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MUGSHOTS IN MARKETING?
Greetings!
Our clients often ask us whether or not they should use their photo on their business card so we figured it was time to officially weigh the pros and cons. Unofficially, we tend to make general suggestions based on your industry standard (what do your clients expect?), your comfort level and your ability to provide us with a current, professional shot. See our Designer Tip #33 for why you should or should not include your photo in your marketing materials. |
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Amy Perzan Merrill graphic designer
I launched my career as a graphic designer with a three year diploma program in Visual Communications in Medicine Hat. Since that time, I have brushed up my skill set through a variety of gigs such as publishing phone directories , teaching self-promotion to post-secondary students, creating and facilitating branding workshops for Small Business Week Expo and AWE, and, of course, running my own graphic design business!
Over the years, Meringue314 has received recognition by a host of local organizations. I have been interviewed on the subject of small business by the Calgary Herald and the topic of business card design by CBC's Astrid for Living Calgary. In 2006, Meringue314 was nominated for BDC's Young Entrepreneur Award. Watch for an upcoming article in the March edition of CalgaryInc where I was asked to critique the 17th Avenue logo.
Meringue3.14 turned six in January and she continues to thrive. Thanks to all of you who have supported me over the years. Please take a minute to read up on Kerri-Lee, her bio is below. She is now committed to do design work for Meringue three days a week and is helping to heighten our levels of customer service and support.
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 Kerri-Lee Bray
graphic designer Amy and I met in 1996 at Medicine Hat College, where I also received a three year diploma in Visual Communications. We quickly shared a passion for design and a love for all things creative. I got my start working at the Medicine Hat Newspaper where I wore such hats as layout artist, national sales rep and graphic designer. In 2000, I moved to Calgary and worked for a publishing company designing promotional magazines.Then I went to the furniture manufacturer, SMED, to design their catalogues, posters, t-shirts, flyers etc.
The past 4+ years I've been employed with Independent Distillers, a Calgary based office which manufactures alcoholic beverages with its parent company in New Zealand, and imports them to the Canadian market. My role as a graphic designer grew into National Product Development Manager. I was responsible for all point of sale materials, package design and r&d of the next big thing to hit the Canadian market. I recently left my management role in order to bring more focus back to my true passion: design.
I've worked with Amy on a contract basis for several years now, designing logos mostly. I truly love what I do and am always open to inspiration; I am delighted to be officially joining Meringue 3.14!
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Customer Service Hours
We're always available by email, but there's nothing like picking up the phone and chatting one to one!
Phone: 403-279-5314
Hours: 10:30 a.m. - noon; Monday, Wednesday & Friday Feel free to email us at info@mmm314.com for a consult. P.S. If you're calling outside these hours, please leave a message We're committed to returning calls on a priority basis. As an alternative to playing phone tag, email us with a convenient time to reach you and we'll schedule a teleconference at our earliest available time. |
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Designer Tip #33
Should I put my photo on my business card?
While some experts say no, others say definitely yes. Here are some considerations to help with that decision.
How will you use your business cards? If you try to get new customers by pinning your business cards on bulletin boards, a photo will help people feel like they know you already and will make you seem more trustworthy. If you hand out business cards to customers that come into your store and know what you look like, then you don't need a photo. You can use the space that would have been used for a photo to give additional contact information or to list business hours. If you only hand them out to prospects, including a photo can be a smart way to help them remember you.
Photo Pros
Photos can build trust in industries that require it like counseling or real estate.
Photos can be helpful if you set up meetings over the phone or email before meeting a client in person. This helps the person find you in a restaurant or wherever you're meeting.
Photos help people avoid awkward introductions if you have a unisex name.
Photo ConsA photo can date you - your hairstyle or clothing could show that you haven't printed new business cards for years! The impression given of an old business card is that you don't give out many, so it may make people not want to work with you if you still have business cards from five years ago.
People are judgmental and giving them a photo of yourself before you meet gives them time to come up with preconceived notions about you. This is human nature, but it's a risk you take if you put your photo on your business card.
Most business cards with photos on them have professional looking headshots that can be expensive.
Copyright Andrew Michaels at isnare.com.
Read the complete article at:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=294350&ca=Marketing
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