While I don’t promote face marketing (which has been hashed out here), I know that there are many people who will insist on pasting their mug on their cards, tote bags and bus benches.  That’s fine, especially if you’re featured on the “Hot Realtor” website… but if you’re on the “could you cover that up” or the “is that a witch or a wardrobe” websites, you might want to consider NOT using face marketing.

That said, for those of you who insist on plastering your face around your fine city, please do NOT break the following commandments:

1. Thou shalt not use a misleading Photoshopped image of yourself.  If you’ve got a double chin, rock it or else your clients will meet you in person and instead of focusing on your amazing 15 second pitch, they will be studying your face and comparing it with their mental image you gave them online, leading to their loud internal laughter they will have to fight from coming to fruition! 

2. Thou shalt not use your “skinny days” photo.  Do I really need to elaborate on this?  Don’t mislead your clients or GIVE THEM a reason to laugh at you- you may already be up against this without the help of a botched pic…

3. Thou shalt not ever use the pose where you rest your chin on your single resting hand.  We know you just got out of the nail salon, but you don’t earn credibility from this ultra sophisticated pose- it’s a myth.  Leave this pose to your 6 year old daughter in the frilly dress- that’s what it’s designed for!

4. Thou shalt not use your high school senior photo on your business card, especially if you’re wearing that stupid black frock.  There is professional help out there and if you insist on face marketing, Real Estate Photography transcends photographing homes; just ask Larry.

5.  Thou shalt not use any softening effects in your image.  Putting tracing paper in front of the lens doesn’t make you more approachable, it just ups your cheez factor!  (Yes, cheez with a “z”)

6. Thou shalt not wear any of the following items at your Realtor photo shoot: a wife-beater tank top (yes, I’ve seen this- seriously), a Hawaiian shirt, shoulder pad power suits with white tennis shoes (ladies, you know you sported this look two decades ago), Flava Flav style jewelry, heavy hair gel (a la the movie “Grease”), or a Lamborghini.

7. Thou shalt not fake hair.  Some of the most successful   Realtors I know are baldies and did you know that bald is IN? Take their lead and never ever ever ever wear a toupe (regardless of what Trump says), Photoshop hair on your head (we all know how this ends up), or do the comb over.

8. Thou shalt not use any image of you standing with a celebrity.  Lance Armstrong is awesome but I don’t think he wants to hang out with you every day on your card.  Yeah yeah, we get that you’re important because you went to a conference he spoke at and you got to shake his hand, but you’re not his buddy and you didn’t sell his house- you didn’t fake me out, buddy!

I could go on and on with this one, but I leave the rest of the list to YOU… what other commandments should be added to the list?