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Ok, so you are out shopping for insurance for that nice shiny new Ferrari you just bought yourself off that sweet deal from last month (ok... this is a dramatization) and you want to make sure that your investment is in the right hands. You have a choice of two insurance agents in town (it's a small town...What can I say?)

Insurance agent A:   You walk in the office and almost scare the poor guy out of the nap he was taking. He moves his feet off the desk, shuffles papers around and sets to writing an insurance proposal. You notice, while he's fumbling with numbers, that his favorite pair of college tennis shoes is peering out from under the front of his desk adorned by frayed fragments of his dirty jeans and it seems that the last time his team baseball shirt saw a washer machine; he was walking past it at the home depot. As he finishes the insurance proposal, he knocks over what's left of his morning coffee, wipes the stains off the document with his hand, wipes his hand on his pants and then gives you the documents for your review. He then excuses himself, muttering something unintelligible as he walks out of the office and says he will be right back.

Insurance agent B:   You start to walk into his office and are immediately greeted by a clean cut gentleman wearing a crisp white shirt, blue tie and black Dockers. His black dress shoes look like he spends the majority of his day obsessed with shining them, but from the looks of the neatly hung pictures of current clients & testimonials, you are quite sure he spends his days dedicated to his clients. He invites you to take a seat, asks you a few questions and quickly prints out a professionally prepared document. He then asks you if you would like something to drink and offers to go over your options with you.

Now... take a quick look at your profile picture and see what first impression you are giving to potential clients that are reading your blogs. Are you agent A or B? Does it look like you were fumbling with your phone when the flash suddenly went off? Kids did a drive-by ‘shooting' while you were working in the yard? (Camera shooting that is) You set the camera to delay on the kitchen table and missed the top of your head?

I have actually seen all of the pics that I mention above on profiles here in active rain, and wondered... what are they thinking? Isn't the purpose of a blog to attract more clients? Who in their right mind would entrust their biggest investment to agent A? ... I mean do you really want to project the image of agent A to potential leads?

Just food for thought.

 

9 Comments on OMG! Your Profile Photo is Killing Your Leads!

Please tell me what you think of my profile picture!  I am trying not to be just another little head.

03/01/2008 09:13 PM by Georgina M. Hunter R(S) e-Pro Maui Real Estate Sales (Jim Sanders Realty Inc. - Maui)


Oh yes, I'd like your opinion as well. It will be well-respected, and I'll take your advice! Thanks! (I do like YOUR pic, but if I did a pose like that, people would know for sure I was trying to cover up my sagging neck! lol)

03/01/2008 09:20 PM by Mara Hawks, REALTORĀ®, Homes For Sale in Auburn-Opelika, Alabama, AU, Lee County (FIRST REALTY)


Makes sense to me, especially since we've all been taught that the first impression is often the most important, and if it is not a good one, it could be the last impression.  We all can remember running into an old friend, one we've not seen in a long time, only to judge their current condition by their appearance.  Can any of us afford the risk?

03/02/2008 11:47 AM by Mike Willett (The A&M Group)


My problem is I change my haircolor so often, I need a new picture about every 2 months!

03/02/2008 11:55 AM by Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Real Estate (Long & Foster Oceanfront - Virginia Tech Hokie)


Georgina, Mara & Karen - Thank you and I think this will answer all your questions. (I hope you dont mind that I used your photo Georgina)

www.PortraitProfessional.com

The image that I use for my 'online face' is actually a picture that my ex-husband took of my when I was dead tired from a full day of walking around Italy. I just liked the way the picture came out and post-processed it for use in marketing. From your comments, I guess it worked out pretty good ;)  Thanks!

Mike - I agree 100%

 

 

03/05/2008 12:57 PM by Cheryl Waller National Marketing Manager (Real Tour Vision)


I think the best is when you are on office sites and you are crusing through the agents... then you come across one that looks like either the pictures was taken in the late 70's early 80's and they just haven't had time to submit a new one, OR, they are actually still stuck in the late 70's and early 80's... both situations are not good.  Thanks for sharing!!!

03/05/2008 01:07 PM by Erika Beede - www.goomzee.com (Goomzee Corporation)


Cheryl - that's just creepy, all tarted up like that... hahaha.  It's not me.  I'm surprised you didn't dye my hair too.  I'm sorry but I'm not that fake.  If I lose clients because of it, so let it be.  I'm always get a chuckle when some realtors try to get across that they are so honest and sincere, and yet they: dye their hair, have boob implants, tons of makeup, fake tan, dripping with bling, etc.  Is that really what consumers want from an "honest" agent?  Thanks for your effort anyway, I had a good laugh.  I think I'll stay with the footprint in the sand picture for now. 

You can leave it there, I don't mind.  :) 

03/05/2008 01:37 PM by Georgina M. Hunter R(S) e-Pro Maui Real Estate Sales (Jim Sanders Realty Inc. - Maui)


Georgina,

No insinuations intended. I was just showing off the software. :)

Thank you!

03/05/2008 02:02 PM by Cheryl Waller National Marketing Manager (Real Tour Vision)


This blog does not allow anonymous comments

 
Real Estate - Other: Cheryl Waller National Marketing Manager (Real Tour Vision)
Cheryl Waller National Marketing Manager
Traverse City, MI
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There are very profitable lessons to be learned from the experience of others.. a LOT to be learned in hearing about the successes (and roadblock pitfalls) of other business owners, marketers and salespeople. Exchange ideas, learn from others, share and improve marketing strategies. Ready Set BLOG

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