Posting photos to your Agent Insight pages is so easy. Just drive around town, spot an interesting feature you want to highlight, point your cell phone, and shoot the picture, right? Well, that is practically right, but with a little extra attention, your photos can go from satisfactory to excellent.

One of the best tips for capturing great photos is to step out of your car to take the shot. Photos taken through the windshield often suffer from glare, and the rearview mirror or hood can creep into the frame. Plus, staying in your seat makes it harder to properly frame your subject and get the best angle.

So, take a moment to step out of the car, find the right angle, and frame your shot. While our Agent Insight team works hard to crop your photos for the best result, if half the image is filled with a parking lot, there’s only so much they can do.

Here’s an example: your town has a beautiful city hall. If you just stop at a red light and snap a quick photo through the window, you might end up with an image cluttered with cars, overhead wires, and telephone poles. Instead, park your car and take a few minutes to walk around. Look for the best angle that highlights the building’s stunning architecture, the manicured lawn, and the gardens and shrubs lining the steps. Perfect! Instead of a rushed 20-second shot, spending a few extra minutes will be well worth it for a truly impressive photo.

A couple of quick reminders: The Agent Insight photo template is horizontal, so be mindful of this when photographing vertical subjects. Additionally, we can’t use any photos that feature identifiable faces. However, shots with the backs of people’s heads or distant crowds are perfectly fine.

You don’t need to be a professional photographer to take great photos—just take a little extra time. Doing so will improve your composition and bring out more vibrant colors. We truly appreciate every photo you submit, and we especially value the ones that showcase your community in the best light for potential home buyers.

Here Comes Halloween!!

Promoting unusual or iconic features of your community is a great way to make your Agent Insight pages more robust and interesting. Whether you opt for a historical site or a newly developed area, you can craft an engaging article with captivating local imagery to attract potential clients.

Sindy Jensen, an agent with RE/MAX 1st Realty in Marquette, MI, has created an excellent photo study of one of her town’s iconic landmarks, the ore docks on Lake Superior. Located near downtown Marquette, the Lower Harbor Ore Dock is a huge concrete and steel structure built in the late 1800’s. It is a remnant from the city’s past as one of the largest iron ore shipping docks in the country. Another dock, located a little further down the shoreline, is still in use today and loads about 9.5 to 10 million tons of ore annually.

Sindy focused on the docks for her Agent Insight Marquette page because they are such unique features of her town. She says many people are drawn to them because they are so unusual.

“I love taking pictures of the docks which are part of our town’s heritage,” Sindy said.  “I’ve gotten several client leads from Agent Insight. I love photography and it is such a great place post my pictures.”

Sindy has been contributing to Agent Insight since she joined her office nearly nine years ago. She currently has almost 250 posts covering a wide range of subjects including the natural beauty of the area, holidays, wildlife, artwork, historical homes, seasons, restaurants,  and more.  The ore dock photos here are just three of several she has posted showing them from different angles, seasons, and times of day.

Several of Sindy’s photos have been featured on Insight Insider as well. Take inspiration from her, and showcase pictures and articles about the wonderful icons from your community.

Each photo and written insight you include on your Agent Insight pages offers potential clients a glimpse into your local market. From showcasing homes, stores, schools, restaurants, parks, and more, you provide a comprehensive view of the areas you serve. But, this is also a great opportunity to tell people about you as an expert and a resource for your communities. How to best accomplish this? Write your posts in first person!

Presenting first person paragraphs filled with plenty of “I,”  “me,”  “my,”  “we,” and so on, gives your readers a unique front row seat to learn about you as well as your town. It gives you credibility because you are sharing your thoughts and opinions directly with the reader.

Becky Johnson, RE/MAX Classic in Canton, MI, writes most of her insights in first person. She says she doesn’t consider herself a writer but tries to put a lot of thought into how to make each post enticing to her readers.

“My husband and I both grew up in this area, so we have frequented many local restaurants and businesses. I played softball in the parks here and know the best farmer’s markets,” she said. “I think a personal review makes it better to read and more fun to write.”

Becky has been posting for about three years since Agent Insight was first introduced to the office by her broker. She has gotten some leads from her Agent Insight work and is enthusiastic about continuing to contribute. She recommends it highly to other RE/MAX agents.

Here’s an excerpt featuring Becky’s first person writing from an insight about her favorite dog boarding facility:

My English Bulldog, Gemma, and Great Dane, Jethro Bodine, absolutely love Lucky Dog Luxury Daycare & Boarding. We call it “sleep-away camp” when we board them. If they see me packing their bags and food, they start bouncing off the walls to leave. When I open my front door, they head right to the car because they are going to daycare. With all the areas for them to play with friends, toys, water (pool & hose), and the workers,  they come home happy and tired…. I know that my babies are well taken care of at Lucky Dog, just as if they were home with us. 

This post has so much more color and appeal than one that would have simply talked about the amenities and services of Lucky Dog. If you aren’t submitting first person insights, consider altering your writing style. Agent Insight is an excellent way to start building rapport with potential clients before you even meet them.

