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Please Check Your Ego at the Door

Block & Crouch Realty Some people call it image advertising -- those giant highway billboards with 2 story photos of your neighborhood Realtor. Or those bus-stop benches where commuters plop themselves down on another Realtor's smiling face!

You may call it image advertising, crazy, or whatever else you like, but what it really amounts to is EGO.

Bottom line: there are much more effective and affordable ways to market your real estate services than plastering your image all over your town.

football stadium

When it comes to ego, Realtors are notorious. Have you ever seen a lawyer, accountant, or banker hand out a business card that says "Top 1% nationwide"? Doubt it. But for some reason, Realtors play this game. You've seen the cards, the advertisements, the websites. You've probably even seen "Top 5% Nationwide." Not to belittle the point, but with 1.2 million Realtors, what this says is that they're in the top 60,000. That's a football stadium full.

Unfortunately in life and sometimes (though thankfully more rare) on Active Rain, there are those who think that their education, degree, or designation sets them on a pedestal above their peers. This is just not the case. We all have something to learn from each other.

I'm a huge proponent of education and experience as witnessed in my posts:

Learn & Earn

Network, Learn, and See the Stars: Real Estate Conventions

25% of My Broker's License

But, I'm committed to education for the learning and for improving myself personally and in this business, not for the letters after my name and not to stroke my ego.

Take a trip with me for a moment:

Univeristy of Pennsylvania I graduated from an Ivy League school -- University of Pennsylvania.

Does this make me a superior Realtor? NO.

There are plenty of Realtors who went to community college, never went to college at all that are leagues above me in the profession and from whom I can learn many techniques, systems, and success secrets.

After college, I attended law school at a top tier school -- George Mason Law School, and passed the Virginia Bar Exam on the first try. Does this make me a better Realtor?

Qualified YES. I truly believe that my legal background, legal skills and negotiating skills do make me a better Realtor. But better than I would be without this background. It doesn't necessarily make me better than others who might lack this training. While I use my legal background as a selling point to distinguish myself to my clients, I would never say choose me because I've got a law degree and XYZ Realtor does not.

I've literally got a big boatload of Realtor designations and certifications. So many that I don't bother putting them on my business card (they wouldn't all fit). If I wanted to, I could have half the alphabet after my name.

ESQ., ABR, ASP, CRS, ePRO, GRI, SRES -- but do I brag about this or consider myself better or more important than others? Absolutely not!

It's what you do with the education that you've been blessed to earn -- not the mere fact that you've sat in the classes and garnered the letters and certificate.

Never underestimate what you can learn from others.

There are Realtors, lenders, and other industry professionals here on Active Rain:

who have been in the business much longer than you
who are rookies
who are highly educated
who barely made it through high school

You can learn something from each of them. I have marveled at how much I've learned from everyone here. It doesn't matter to me whether the blogger has hundreds of transactions under their belt or is yearning for their first sale. The wide variety of knowledge and education available here is astounding. I've never questioned anybody here about how many transactions or how much volume they produce.

My martial arts instructor often says that "We check our egos at the door before training." We're training together individually and as a team. Nobody gets hurt. Nobody is out to prove anything. We're all in it together and are learning to fight and defend ourselves against potential outside enemies.

On Active Rain, we're all in it together. Active Rain is a wonderful training ground, a great place to learn about business, get business, and network. Let's prepare ourselves to compete against the hundreds of thousands of Realtors who haven't discovered our wonderful community.

Success is possible if you work together and check your ego at the door.

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

Posted by Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate on 10/28/2007 02:57 PM

Comments (117)

education, designations, active rain, brian block, jason crouch, ego advertising, ego

117 Comments on Please Check Your Ego at the Door

OCT

2007

LOL -This is so true! 99% of the population doesn't know squat about % Nationwide or what a CCIM, GRI or CRS is! The other 1% that do know what these things are, are other Realtors.

Righto... I have absolutely NO designations after my name on my card. My clients don't want to know much about me, just about what I can do for THEM!

