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Your Internet First Impression

By
Real Estate Agent

Your "Internet First Impression" is what people see when they do a search for your name. It's important that you do an audit regularly to see how you look to people who are seeking to get to know you. 

In conjunction with my audit today I took the following actions:

1. Since most of my user accounts were under the username "jonwashburn" and I have been splitting my SEO power between two names I decided to change my professional name to "Jon Washburn" from "Jonathan Washburn."

2. I created a profile on the new profile service About.me. You can see what my profile looks like at about.me/jonwashburn.

3. I created a personal blog on tumblr.com. You can find it at jonwashburn.tumblr.com. I redirected JonWashburn.com to display my new tumblr blog but since it was just initiated today it may take up to 24 hours before the DNS records propagate.

4. I updated my profile image to look a little more modern in aesthetic. 

5. I reviewed all of the posts I've written on ActiveRain, selected my favorites and then put links to them on my side bar (to the right).

If you have any other tips on how to improve your Internet First Impression, please share them below in the comments.

Comments(100)

Tony Morganti
RE/MAX Crossroads in Cuyahoga Falls and Stow, Ohio - Cuyahoga Falls, OH
CRS, ABR, SRES - Cuyahoga Falls, Stow

Jon,

Thanks for the informative post.  Some new stuff to do.

Jan 17, 2011 06:15 AM
Kathy Smiley
Rodeo Realty ~ Fine Estates Westlake Village - Newbury Park, CA
"Real Estate results that make YOU smile!"

Great ideas from everyone! Thank you. I will check out tumblr.com!

Jan 17, 2011 07:11 AM
Jason M. Keith
Caliber Home Loans - Parker, CO
Equal Housing Lender

Valuable information Jon, a lot of good comments as well.  Thank you!

Jan 17, 2011 09:10 AM
Laura S. Baker
First Weber Inc - Lake Mills, WI
Realtor (920) 728-4118, First Weber Inc

WOW, I will never learn enough here in the Rain!  The new profile pic is incredible.  I am going to check the rest out!

Jan 17, 2011 10:40 AM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Jon - It looks like I have some more work to do.  It seems AR always adds to my to do list ; )

Jan 17, 2011 12:42 PM
Courtney Cooper
Cooper Jacobs - Seattle, WA
206-850-8841

The picture is fabulous and you do look tanner - have you been hanging out in LA?  :)  Good ideas.  Thank you as always.

Jan 19, 2011 01:37 AM
Freddy Delgadillo
Judah Realty Group - Bellevue, WA
Real Estate Broker specializing Greater Eastside

Jon - looks like you went to Hawaii... great links and lots of ideas. Thanks.

Jan 20, 2011 02:46 PM
Sally Lawrence
Advantage Real Estate - Tehachapi, CA
Broker, CHS, e-Pro, SFR, REALTORĀ®

Thanks, Jon.  Hadn't heard of About.me before.  Now I have to find a suitable profile pic for that site too.  I've been working on updating all my profiles this month.

Jan 21, 2011 01:26 AM
Stephanie Stringer
First Choice Loan Services NMLS#210764 - San Antonio, TX
Mortgage Loan Originator

Jon-  Thanks for the reminder.    We've merged companies a couple of month's ago and I updated the profiles on the active sites I check daily but I know there is some old ones out there lingering.   Picture wise... I did all the work I can on it!!!!   It's me, no glamor shot but may have covered up or tweaked a few areas!!

Jan 21, 2011 04:00 AM
Bradley Pounds
Watters International Realty, Broker Lic #606049 - Austin, TX
(512) 736-3353

I feel like my photo may be one of the things holding me back--- I can't take a good picture to save my life!

Jan 21, 2011 11:50 AM
Joe Manausa - Tallahassee, FL
Joe Manausa Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Tallahassee Real Estate

Thanks Jon, I had not heard about.me, I will check it out.

Jan 23, 2011 04:33 AM
Vickie Nagy
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate - Palm Springs, CA
Vickie Jean the Palm Springs Condo Queen

It's amazing that there could be such a large difference in such a simple photo. Lesson learned!

Jan 24, 2011 05:04 PM
Stanton Homes
Stanton Homes - New Home Builder - Raleigh, NC
Design/Build Custom Home Builder in North Carolina

Today, you have at least a good if not great chance of getting "googled" before someone ever picks up the phone to call you.  They may know your profile and information better than you do.  Great information as always, Jon.

Jan 24, 2011 10:11 PM
Susanne Brown
RE/MAX Realty 9 - Howell, NJ
I work hard to make real estate dreams come true!

Great post! I'm new to Active Rain and am working to get my name out there.  Unfortunately, my name is rather "common" it's been tough to get to the top of the pack. But have no fear! I am working on it!

Thanks for the info.

Jan 25, 2011 07:51 AM
Jeremy Wrenn
Winslow Homes - Youngsville, NC
VP of Finance, Winslow Homes

I just started adding links to my best blog posts on the link section now, thanks to your suggestion!  I didn't think of that before.

Jan 29, 2011 02:04 PM
Holly Weatherwax
Associate Broker, Momentum Realty - Reston, VA
A Great Real Estate Experience

Great ideas! I will go check some of these sites out.

Feb 14, 2011 08:06 AM
Ellen Wright Adams
Academy Mortgage.......We are a Equal Housing Lender - Eugene, OR
LoansByEllen- Licensed in Oregon
Jon: These are great ideas and a great reminder about checking what shows up on a google search. Your photo update is perfect!
Feb 15, 2011 06:34 PM
Jodi Valdes JV Homeselling Team
Realty ONE Group - Mission Viejo, CA
Your Home SOLD Guaranteed or I'll Buy It!*

you're handsome in either picture. anyway, thanks for the ideas.

Feb 17, 2011 11:10 AM
Michele Norris
Crystal Realty - Incline Village Nevada - Incline Village, NV
((( Buy or Sell, Call Michele ))) Lake Tahoe NV
Good stuff Jon!
Mar 09, 2011 06:01 PM
Rain Silverhawk
Sandpoint Realty rain@lakeandhomes.com - Sandpoint, ID
208-610-0011 Sandpoint Idaho Real Estate Realtor

Great tips, thank you for sharing the ideas

Mar 14, 2011 03:00 PM