Update Your Image!

Get Rid of that Old Picture!

You DO NOT look like this anymore!…Shame on you!

This might start out like a rant, but after 25 years in the design industry there are few pet peeves that make me crazy. One is business owners that use old outdated photographs on current materials. With today’s ever moving flow of social media keeping current is more important than ever.

It feels like false advertising when I meet the individual who’s designs I have been creating and it is obvious that their photo is 15 years out of date. This seems to be a chronic issue in the realty business, but it has raised it’s outdated head in almost every industry where a small business owner wants to be the face of the company. This is still a good idea, but make sure that it is a current face! With the anonymity of the internet, it is a good idea to have an image of the people behind the products as it bridges the gap to old world walk-in business and helps create customer confidence.

Using old images unfortunately can break that trust, and creates the impression that the business owner is either frugal, lazy, vain, or all three. Not a good lasting impression to create with your potential customer.

Besides, investing in a good current picture of oneself is not as expensive as it used to be due to the advent of digital cameras. Find a friend that is good with photography and have a mini-photo shoot. Dress neatly, be well groomed and avoid bold prints and patterns. Change up the angles, shoot from overhead, find an interesting locale – do something interesting to set yourself apart.

Creating a good first impression on a client is the first step to paving a lasting relationship, and the key player in that relationship is you. Make sure if your face is out there that it looks like the real you.