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If you want referrals from me, do this!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Sands Realty 210-414-0966 Texas License #0331413

If you want referrals from me, do this!

"One picture is worth a thousand words"

Yesterday an old client called saying they want to move back to San Antonio.  He asked me if I could sell their current house in another Texas city.  Long story short, I told him that I am a member of an awesome real estate network called ActiveRain and that I would contact an agent in his city and then get back with him in a couple of hours with the information.

When I logged on to ActiveRain, clicked on States, then Texas, then the city I wanted, I was dismayed to see that only about a third, maybe less, of agents had a profile picture.  The rest had profile pictures that looked like this:

 

 

You may be the best agent in the world but do I want to send my referral to someone who looks like a shadowy mystery figure or do I want to send it to someone who who is looking out at me with a warm, friendly, confident expression on their face?  Someone like Yvonne Russell.

 

 

 

Of the handful of agents who had profile pictures I clicked on several, scanned their blogs, and looked at their information before choosing the agent that I felt would be the best fit for my sellers.  After my phone conversation with Yvonne, I felt even more confident about my choice.  She got my referral.

I don't judge anyone by their photo but you will have a much better chance of getting referrals from me if you post a profile photo!

Posted by

 

We want to be YOUR REALTOR® 

Contact Shirley Parks with Sands Realty at 210-414-0966 or email shirleyparkshomes@gmail.com.

 

 We serve all of San Antonio, including the cities of Alamo Heights, Terrell Hills, Shavano Park, Hollywood Park, Hill Country Village, Bulverde, Garden Ridge, Schertz, Cibolo, Converse, Universal City.

We serve ALL neighborhoods, including Stone Oak, Encino Park, Cibolo Canyons, Deerfield, Rogers Ranch, Sonoma Ranch, Steubing Ranch, Canyon Springs, Alamo Ranch, Champions, Stonewall Ranch, The Dominion, and more.

 

 

 

Carolyn Kolba
Serving Mentor, and all of Lake County, Ohio - Mentor, OH
Keller Williams Realty- Mentor, Ohio

Shirley, it is true.  An agent on Active Rain looks pretty silly without a photo.  BUT... with the recent changes Active Rain has forced upon us, many Rainers who HAD pictures already up... no longer see them.  In many places on AR... if your previous picture was not what Active Rain calls an HD picture, it will not show up.  Active Rain is doing some pretty frustrating things these days.

Jul 23, 2010 04:29 AM
Shirley Parks
Sands Realty 210-414-0966 - San Antonio, TX
Broker, 210-414-0966, San Antonio TX Real Estate

That being said, I need to get a new (better) profile picture.  But at least I have one. :o)

Jul 23, 2010 04:29 AM
Shirley Parks
Sands Realty 210-414-0966 - San Antonio, TX
Broker, 210-414-0966, San Antonio TX Real Estate

Wow Carolyn, that was quick!  You beat me to the first comment.  Thanks for the information.  I will need to make sure my new photo is in the proper HD format.

Jul 23, 2010 04:31 AM
Don MacLean
New England Real Estate Center Inc. - Easton, MA
Realtor-Homes for Sale- Easton, Mass 02356

Smile,

Just think if you went looking and didn't see a face to a name what do the general blog readers think.

Enjoy the day

Jul 23, 2010 04:31 AM
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

In defence of AR  we were all notified MONTHS ago to upload new HD photos.  They even gave us points for doing so.  I agree Shirley, if an agent can't even follow that simple request, where else are they dropping the ball.

(in saying this I realize my smiling face is missing at the moment because I was showing off my roses, lol)

Jul 23, 2010 04:34 AM
Shirley Parks
Sands Realty 210-414-0966 - San Antonio, TX
Broker, 210-414-0966, San Antonio TX Real Estate

Hi Susan, I remember your lovely face and I enjoy seeing your roses. 

Hi Don, I agree.  You enjoy the day, too.

Jul 23, 2010 04:37 AM
Claire Record
Keller Williams Realty--Boerne Hill Country - Boerne, TX

Agreed...  It's also nice to know more than a resume about the person...meaning...put some personality in the bio so that your client can tell if it's a good fit.