Summer has arrived, bringing with it an abundance of delightful activities and events. Whether you choose to capture these moments through captivating written descriptions or stunning photographs, there are plenty of chances to contribute to Agent Insight. By showcasing these summertime happenings, you can provide your potential clients with a glimpse into the joy and excitement that awaits them during the sun-drenched months.

Make a quick list by category of the things you would like to cover.  These could include:
Kid and teen activities
City-sponsored festivals, parades, and celebrations
Parks, lakes, and swimming pools
Nature trails decorated with seasonal wildflowers
Summer sports, both professional and amateur
New restaurants and businesses
Vacation destinations
Dog parks and pet friendly events
And, of course, the Fourth of July!

Every submission you make on Agent Insight should be carefully planned to showcase the numerous benefits and features that your community offers to both current and prospective residents. The more you show and tell, the more you appear as an expert on your area. Take advantage of the glory of the season and post a beautiful and beneficial summertime collection on your Agent Insight pages.

Photo credits:  Cindy Gaffney, RE/MAX HOME GROUP, Waterloo, IA; Paula Bellamy, RE/MAX Lake of the Ozarks, Osage Beach, MO; Kati Pullins, RE/MAX Traditions, Dothan, AL; John DeVries, RE/MAX of Grand Rapids, MI; and Bob Shallow, RE/MAX Paradise, Orange Beach, AL.

Many of you enjoy posting photos of yummy dishes from your favorite local restaurants. This is a smart way to engage potential clients and anyone else who lands on your community pages. There are so many foodies out there and, besides, who doesn’t like to see mouth-watering pictures of crunchy tacos or gorgeous desserts?

Here are a few tips to enhance your food pictures. Use plenty of natural light whenever possible. Ask for a table near a window. Many restaurants are dimly lit, and using a flash close to a plate of food may overexpose the photo. The picture below is nicely composed with good lighting. The blue plate is an eye-catcher in an assortment of other Agent Insight photos.

If you look at professional food photography shots, you will frequently see the most effective are taken from straight above or at a low shot from the edge of the table. These are good angles for you to use, too. The taco picture below also shows a nice contrast of colors, while the thick sprinkle of powdered sugar on the beignets makes you want one right now!

By posting your favorite dishes from your local restaurants, you are providing valuable community insight to potential home buyers! Take an extra minute to make an impression, not just with a mouth-watering photo, but also with a descriptive caption. We recommend you include the name of the dish, the name of the restaurant, and a short description of the dish or why it’s your favorite. These two captions are ideal, while still being short and succinct.

Here is a pro tip for you. Food posts are great promotions for the restaurants in your community. You might choose to mention to the managers that you are promoting their places on Agent Insight. Who knows? Maybe they will take your business card and send you a lead someday!

One last note of caution:  don’t submit your most delicious looking photos when you’re hungry. You might have to drop everything and zip out to your favorite restaurant!

Photo credits: Wyn Motter, RE/MAX Real Estate Partners, Hattiesburg, MS; Devin Ross, RE/MAX at Home, Edmond, OK; Brett Tortorich, RE/MAX Real Estate Partners, Hattiesburg, MS; Amber Jason, RE/MAX at Home, Edmond, OK; and Jamie Watkins, RE/MAX Heritage, Kansas City, MO.

“I wouldn’t keep posting on Agent Insight if it didn’t pay off,” said Felicia Harris, an agent with over 17 years of experience at RE/MAX Heritage in Blue Springs, MO. “I tell other agents that they are crazy not to use it, too.”

Felicia has been uploading photos and written insights to Agent Insight since 2016 and has completed 573 submissions to date. Many potential clients have found her through her Agent Insight submissions. In a recent Google search of each of her 30-plus subdivision pages, 10 of them came up as the first result on the search and another three were second. Every one of the subdivisions appeared on the front page of the search results!  Felicia doesn’t pay for leads from Zillow or other real estate databases, so she relies on Agent Insight, along with other social media platforms, to bring in potential clients.

Felicia’s goal is to post twice a week, submitting both a photo and a written submission on each of the subdivision pages where she has listings. Additionally, she is creative about how she covers other amenities and events in her community. “While I’m out and about, I look for things that interest me,” she said. “I watch for subjects while I’m  showing listings or running errands or enjoying an activity with my family. I especially want to cover the excellent schools in Grain Valley where I live.  I’m a huge football fan of the schools’ teams and, of course, of the Kansas City Chiefs.”

The day after the Chiefs won the AFC Championship on Jan. 29, 2023, Felicia posted five new submissions about the team and the game. One of those, along with a sampling of her other work, is shown here. Note that she always packs good information into her captions.

“I have been selling real estate with RE/MAX for over 17 years. We are the best of the best,” Felicia said. She plans to continue using Agent Insight as an important part of her marketing plan. “Agent Insight gets the leads for me,” she said. “When someone does a Google search, I want my name to pop up.”

