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Does your website have too many "I"s in it????

By Jim Lee, REALTOR, CRS, ABR

Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Shoreline New Hampshire & Maine

January 27, 2007 11:12 PM

Lots of the blogs on AR refer readers to the blogger's website for more information, homes for sale, etc. and I usually try to visit some of them to see what they have to offer.

A lot of the one's I'm seeing have a serious overuse of the word "I".

Evidence the following:

"I try.........", "I do........", "I have.........", "I receive...........", "I won.........", I will not......", "I did......." etc., etc.

and

"I think.......", "I try.........", "I would.......", "I am.........", "I truly........", I can..........", "I want...........", "I have........", I would.........", etc. etc.

And that's just in the first couple of paragraphs. ;-)

Maybe I'm just reading something into it that's not there but a person that refers to themselves that much, that often, doen't convey too many warm and fuzzy feelings to me that me the potential buyer or seller is the focus of their message.

When I compare the above to my favorite real estate website, Alice Held's Come2AZ.com, I don't see Alice using the "I"word anywhere on the front page of her website, plus she offers tons of useful information on that front page.

Do you overuse the "I" word in your website or your blog???

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Lysa Napolitano

Daytona Beach, FL

Great Post Jim! We should be focused on the consumer not us!

Jan 27, 2007 11:35 PM

Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

That was the subject of an interview with a columnist who, when asked what he though of President Nixon's State of the Union address, he mused and said, "Well, he used the word I 52 times."

True story and very telling. The words YOU or WE is much better. If I have the word I in my web sites, it's an oversight.

Lenn

Jan 27, 2007 11:45 PM

Cynthia Sloop

Community Association Manager - Indianapolis, IN

Well Jim, I had not thought about it till I read this post. Good Point and now I will have to see how bad it really is. There's 3 I's right there.

Jan 28, 2007 12:08 AM

Danny Smith

DISCOVER TEXAS HOMES - Round Rock, TX

I don't know, I'll check it 1st chance I get! : )

Jan 28, 2007 01:11 AM

Jim Lee, REALTOR, CRS, ABR

RE/MAX Shoreline - Portsmouth, NH

Buying or Selling? Ann & Jim are the local experts

Still a long way from President Nixon's 52 "I"s Cynthia, and Danny, you do that, that's a good thing for you to do for yourself and your business. ;-)

It's almost as easy to use we or you isn't it?

Jan 28, 2007 01:25 AM

Jim & Maria Hart

Brand Name Real Estate - Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC Real Estate

Personally, I think that when writing your blog, using the first person is the way we should write. Since a blog is something personal, and the reader knows that the author wrote it, then using "I" is appropriate.

With a website, it should be in the third person. If someone is researching you and your services, they want to hear about what others think of you, and not what you think of yourself. If you write in the third person, this is accomplished.

Jan 28, 2007 05:28 AM

Bonnie Erickson

Tangletown Realty - Saint Paul, MN

Website vs. blog. Business card vs. journal. Professional vs. more personal. Everyone has an answer but no one has THE answer! I've got to check the I's on my websites! I'm sure they're there. My blog is full of personal anecdotes as examples of real estate scenarios. I try to avoid I's as much as possible, but sometimes it's harder than we realize!

By the way, Alice's website is one of my personal favorites as well! I've had it bookmarked since my first days on Real Talk.

Jan 28, 2007 05:57 AM

Mike Jaquish

Realty Arts - Cary, NC

919-880-2769 Cary, NC, Real Estate

Great point, Jim.

I tend to write/think in first person, and part of proofing a written sample is to try to balance that out, particularly when three sentences in a row start with "I."

Jan 28, 2007 08:25 AM

Sharon Simms

Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL

St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS

Mike's balancing is a good idea. And my vote is for Alice's website, too. come2az

is a fantastic website - and you know Arizona - and Alice - when you read it.

Jan 28, 2007 09:54 AM

Laurie Manny

Long Beach CA Real Estate - Long Beach, CA

Jim,

Well you made me look and guess what. I I I I I I I hrumph! You are right. Just reworked the home page of my site. Thank you,

Jan 28, 2007 05:46 PM

Patricia Aulson

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate - Exeter, NH

Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes

What you say is so true! It should be about the buyers/sellers/ not about me. Most people who are surfing the internet quickly don't know what all the designations are or mean, or care. They are looking for information, answers and someone who will avocate for them. They are what the articl/blog/ad, etc.,, etc., should be about.

Thanks,

Patricia Aulson/REALTOR/Seacoast NH/ME/& MA Please check out my URL: www.patricia4realestate.com

Jan 29, 2007 02:06 AM

Ann Cummings

RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Jim - great point, and I better check my sites.....thanks for the reminder!!

Ann

Jan 29, 2007 01:04 PM

Does your website have too many "I"s in it????

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Jim Lee, REALTOR, CRS, ABR

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