Stop Turning Your Content Into a Business Card

Let’s just get straight to it.

Stop putting outro cards at the end of your Instagram content.

What’s an outro card?

It’s that contact card that pops up at the end of your Reel with your headshot, phone number, email, logo, and enough information to look like a digital business card.

You just posted a listing video, a hyperlocal Reel, or told a great story…

…and then BOOM.

“Here’s my contact information. I’m a real estate agent.”

We do live content audits every week inside BAMx, and I see this in almost every session. If it’s happening there, I’m guessing it’s happening everywhere.

Here’s why these outro cards are hurting your content.

2 Ways Outro Cards Kill Engagement

First, they kill replayability.

Instead of ending with something that encourages another watch, sparks comments, or gets someone to share the video, you end with three to five seconds of your phone number sitting on the screen.

The second people realize the video is over, they swipe away.

That hurts retention, hurts replays, and ultimately hurts the performance of the Reel.

Second, it turns your content into an advertisement.

One of the biggest complaints people have about real estate agents is that everything feels like a sales pitch. Every interaction ends with a business card.

So why would you hand someone a virtual business card after they just finished watching your content? It’s virtually insane!

What to Do Instead

The truth is, nobody is watching your Reel, pausing on the last frame, screenshotting your phone number, and calling you.

If they enjoyed your content, they already know you’re a real estate agent. It’s in your bio and is probably obvious from the video itself.

Showing your phone number and email on screen isn’t what’s going to generate business. It makes your content feel like a commercial from the ’90s.

Instead, end with something that keeps the conversation going.

Ask a specific question. Share a strong opinion. Give viewers a reason to send the video to someone else.

If you made a hyperlocal video about World Cup watch spots, end with:

“What’s your go-to bar in (city) to watch the World Cup?”

If you made a video about a new Topgolf opening, end with:

“Share this with the friend you’re taking to Topgolf.”

Those endings create engagement. An outro card doesn’t.

So stop turning your content into an unnecessary ad.

Instead, optimize the places people already expect to find your contact information.

First, make sure your Instagram profile is set up correctly so anyone who lands on your page immediately knows who you are, what you do, and how to reach you. I made a full video breakdown on exactly how to do this. 

Second, if you want feedback on your content, start a free trial of BAMx and join one of our live content audits. We’ll tell you exactly what’s working, what’s hurting your reach, and what to change before you post your next Reel.