According to Harper’s Bazaar, the top fashion trends for 2018 include “statement-making fringe” and “lavender challenging millennial pink as the next It color”. Last year, it was winter florals and denim, with “an overall Americana story for fall”. Ten years ago, it was “shoes and bags … in cool hues like lime, cobalt, and magenta.”

Times change – and style changes with them. And while real estate agents don’t have to be quite as up-to-date with runway looks as, say, clothing designers, it’s still a good idea to make sure that your real estate marketing materials aren’t so dated that they’re sending the wrong message. Want to make sure you’re not handing out a business card that’s the real estate equivalent of bell bottoms and shag carpeting? Here’s a handy checklist:

Check the pictures

If you prefer to use a Century 21 business card with a photo, you’ll need to update the picture on a regular basis. A good rule of thumb is a new photo every 3-5 years, or any time you substantially change your look.

Check the details

Sending out a real estate prospecting postcard with an address or phone number scratched out and a new one written in is just plain unprofessional (not to mention a huge waste of time). Any time your contact details change, you need to get new marketing materials with the correct information – period.

Check the message

Just as fashions change, your business will change over the years, too. If you’re still using the same old marketing materials just because that’s what you’ve always done, you could be missing out on a lot of potential business. Take the time to review your marketing strategies and messages on a regular basis, and make sure that they still align with the clients you want to be attracting.

Check the numbers

Different target audiences respond to different marketing approaches. Before you plan out your campaigns for the coming year, take a look at the response rates you’ve gotten in the past to see where you should focus your efforts. And if you haven’t taken the time to test new approaches, like whether a particular neighborhood responds better to postcard campaigns or real estate door hangers, there’s no time like the present.

Check what’s new

Business cards may not change as often as runway looks, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have trends! If your current real estate card is getting old, why not consider a fresh new look with a modern square Century 21 business card, a mini business card, or a luxury Century 21 ultra-thick business card?