Visual Bio: A Must-Have for Your Marketing Toolbox

By
Education & Training with The Lones Group, Inc.

The Lones Group, Inc.

Visual Bio: A Must-Have for Your Marketing Toolbox

When is the last time you really reviewed your biography that you use with your listing/buyer presentation or on your website? Does it include paragraphs of text? If text is all you have to showcase your expertise and experience, you are missing out!

Enter - The Visual Bio!

A Visual Bio takes the best of what you bring to the table and brings it to life with visuals. Whereas a standard bio might rely on text and lists, a visual bio relies on formatted text with callouts, logos instead of lists, and sections that showcase your strengths.

Not sure what to include in your visual bio? Here are seven ideas for building a killer visual biography:

#1 Bio

By all means, include a bio, but try to keep it short and sweet. Make a personal connection. Call attention to your best value that you bring to the table. Using formatting like bold and italics can drive important points home and keeps your text interesting to read. You may also want to include headers that summarize each section (similar to the formatting of this Zebra Report) to break up the text.

#2 By the Numbers

What year did you get your license? How many transactions have you done? How many buyers and sellers have you worked with? How many houses? How many condos? How much land? What was your days on market average last year? How about sales-to-list-price ratio? How many 5-Star Reviews? Your numbers are important! Choose the ones that tell your professional story and highlight them.


Visually articulate your value and how you are better than your competition.

#3 Memberships

You are likely a member of your local MLS, but what about your local, state, and national REALTOR associations? CRS? SRES? Chamber of Commerce? Rotary? A local planning commission? Your memberships not only provide a highlight of your commitment to your profession, but it can also give the reader a glimpse into who you are personally. When possible, include the logos of these organizations instead of just providing a list.

#4 Certifications and Designations

Most agents have at least one certification or designation. Some agents, however, take education to another level! If that sounds like you, gather up those hard-earned logos and include a section on your bio just to highlight these!

Listing Presentation System
Need more than a visual bio to get your listing presentation off the ground? If you're ready to take it all to a whole new level, we can help.

#5 Areas of Expertise

Do you specialize in first-time homebuyers, equestrian properties, historic homes, seniors, waterfront homes, investment properties, or one of the hundreds of niche properties or demographics? Highlight these with icons or a photo!

#6 Volunteer and Community Connections

Where you volunteer in your community really can help a potential client understand your values - and connect with you over these! Again, include logos if you can!


Highlight your volunteer and community connections visually!

#7 Reviews

A collection of reviews can also paint a picture of the impact of your service. If you still have room with all the other sections you have added, choose 2-3 reviews that are a good representation of the client experience. Include stars if you’ve got 'em!

The goal with the Visual Bio is to wow and leave no question that you are the most qualified person for the job. Once you have it on paper, make sure your website shines with this information too!

Need Help with Your Visual Bio?

You don't have to go it alone! Save yourself the headache, actually get it done, and leave the design and formatting of an incredible visual biography to the experts! We can even help with the research and compose your biography for you. Contact us at Solutions@TheLonesGroup.com or schedule a free consultation to get started.


 

By Denise Lones CSP, M.I.R.M., CDEI - The founding partner of The Lones Group, Denise Lones, brings nearly three decades of experience in the real estate industry. With agent/broker coaching, expertise in branding, lead generation, strategic marketing, business analysis, new home project planning, product development, Denise is nationally recognized as the source for all things real estate. With a passion for improvement, Denise has helped thousands of real estate agents, brokers, and managers build their business to unprecedented levels of success, while helping them maintain balance and quality of life.

The Lones Group, Inc.

Comments (17)

Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Denise- I like the idea of the visual bio. Consumers head to the  "About" section and want to know who the person is behind the company. 

May 26, 2023 07:46 PM
Denise Lones

They do - but by making it visual we can to draw their eye first to better client-converting content than a bio, drawing the viewer into being more interested in reading too! So good to hear from you Kathy, thanks for stopping by - Denise

May 30, 2023 10:38 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Denise,
We are visual beings with the technology now to use it to our advantage.

May 31, 2023 11:51 AM
Denise Lones

How's retirement treating you Carol? Was in your corner of Washington State not long ago. - Denise

Jun 05, 2023 03:39 PM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Denise. If I were still active, I would seek your counsel to develop a visual bio. Enjoy your day.

Jun 03, 2023 04:59 AM
Denise Lones

Thank you Wayne. I think it's great that you still are here on AR to share your experience and keep in touch with the industry even while retired. Always appreciate your comments - Denise

Jun 05, 2023 03:16 PM
Leanne Smith
Dirt Road Real Estate - Golden Valley, AZ
Relocation to NW AZ with elbow room & more freedom

For some the visual bio may work but after 6 years selling real estate and over 5 decades in sales, I believe many may find such a visual toolbox not only overwhelming but unnecessary. Visual bios attempt to sell trust and no one likes to be sold.

Jun 03, 2023 06:56 AM
Denise Lones

In a competitive listing appointment market, this isn't about "selling trust," but about illustrating in a visual way how the agent stacks up against the competition. As part of a presentation or campaign, as I mention to Debe below, I advise agents to not just prove their value with words, but to take action and include something of value to the client in every approach. A visual bio should not be looked at as a stand-alone marketing piece, but a piece of the bigger relationship-building picture. - Denise

Jun 05, 2023 03:30 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

I love that idea, Denise! Most 'shoppers' are visual shoppers and having that visual bio has to add more 'looks' on your site. I wonder what the heatmaps reveal on those? 

