A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of having coffee with one of my readers. We talked about this and that... and that and this... and then he casually mentioned that he had created a "mock" business card that he "wished he could use in real life." When he showed it to me, I was floored - I think it's GREAT and that he should definitely use it in "real life!" He has the personality to pull it off and it definitely stands out from the crowd...
He's not convinced, so I said I'd ask my friends at Active Rain... What say y'all?
Now that is one you are going to keep and remember. It is true. Different is good. Currently I use a business card that is a cd that has small videos about loan process and why to use me.
Happy new year
Tony
If you hand this card to anyone, they will remember you. I probably wont give this card to an uptight person with no sense of humor but for anyone else this is a great choice. People love working with someone that can make them smile. I think you should tell him to go order 500 of those business cards. That is absolutly genius! Have a great day! Thank you for sharing that with us and I hope you ave a great New Years!
How funny!. Thanks for the post! Sometimes it would be fun to have a card like this to give out at just the right moment.
I agree that he should have his "profesional" cards for people without a sense of humor, but I think most people would find this funny.
My vote: use it.
If he doesn't use it, he is CRAZY!
I would give it to an uptight client, that way they know what to expect from the gate. And if they are so uptight to not have some sense of humor, I probably wouldn't want to work with them anyway.
Happy New year Jennifer!
I agree with the above comments...do NOT give this card to a person without a sense of humor......
BUT...I WOULD use it.....
Its FUNNY!!!
And he WILL be remembered...for SURE!!
=-)
I think this is hilarious! I don't use my picture mostly because NO ONE looks like their picture - people have photos that go back 30 years. I think poking fun at it is SMART!
It works for me and if we can't make fun of ourselves who can? Better than the cards which list every designation, award or other stuff that the consumers don't give a hoot about!
There is an agent in my area that has been using the same photo on her marketing for years. And years. She doesn't look that good in this photo either. But she looks NOTHING like this in person. I don't understand why people do this, or have their photo 'altered' to make them look better. Are you never going to be face to face with your clients? And if being recognizable is the goal, who would recognize you from this picture?
*getting off my soapbox*
Jennifer I like it. I have a folder that I keep with unusual business cards, so I say USE IT!!!
I like the card. But this does fuel the argument on whether or not agents should show personality on their cards. Recently there was a blog post condemning agents who posed in a hat or with a pet, with their car, etc... The post said it showed a lack of perfessionalism. But I personally would like to see us look less like tin soldiers and more like ourselves.
I think he SHOULD use it, but only when he meets the right people! Have 2 sets of card- he may have to give both his "professional" card to the right people after he gives them this card.
Must have been a fun lunch!
I think that is one of the funniest things I have ever seen! He SHOULD use it and hand them out to everyone with a smile. I may use his idea since I have a caricature of myself that looks like a mix of Sloth form Goonies and Beaker. I can't imagine getting that card and not smiling ear to ear immediately. Can I request a real photo fo him to compare the two? Funny stuff and thanks for sharing!
Hilarious. So many agent photos were taken 10+ years ago when they were 25 lbs lighter, had hair, etc.
LOL! Now that's funny. That's a good way to get clients you can get along with. That card is only going to appeal to people with a sense of humor. I love it!
Jennifer, what a great idea!!! I stay use it and keep another set for other clients with no sense of humor.
I like the card. It stands out from the normal big smile and letters. Tell him to get 250 and try them! Oh and I like your new pic!
I LOVE IT! I also agree that 2 different sets should be made. With todays markets as they are we are all always needing to think outside of the box to grab attention.
Ofelia Harrington/AMA Construction Services
I like the idea for those who have the personality to appreciate it. The card would certainly be memorable and would probably be kept for the laugh - and for the contact information. After all, what are cards for? Who says we can't laugh at ourselves and have a little fun!
Absolutely use it! If someone is offended, then the odds of a successful relationship are diminished, anyway. Ditto putting dogs or anything else on a card...if I were to put my dog on my card and it freaked someone out, then I would not enjoy them as a client. Go for it! We need to be who we are; it will foster better relationships with those folks with whom we are in synch and will quickly tell us what we need to know about others. Life is too short not to have fun with it!
oh yeah, he needs to use it! how eye-catching and he will certainly be the one that stands out! HAHA
This is easy, of course use it. And toss the "professional" ones out the window. If some one is "offended" by it, not sure I want to do business with them..... Of course this comes from a guy with a scuba diving golf ball as a logo
Jennifer,
Without a doubt he should use it. That is hilarious, but I do think he should keep the other ones as well. As you and I both know, everyone is different. So gauge the person you are handing them to and he will be fine.
