The Camera as Bait, aka How to Start a Conversation

Want people to come up and talk to you about real estate instead of scattering or glazing over when they hear you're in the biz?

Carry a big camera and a tripod and plant yourself on a downtown sidewalk.

That has been working really well for my wife, Alison, a REALTOR in Austin, Texas.

She likes to take photos of buildings with her new Canon Tilt/Shift lens - a lens that minimizes architectural distortion. Her camera is HUGE and so is the lens, and the combination makes people stop and want to chat.

That chat usually turns into them offering her a business card, or asking for a photo, or an email with a link to where the photos are posted. The pix are posted on one of our business blogs, and sometimes this yields a new subscriber. I sit in the car and watch her work her magic, and smile because I know we'll leave (again) with some good pix, content for an article, and a potential client on down the line.

We love living in Austin and love learning and writing about local businesses - especially when the owner takes the time to chat and tell us about what they do, and why.

Give people what they want, and someday, they'll remember you when they need a service you offer.

Tonight's jaunt was supposed to be an errand for a son. It turned into an opportunity to take photos on South Congress in Austin, and THAT turned into an opportunity to write a local-interest article about a shop she stopped to photograph.

Maya Star is one of those boutiques on South Congress that has sprung up in the last decade - the kind of business that supports the Austin belief that local businesses can often offer what they big chains can't, or won't: good service, a large mix of interesting clothes and shopkeeper who will remember your name.

If you're local, go visit. If not, set up your own big camera and see what conversation comes your way.

Orlando Masis | Austin, TX |  (512) 914-1481 | Austin Appraiser for Real Estate in Central Texas