We all know that emotions sell and that ‘seeing truly is believing' when it comes to services that provide a visual impact. Using before and after photographs of your redesign and staging projects serves multiple purposes:
•§ It is a visual explanation of all the services you provide
•§ It helps build rapport when first meeting people
•§ It boosts the effectiveness of your presentations
•§ It generates a great deal of interest when potential clients can see a room transformed on the pages in front of them
•§ It validates your credibility and establishes you as an expert
•§ It serves as a great problem-solving tool when doing other projects
•§ It's phenomenal for creating visibility and for showcasing your business
Tip #1: Creating Your Professional Portfolio
•§ Print your before and after photos in color
•§ Preferable size is 5x7 for easy viewing
•§ Show examples of all rooms in a home (family room, dining room, bedrooms, etc.)
•§ Arrange both the before and after shots on the same page with labels "Before" and "After"
•§ When using more dramatic before and after examples, bullet point a few of the challenges and how you solved them
•§ Use an 8.5 x 11 nicely bound three ring binder for your portfolio
Add section separators with tabbed labels for each individual section of information you include such as: Credentials, Client Reviews, Before & After, Photo Journal and Articles & Tips
NOTE: Do not include homeowner names or addresses on any photos. Sample photo release verbiage:
Photographs/slides and/or videos made in association with the staging of my home are hereby released for possible use in the business materials, teaching seminars or educational classes, workshops and presentations of (insert your name and company name).
In the event that my home is selected for publication in a magazine, newspaper, website, or any other media opportunity, I understand that my name and address will be kept confidential. If my name and/or address are specifically requested, I understand I will be contacted first to ask my permission. (Have them sign and date.)
Additional Items to Include in Your Professional Portfolio
•§ Include any certifications, awards, affiliations, logos, seals that you have earned
•§ Add testimonials from satisfied clients (homeowners and realtors)
•§ If you offer other services, include short explanations of each---along with photo examples---if you offer artwork placement or accessorizing, show examples of your work
•§ Add articles or information promoting the benefits of redesign and staging---these can be written by or about you or from outside sources
•§ Show ‘on the job' photos of yourself doing a staging project or making a presentation
•§ Include a photo of you with your family and pets or participating in your favorite sport or hobby (this is terrific for rapport building with clients)
NOTE: Look at your photos objectively and assess whether they are the best candidates for inclusion in your portfolio of work. Do they clearly show the dramatic before and after difference? Have the photos been taken from the exact same position or is that difficult to discern?
Ask one or two others to give you their opinion.
Tip #2: Highest and Best Use of Your Portfolio
The best time to utilize your Professional Portfolio is whenever you get the opportunity to be face to face with clients or potential clients. Carry it with you:
•· To every appointment
•· When you attend luncheons or networking functions
•· Whenever you speak at a meeting or to a group
•· When meeting a potential client for coffee or lunch
•· If you meet with a media person
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