Btw... I thought that billboard was supposed to say "John Hughes Realty"... what happened?? That's the designation to bring in the biz ;-)

Good Blog, nice images. We can always learn from each other and there is a very diverse melting pot here. I for instance have a 20 year background in farming, very different from you perhaps, but I wouldn't change a thing. AR provides a great platform for everyone to learn.

DEBBIE: Thanks for your comments. You are so right. And many Realtors don't know what these letters mean either. Take a look at my post What Are All Those Letters After a Realtor's Name?

I loved this Brian! So many just do it for the designation and fail to acknowldege what they've learned. That's exactly like the reasons you stated about top this or top that. It's nice to receive all those recognitions but as you said..... It doesn't necessarily make me better than others who might lack this training. I chose (in my late years coming into the business) that I would do my very best to always think in the best interests of the client yet I step back and enjoy my life as well. (Titles and such aren't my main purpose in life)

All extra courses are beneficial with knowledge and education although I have met some who are slimey and have many designations.

It's all about gaining knowledge and putting it into action. Otherwise, all that is mute.

Brian - I like the billboard design. I would go ahead and give it the green light with the outdoor ad company. Seriously, thanks for including me on your graphic, and for a great post. I try to remain humble in this business, because there is always something new to learn. Well done!

The billboards are about branding, same as the face on the lawn signs. It's the perception by the public that this person is successful. Doesn't necessarily mean it's true, but it appears that way.

JENNIFER: Thanks for your comments. I thought you might still be too busy with your never-ending comment string to stop by here. :) You are right on -- it is what we can do for our clients. Not WIIFM, but WIIFT!!

John Hughes Realty -- you're funny!

I remember when I first started and wanted to plaster my face all over the subways. The cost of marketing that way would have depleted my marketing budget. I had to find a more creative way to market that was in my budget. Some of my ideals came from new.agents who had an open mind.

I thought I read somewhere that the Four Stallions,..er.. the Four Horseman were opening a branch by that name :o)

Gee Brian,... I don't recall seeing you there. You should stop by!

Brian, this is fantastic, titles, designations don't make us good or bad. It only helps us have a wider range of knowledge. Remember when colleges us to be liberal arts? They expected people to get a well rounded education. Activerain is a place we learn from others, all over the country at different levels of growth. This was beautifully said and illustrated.

I've got a billboard with my face on it and this is what it says:

"The Jessica Horton Team: We're not #1...You are!"

It works for me. However, I don't think that I have a negative mental attitude or a super inflated ego about it. Most of my friends are just now getting out of college and into working world. When I got into the business, they were out partying and buying a home wasn't on their mind. My sphere of influence was ZIP---ZERO!!!! I did something different to get noticed by sellers and buyers.

If people think that I have a big ego or over inflated sense of self worth because I did something to be noticed...that is on them.

Hey I don't even know what some of those abbreviations stand for,(joking). You have to be out there meeting people and interacting with them, otherwise all the education in the world would not bring anyone to you.

I think we are also the only profession that puts their pictures on business cards too. Mine isn't and if it was it would at least be current :-)

Brian: I agree with you on this one. I've seen egos fly in this business over the past year and wonder, really why. A lot of people buy into the genuine side of the person they are going to work with and yes their past experiences. Not that big full size body shot with a tool belt, saying "I'm the very best Realtor you will ever find".

Oh, those aren't designations, those are abbreviations you've listed. :)

Brian-Ummm I got 2 things from this Post; right or wrong this is what I read:

1. Ego-some do things whether advertising, marketing, blogging etc. for egocentric reasons.......and here on AR this isn't appropriate.

2. Designations- I got that even though someone might have one, or a ton of designations that we are all equal here......and the designation doesn't make you any better than, or less than, anyone else.

I have to say that these past couple days since trying to revamp a useful group I have used a Designation (Certification) many times.....but certainly NOT to make anyone feel better, or less than. I hope no-one was offended, as that was not the intent.

