Bland is Banned – How to show some personality in your blogs and team bios.

I met my partner online. Match.Com to be precise.

It worked for us. Five years, three homes and one lovely little daughter later we’re still a good match (well most of the time).

I like to think she clicked on my profile because back then my pictures sold a leaner, less grey and dazzlingly dashing figure.

Unfortunately for my ego it wasn’t the photos that really caught her eye; she told me it was the brief biography I wrote.

I can’t remember what I said but it would have been along the lines of ‘unpretentious failed footballer seeks someone with a lot of patience and a sense of the ridiculous.’

My partner told me the bio stood out and the write up made her laugh and warm to me. There are indeed a lot of bland bios out there and not just on dating sites.

Great. ‘Well done mate,’ I hear you say while thinking what the hell does this have to do with estate agency?

Stay with me reader. You see if I’d have played a straight, boring bat and spoke about being ‘interested in extreme sports, reading classic novels, walking and socialising’ she wouldn’t have sent a wink. The romantic chain of events wouldn’t have been started and our lives would be totally different now.

This is why my motto is ‘Bland is Banned’ when it comes to writing copy for estate agents and developers.

I see a lot of Meet the Teams or About Us sections on estate agency websites. Some are really, really good. Funny, interesting and a little revealing.

A lot of are really, really bland and crammed full of clichés and meaningless jargon such as ‘I’m a visionary with a customer centric approach to estate agency and a strategic approach to selling property.’

If the old saying ‘people buy people’ is true that sort of biography is getting you left on the shelf. Leave those sorts of lines for contestants on The Apprentice.

The worst kind of About Us section on a website is the ones that mention no names but pour out tired statements such as ‘we are a vibrant, dynamic and passionate agency.’

In my opinion the best examples of these vitally important sections are ones that tell you something rather than try to sell you something.

Q & A’s are good for injecting a bit of fun into your Meet the Teams and bios.

Don’t be afraid to show some personality. If you are an independent agent this is your chance to highlight that you’re not a faceless corporate agency. Talk about your family, share your genuine passions and be yourself.

After all a well written, interesting and light hearted bio can get people to fall in love with you.

Thanks for reading and here’s to your next instruction.

Jerry

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

UK house sales up 19% year on year for December

The latest UK monthly property transaction report from the HMRC.   The provisional seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK residential transactions in December 2024 is 96,330, 19% higher than December 2023 and 3% higher than November 2024 The provisional non-seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK residential transactions in December 2024 is 98,120, 15%…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

UK House Price Index from Nationwide -Thoughts from the Industry

Commenting on the latest UK House Price Index from Nationwide showing property prices have risen by 4.1%, here are some thoughts from the Industry. Daniel Austin, CEO and co-founder at ASK Partners: “We are continuing to see a rise in house prices, which is hopefully the sign of an upward trend developing going into 2025.…
Read More
Breaking News

House price growth softens at the start of 2025

Annual rate of house price growth slowed to 4.1% in January, compared with 4.7% in December House prices up 0.1% month on month Little change in overall rate of home ownership in recent years despite affordability pressures Commenting on the figures, Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s Chief Economist, said: “The price of a typical UK home rose…
Read More
Home and Living

Mastering Sleep: The Bensons for Beds Difference

Sleep is one of the most fundamental aspects of our health and well-being. A good night’s rest rejuvenates the body, sharpens the mind, and enhances overall productivity. Yet, millions of people struggle with poor sleep due to discomfort, stress, and unsuitable bedding. Enter Bensons for Beds, a leading name in the sleep industry, dedicated to…
Read More
Breaking News

Leaseholders To Benefit Significantly from the removal of Two-Year Rule

Residential property transactions could become easier following the removal of the two-year rule for leasehold property extensions which comes into force today (31 January 2025) but lawyers have warned the necessity of proving ownership could be challenging due to Land Registry backlogs. This significant change means leaseholders no longer need to own their leasehold property…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Rightmove: New data – Most affordable cities to rent in

Hull tops the list as the most affordable city to rent in The city of Hull tops the list as Great Britain’s most affordable city to rent in, with the average advertised rent in the city now £799 per calendar month (pcm), 48% below the national average Second on the list of Great Britain’s most…
Read More