Answer Man: Grimacing Over Real Estate Agent Ads

Paul estimates that 70 percent of the agents at Coldwell Banker have their photos on their cards. This, in turn, results in a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy: Although we don't expect to see a photo on a business card from a lawyer or plumber, it's de rigueur for agents.

Still, Paul noted, "interestingly enough, we just finished a focus group here in the Washington-Baltimore area, and the general conception from those people was that they didn't really need to see a photo in an ad or a business card. It was an eye-opener for us."

Another group of professionals rivals real estate agents in the business card mug shot sweepstakes, said Ivan R. Misner , co-author of "It's in the Cards!," a book on creating attention-getting business cards: entertainers for hire. These include magicians and clowns, the sort of people who perform at kids' birthday parties.

"It shows them in action, so to speak," Ivan said.

Flipping through his book, Ivan came across another type of service provider who gave himself a starring role on his business card: a well-muscled, and shirtless, personal trainer.

"He wants to show just how fit he is, which is kind of important," Ivan said. "You don't want to walk around a business meeting without your shirt on."

Maybe not, but it would sure liven up some of the business meetings Answer Man attends.

Julia Feldmeier helped research this column. Something stumping you? Ask Answer Man:answerman@washpost.com, or John Kelly, The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.