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1) Your "best friend" is not your prospect's "best friend"...
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First off, you are NOT Paris Hilton. I love dogs, trust me I do, but this has got to stop. Some agents think it’s cute or that perhaps they’ll connect with pet lovers when offering their services. Check this out…go out and ask any prospect who owns a pet whether they have this “secret connection” with you just because you own a pet or whether your skills are more important. In fact, according a NAR's homebuyer and seller profile "knowledge of neighborhood and market" ranked second as the most important factor when selecting an agent. Remember, YOU are your prospects best friend. |
2) Key Dangling Debacle
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Oh great! You found my keys!! ...oh wait…no, it’s another agent offering me keys to my “dream home” via another overused image: The notorious Key Dangle. You’ve seen them, I’ve seen them and so have just about every prospect. The key dangle was the original “call-to-action” image that worked for buyers anxious to jump into a home some years ago and is still being abused. However, here’s the problem I have: In the aftermath of a subprime lending fiasco, where mortgage companies used teasing images of the like, you have to be mindful not send the wrong messages of “getting a home super easy”. You run the risk of being mislabeled. It’s more so a balancing act, nonetheless, key dangling is walking a tight rope. |
3) Cartoon Network meets Real Estate
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I do admit…the artwork is great and wins a laugh here and there; and perhaps when the market was performing smoother it was nothing of concern. However, here’s what concerns me: According to NAR’s profile on buyers and seller, 57% of buyers and 41% of sellers rank reputation as the most important factor when selecting an agent to work with. Caricatures, though cute, cloud a prospects ability to measure your reputation given its light hearted nature. It may do fine for a follow-up piece but for first impressions it’s a gamble…and today’s market is no place to take chances. |
4) Attack of the Blurry Picture
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Blurry or pixilated pictures are the worst! I’ve seen a number of agents, for whatever reason, content with pictures that are out of focus and distorted. How could they miss over this? Usually, it’s one of two things: (1) The agent used a “web” photo for a “print” ad and doesn’t know the difference between the two worlds (2) Doesn't know much about using a digital camera. Here’s a link to a video that will help you: Take amazing shots. Remember, the prospect is going to be building a relationship with you and should not have a hurdle to jump over when learning about you. |
5) Depression hits motivational postcards
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The “Tony Robbins-in –a-postcard” approach is so ten years ago and so broken! Listen, don’t get me wrong, it’s certainly great to share words of encouragement with anyone you hope to do business with, however, that’s once you’ve shown yourself as one worth listening to. The problem with motivational postcards are that they attempt toward aiming for deeper meaning that oftimes is too intangible for prospects to make sense of. In other words, the prospect has to work with metaphors in order to translate your real message. One question, why have them work for your message if you represent convenience? The company pushing this particular postcards states, “Inspire your clients to call you…” Give me a break, since when has revelation ever hit a prospect, looking at a seagull or bee, all of a sudden compelled them to pick up a phone and call you.
Oh, and one more thing... I thought the birds and the bees meant something else entirely different. |
Copyright © 2007 By Realasponse Inc, All Rights Reserved
The material herein may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed or published. All rights reserved. Plagiarism will be detected and is punishable by law.
Mizan Goldman | www.realasponse.com
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