Brian ~ Good post. I love to learn for myself. Whatever classes or courses I take it is because I have an interest in it and if it benefits my clients, that is a bonus. Most of the public doesn't even know what the designation initials mean, so having them on a business card means nothing to them. I like to think I learn from people everyday - and that is even more true since I joined AR.

Here here Brian.

You have found what I most love about AR. There are people from all over trying to help each other be the best they can be.

I don't think I have contibuted much, except for maybe the occasional atta boy or girl, but we are all here to keep each other going.

AR addicts unite! ^_^

Good job, Brian. We can all learn something from each other. No one should be too full of themselves to have an open mind and realize that they can learn something new.

Hate to break it to you but people who do not advertise on billboards can be egotistical too. There is a difference between being egotistical and portraying self-confidence. Self-confidence is a very important characteristic to communicate to the world in this business. After all, you are asking people to entrust you with one of the most important financial decisions of their lives.

And, people want to relate to those they do business with. If I share my accomplishments and interests, it will most likely trigger a comfort level with a prospect. Don't see what's so wrong with that.

RICK: Thanks for your comments. It is very diverse on Active Rain and I have learned new and different things from just about everyone here. Most people come to real estate from some other career background and each bring with them knowledge, business practices, and other ideas that help differentiate them from others. I'm sure that your background in farming plays a role in your current business.

SALLY: Thanks for your great comments. There are lots of people that I know with less training and less education whom I admire for their accomplishments and whom humble me with their knowledge and expertise whether in real estate or other fields. I'd rather have friends and excited and repeat clients than a bunch of framed certificates hanging on my wall in the office. Your comments express very succinctly exactly what I was saying here.

JASON: I'm very happy that you like the billboard. Actually, I toyed with calling our company Crouch & Block, but alas, my ego got in the way! I always try to remain humble in business as well. Even the best (not referring to me) always have something they can learn. Thanks for your comments.

DAWN: I do understand branding and have my picture on lawn signs, my business card and websites (plus notepads and post-its). But I do believe that there are much more cost effective and productive ways of increasing business than billboards. I don't know that billboards give the public a perception that someone is successful. Do you find your lawyer or doctor from a billboard in town or from a personal recommendation? My inkling is that most people find their professionals from a personal referral -- not from this type of mass advertising.

CHERYL: Thanks for your comments. Maybe it works for some people, but I think that these types of ads mostly fall on deaf ears with consumers. Rather the real estate community can name the agents that appear on billboards and on the subways, because we are paying attention to it. The public just sees it as some real estate agent's face on a billboard.

I know I get mine from personal referrals. Besides, I don't take good enough pictures to put on a billboard. Uh, we don't really have billboards here anyway.....lol!

JENNIFER: Four Horsemen Realty coming to a town near you!

I've checked out your post a few times but haven't yet commented there -- thought I'd get lost in the shuffle and don't know that I have the time to sort through the 100s of comments. Maybe I'll try.

BRIAN: That wasn't your original point as I understand it. I agree with you that billboards are not the most cost-effective way to obtain leads for a realtor. And, I have seen doctors and attorneys advertise on billboards in my area.

I can live with Block and Crouch.

Thanks to Julie for the link to my post!

MISSY: Thanks for your comments and compliments on the post. Regarding designations and titles, "Sometimes the clothes do not make the man" A well-rounded education is a good goal; specialization has its place too, but there are certain core things that everyone should learn.

JESSICA: I like the message that you've got on the billboard. Much better than the typical -- Look at me, I'm #1. If it works for you, I think that's great -- it's not something that I would personally do in my market and the people who I've seen doing it aren't necessarily that successful in the business. Having read your blogs, I know that you don't have a super inflated ego and that you are using the billboard because it is something that you've discovered that works. Certainly can't take that away from you.

MANA: There are plenty of other designations that I haven't earned yet, but some which interest me for the education, like the CIPS designation for international business since we have a lot of international clients moving to the D.C. area and I'd like to learn how best to work with people from other cultures. You are right -- all the education in the world can't outweigh actual hard work and street smart people skills.

