Comments on: Here’s looking at you http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/ Virginia real estate news, views, and issues. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:53:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Scott P. Rogers http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/#comment-1568 Scott P. Rogers Wed, 21 May 2008 03:22:24 +0000 http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/#comment-1568 Andrew --- at some point, can you run a poll on the sidebar to measure what percentage of respondents have a photo on their cards? I don't, and thus couldn't reply to the poll, but would be interested to know whether most do (I assume), and if so, by how much of a margin.... Andrew — at some point, can you run a poll on the sidebar to measure what percentage of respondents have a photo on their cards? I don’t, and thus couldn’t reply to the poll, but would be interested to know whether most do (I assume), and if so, by how much of a margin….

]]> By: Jeremy Hart http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/#comment-1564 Jeremy Hart Wed, 21 May 2008 02:15:09 +0000 http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/#comment-1564 I had a client ask me once why agents put their pictures on cards. His father had been in the car business for years and years, and you'll notice that most in the car industry DON'T have pictures on their cards. I have no idea why, that's just how it is. I'm not sure that photos are the best thing to put on cards. The transaction is not about how we dress, or what we look like, it's about the client. My personal favorite isn't the out-of-date photo ... I think that just means they bought way too many cards at the 1983 Expo. My favorite is the "I'm too busy to take the phone from my ear!", with the "These are my dogs" running a close 2nd. Apologies to those that may have one of those photos, I'm going to bust on myself in a minute so I'm fair game too! Julie said it, it's not about us, it's about the client. What can we do for the client? How can they get a hold of us, find out more, etc. Nothing else matters ... That being said, I've got TWO photos on my card, one on each side. I wish I could say it's because I'm an overachiever, it's probably just because someone told me too. Boo, peer pressure - I'll need to revisit the idea. I had a client ask me once why agents put their pictures on cards. His father had been in the car business for years and years, and you’ll notice that most in the car industry DON’T have pictures on their cards. I have no idea why, that’s just how it is.

I’m not sure that photos are the best thing to put on cards. The transaction is not about how we dress, or what we look like, it’s about the client. My personal favorite isn’t the out-of-date photo … I think that just means they bought way too many cards at the 1983 Expo. My favorite is the “I’m too busy to take the phone from my ear!”, with the “These are my dogs” running a close 2nd. Apologies to those that may have one of those photos, I’m going to bust on myself in a minute so I’m fair game too!

Julie said it, it’s not about us, it’s about the client. What can we do for the client? How can they get a hold of us, find out more, etc. Nothing else matters …

That being said, I’ve got TWO photos on my card, one on each side. I wish I could say it’s because I’m an overachiever, it’s probably just because someone told me too. Boo, peer pressure - I’ll need to revisit the idea.

]]> By: Julie Emery http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/#comment-1562 Julie Emery Wed, 21 May 2008 01:54:09 +0000 http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/#comment-1562 I have to admit that I am not always sure of the wisdom of all of us having photos on everything. Sure makes it look like this is more about us than the clients! That being said, I'm as vain as the next guy and hired a great digital professional to make sure I looked my best in the photo. If I'd given him another hour I'd have looked so good my own mother wouldn't have recognized me! I have to admit that I am not always sure of the wisdom of all of us having photos on everything. Sure makes it look like this is more about us than the clients!
That being said, I’m as vain as the next guy and hired a great digital professional to make sure I looked my best in the photo. If I’d given him another hour I’d have looked so good my own mother wouldn’t have recognized me!

]]> By: L. J. Dorsey http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/#comment-1559 L. J. Dorsey Tue, 20 May 2008 22:55:36 +0000 http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/#comment-1559 when I first got into the business 9 yrs. ago, I was told I should put a picture because of what I look like. I remember saying that if a person picks me just because of my photo, I don't know if I would want them as a client. To this day, I still have two cards...one with and one without a photo. when I first got into the business 9 yrs. ago, I was told I should put a picture because of what I look like. I remember saying that if a person picks me just because of my photo, I don’t know if I would want them as a client. To this day, I still have two cards…one with and one without a photo.

]]> By: Tina Merritt http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/#comment-1557 Tina Merritt Tue, 20 May 2008 18:33:40 +0000 http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/#comment-1557 The only reason why I have a picture is because I was told that I would not be eligible for a Realtor's Assoc. award if I didn't have one (this was 10 years ago). I really don't see the point at all in putting a picture on a business card. I have a logo instead. The only reason why I have a picture is because I was told that I would not be eligible for a Realtor’s Assoc. award if I didn’t have one (this was 10 years ago). I really don’t see the point at all in putting a picture on a business card. I have a logo instead.

]]> By: Jennifer Rathbun http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/#comment-1555 Jennifer Rathbun Tue, 20 May 2008 13:30:23 +0000 http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/#comment-1555 caricature issue - it depends on who you are advertising to and when. I would not put it on my business card that I know of, but I might use it at the 4th of July picnic or fun activity. My clients are mostly families. So I try to make my business professional, yet family friendly. caricature issue - it depends on who you are advertising to and when. I would not put it on my business card that I know of, but I might use it at the 4th of July picnic or fun activity. My clients are mostly families. So I try to make my business professional, yet family friendly.

]]> By: Cindy Jones http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/#comment-1554 Cindy Jones Tue, 20 May 2008 13:17:06 +0000 http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/#comment-1554 Real Estate is one of the few professions where faces are plastered all over business cards and ads. I don't have my face on my card and no I don't think my business suffers in any way because of it. I would personally never go to a caricature either. I want clients and prospective clients to think of me as respected professional and certainly I don't think a caricature represents professionalism. Just my opinion. Real Estate is one of the few professions where faces are plastered all over business cards and ads. I don’t have my face on my card and no I don’t think my business suffers in any way because of it. I would personally never go to a caricature either. I want clients and prospective clients to think of me as respected professional and certainly I don’t think a caricature represents professionalism. Just my opinion.

]]> By: Jennifer Rathbun http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/#comment-1553 Jennifer Rathbun Tue, 20 May 2008 13:05:41 +0000 http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/#comment-1553 Andrew, my best picts are at Balls and on Crusies! LOL! I plan on getting a caricature this summer from Kings Dominion. Andrew, my best picts are at Balls and on Crusies! LOL! I plan on getting a caricature this summer from Kings Dominion.

]]> By: Andrew Kantor http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/#comment-1552 Andrew Kantor Tue, 20 May 2008 12:15:32 +0000 http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/#comment-1552 Jennifer, you're kidding, right? I've seen your site! For those of us who really <em>aren't</em> photogenic, another option is a caricature. Not a lot of folks use 'em, but it's a good way to get a pic on a card. :) Jennifer, you’re kidding, right? I’ve seen your site!

For those of us who really aren’t photogenic, another option is a caricature. Not a lot of folks use ‘em, but it’s a good way to get a pic on a card. :)

]]> By: Jennifer Rathbun http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/#comment-1550 Jennifer Rathbun Tue, 20 May 2008 02:37:40 +0000 http://varbuzz.com/heres-looking-at-you/#comment-1550 No photo. Some of us are just not photogenic. But when I finally put a pic on, there will be tweaking. No photo. Some of us are just not photogenic. But when I finally put a pic on, there will be tweaking.

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