Business cards with photos

[~A.Michelle~ M]

Hi all

I got a business card today from a contractor who is quoting for a job on my house that I just bought. It had a head shot of him on it.
I was thinking, it's not very often that I've seen MT's cards with photos of themselves on them. Do any of you guys have your photo on your biz card? If so, what sort of feedback do you get? Has it been a plus or a negative in promoting your services?
Personally, I hate having my photo taken & wouldn't dare put myself on my biz card...somehow it seems a little narcistic to me. Besides, I hope people are coming to me for my skills/technique not my looks (or lack of them) :
As a consumer, would you be influenced by the impression you get of someone on a card be it positive or negative if you hadn't seen them in person?

Thanks for sharing

Oz

 

[horsegirl101]

I dont have them myself. I have to say I dont really care for them. It always seems the person in the pic is uncomfy having their pic taken lol It has never influenced me one way or another as far as utilizing a business' services. Personally, I do better meeting someone face to face rather than them getting a first impression from a pic! (i do NOT photograph well lol)

 

[Balaji]

Hi,
I actually do have my photo on my business cards and have noticed an increase in business because of it. My friend who is in Real Estate told me about it and said that it creates sort of a trust/bond with that person, that by seeing your picture it eliminates the "stranger massaging me" thing. I have my website address on my business card with a page about me that describes both my professional and personal background. The same picture on that web page is on my business card. I've noticed that when new clients come in, it's like they already know me. They come right up to me in the waiting room already asking how my doggies are doing and stuff.

I agree with Bodymovers about how people look uncomfy in their pictures. I didn't want the traditional plain background and me in a suit with a fake smile, I wanted something that reflected me. My brother is a photographer, and we went to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens where we did the photo shoot. We had such a great time and I think it showed in the photos.

Anyway, I can't speak for anyone else, but from my personal experience, I think it's helped my business greatly.

 

[Dee M]

Aimelie, very nice website & pic! Has made me rethink my idea of the pic thing. I love the Botanical gardens!! dont get there too often :{ Who do you order your cards from?

 

[Ricky]

this topic reminds me of one day when i was watching ellen, since she just worked with a realtor with the head shot, she had a little segment where she asked people to send her the pictures of local real estate agents. some of those glamour shot smiles WERE pretty cheesy. (of course the producers probably pick the silliest ones to make me laugh.)
and i chose a realtor from my community paper (not because of the photo) and was taken aback by how different she looked in person. in the photo, she had an updo and the pic was probably a little dated. her new haircut actually looked nice, maybe time for a new photo shoot...
aimelie, i agree that your picture is very natural. you look friendly, and i agree about "feeling like i already know you".
when i first moved here, i found my MT because i grabbed her brochure. it was outside her door in the hallway of an office building. she had her menu in there, as well as the photo and her background. well, her smile was so genuine and sunny, i felt i couldn't NOT go meet her. and as soon as i walked in the door, i recognized that petite lady with the warm smile. (and her massage was great too!! i go back and gladly pay, as often as i am able... even though i do trades with other MTs.)

 

[yummymummy2be]

Aimelie, very nice website & pic!

Thank you so much. I worked very hard on that website, and am always still updating and refining it. The bamboo pic on the top and bottom of the page is also a picture my brother took. I had such a hard time trying to figure out a color scheme to match the photos and finally came up with the ideal of actually taking colors from the bamboo picture using the "eyedrop" function in Frontpage to use as different colors throughout the website. I use Publisher to make my business cards using the same colors and fonts to keep everything consistent.

Who do you order your cards from?

I order my business cards through overnightprints.com. You can upload your design for free, no additional cost for full color printing on the back, the cards are very thick, and free UV Coating. I ordered 2000 for $79.95. It normally goes for $89.95, but they sent me a coupon for $10.00 off. The also offer free shipping over $75.00. One thing I realized with my first order, is if you want to be able to write on the back of the card, to not select the UV coating option for the back. Otherwise you'd have to use a sharpie. I usually order everything else for my business from Vistaprint, but after trying to do the same set up with VP, I realized they added on alot more fees to upload your stuff, the full color printing on both sides, glossy finish, and with shipping, it was just cheaper for me to go with Overnightprints. I also get allot of compliments from people on the quality of my business card.

 

[sunshine11]

Aimelie wrote pretty much exactly what I would write. I have a head shot on my business card that matches my photo on the personal information page of my website, with a tropical garden background.

The only additional point I would make is that "studies show" that business cards with photos are not thrown away as casually as business cards without personal photos. So your card stays in someone's wallet or on their fridge for a longer period of time.