CINDY: Yes, I can't think of another profession with photos on business cards. Well, I'm guilty here too, but I guess I thought since it was so prevalent in the industry, people would question why I didn't have a picture. You are right though, the picture should at least resemble the owner of the business card.

JULIE: Thanks for your comments. I tell my clients about my experience and background and how it can to their benefit, not how it graces me with more business and makes me great. Pictures do make it a more personal business, and to some extent real estate can be touchy-feely sometimes. But I don't need an award to tell people that I'm good at what I do. I just do the best that I can do for each client and let them see how I work.

KATHY M.: Thanks for your comments. Ego run amok is no good. I think that you clearly delineate the points that I made here. This certainly was not aimed even in the least at you. What you are trying to do with the ePRO group is admirable and I hope that the group will work out and continue to thrive.

KATHY P.: Thanks for commenting. I take tons of classes when I have the time and am an avid reader and love lifelong learning as well. As you say, most of the public doesn't understand the designations unless we promote it and explain it to them. I certainly learn from others every day and learn a lot right here at AR.

JACQUELINE: Thanks for your comments. There is plenty of help to go around here which makes Active Rain a very warm place. I look forward to seeing you around some more, but even the occasional "atta boy" or "you go girl" gives encouragement to some of the bloggers.

DALE: Thanks for the comments. Everyone can always learn -- I don't believe the maxim that "you can't teach an old dog new tricks!"

DAWN: Being egotistical is not limited to those who advertise on billboards. I agree with you that there is a big difference between ego run amok and self-confidence. Anyone can see through egotistical personalities, while self-confidence can be exuded and is an admirable and necessary trait for success. There is nothing wrong with sharing your accomplishments and interests with clients and prospects and I never said there is -- it is when people get this "mightier and holier than thou" attitude that we run into problems.

That's fine and good for some, Brian, but I happen to be THE GREATEST REALTOR WHO EVER LIVED! Want to know why? I'll give you the bullet presentation that my clients get.

There are limitless reasons why I am head and shoulders above my peers, but primarily because I ...

Once ate my weight in tacos
Can seamlessly translate any song into Spanish, despite incomplete mastery of language
Wear pants (always and without exception!)
Graduated college after needing only 2 senior years
Can make my eyes do freaky Terminator 2 thing (Robert Patrick, not Arnold Swartzenegger)
Got highest score ever on licensing exam despite score and ranking never being technically divulged
Am adept at making fire and using implements
Was a "Good Citizen of the Month" at Cochise Elementary School (Nov. 1982)
Eat broccoli.
Won long jump competition at Field Day over nemesis, Yo Sun.
Have teeth.
Have a billboard, business card and car magnet that say so!

Awesome post, Brian.

SALLY: Most of my clients are from personal referrals and the internet as well. Are you kidding me? I think most Hawaiians would be screeching to a halt to do a double-take if they saw your beautiful photo on a billboard!

BRIAN: You can tell that a person is egotistical by looking at a billboard?

Hey...Paul....are you exaggerating? The taco thing...I don't believe it...even if you do have that on a billboard.

Brian...what kind of friends do you have. Does your wife approve of them?

DAWN, DAWN, DAWN, DAWN: You've now made 4 comments on my blog so you obviously enjoy hearing and reading your own name. I can't tell that someone is egotistical by looking at a billboard, but I think it is a fair assumption. Are you trying to make a point here? Why don't you just post a photo in the comments of your personal billboard on the Hamburg Turnpike? I've obviously struck a nerve with you.

What is egotistical is you posting an advertisement for yourself 3 times within my comments. I understand that you have not been that active yet on Active Rain, but you've been around here as long as I have since your first blog post was a day after mine in July. I'd highly suggest that you take some time to read ActiveRain Community Guidelines:

One of the guidelines states "Do not advertise yourself or your services in the comment section of another members blog post."

