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How Frequently Do You Change Your Avatar?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Talk 2 Midori, LLC BK645709

I come from the old school of marketing...where branding and consistency is extremely important...familiarity is the point of the consistency...I wonder does that include avatars?

 

A few days ago...someone said to me...that maybe I should change my avatar..its been a year and I admit..I look very different...all it took was the hair to grow and for me to get a deep tan.

When I think of marketing...

I believe in consistency...I believe in familiarity...and so does the consumer...

Plain and simple its called branding..like McDonalds or even CENTURY 21.

Just wondering

How frequently do you change your avatar and do you view your avatar as marketing and branding?

Oh boy, now to get the computer scientist to help me...almost like a professional photo shoot! :)

About The Author: Midori Miller is a Real Estate Trainer and writes and trains Real Estate Training and assists sellers in short sale situations. Midori is a Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker , License # BK645709 and a member of the Daytona Area Association of REALTORS. Contact midorimiller@yahoo.com or (386)453-3236.

Comments (25)

Lisa Wetzel
RE/MAX Realty Affiliates - Carson City, NV
CDPE, SFR carsonvalleyland.com

Midori - I agree but find that some things are hard to change!  I'm gonna set a goal of doing this very soon!

Jul 07, 2009 01:43 AM
Midori Miller
Talk 2 Midori, LLC - Daytona Beach, FL
Online Marketing For Real Estate Professionals

Susie-when I see you I think cowboy...I think movie star...country music and beautiful pictures! :) 

Bob-yes it happens everyday doesn't it!

Patricia-I have changed my avatar more...than any marketing that I have ever done!

Jul 07, 2009 01:48 AM
Midori Miller
Talk 2 Midori, LLC - Daytona Beach, FL
Online Marketing For Real Estate Professionals

Lisa-I love your avatars and they are consistent...and I can tell its you...one day I went out of the house without makeup and gave someone my business card...and they asked is that you?  Your hair is longer and you look younger in person!  I fell in love... LOL

James-I remember when I did print marketing...I rarely changed my photo on my marketing...online marketing has changed that! :)

Lisa-I can relate I have to get pumped for this...the computer scientist thinks I am a super model or something! :)

Jul 07, 2009 01:50 AM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Midori, if your look changes considerably, it should be changed.  I use my photo and people who meet me for the first time are usually surprised that I "look just like my picture"! 

Jul 07, 2009 01:54 AM
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

I am in the process of revamping my radio show them from Star Trek to a more patriotic theme. It has been a year.

Jul 07, 2009 01:57 AM
Heather Chavez
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Caldwell, ID
Real Estate Virtual, Assistant (928) 692-3235

I agree with Silvia, if your looks change dramatically, you should change your avatar, Midori.  If that's once a year or longer, that's up to you.  So many people use photos that look nothing like them when you see them in person.

Jul 07, 2009 02:36 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

You have to stay fresh! Leesa's is kind of edgy and those are the things I like. I hope your not disappointed if I say your pic looks old. Too edgy and you look like a punk freak, nice realtor that knows social media & is an expert to boot kind of pic.

Jul 07, 2009 02:57 AM
Midori Miller
Talk 2 Midori, LLC - Daytona Beach, FL
Online Marketing For Real Estate Professionals

Silvia-I change my hair color a lot so I may look a little different..a month from now! :)

Harry-LOL

Heather-I resemble myself always but look different...does that make sense?  When I look at my photo I can't believe I actually cut my hair that short.

Lyn-LOL...LOL...LOL...  I am not disappointed at all..I compare my real life personality vs. my avatar and it seems they do not match...so I am not disappointed at all...more along the lines..I'm agreeing with you!

Jul 07, 2009 03:18 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

I think I should put my pony tail look up :)  I do wear my hair up a lot but then again...I look the same anyway.

Jul 07, 2009 04:26 AM
David M. Childress
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services - Akron, OH
I would love to be your RealtorĀ® in Akron Ohio!

