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Agent Photos... the good, the bad, and the "are you sure about that?" - PART II

By
Real Estate Agent with Long & Foster Real Estate

I am not a huge pet lover.  I had a dog once in college named Murlow.  I didn't know it was a girl until I got it home. THEN, not being a big drinker, or at least not a consumer of quality liquor (you know how college is), I heard "Merlot" on a movie and chose it as the dog's name, cause I liked it.  It was used to describe a color, not a drink, but I didn't know it was a wine, so when I told people my dog's name, those who knew what "merlot" was thought I was a drunk. I had cats growing up, and loved it, but not enough to have them as an adult. I digress...

Why do people put pictures of their pets in their ads?  I am not saying it is wrong or right, but just why?  I think their must be some secret thing with pet lovers.  Like a club or something.  I don't really get it.  Probably because I am not into pets.  I puppysat once for a friend in NY.  She came down here on the bus dropped of her puppy and went back because she had a concert to do, and she needed to focus and be out late.  It wasn't so bad.  The puppy, "Chica," was sweet and everything, but it didn't make me want to get one.  I could see her as a person who would choose an agent who took a picture with their dog.  I read an article about people who infuse their regular job with their off the job interests and it makes them memorable to the public.  Like one couple in California I think is into ballroom dancing, and they put that in their ads and stuff.  I don't ballroom dance, but I thought that was neat.  Tell me, do people really say, I chose you to list my house because the picture of you and your dog was so cute?  They must because I see ads with agents and their dogs, cats, and birds all the time.

Well, I figure it is about connecting with potential customers on whatever level is comfortable for you.  My very first listing came from a lady who was on the internet, looked on the website for the company I work for, saw my picture and said - she looks like me - I want her to sell my house!  Funny, we did look alike.  She had me meet her mother to help her look for a home, and her mother said - "She was right, you do look like my daughter!" That connection was unintentional of course, but it shows that you never know why people choose to do business with you.  You may look like their mother or father or grandfather or favorite younger cousin. Your parrot may look like the one they saw on their field trip to the Bird House in the first grade that led them to becoming a vet.

If any of you infuse your business with small parts of your personal life, tell me what you do and how that works for you! I'm listening...

:)

Eva

Comments (10)

John Doe
San Diego, CA

Eva - great post.  My wife and I laugh at agent photos all the time.  I'm a new agent and still need to have a photo taken.  I've made a promise to myself not to put a photo on my business card.  What other industry puts photos on their cards? 

I'm also a firm believer of updated your photo ever year or so.  There's nothing like seeing the photo of an agent and then meeting them to find out they must have been awfully busy all those years to not have time to update it!

Apr 20, 2007 02:18 AM
Eva Wilson
Long & Foster Real Estate - Camp Springs, MD
BS, GRI - DC Metro Area - Home Marketing Specialist: The DVD Lady

I took my photo off - you'll find out why in part III. lol

:)

Eva

Apr 20, 2007 02:20 AM
Laura Reed
RE/MAX NorthStar - Clarksville, TN

Eva,

I am always being told that I look like someone else. have you ever heard that we all have a double out there somewhere? As long as my double isn't out there robbing banks I'm ok with that. I had one guy go on and on and on about how much I looked like his sister, he brought his business partner in to show him how much I looked like his sisted, his partner couldn't believe it. Long story short, when the guy started hitting on me it got gross.  LOL... When I was younger I was compared to Molly Ringwold. Lets see who else people have been compared to.

Apr 20, 2007 02:24 AM
Eva Wilson
Long & Foster Real Estate - Camp Springs, MD
BS, GRI - DC Metro Area - Home Marketing Specialist: The DVD Lady

Hitting on his sister's look alike... so many reasons not to want to be anywhere near him... so little space to type. I was told that in the picture I look like Nia Long, if Nia Long was a real estate agent. When I was younger people said I looked like Tracy Chapman. Needless to say, I had a pretty bad awkward period!

:)

Eva

Apr 20, 2007 02:33 AM
R. B. "Bob" Mitchell - Loan Officer Raleigh/Durham
Bank of England (NMLS#418481) - Raleigh, NC
Bob Mitchell (NMLS#1046286)

Tracy Chapman?  I don't see it. From your picture here on AR, I'd say that you are MUCH better looking! ;=)

I've always wondered about this whole putting a picture of yourself on advertising stuff.  I've come to the conclusion that it is done in an effort to differentiate themselves from the crowd.  I've chosen to promote my brand name as opposed to my cult of personality (they have their own club and can promote themselves if they want to)

I'm curious, not to get too flirtatious here, but has being attractive ever come back to haunt you in business?  I used to have a young lady who worked for me who was a doll! She didn't dress provocatively, but she couldn't help it, she was a very sexy young woman.  The husbands were like, YEAH!  The wifes, not so much!  She purposefully toned it down and her business did better.

 

R.B. "Bob" Mitchell

ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc. 

Apr 20, 2007 03:14 AM
Eva Wilson
Long & Foster Real Estate - Camp Springs, MD
BS, GRI - DC Metro Area - Home Marketing Specialist: The DVD Lady

lol

You are trying to get me to write "Part III" today, but I am not gonna do it! Can't! Gotta go to the office! But the pic has pros and cons as far as the attractive photo thing goes. If you read part I, you know that I have had 2 kids in the last 2 years - so I don't look the same anymore.  My new shape has made me more popular with women buyers and sellers.  It is a trip! They don't clutch their husbands when I come around... not as much anyway...

:)

Eva

Apr 20, 2007 03:31 AM
Greg Cremia
Shore Realty of the Outer Banks - Nags Head, NC
People will definitely pick an agent because of their picture, or not. I took my picture off my website and the number of leads went up immediately. For every person who likes a picture there is someone who doesn't. It is sad that people judge us by our looks.
Apr 20, 2007 06:03 AM
Eva Wilson
Long & Foster Real Estate - Camp Springs, MD
BS, GRI - DC Metro Area - Home Marketing Specialist: The DVD Lady

Greg,

I wonder how that would affect me and my leads.  Our company provides a website, but we HAVE TO have a picture on it. Hmmmmmmmmmmm..........

:)

Eva

May 10, 2007 03:40 AM
Greg Cremia
Shore Realty of the Outer Banks - Nags Head, NC
All you pretty women have to be careful about your pictures. Some company websites are like catalogs for perverts.
May 10, 2007 06:23 AM
Eva Wilson
Long & Foster Real Estate - Camp Springs, MD
BS, GRI - DC Metro Area - Home Marketing Specialist: The DVD Lady

Catalog for perverts... wow - never thought of it like that!

:)

Eva

May 13, 2007 02:34 PM