If you've got something else to say besides trying to distort what I've written here, please feel free. Otherwise, I'd be happy if you take your e-PRO designation and your billboard and spend some time on other people's blogs.

Everyone else has kindly checked their ego at the door.

JASON: It's alphabetical order after all.

BRIAN: ...tsk, tsk, tsk...apparently you are as sensitive as you accuse me of being. I won't "bother" you anymore. Take care now.

You beat me to the punch, Brian. If you are going to badger someone else on their own blog (this is not just a forum for agents, this is a public blog people!), at least have the courtesy not to include all of your contact information and a link to your website. Bad form.

PAUL: I love your bullet presentation and imagine that people all over the country and the world are flying into Scottsdale to buy a house and just to meet you even if they have no desire to live in Arizona.

I once ate my weight in tacos too -- but it was over a 4 year period of time (called college). It's a good thing you have teeth, otherwise you would have to put the broccoli in a blender before ingesting.

Thanks for your great comment -- it would top my list of funniest and favorite comments of all time on my blog.

SALLY: I'm not sure I believe the taco thing either, but Paul's probably friends with a few border-crossers who force feed him tacos on a daily basis. Fortunately my wife hasn't met all my friends yet. She does know some of you, though.

DAWN: You're back again. I'm not sensitive... just trying to play by the rules. You might want to read my post Raising the Bar on Active Rain: Let's Bring it Up a Notch!

PAUL: Thanks for having my back. That's what horse-riding buddies are all about.

Well, he better stop before he puts on many more pounds than he needs. And your wife knows I'm okay then.......right? Uh...I took my link out....and your buddie was getting all hot too.

OCT

2007

Paul - That comment you made above is fall-on-the-floor-unable-to-breathe funny. However, I have empirical evidence that you do not always wear pants from a comment you made on my abbreviations post:

Internet-Needing Guy Eats Nachos In Old Underpants, Sadly. (INGENIOUS)

I just revealed a bit too much, didn't I?

10/13/2007

by Paul Slaybaugh, Scottsdale Realty Executives

Delete Report as Spam

Brian - I would have had your back here as well (and I still do), but it looks like you and Paul took care of business!

This Dawn chick needs to take her meds! Geez.... how could ANYONE possibly miss the basic point of this blog? How long has it been since you've had a second date honey???

On a happier note... Paul has got to be the funniest stallion on active rain!

FHWH!

MWA!!

So true. Your qualifications, experience, age, etc. matter very little unless consumers know/like/trust you.

By the way, Brian, saw something funny when reviewing the comments here. In the initial comment from your detractor, she equates a picture on a billboard to the face on the lawn signs. I'm not trying to pile on here, but I had to laugh. I'm guessing that you feel the same way about plastering your face on your signs as you do about billboards, business cards, etc.

Let go MY EGO. LOL thats great. I thought I was alone in this feeling. It feels good to see other feel the same way.

Brian - agree 100%! I've seen this in lots of professions in Stafford - doctors, lawyers, insurance agents, and yes, Realtors. I think it's a very "old school" approach to prospecting. But you can bet your bottom dollar I would NOT do business with them. I would think it attracts, cynical, uneducated, and difficult prospects, at best. Not the kind of folks I want to do business with anyway. I don't know if I'd see those people as egotistical as much as frivolous (stupid) with their money!

SALLY: Yes, you're okay in her book! Thanks for your support.

JASON: Thanks for the support and for pointing out that Paul doesn't always wear pants! His comment was over the top hilarious -- one for the record books!

JENNIFER: I was questioning how people could miss the basic point of this post -- perhaps some people just skim and read what they want to read without digesting all the writing. Narrow vision. I wonder if she'll come back and see your comment. I feel a regulation catfight coming on.

Paul definitely leads in the humor department with Jason a close second in my opinion.

Thanks for your comments.

MARGARET: The know/like/trust bit certainly represents the most important piece of the equation. Thanks for your comment.

