Inspired in part by what Seth Godin has said about business cards, and in part by Bloodhound’s “Flashed Cards” series, I decided to have a few “experimental” business cards printed for last weeks National Association of Realtors Convention and Expo.

Real estate agent cards tend to all look the same. There is the ubiquitous “glamor shot” (often taken years ago) and some sort of logo — a big balloon, an outdated 21st Century thing, a big EXIT sign, whatever. Add to that brokerage name, office phone, cell phone, fax number, email, website (often missing, which seems. . . well. . . stupid), etc etc.

Sometimes you can’t really tell if the card is for the agent, the broker, the brokerage, or the mother ship in the case of franchised offices.

I wanted a card that would stand out. Something that would make people notice it, and preferably say something about it — which of course leads to an opportunity to engage the person holding it. And what better place to test a new card concept than at a real estate convention filled with agents and real estate vendors.

Here is what I came up with:

Front of card:

Back of card:

That’s it.

Every single time I handed out one of these cards, people flipped it over. Seeing the back was blank, they flipped it back to the front. Some did that a couple of times.

Then one of two things happened..

Many looked quite puzzled and said, “where is the rest?”

Some smiled, nodded slightly and said, “this is brilliant!”

The specific reaction isn’t the point.

That there was a reaction — every time — is the point.

What is your first reaction?

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