Ask An Ambassador: You Only Get One Chance For First Impressions

By
Real Estate Agent with Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com SAL.2002007747

Last week I had our Tuesday Ask An Ambassador post ready to go.  Fully written, picture attached, tags and groups assigned, everything but clicking SUBMIT.

But I never clicked SUBMIT.  Instead, I wrote an entirely different post to publish.

Why?

Because when all was said and done, I wasn't satisfied with the outcome.  I think the topic was valid.  We'd had a less than positive experience at a local restaurant and the theme Bait & Switch seemed worth exploring.  Easy enough to relate it to real estate blogging and our overall business.

But..

Any post can be your FIRST impression, be it a consumer or another Rainer, and what impression would that post leave?

As someone worth referring business?

As the right agent to help with buying or selling a home?

It's the acid test of posting or not posting.

There's a saying about never blogging about sex, religion or politics.  Maybe you can, maybe you can't, depending on your audience.  It's a risk you have to evaluate.   Under the right circumstances, you might decide any of those topics is fair game.

But will that FIRST IMPRESSION find someone like minded?  Or put you on someone's DO NOT CALL list?

Until next Tuesday, just Ask An Ambassador if you need help,

Bill & Liz aka BLiz

Posted by

Serving Warren County Ohio & Adjacent Areas

The Liz Spear Team of Transaction Alliance
Elizabeth Spear, ABR, Ohio License SAL.2002007747

William (Bill) Spear, Ohio License SAL.2004011109  Kentucky 77938
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Comments (15)

Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

This is such a true statement. First impressions truly do make a difference.

Mar 21, 2023 06:07 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

We get off on the right foot and there's a good chance of building a good relationship.

Mar 21, 2023 08:52 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Bill,

Ahh..you are so right..staying away from posts about politics, religion and sex will be so beneficial to you in the long run. You only have one chance to make a good impression so make it a good one!

Mar 21, 2023 06:14 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

It's often a Yes/No decision being made based upon the first post.

Mar 21, 2023 08:53 AM
Bill Salvatore - East Valley
Arizona Elite Properties - Chandler, AZ
Realtor - 602-999-0952 / em: golfArizona@cox.net

By far the most important impression being the first one. bill 

Mar 21, 2023 06:35 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

A lot easier to maintain a positive impression than fix a bad impression (assuming we even get the chance at all).

Mar 21, 2023 08:53 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Los Angeles Pasadena 818.516.4393

Hello Bill (and Liz too) - sometimes a pause can make an impression last alot longer.  Maybe it needs to linger a little.  It's likely your collection of draft posts contains many possibilities prior to publishing.  

Mar 21, 2023 06:37 AM
Michael Jacobs

Bill Liz and Bill Spear - I get that.  Sometimes a draft may inspire a line of thinking even when it takes an entirely different direction.  

Mar 21, 2023 09:22 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

No doubt, many a hard turn has been taken from start of post to final product.

Mar 21, 2023 09:27 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

I've got a few in Draft that got kicked to the side years ago and may never see the light of day.  Mostly I'm a "get idea, sit down and type, post" blogger.

Mar 21, 2023 08:54 AM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

I agree with everyone's comments - only one chance to make a first impression and the down side is generally everlasting 

Mar 21, 2023 06:41 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

In my Navy days, the saying was 1 oh s$$$ wipes out 1000 attaboys.

Mar 21, 2023 08:55 AM
Ed Silva
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Well said. If you can't offer something as a real positive, then don't offer anything at all.

Mar 21, 2023 09:42 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

If like attracts like, I don't want to fill my blog with negative posts.

Mar 21, 2023 10:49 AM
Anna Banana Kruchten Phoenix Broker
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Hi Bill oh I so agree!  It matters with blogging, leaving comments on AR and in life - period!  I know in my gut if it's go for it - or pull it.  And it's a pull for me as I simply chose not to go down that path.  Crazy land.

Mar 21, 2023 10:34 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

Deleting/backspacing has had a strong need for use over the last decade!

Mar 21, 2023 10:49 AM
Anna Banana Kruchten Phoenix Broker

👍

Mar 21, 2023 11:51 AM
Anna Banana Kruchten Phoenix Broker
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Featured in BananaTude!

Mar 21, 2023 10:35 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

Thanks!

Mar 21, 2023 10:50 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Bill- I have not always been good about biting my tongue but I'm also semi-retired now too. That said, our first impression may be our last impression for potential clients. 

Mar 21, 2023 06:58 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

And with semi-retired comes more freedom :)
I know (for now) that in today's environment to tread lightly.

Mar 22, 2023 07:11 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Bill:

Sounds like that was the smart decision. I suspect that trying to fix a bad impression is harder than making a good first impression, and not worth the risk. And with online being so evergreen, that bad impression could hang around to haunt you for some time. 

Jeff

Mar 21, 2023 08:01 PM
Liz and Bill Spear

And I think plenty of examples exist to prove that once someone has a bad impression, there's little likelihood of coming back from that.

Mar 22, 2023 07:12 AM
Brian England
Arizona Focus Realty - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I think first impressions are very important but I don't believe they are the be-all and end-all, haha.  I love giving and receiving second chances!

Mar 22, 2023 04:19 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

Brian, from a religious standpoint, 2nd chances (and more) are a key part.
From a human perspective, I see a complete absence of 2nd chances given by some people.  As soon as you state, I voted for  __________ (no matter which side of the aisle), there are groups of people that are completely done with you at that instant.

Mar 22, 2023 07:17 AM
Kat Palmiotti
406-270-3667, kat@thehousekat.com, Broker/REALTOR® - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I do agree - it's great to keep in mind that anything we write might be the first-impression for someone. Is our material saying what we want someone who doesn't know us to see?

Mar 22, 2023 04:44 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

I figure a lot of my posts are found from a Google search.  A consumer could land on something from today, or 10 years ago.  Each post needs to send the best message if I want a chance to earn their business.

Mar 22, 2023 07:20 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Liz and Bill Spear - I agree completely. I would add we have to watch our undertones when we blog and comment too. After all, people read in between the lines even if it appears to be a good first impression because everything is subjective to interpretations. 

Mar 23, 2023 06:27 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

It's the risk of a flat medium, not every joke or what seems to be clear intent will be translated by the reader as meant by the author.

Mar 25, 2023 05:14 AM
Leanne Smith
Dirt Road Real Estate - Golden Valley, AZ
Relocation to NW AZ with elbow room & more freedom

First impressions also extend to your physical appearance. Here in NW AZ, blue jeans, boots and carrying a sidearm are common especially when showing in the middle of know where properties. One client loved that my truck was dirty because that impression convinced her I knew how to travel dirt roads and was actually working.

Mar 25, 2023 08:53 AM
Liz and Bill Spear

True, in person can impact too.  From a blogging perspective, a fair number of our clients are ready to hire us based on the information we found online.  I may not meet them for months afterwards since many are coming here from out of state and waiting for the just right home.

Mar 25, 2023 07:32 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is excellent advice to share. Have a great day and a productive week.

Mar 26, 2023 10:08 AM