PAUL: Well, I do actually have my face on my signs, but I see a big difference. The billboard is a huge photo of you just advertising you to the masses. The sign is really advertising the individual property and thus is marketing on a much smaller scale. And at least when they walk into the open house, they already recognize you. But I struggled for a while about whether to include my photo or not on the lawn sign.

ULISES: Thanks for your comments. Love it -- and now I'm hungry for some waffles.

So true! So true! We should all work together and there is ALWAYS something new to learn. During a lifetime, you don not learn everything in anything. Even though I have horse experience for over 30 years, I am still learning more. If you stop learning, then at that point you are telling everyone you are perfect. And we all know that we are not perfect. We are human.

IRENE: Thanks for your comments. Definitely frivolous in my opinion. If it works for them, great. But not in my business plan.. Plus, we don't actually have that many billboards around here anyway.

BRIGITA: Your comment rings true as well. Thanks for commenting. None of us are perfect. You must be quite the horse rider.

Brian,

Thank you. I do ride well, but still have more to learn. I read up and attend clinics to keep improving. I guess this shows you that the more you learn, the better you get.

Brian,

My Sensai (Martial Arts Master/instructor) used to say (Peter, why dont you consider a different sport).

I couldnt agree more, as someone mentioned earlier I dont have a title on my card either, I can be what or whom ever I need to be for the moment. People buy people, who we are not our pedigree (for the most part). If someone is buying a pedigree I probably wont do business with them since I'm a self proclaimed MUTT. Talk about not staying on topic, I had to look back and see what I was commenting on, ahh yes check your ego at the door. It is truly amazing that everything we talk about here at Active Rain can be used in everyday life for our businesses, professions and even personal life. We are all part of the same community.

Ok, time to hold hands and sing the song they sing around the campfire, wish I could remember the name.

Have a great week.

Peter - Is the song Kum Ba Yah?

BRIGITA: Thanks for stopping by again. Glad to hear that you are constantly striving to improve your skills and yourself.

PETER: Thanks for your comments. Can we roast marshmallows? Seriously, thanks for reading and agreeing with the basic premise of my message.

JASON: Would you lead us in the chorus?

Excellent post! Not only do I hate the top 1% thing my pet pieve is the "Multi Million Dollar Producer". Or how about all those business cards with out glamor shots on them. What attorney, doctor, dentist, cpa or other professional puts a photo on their cards? Not only that if most of the agents that use those H.S. photos ever went missing we would never find them looking for the one on the card.

C.J.: Thanks for your comments. What I want to know is how is the 1% of Realtors nationwide even determined? Is there a committee that grants this distinction? Do agents figure it out on their own? Or is just BS? The "Multi Million Dollar Producer" says nothing about our services or what's in it for the consumer. It doesn't take a whole lot to be Multi Million Dollar Producer -- in our market you need $3M in sales per year. That could be a few houses with our prices the way they are. Not that great of a distinction, in my opinion.

Amen. Great refreshing post! Thanks for keeping us grounded.

JANICE: Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I'm glad that you are part of the Amen choir!

Brian - Hmmmm... Block & Crouch... has a nice ring to it! My favorite line in your post is "never underestimate what you can learn from others". Thyat's the gospel there, my brother.

Thats the song Jason, good call.

Brian- Good post. Agreed - so many folks have a ton of letters behind their name; but of they don't practice what they learned whats the point?

There is a lot of ego and smugness in our business - but we are all in this together. Learning from each other is so important!

Brian - Why I just love it when I see one of those expert, highly educated agents across the table. They are usually so focused on looking good, the don't see what is before them. It's like taking candy from a baby, bless their hearts.

TOM: If we added Adam, we could have ABC Realty! Thanks for reading and commenting. Wow, now I'm spreading gospel...

PETER: Kum Ba Yah!

JAMES: Thanks for your comments. I enjoy learning from everyone -- older, younger, more experienced, less experienced, male, female, etc. We all bring something valuable to the table. There's no room for too much ego.

JOHN: Thanks for your comment. You can always tell the agents who have a settlement that day by the clothes they wear. It's pretty funny.

