Is The Picture For Real? Will They Know You When You Knock On The Door?

Is The Picture For Real? Will They Know You When You Knock on The Door?

Stick with me here....this is gonna be a good one!

In the ever quest to find blog topics, this idea just popped into my head this morning. So I said, "Self...run with it."

Ever notice how we real estate agents are the only people that use our picture on our business cards, everything?!?! I mean we'll plaster ourselves on a bus bench, shopping cart, car wrap, and well, the list goes on and on. Why is that?

I attend lots of networking events, and meet lots of people. But then we don't see each other for weeks, maybe months. The next time I see them, whoops, I've forgot who they are. Ok, that could be just me, but I'm sure many of you have the same problem.

How come other people don't put their picture on their card, so we, or at least I can remember who they are?

But, here's the real question, and my point....Is The Picture For Real? That's yours truly...taken by my partner Ray, about 4 days ago. So, if I show up at your door step, will you know who I am?

Now, just to be fair, here is the current picture I use in all my marketing materials, and on my business cards. It was taken in 2006. But, I think I still look pretty much the same, don't I?

Well, actually, I'm getting older, as we all are, and quite frankly, it scares the (*^**%(^(^ out of me! So, I've resigned myself to again focus on ME, ME, ME and get myself back in shape. (If I hit the motherlode of real estate deals, I may get some "help with the process...if you know what I mean...but that remains to be seen!)

But, then I have to think of those real estate business cards I've been handed, or the yard signs I've seen...and then met the real thing. Excuse me? Ahmmmmm, I'm looking for the person in the picture?

You know exactly what I'm talking about! Whether it's you reading this, or just someone you know.

One of my best AR friends, Margaret Woda sent me an e-mail after I changed my AR profile picture to the one above. It had been a picture of both Ray and I, but I figured, hey, it's really just me doing the writing and the commenting, so let ME be real here, and use just my picture.

Margaret's e-mail left me a bit confused. Did I do a good thing? She clarified that in my previous picture she could not really see my face, and now, with the new picture, could actually walk up to me and know who I am. (We've never met in person yet, just here and on the phone....we've got a lunch planned the next time I drive to New York!)

We've already got creditability issues in our industry. Maybe it would be a good thing if people know who we are when we knock on the door.