PHOTO: Real Estate Agent photos. SHUTTERSHOCK
Being a successful real estate professional is all about forging good connections with the community. Knowing your clients, and them knowing you, means that you can interact in positive ways, build rapport, and work well together towards common goals. This means that you need to put your best foot forward at all times by presenting yourself in a manner that comes across as friendly, approachable, knowledgeable, and, above all else, professional. That’s why real estate headshots are so important.
We live in a world where a picture is worth a thousand words, and that means we’re all judged by how we look. While this might not always be fair, it means that real estate agents need to look their best whenever interacting with anyone in a professional capacity. The first step is always going to be having attractive headshots taken of you to use in all your print and marketing materials. Here are some important do’s and don’ts when it comes to the world of real estate headshots.
Do Make Sure Your Headshot Is Prominently Displayed – But Don’t Overdo It
Real estate headshots only work if they’re as highly visible as possible. In other words, you need to get your smiling face out there in the world in as many places as appropriate to increase your visibility as a real estate professional. This means that you should always have your most recent headshot on your social media profiles, MLS websites that host your photo, and, of course, your own personal website.
Your headshot is also invaluable in print marketing arenas as well. It may be a well-used idea, but putting your headshot on a billboard, something that has been popular since the beginning of time is still popular today because it turns heads. By the same token, however, there is such a thing as over-saturation when it comes to your headshot. Putting it on your business cards? A good idea. Putting it on a t-shirt? Probably not. Use your discretion and don’t overdo it.
Do Keep Your Headshot Current – But Don’t Be Afraid to Shake Things Up
As a real estate headshot is often the first time someone will come into contact with you, there’s a strong need to ensure that you’re recognizable when you do meet someone in person that has already seen your headshot beforehand. This means things like keeping your look in line with your headshot so that you’re instantly recognizable as the person a lead has seen on that billboard, mailer, or website.
This might prompt you to settle on a single “look” and then stick with it, sometimes for years, to ensure that what you see is what you get when it comes to meeting new leads and clients. This can sometimes be a bad idea, though – fashions change over time, and if you’re still rocking the same look you did five or ten years ago so that it matches your old headshot, it’s time to both update your own look and gets new headshots to match.
Do Invest In Headshots – But Don’t Overpay
There are plenty of budget-friendly ways to market yourself as a realtor, but when it comes to headshots this simply isn’t the case. You need professional-level real estate headshots, and that often means turning to a professional photographer with professional equipment – and a professional-level price tag to go along with that service. It doesn’t matter how good you think you are as an amateur shutterbug – you’re simply not going to get high-quality headshots by relying on your phone camera.
By the same token, it’s all too easy to overpay for perfectly good headshots that you could get elsewhere from a more competitively priced photographer. Additionally, you could end up paying top dollar for real estate headshots that aren’t up to snuff! That’s why it’s crucial to vet your photographer thoroughly. Always ask to see a portfolio of their work, read testimonials from past customers, and, above all else, do some comparison shopping on prices from different vendors.
Do Focus On Getting Headshots Done – But Don’t Neglect the Rest of Your Brand Marketing
At this point, it should be crystal clear what a great resource a good, professional-looking real estate headshot can be when it comes to marketing yourself and your services. That’s why there’s really no excuse to neglect to get the highest-quality headshots you can afford, as long as you’re paying for quality and not just overpaying – and why you should keep your current look to match those headshots closely whenever possible.
At the same time, however, be sure to not neglect the other aspects of brand marketing, as they’re just as crucial to the growth of your real estate business. You need to also engage in brand building through social media marketing, having your own website where you can post interesting and informative content that adds value for readers, and involve yourself in the community through in-person marketing at local events. A great headshot will support all these activities and increase their impact.
The Last Word on Real Estate Headshots
It’s a rare person indeed who always likes how they look in pictures. At the same time, as a real estate professional, you know how important it is to present a friendly, knowledgeable, and professional demeanor at all times, as you never know who might end up being your next big client. Getting professional real estate headshots done, and then leveraging how you look in those headshots by using them in your print, online, and in-person marketing will help support that professional demeanor and grow your business to new heights.
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