BRIAN: Great job on this one. I featured it in the group, and wouldn't be surprised at all if it gets featured on AR. I have long been a proponent of doing things that benefit the client, not things just meant to stroke my ego. It's one of the things that I hope is on the way out in the industry, because it really serves no purpose. I once heard a speaker say that anyone can say that they're number one as long as there is an asterisk and small enough fine print. He joked that you could say that you were # 1 at your desk. Thanks for bringing this out in a public way.

Possible Slogans for the billboard:

New Kids on the Block - We don't sing but we sure sell houses!

Crouching Realtor...hidden houses.

I know...I best not quit my day job!

Jessica - The first one would work well for me and Brian, but we don't need the disclaimer. He and I used to be in a barber shop quartet together in the 1940's known as "Blockie and the Goldfish". We were even on the Vaudeville circuit for awhile. Our big day came in 1964, when we were scheduled to appear on "Ed Sullivan", but we were bumped in favor of the Beatles. Our singing career never recovered, so we decided to become licensed Realtors. After 30 years in the business, we finally got our own billboard. This is our day to shine!

Great post! Is is all sales or just real estate agents with the big egos? I love that AR has all types & all levels of experience. I learn something new every day...

Thanks, Brian, this is great. I would go a step further and say what you've written applies not only to our jobs, but to everything we do. We should not spend life promoting ourselves, but instead put others first, whether in business, social or family life, or elsewhere. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Brian Wilson, Zolve.com

Hi Brian,
Love it, love it--so true. Our clients care about one thing--SELL MY PROPERTY.

ADAM: Thanks for your comments, compliments and the group feature. By the way, I'm the #1 agent on Active Rain*

* fine print: #1 agent with the last name Block who also happens to have blue eyes and live in Virginia.

JESSICA: Either slogan is fine. By the way, last week in my broker class, the teacher gave us a minute to come up with a hypothetical brokerage name for our own firm. I chose "Around the Block Realty" -- people loved it!

JASON: I told you not to tell anyone about our Vaudeville days. It's been tough for me ever since the Fab Four bumped us off the Ed Sullivan show. It's not really your fault -- who would have known that Paul would have ditched us to join Joey's rock band? But real estate has treated us well and we've got a beautiful new billboard to prove it.

O.K. fess up. You're just trying to compete with Paul for best comment.

KELLY: Thanks for your comments and compliment on the post. You may be right -- maybe it is all of sales. I love the diversity here as well.

BRIAN W.: Thanks for your comments. I agree that we need to live our lives this way as well. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

CYNTHIA: Thanks for your comments. Yep, that's what they care about. Sell my house. Get me a good price. How are you gonna do it? I've never once had someone ask me "tell me about all your designations and awards."

Brian - I think I just decided that it's working well for Paul to take his "no filter" approach to commenting. Why not me, too?

JASON: You know your comments are always welcome here.

OCT

2007

Especially if I am the 100th, right?

JASON: Thanks for putting my post into triple digit comments. Maybe we will change the name to Crouch & Block. You always were my favorite Goldfish.

Brian, that is another fine blog and excellent message. Funny that it struck such a nerve with a couple people. It can be that real estate is such a "relationship" business, people take everything so personal. I know that when you take something to personal, your business sense goes away (at least that is true for me).

Buy your home with the Realtor that has been around the block a few times!

I LOVE IT!

Seriously, Brian you are one of my favorite posters and I really enjoy what you have to say. I don't always agree but you always challenge me to revisit my beliefs and grow.

Thank you!

CHARLES: Thanks for your comments and compliment. I did seem to strike a nerve with a few. One of the reasons people need to use Realtors for their home sales is because we are emotionally detached from the business of selling their home.

JESSICA: Thanks! I thought the name while incorporating my last name, would actually be suitable for a big or small brokerage anywhere in the country because it portrays the local hometown feel and points to the idea that the brokers are local experts, not to mention having a wealth of experience.

