Hello Ricky,

Thank you for writing about the importance of adding a picture of yourself on your web site.

Several weeks ago, my husband Jim and I met the nicest couple in Washington D.C. We struck up a conversation about the Internet, and it turned out they too have an internet business.

Since then, we have begun emailing back and forth sharing ideas.

I told this gentleman about the importance of adding a picture to his website. He is a professional magician, and I suggested a picture of himself "in character."

He says he is not attractive enough to do this. I tried to explain to him it's not the looks people want to see... it's the credibility that will be added. And, the reduction of fear people will have towards using their credit card on his site.

I believe any method that reduces credit card fears will increase sales.

Now, on to my favor.

May I send this gentleman a copy of your posting?

Of course I will include a link to your site, and a link to Sowpub.

Thanks Ricky,
Diane

P.S. A quick question. What about Optional Image URLs? My husband's side of our web business is product design and development. I do the research, marketing, and "secretarial" side.

Which means if a question/comment is placed on a message board ... it's from me. :-)

Do you think I should occasionaly place a photo of myself with my postings? It's my husband, Jim, who is the expert on fitness/exercise.

Thanks again.

> The list...

> Harmony Major, Paulette Ensign, Mike Enlow,
> Julie Jordan Scott, Gordon Alexander, Dien
> Rice, J.F. (Jim) Straw, Ken Silver, Ken
> Evoy, Michael Meanwell, Jason van Hooft,
> Steve Maclellan, Mike Van Nordon, Linda
> Caroll…
> …..And the list goes on…. Too many to print
> here!

> These are just a few of the popular “faces”
> on the Web and forum scene.

> Why?

> What is it that they understand and one
> thing they have in common?…..

> They know the importance of showing everyone
> who visits their sites what they look like.
> They understand that creating a “persona”, a
> brand of YOU is more important than creating
> a brand name for their products.

> Anyone of these Web personalities could
> change the title of their info –products or
> rename the services they offer over night….
> And they would still be just as successful….
> Because people KNOW them, the faces, the
> person behind the products…. And that is far
> more important than a faceless Web site or
> product so many others have.

> Jay Abraham, could release another new ebook
> tomorrow (It’s topic would be immaterial)
> and it would sell far more copies in a week
> than some of those nameless faces do in a
> year.
> Ah!… But he’s famous ….I hear you say…
> That’s true… But he’s created a “persona”, a
> face seen my thousands if not millions on
> stage in the real world, a personality and a
> reputation and strong following from doing
> so.

> Look at the difference when you see a name
> on this forum attached to a post.
> A name you can associate with a face…. It
> jumps out at you, stands out from the rest.
> When you read that person’s post, and you
> can almost feel that face speaking to you in
> your mind’s eye.

> Do you have a Web site?…Are you hiding
> behind a tricky dicky domain name that no
> one really gives two hoots about. Great
> content, great products you may sell…. But
> forgetting what selling is all about….
> “That people buy from people”…. Is your Web
> site, another cold impersonal faceless site
> like so many on the Web today?

> Imagine this…. Walking into your local
> corner store each day, and behind the
> counter, the shopkeeper is wearing a mask
> like Zorro or a Ku Klux Klan member, and
> never ever shows his face to you…. What
> would you think?… What impression does it
> leave?….. Is this a friendly place to visit?
> Would you buy from him or the cheery smiling
> face of his competitor across the road?

> In the real world you show customers your
> face every day without hesitation, why is it
> then that on the Web, people forget to do
> this? Why do they hide?… The Web has
> provided you with the perfect promotional
> vehicle, it’s more than HTML and wordy sales
> messages.
> It’s a graphical medium… So use it to your
> advantage.
> “A face can paint a thousand words”…
> Personalize your site with YOU.
> The Web is not the faceless ham or CB radio
> medium of yester year… It’s visual
> communication and may one day be integrated
> with TV.

> Many people have difficulty remembering a
> name… But how many of us never forget a
> face?

> So even if you don’t look like Elle
> Macpherson or Mel Gibson
> …. Even if you have the face of Frankenstein
> or resemble Dracula
> … Don’t be afraid to show it.

> If you do… you will create an online
> personality and presence in a much shorter
> time span while your competitors figure out
> what all the spent photo flash bulbs lying
> around your site are for!

> Warmest Regards

> Ricky Higgs




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