Jun 04, 2023 09:59 AM
Denise Lones

Debe - These are actually a printed piece intended for sharing during a buyer consultation or listing presentation, an item to help the buyer or seller understand your point of difference and value as an agent. They could also be included as part of an outreach campaign, for example-, to FSBOs, absentees, or expired listings - though I would advise including something of value to the client and not just toot your own horn when including this in such a campaign. - Denise

Jun 05, 2023 03:20 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS

I love that idea, Denise Lones! Thank you so much for sharing.

Jun 06, 2023 10:09 AM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

Thanks so much for this - it is some really helpful information here to go back and tweak our bios

Jun 05, 2023 04:14 AM
Denise Lones

I'm glad you found something useful here. Best of luck - Denise

Jun 05, 2023 03:21 PM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

These are beautifully created and eye-popping. Very nice work.

Jun 05, 2023 06:17 AM
Denise Lones

Thank you Paula - I have to credit my fabulous design team for making things like this for our agent clients. - Denise

Jun 05, 2023 03:23 PM
Adam Feinberg
Elegran - Manhattan, NY
NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

I love this!!! I would need to re-imagine how to implement this as our business here is very different than the rest of the nation- but it gets the gears in my head going. I already send out specific infographics tailored to not only my larger market (all of Manhattan) but also to the submarkets (local neighborhoods, condos or co-op's, 1 bed or 3 beds, etc) - so why not do it for my bio.  

Jun 05, 2023 07:59 PM
Denise Lones

Adam - If you're looking to up your game in the Manhattan market, give our design team a shout and see what they can do for you - they are experts in helping agents find and illustrate their point of difference and more. - Denise https://www.thelonesgroup.com/branding-signature.asp 

Jun 06, 2023 10:15 AM
Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

"By the numbers"... Love it! Let the data tell part of your story. 

Jun 06, 2023 05:22 AM
Denise Lones

In a presentation, handouts like this can not only take the pressure off "being on camera" by giving your potential client something to look at, but it's also something that can be easily left behind to remind them of your professional value, giving your story more time to compete. - Denise

Jun 06, 2023 10:18 AM
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
Carolina Life RealEstate & Relocation 919-602-8489

Great information! Agents are always looking for ways to improve their presentation.

Jun 06, 2023 06:48 AM
Denise Lones

This works well in all kinds of scenarios. The biggest hurdle most agents face is organizing it into one piece, which is what our designers are so good at. Once you have that though, you can share parts of it with social media, email it to referrals, have it available for hand-out if you have a office with regular customer foot-traffic, use it in a presentation, include parts of it on a mailer like on the backside of a just-listed postcard, and so many other places. - Denise

Jun 06, 2023 10:21 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Denise and once again a great blog to share with us here in the Rain.  I may re blog this one.

 

Jun 06, 2023 07:46 AM
Denise Lones

Thanks Will! Always good to see you here in the comments and thank you so much for the reblog you just posted. You rock - Denise

Jun 06, 2023 10:27 AM
Charles Ross - eXp Realty LLC
eXp Realty LLC Salina Group - Salina, KS
Love To Help People

Excellent information.Thank you for sharing. Have a wonderful day and a blessed week.

Jun 07, 2023 02:11 AM
Denise Lones

Thank you Charles, nice to see you again.  - Denise

Jun 07, 2023 09:52 AM
Dan Jasmer
Fine Properties - Sarasota, FL
Changing the way you look at real estate

Denise, great information and I’ll certainly take a look at the way I’ve structured my information and make adjustments.  Thank you

Jun 07, 2023 04:21 AM
Denise Lones

Dan - Glad to have inspired a new outlook for you, thanks for letting me know you enjoyed this and I hope to see you again here at AR - Denise

Jun 07, 2023 09:54 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc 610-225-7400 - Devon, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Lots of good ideas to implement here. People are generally visual and using that as a fact will help you make a quicker connection.

Jun 07, 2023 07:36 AM
Denise Lones

Thank you Nick. Our coaching clients who do this report good results too. - Denise

Jun 07, 2023 09:55 AM
Joseph Lorenzo
Frank Rubi Real Estate LLC - Harahan, LA
Your Law And Order Realtor

This is an excellent post with great information. Thanks for sharing it.

Jun 08, 2023 06:13 AM
Denise Lones

You are welcome!

Jun 08, 2023 09:09 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

There’s a lot I can take from this to improve my own bio. Thanks for posting and giving me some ideas.

Jun 08, 2023 10:48 PM
Denise Lones

Good to see you again Laura. Glad to hear this inspired you too - Denise

Jun 09, 2023 08:51 AM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Thank you for sharing all of this valuable information.  I will be re-reading and incorporating into my marketing. Have a nice weekend Denise Lones 

Jun 09, 2023 01:10 PM
Denise Lones

Glad you got something from this. Send me a screenshot if you make a change and have a great weekend too! - Denise

Jun 09, 2023 01:45 PM