I appreciate you saying that I am one of your favorite bloggers. You should certainly feel free to disagree with me and voice your opinion whenever you wish. But I know you know that you don't need my permission. Don't worry, I don't have a fragile ego.

Designations are important and buyers and sellers do use them as a guide to finding a Realtor.

LORI: I agree that designations are important but in my experience I have not known buyers and sellers to really use them as a guide or to seek out a Realtor who specifically has a certain designation. Maybe you've seen otherwise. I'd love to hear about it. Thanks for your comment.

NOV

2007

Your ego seems to be telling me that you know what advertising works in my area, for me, to reach my target market.

I just don't understand how people don't get the fact that branding yourself in an area through repitition can be good marketing. Marketing 101

Personally, I do not choose this method, but it does work great for some people in some areas. And that is a fact!

Where do you get your facts? And are they just for your area?

TROY: I certainly appreciate your comments and welcome differing opinions. However, I don't believe I have any ego issues in posting this article. I'm not instructing anybody on how to do their business or what works in their areas to reach their target market. If you have a billboard or other personal advertising that is working well for you, I'd love to hear about and learn from your experience.

Sure, branding yourself in an area through repetition can be good marketing. But most agents don't have the budget of Coca-Cola or Nike to commit to a branding campaign. You ask where I get my facts, but I didn't report any facts here, just opinion. And you are welcome to agree or disagree.

The only time that I considered putting up a bill board was a few years ago. Another agent was giving me a hard time. The sign about his office was for rent. He does not know how close tht he came to seeing my smiling face greeting him every morning.

NOV

2007

I had some good advice when I was just getting started. This person had been in the business a long time, and had every designation that I know of. So I asked them which designation helped the most..

The answer was that the education required to get them was useful, but 99 percent of all clients didn't know one designation from another, and didn't care.. All a client cares about is what you can do for them.

VICKY: Thanks for your comments. That reminds me of a joke that I heard the other week in my broker's class:

A guy opens up a small brokerage in an office building. Before he comes up with a sign, another brokerage opens next door with a big sign saying ABC Realty -- Free Training. A day later another sign goes up saying XYZ Realty -- Best Agents in Town. Finally, the guy calls the sign company and puts up his new sign over his door...

"Main Entrance"

LARRY: Thanks for your comments. I couldn't agree more.

Brian - Thanks for the post and I could not agree more. You see I don't believe in Ego. My career has been successful because I remain humble.

My the way I took the LSAT this summer I decided to work on my MBA instead.

NOV

2007

REBECCA: Thanks for your humble comment. Congrats on furthering your education by working on your MBA. My sister-in-law is currently pursuing hers at UC-Berkeley.

Hi Brian!

Branding is valuable, in my opinion and most of American industry agrees.

Agreed, leave ego at the door.

Disagree on using designations - let's not get crazy and use 20, but if you don't have any in my neck of the woods, you are going to lose the listing. The clients don't know what the letters stand for, but they notice if they are missing on your information. The highest producing agent in our area used to be proud of the fact that she didn't have time to get a designation, she was too busy actually working her business...a couple of years ago I noticed that she managed to squeeze in time to get her ABR, and she uses the letters. :)

About billboards: One important rule for advertising - it's a waste of money to advertise in a BIG way until enough people know who you are in the area. It's just silly. But we have an intersection where one has to wait 4 minutes for a 6-way light - that is a great place to put every agent in your company on the sign, and one company has done so. I feel like I know them all and I haven't met but three...lol.

Thanks for the post.

NOV

2007

DAWN: Thanks for your well-thought out comments. It amazes me that some Realtors say they are too busy to get a designation. ABR is only a two or three day class. GRI is one class a month for 12 months. ePRO you can do online in your leisure time. Ok, CRS is more involved, so I can understand. However, how can you justify telling your clients that you are too busy to keep up with continuing education in your field.

I do use my designations in my agent bio that I give clients and have them prominently featured on my website, but other than that don't make a big point of using them in everything that I do.

I guess the billboards and brand name advertising can work for some people, it's just not my style.

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