessary on everything. I recently saw a For Sale Sign from Brand X that  was a gigantic picture of the selling agent. Honestly, you couldn't see the agency or really didn't know that the house was for sale. I think that's overkill!

Well, some people do, indeed, choose their doctor or lawyer by how beautiful or handsome they are! Nonetheless, it's rare that me hiring a doctor or lawyer can affect my life each and every minute of each and every day like living in a home can. That mere fact alone means that real estate is more of a personal relationship industry than hiring a doctor or lawyer, and the more personal the industry, the more that picture is needed.