We men are very boring as we hardly ever change anything....hair (unless we lose it), clothes, weight ??, etc. So mine stays for awhile until I get grayer.....good question.

Jul 07, 2009 05:57 AM
Don Rogers
Keller Williams Realty Chesterfield - O'Fallon, MO
Realtor, Broker, CDPE, GRI, OnullFallon MO & St Charles County MO homes

I changed mine about a year ago and Richard W. said he almost passed me by for a comment because he didn't know me.  I'm thinking that I am going to stick with what I have for now.

Jul 07, 2009 06:49 AM
Liz Loadholt
Liz Loadholt- AgentOwned Realty- Covering SC - Mount Pleasant, SC
Realtor--Broker-in-charge - Trainer--Relocation Director Covering SC

Midori --- OK -- you have introduced me to something new -- at least a new word --- avatar -- I went back to several posts that you recommended and read them -- I have read the comments here -- Then, I went to the dictionary and I gather from all of this is that Avatar means a photo of your personality --- did I get this correct?  Thank you, Midori for teaching me something new today.

Midori -- I assume that you are a breast cancer survivor -- seems like you told me this before -- excuse me, I'm getting old and don't remember like I used to (ha,ha). 

Please tak a look at a recent post that I wrote: Motivational Monday -- I'm just trying to get out a message. Thanks.

Mama Liz's Signature

Jul 07, 2009 07:51 AM
The Rains Team
Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners - Hoschton, GA
A higher standard in real estate

Hi Midori, I think you should change it definitely if your look changes drastically...you want to be recognizable from your picture. But I also think consistency is important as well--for instance I use the same profile picture on all my websites, social media and blogs (well except for facebook to keep things interesting there). Maybe once a year is a good change.

Have a great day,

Anne Rains

Jul 07, 2009 08:55 AM
Monika McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH
Southern NH & the Seacoast Area

I change mine when the mood stricks. I think you should try and look like yourself so if you've change  a lot then I say go ahead and change it.

Jul 07, 2009 11:07 AM
Larry Brewer - Benchmark Realty llc
Benchmark Realty LLc - Nashville, TN

Midori - I have never changed mine. As you can see by my picture, I had glamour shots work all day on it, and this is as good as it gets. Just kidding. I haven't changed mine in a couple of years, but i still look the same.

Jul 07, 2009 12:30 PM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

I changed mine right after NAR... before that I think I had about three in the last year or so...

Jul 07, 2009 01:09 PM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate

I change mine whenever I get bored with it. And I've placed several different ones in my tri-fold brochure. That way there are no surprises, and I show some variety. I think that actually works to my advantage. Besides, since I ordered so many business cards with my last haircut (which has been different for over a year) and I'm not going to order more until these are all used, I think the brochure and my avatars are good ways to show some variety... AND, since everyone who meets me says I look better in person, (you included =P) I'm hoping this helps.  =)

Jul 07, 2009 05:10 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

25 more pounds and MORE change...after losing 100 I shoulda coulda but face is changing...fewer chins, less cheeks...I love it....till then.....same old same old...or maybe fruit....not so much in  the north country have to do snowballs !

Jul 07, 2009 11:06 PM
Chip Jefferson
Gibbs Realty and Auction Company - Columbia, SC

I alsothink pics should be changed. I see lots of agents that look NOTHING like there photos. They use there best photo from 5 years ago and was 20 LBS lighter.

Jul 07, 2009 11:10 PM
Sheila Moran
RE/MAX Access (Garden Ridge, San Antonio, New Braunfels) - New Braunfels, TX
SanAntonioSheila.com, RE/MAX Access, 210-32

Midori-

I change mine up every so often just to keep folks interested, but always use a recent photo.

Nothing better than having someone recognize me in pubic or a new client say "you look just like you do on the internet!)

 

Aug 16, 2009 08:18 AM