It depends on what your goals are with your website. If you are branding yourself - not with a mugshot, but a series of images and personal information to help clients connect to you - then you absolutely MUST have pictures on your site. Take a look at http://www.MissSanLeandro.com for a great example of this.

If your intention is to provide non-intimidating information for prospects to access, then do not provide a picture. This type of info works well for obtaining information from a client via a lead capture page. Check out http://www.EastBayPropertyPricer.com for an example of a lc page.

Good luck,

Regarding the http://www.MissSanLeandro.com site, there is a large Keller Williams logo on the site however after the agents name it says "Remax Executive". You might want to delete one of them

For the most part I think a website with your picture is not what you want. I recently subscribed to Successwebsite. Their templates are totally customizable. It is packed with useful information for buyers/sellers, has affiliate pages in which you can sell to your Loan Officers, Real Estate Attorney, Title company and other vendors you are working with.

If your intention is a site that will generate leads, or a site that will provide information, hence gaining a prosepct's trust, then you are right.
However, image advertising definitely has its place as it disarms prospects and allows them to approach you with much comfort. I just had someone email me this weekend with interest in one of my listings. Though that property had an offer in already, I was able to refer her to my lender, who pre-approved her, and we are submitting an offer tomorrow on another property.
Had it not been for my web presence, I believe that this is one transaction that I would not have!

Best of luck,

I guess you have a point. However, I believe that once you make contact with the prospect, prequalify him or her and meet with them in your office and demonstrate that you have a sincere desire to help them that's when you build trust. My website does not have my picture, it is loaded with useful information for buyers/sellers and generated five leads last month from an add that I ran in a local newspaper. My loan officer is helping him qualify for a mortgage and have two clients that will be purchasing in six months.

That's fantastic! A website that generates leads is great, but . . .

a closed transaction is even better.

All of that being said, there is definitely a place for each different type of site. It depends on each individual agent's marketing plan, goals, budget, etc.

Best of luck,

My competitors profile photo has actually helped my business:


http://i3.tinypic.com/246vvhv.jpg


I've been SO tempted to try this for a day.

I wish I could view the image, but it comes up as broken.

I have noticed a lot of websites with not only the agents photo but also a group picture with their family. Usually in the about me section. I suppose this conveys the image of being a upstanding member of the community.

GulfWinds, swap photos with that on Halloween. You know you wanna....

I probably depends on what you look like. If you're very capable and professional looking I think you should have a photo. It's nice to have a face to the name when you're thinking about working with someone

of course, by the time I have my license I will still look very young. The only reason I'm holding out on getting mine now is because people think that i'm still in high school and not many people would want to put such a big decision in their life in the hands of a teenager