Is it our goal to prove we are funny or competent REALTORS? I don't think this card is appropriate for a professional. It's like going to the bank or doctor's office on Halloween and finding the people with whom I entrust my money or my health dressed as clowns. I don't like it. And by the way, I am not uptight and have a fabulous sense of humor.
Jennifer- I have to agree with Cindy, it shows a Realtor who is willing to make fun of his profession. I'd hire him in a minute!
Jennifer,
Pretty Funny! I think it just goes to show you that your friend is not stuffy and will be easy to work with. I'm sure he can be selective as to who he will pass this card to or not, as he wouldn't want to offend anyone.
Do it! To me that has nothing to do with being unprofessional. That shows you have personality, you're not the same ol boring person everyday. To the uptight people, I just dont feel I can be myself around them. If I cant be myself around someone, I cant work with them, thats just me though.... but yeah do it!
This is a real Hoot! And if he can pull it off, it will defne his prospects. Most likely the staid and stuffy ones won't work well with a very humerous agent anyway. Trying to conform to just what they want is a long day anyway.Heck, enjoy life and the people you choose to work with. This is NOT a FASHION statement. LOL
Hey, thanks for all the fun responses!!!!! I think you gave my friend a much-needed kick-in-the-pants just in time for the new year. The more I look at the card, the more I like it, too.
I Like it, There should be 2 cards though, 1 for more serious clients with no sense of humor.
I think that is GREAT, but it should be carefully handed out. Too many people do not have a sense of humor. It would best be handed directly to a person...
Jennifer,
I love the concept. I just wonder if Mo Anderson would see the humor???
Who's Mo Anderson?
I personally like the card! At home (my home office) I have probably over a thousand business cards and can't think of one which sticks in my brain any better than this one. To maintain a sense of professionalism I would probably give out two cards at the same time, this one for stickiness and another one for professionalism. When you contact them in the future it will give you something to jarr their memory as to who you are. If they can't remember you, it is always starting cold in any conversation and if you put a smile on their face reminding them of who you are, that is a good first impression or setting the atmosphere in any conversation you are about to have. Why do you think speech writing often can start with a joke to lighten a room before a speech.
Jennifer,
I forget her actual title but she is the guardian of the KW "culture" One of their top corporate execs.
By the way, love your new photo!
Oooooooooh..... I wonder!
This card would provoke reluctance (this market isn't funny; real estate transactions are often not "fun" for participants- especially lately) BUT as a seller, I would absolutely include him when I interviewed Realtors- curiosity. If he's really good, it's a GREAT idea. If he isn't, well, he still offered something that would get him in for a consult! As a buyer, not so sure.
I think it's great and really, really funny! Good idea to have some backup cards though!
I think the card is hilarious and I love it. Whether he uses it depends on the impression he wants to make on his clients. If he wants to be thought of as a fun-loving guy, then use it. If he wants to be remembered as a competent real estate advisor, maybe not.
More important is his confidence and competence and it sounds like he has both. Whatever card he uses probably won't matter if he himself makes a good impression.
If I am looking for a trailer in Adams county, he is going to be my guy.
I would use a card like this but it would violate the Company Policy Manual!
It's all about standing out in the crowd! I think 90% of the people would laugh and think how creative this person is. A 90% success rate is a lot better odds than having a plain ol' vanilla business card get stacked up with every other business card.
LOL. I think it's very fun and creative! It'd be neat if he did a test run with a few hundred to see what kind of response he generated. Even better if we get the results here!
If he thought of it then he definitely has the personality to go along with it...and I can only assume would be very effective for him! I think it's great...and it's not anything like what I would do!
I for one love it. If he has the experience & (as you say) the personality to back it up, this is great. Not only would he stand out from the crowd (maybe way, way, waaay out), he is also injecting a little lightheartedness that the sales process could really use right about now.
Ha, ha.....that definitely gets your attention!