Business Cards Like A Boss

For those who remember the business card scene from the 2000 film American Psycho, you probably had a hearty chuckle at the ridiculousness of it all. A group of wannabe Gordon Gekko, masters of the universe, stock brokers from the me decade of the 1980s, going on and on about how special their business cards are. I know I learned a lot about card coloring from watching it. Is that Bone? That’s a real color?! Silian Grail lettering? Or how about Egg Shell, with Roman? Perhaps you should go with raised lettering, with pale nimbus. And lets not even start talking about business cards with watermarks!

While a group of insane stock brokers, with egos the size of the Burj Khalifa, might not have much to do with real estate agents, it does show the importance of having the right kind of business cards. Far too often, realtors’ business cards fail to connect with prospective home buyers. Why is this? And how can you make them stand out?

• Step One: The first step in making your business cards stand out is having the best type of paper. Business cards that are too thin, or feel weak, come across as being cheaply made. The best paper will depend on your card’s design, colors, and your budget. You can’t go wrong with a thick feeling kind of paper. Something that doesn’t feel like it will bend too easily, or be ripped the second a potential client puts it in their pocket.

• Step Two: Try not to overload your card with too much info. The less information the better. All you need is your contact info (name, real estate license number, phone/office/mobile, website, email) and social media info (icons showing your Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIN, etc.). Your business card doesn’t need your bio on it, but you can add some additional info about your services on the back.

• Step Three: Your picture is a crucial part to having an excellent business card. An unflattering photo on your card could be real negative. It also doesn’t help when the picture is outdated. We all age. I know, it sucks. Think of the photo on your real estate business card just like an actor’s headshot. Having a professional-looking photo can make all the difference between someone tossing your card away, and them turning out to be a prospective home buyer.

• Step 4: Since you will be giving this card away to someone you will have just met, you may want to avoid stating anything about referrals. Another item some real estate agents add to their business cards, that can turn off people, is the “tip calculator”. If you really want to add it, then put it on the back. Although, in my humble opinion, you are probably better off nixing the whole idea anyway.

• Step 5: When it comes to going to networking events you are better off being a business card collector, rather than handing your cards out as if they were free candy. You could hand out 100 cards every night at these events and not get a single contact. You are more likely to get a lead from receiving someone else’s card and engaging in an in-depth conversation with them. Business cards only work behind a solid handshake and interesting personality.

In a business world where constant social media connection is essential, it’s nice to know there are still some old school methods to use. Some realtors are relying less on business cards due to the daily presence of e-mail and instant messages, but business cards are personable and will never go out of style. A real estate agent’s business cards are an indispensable product to have at their disposal. Professional-looking business cards will lead to potential customers remembering you and your agency.