Picture on your business cards and marketing.

[papaul1621]

Do you have your picture on your business card and marketing? I was told not to have your picture unless you have a face that people can trust. Right now I use my picture but I'm thinking about not using it anymore. What do you guys think?

[Smuck]

Do you have your picture on your business card and marketing? I was told not to have your picture unless you have a face that people can trust. Right now I use my picture but I'm thinking about not using it anymore. What do you guys think?

Hmm, unless you are butt ugly and incredibly dishonest looking, use your picture! Having said this, spend the money and have a professional photo taken. Once taken, have a graphic artist work on the photo until you are good looking and honest in appearance! Money well spent, I might add.

Joking aside, use your picture. We've had several businesses, and having the "smiling owner" in the picture is great advertising and great public relations.

Remember the "Marlboro Man" in the cigarette ads? This rough and tumble cowboy always looked perfect, so can you!

Here is our photo we use for advertising and etc. My wife is perfect! No editing needed. Well me, let's just say "the ugly dudes always get the hot ladies!" A little more graphic artist editing is required on my bald persona!

[jessiesc]

Yeppers, I agree completely!

Get your face out their on everything you can. Many, many high quality customers want to know who they are doing business with and putting a face to marketing helps them pre-judge.

[Northern_IL]

I concur. Your face needs to be on everything. Getting a professional picture done was the first thing I was told to do when I decided to get into real estate.

[BrandonSternfield]

If you don't have your face anywhere, they will wonder why you are hiding what you look like. Not because they might think you are ugly, but they might wonder why you feel the need to hide (untrustworthy, bad practices, etc).

That's why I eventually put my picture up here even

[kensmith]

Well I have proven that you don't need to use your picture over and over, but like everything else use what works for you. There isn't one correct answer on how to run your business on any aspect (other then run it honestly).

No people will not feel they can't trust you if you don't have your picture on your card, that is just pure BS IMO. If you want your picture then use it, if not don't. One successful trainer out there swears that you shouldn't put your picture on anything, yet another swears you must. Both have clients doing $50+ million a year so who is correct? They both are!

[BrandonSternfield]

Heh, I don't think most of us meant you absolutely had to. It 100% came off that way though, didn't it? I think it was more like a 'in your situation I would', not a 'you should'.

My post came from what I've been told by others. On our firm website, everyone but me had a picture, and clients wanted to know why I didn't have my picture up, did I have something to hide, etc.

Always, do what works for you Your experience will change your perception though.

[Saodavi]

When was the last time a lawyer, CPA or doctor put their big smiling mug on a business card? Or even worse, had a giant wrap of themselves on the side of their car.

Photos on the business card is largely unique to the RE industry (realtors, lenders and title). Most other professional fields ... even blue collar fields (mechanics, a/c repair, plumbers, etc.) do not use their photos on their cards and most of them do fine.

Pictures have a tendency to mislead (you're older, fatter, taller, uglier) if they aren't kept updated frequently. This is especially true for women who change their "look" frequently. You also stand to lose potential customers who judge you by your picture. You're young, old, tacky, inexperienced, etc. Very attractive (or heavily photoshoped) women will sometimes get harassed/stalked or sometimes are not taken seriously as they end up being viewed as "eye candy", unknowledgeable or someone who just skirts by on their good looks.

The pros and cons have been debated at length in other threads here. Do an archive search for the topic. There's no right or wrong about it.

[papaul1621]

Thanks everyone for your input. I will keep my picture!

[malamar]

I have written a few blog posts on Realtor headshots and discuss some of the pros and cons. These articles are some of the most widely read as there are a lot of opinions on the topic.

Headshot Do’s and Dont’
The Perfect Headshot
More on Headshots
Even More on Headshots

Let me know if you have any questions.