Comments on: Would you still love me if I didn’t have a face?

By: elizabeth

elizabeth — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:56:56 +0000

Good one to think about .. I tend to use photos that I love (which means they’re not of me) for my avatars and such. But I do feel more connected to blogs where they have a photo, or have posted photos of themselves. It really is hard (for me) to form a relationship with someone when I cannot actually picture them. I guess I should return the favor. Thanks for prompting the thought!
elizabeth´s last blog ..here comes sinter klaus

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:39:06 +0000

Gwen, wow, I hadn’t seen that post yet. It must have been difficult to keep up the barrier between herself and her clients for so long, knowing there was this gigantic reason they could never speak by phone or meet in person. I can’t imagine working like that. Even if I tripled revenue, what would be the point? I’d feel like the quality wasn’t there, because I wasn’t incorporating all of myself into my work. (It’s about the relationship–not just words.) My me-ness is maybe what attracted them to me in the first place? Agree with you: Even if I could, not sure I’d want to.

By: Gwen Bell

Gwen Bell — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:36:52 +0000

I swore I would never post those photos. And now they’re up. And they make people laugh. And they make me take myself a little less seriously.

Speaking of serious, I’m sure you’ve seen this recent piece at Copyblogger about a woman who decided to write as a man. And ended up doubling and tripling her earnings.

http://www.copyblogger.com/james-chartrand-underpants/

That will make you think twice about associating your mug with your work. It has made me sit up and take note, for sure.

But how would I write myself out of my copy and into ManLandia? Not sure I could. Not sure I’d want to. Something to chew on.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:55:39 +0000

Elaine, that’s such a cute story. And, by the way, I think more people should have videos of themselves on their About pages. Including me. After watching that video of yours, it’s impossible to wonder, ‘Who is this person?’ I would smile if I saw you from across the hotel room, too.

By: elaineshannon

elaineshannon — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:02:15 +0000

Love this post and want to share my story, it really reinforces the need for “The Face”.
I live in eastern Canada and was on a Trade Mission to Boston Mass. Not only was I going away to promote my biz I was going to another country. While I was there I had several meetings booked with complete strangers that although I researched them heavily I did not have their face.
On day 2 of the mission I was walking through the lobby of the Copley Hotel feeling quite confident and 2 very good looking gentleman were looking at me and smiling, I was thinking wow these Boston people are so friendly, it was just like being at home. They continued to smile as I got closer and at this point it started to border on the weird side. Next thing I know they are standing in front of me and saying my name….OK now I am officially freaked out when it hits me. My picture is on my website and the 2 gentleman did their research and they knew it was me they were meeting with.
What a feeling to have people recognize me, I have now embraced this and I love it. This is an awesome tool for your personal branding. Being an extrovert this works for me. However if you are not one to be in the spotlight this strategy may be totally outside your comfort zone.
PS…next time you bump into me please say hello!
elaineshannon´s last blog ..Planning Day

By: Kelly Parkinson

Kelly Parkinson — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:54:14 +0000

Stephanie, I love the idea of printing out photos to associate names with faces. And I’ll definitely follow up on how video chatting goes. Real shirt, pajama bottoms.

By: Havana

Havana — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:00:32 +0000

Kelly: hooray for gravatars! It makes sense; we can only remember so many names.
Havana´s last blog ..Flyer and Business Card: The Math And Science Clique

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:31:10 +0000

Definitely faces help — even though I do most of my work by phone. My coworker puts photos of people into his address book & everywhere else so he “sees” their faces when he talks to them. When working in inside sales (inherently by phone) we were told to put a mirror next to the phone so we could look at someone and smile at someone while we talk. Even for clients that I’ve met only live once, a couple years ago, a face appears in my mind when I speak to them.

Plus those of us who are more spatial than word oriented need the faces to remember who is who — the names alone sometimes aren’t enough to jog the slow brain.

So try video chatting. It forces an at-home worker like me to brush my hair & put on a “real shirt” for work, even if I can still wear my pajamas. And please write about what happens — I bet it will be interesting.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:21:12 +0000

Havana, I recognized your name from over on Sarah Bray’s blog comments, and immediately had a face to attach to a name. So, I guess we feel more connected to blog commenters who have pics, too!

Victoria, yes. A shield! Brilliant. You could have a rotating backdrop with a hole cut out in the middle, like those cheesy photo-op boards, so it’s you fighting a dragon, or riding a camel, or dueling. It’s a niche just waiting to be filled.

By: Victoria Brouhard

Victoria Brouhard — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:55:55 +0000

I am laughing at the Pajama Factor because it is SO TRUE!

Maybe I could set up a shield thingy between me and the camera that has an opening just for my face. Then I wouldn’t need to get dressed *or* comb my hair!
Victoria Brouhard´s last blog ..Quitting the Man: 34 Days Since Freedom