Jul 23, 2010 04:50 AM
Shirley Parks
Sands Realty 210-414-0966 - San Antonio, TX
Broker, 210-414-0966, San Antonio TX Real Estate

Hi Claire, that's another good point about the bio.  Thanks for the input.

Jul 23, 2010 05:02 AM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Hi Shirley, I agree, it's nice to see a face.  We relate to one another a lot better when we can "see" who we are talking to. 

Jul 23, 2010 06:09 AM
Melissa Anderson
Be My Neighbor Mortgage - San Antonio, TX
Your Texas Lender

For years I did not have a professional pic in the signature line on my emails.  When I added a pic the response from my agents & peers was very positive.  I can also "feel" the difference when I'm working with folks from out of town who have not met me in person.  A picture is worth a thousand words. I've debated changing my AR photo to my standard professional one but I just cant.  I have too many friends here who know me as the lady on the white horse & I love that horse :)

I also have a tip for picking the right photo.  Do not have it over photo shopped cause you will look like a plastic doll.  My professional photo was taken last year at my brothers wedding.  I pulled the photographer aside and paid them to take a few head shots of me.  Then I sent 10 pics to friends and family and I let the folks who know me vote. 

Jul 23, 2010 10:58 AM
John Cannata
214-728-0449 http://TexasLoanGuy.com - Frisco, TX
Texas Home Mortgage - Purchase or Refinance

Ive seen that a lot. You would figure that its the first thing you do... or at least the 2nd thing you do. Not only just for the AR members, but for someone who will find your blog online. Wouldnt you want someone to see who you are??

Jul 23, 2010 03:59 PM
Steve Shatsky
Dallas, TX

Hi Shirley... I wouldn't send a referral to an agent with no photo on their profile either.  If they cannot market themself, then how can I believe they would be able to effectively market a home?

Jul 23, 2010 07:32 PM
Dale Baker
Baker Energy Audits and Commercial Properties Inspections - Claremont, NH
New Hampshire Relocation Real Estate Information

Howdy and evening to you Shirley

The main problerm with the photos of members right now, has to do with the update that AR did to the State pages. Is that folks need to put a 600x600 HD photo on their AR site blog. Thats why we are seeing so many with out photos right now in the community. The same thing has happen on all the pages.

Have a good one
Dale in New Hampshire

Jul 25, 2010 02:31 PM
Shirley Parks
Sands Realty 210-414-0966 - San Antonio, TX
Broker, 210-414-0966, San Antonio TX Real Estate

ya know Dale,  I read Loreena's blog about this earlier today and thought about submitting another post about it but I just didn't have time to do it... oh well... :o/

Hi Steve, I agree.

Hi John, I love your new profile picture, btw... what are you doing in it?  :)

Great tips, Melissa, Thanks!

Mary, I could tell by your picture the first time I saw it on AR that you were someone I would like.  My instinct was right!

 

Jul 25, 2010 03:40 PM
Carl Winters
Canyon Lake, TX

Shirley we thought the very same thing when we reviewed the new state by state pages. Hope folks get with the program; sure makes the entire AR network look more professional when a photo is available, just something about seeing a real person. Hope that doesn't mean we are discriminating.

 If anybody ever sees Carl and I without a pic, be sure to let us know. I think we have our mug shot posted all over the internet.

Have a great day.

 (Ceil)

 

Jul 26, 2010 04:20 AM
Suzanne McLaughlin
Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN
Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

Jeez, AR started gifting points last fall for posting an HD photo.  How hard is it?  Easy as 1-2-3, A-B-C.  Ooops now I'm am dating myself.  And, I make a lousy twosome. 

I certainly wouldn't refer to someone too lazy to post a photo, let alone one as pretty as Yvonne's. 

Jul 29, 2010 04:07 PM
Matt Grohe
RE/MAX Concepts - Des Moines, IA
Serving the metro since 2003

Shirley: Covering the basics just makes good sense. I got a refeeral today through AR for a local person with 6 houses to sell. Unfortunately they want to sell them all on contract! LOL.

Aug 02, 2010 04:38 PM
Karen Bernetti
Southington, CT

Great information.  Those faceless agents may be great, but they just haven't taken the time to invest in AR. 

Aug 10, 2010 03:46 PM