Ok, so you are out shopping for insurance for that nice shiny new Ferrari you just bought yourself off that sweet deal from last month (ok... this is a dramatization) and you want to make sure that your investment is in the right hands. You have a choice of two insurance agents in town (it's a small town...What can I say?)

Insurance agent A:   You walk in the office and almost scare the poor guy out of the nap he was taking. He moves his feet off the desk, shuffles papers around and sets to writing an insurance proposal. You notice, while he's fumbling with numbers, that his favorite pair of college tennis shoes is peering out from under the front of his desk adorned by frayed fragments of his dirty jeans and it seems that the last time his team baseball shirt saw a washer machine; he was walking past it at the home depot. As he finishes the insurance proposal, he knocks over what's left of his morning coffee, wipes the stains off the document with his hand, wipes his hand on his pants and then gives you the documents for your review. He then excuses himself, muttering something unintelligible as he walks out of the office and says he will be right back.

Insurance agent B:   You start to walk into his office and are immediately greeted by a clean cut gentleman wearing a crisp white shirt, blue tie and black Dockers. His black dress shoes look like he spends the majority of his day obsessed with shining them, but from the looks of the neatly hung pictures of current clients & testimonials, you are quite sure he spends his days dedicated to his clients. He invites you to take a seat, asks you a few questions and quickly prints out a professionally prepared document. He then asks you if you would like something to drink and offers to go over your options with you.

Now... take a quick look at your profile picture and see what first impression you are giving to potential clients that are reading your blogs. Are you agent A or B? Does it look like you were fumbling with your phone when the flash suddenly went off? Kids did a drive-by ‘shooting' while you were working in the yard? (Camera shooting that is) You set the camera to delay on the kitchen table and missed the top of your head?

I have actually seen all of the pics that I mention above on profiles here in active rain, and wondered... what are they thinking? Isn't the purpose of a blog to attract more clients? Who in their right mind would entrust their biggest investment to agent A? ... I mean do you really want to project the image of agent A to potential leads?

- RTV Marketing & Team RTV

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4 Comments on Your Profile Photo is KILLING Your Business!

JUL
20
233,875 Points 9 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

The answer to that really depends on the area of the country that one works.  If I were to show up with a coat and tie at any appointment in Austin, my trust level would drop several levels.  On the opposite side, if I were in New York city with my jeans, sandals and my polo shirt (that is what I have on now), my trust level would drop several levels.

I always preview a home if I have not met the seller, not so much to check the house out, but to check out the personality of the prospect.  I may need to either gear up or gear down based on their personality.   Some love detailed proposals, other would just prefer a couple of MLS sheets and tell them what they want to hear.  You post is a bit deeper than many may realize.

4:57pm • #1
275,602 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog

I always dress appropriately before my clients. Showing homes I wear jeans and polo shirt because I am in hot temperatures.

5:03pm • #2

I always dress ready to work even if I have a pair of jeans on - the top will dress it up.  My headshot gets redone every year and a half. 

5:12pm • #3

Great point Victoria!  When you're in it to win it you have to dress the part.  I ask prospects all the time if they know what the "Online You" looks like.  Most just think that I'm talking about their headshot but what I'm really talking about your online business to its entirety. Is your website uniform, concise and attractive.  Does your interactive content accurately portray each home.   If you can answer yes to all those then the online you gives you a shining representation.  The bottom line is that you would now show a home in sweats nor would you use your bitter beer face as your profile photo. Goodbye business! 

5:23pm • #4

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Jason LaVanture

Traverse City, MI

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www.BlueLaVaMedia.com

Office Phone: (231) 946-1360

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