Business cards: To pose or not to pose

Pictures might be worth a thousand words...but no one ever said they would automatically be worth a thousand dollars. Figuring out whether or not to include your picture in your next business card is one of those key decisions you don't want to be taking lightly. It's one no entrepreneur can afford to ignore. Of course, knowing where and how your business card will be distributed and received will be a big factor in your final decision. If your plan is to plaster your business card on every coffee shop bulleting board in a 20-mile radius, a little face recognition couldn't hurt. Or could it? The fact of the matter is that photos - much like flashy logos and other graphics - will influence how people respond to your business card and, consequently, how successful you will be in getting their business. So before you decide to get your hair done for the money shot, here are a few advantages and disadvantages to consider: 1. Photos build trust, which may explain why they most often appear on business cards in the real estate, counseling and public speaking professions. If you're working in a field where trust and confidentiality reign supreme, a photo can be a great way for clients to become acquainted with you. 2. Photos foster name/face recognition. Sending a picture business card to a new client you contacted by phone or through e-mail can actually facilitate your first person-to-person encounter. It can also help identify entrepreuneurs with unisex names, such as Chris or Joey. 3. Photos almost always lead to pre-judgments. Given that its human nature to judge other people based on appearance, you should keep in mind that your gender, skin colour, age, outfit and even facial expressions might suddenly become the deciding factor in whether or not you will get a call-back. 4. Photos can date and even outdate you. A few wrinkles or a blast-from-the-past haircut can be enough to convince a prospective client that you aren't the cutting-edge entrepreneur you claim to be. An old photo on a business card can even be interpreted as lack of demand for your business in general. It's also important to remember that photography doesn't come cheap. That means if you are dead set on having your picture on a business card, make sure you don't cut any corners. A low quality photograph can ruin your business card - not matter how cute you thought you looked in the picture.