As you expand your Agent Insight submissions beyond discussing the local housing market, think of the features in your community that will appeal to new residents. Here are a few suggestions if you need a little inspiration.

Public Transporation
If you have trains, buses, trolleycars, taxis, or even Ubers that move people conveniently around the town, give them some coverage. Potential buyers might need that information. Public transportation easily lends itself to both written and photo insights. Take a look at these great examples.

Theaters
Whether you choose live theater or movie houses, your community is bound to have multiple venues for you to feature. Music halls, little theaters, local college campus theaters, movie multiplexes:  all of these and more would make great submissions.  Gigi Perry, RE/MAX Realty Suburban in Shawnee Mission, KS, wrote the following submission about one of her favorite local theaters.

Enjoy the Kansas City Music Hall
 Kansas City Music Hall….is a gorgeous Art Deco style theater that was built in 1936. Just some spectacular architecture! My husband and I gave each other season tickets a few years ago to celebrate our anniversary. The shows are Broadway quality. We have been going for years and I can say, I probably only saw one that I didn’t love….How lucky we are here in Kansas City to have such a gem!

Local History
Historical content can likely be found all over your community. Research historic homes or public buildings, the background of local business and industry, or details about the city’s founding. You will provide appealing information for history buffs and trivia enthusiasts alike! As with the other subjects mentioned here, these can be especially fun to write or photograph – and you might even learn something new!

Agent Insight is your marketing opportunity to show off all aspects of the towns and cities where you sell homes. Highlight the cultural opportunities in your city, and who knows? Culture and community could be your key to close!

Photo credits:  Sara Snook, RE/MAX Revolution, Gladstone, MO; Gary Lazarus, RE/MAX N.O. Properties, New Orleans, LA; Marygrace Liparoto, RE/MAX Home Sale Services,  Northville, MI; Martha Thompson, RE/MAX Legacy, Oxford, MS.

Every submission you post on Agent Insight should be designed to catch the eye of potential clients. To that end, pay special attention to your headlines. Statistics show that well more than 50% of readers,  including those perusing the web or publications, only read the headlines. It only takes a few compelling words to draw people into the rest of the story.

A headline should be a concise summary of the article. It might be descriptive, enticing, maybe even humorous. It’s best to include a verb and a subject. Here are some examples and tips on skillful headline writing using a fictional shopping and entertainment district, “Regency Park,” that is a centerpiece of its community.

Keep It Simple:
Regency Park Is a Destination Area for the Entire Community
This headline is clear and uses strong words that could interest  readers.  It’s straightforward and might attract a potential client interested in this aspect of the community.

Make It Personal:
My Family Loves the Variety of Restaurants in Regency Park
It is always a good practice to write your insights and headlines using first person. Agent Insight is the perfect platform to tell people about your knowledge of the area and why you like it.

Make It Reader Centered:
You Get That Festive Feeling at Regency Park’s Christmas Parade
Draw readers into the headline by telling them how they will benefit from your featured subject. In this case,  you could focus on your favorite stores (Eclectic Shopping Waits for You at Regency Park’s Southside Boutique), easy access to parking (You’ll Enjoy Free Parking at Regency Park), or beautiful landscaping (You Won’t Believe the Regency Park Flower Displays).

Find the Hook
Regency Park’s Book Nook Beacons to Bibliophiles or Regency Park’s Midtown Brewery Receives Highest Rating
Grab a reader’s attention with something they can visualize and value. The examples here call to book lovers and coffee drinkers. You don’t have to look hard to find the hook for any subject you cover.

Move beyond giving your insights a label, in this case simply “Regency Park,” and work to catch a reader’s eye. We are faced with an avalanche of information every day, but with a little time and ingenuity, your headlines can get prospective customers to stop and look twice.

Have you noticed there is a Featured Local Expert that appears on every community page in Agent Insight? It immediately catches the eye of visitors on that page. Put yourself in that spot just by making posts on the page! Here’s how it works:

When you post a written submission onto a page, your agent photo is added to the rotation and will randomly appear in the Featured Local Expert spot. For example, Phyllis Olive, RE/MAX Premiere Group in Tuscaloosa, AL, has submitted two photos and two written posts on the Lauderhill Subdivision in her town. She is the only agent who has put anything on this page, so she always appears as the Featured Local Expert. Or as we like to say, she is the “Mayor” of Lauderhill!

Phyllis has also submitted written and photo posts for the Waterford Subdivision along with another member of RE/MAX Premiere Group, Tracy Ramsey. In this example, either Tracy or Phyllis will rotate into the Featured Local Expert slot every time the page is opened by a visitor.

As more agents add written insights to the page, the three who have posted most recently will randomly rotate into the Featured Local Expert position. Fresh material keeps your name higher on the rotation, so periodically add something new! Note, however, that written submissions are given preference over photos. If there are only photo submissions on a particular page, the submitting agents can be featured as the local expert. Otherwise, the featured agent will only be selected from agents who have submitted written insights.

Also, three Featured Local Experts appear at the top of each market area Explore page. They are randomly selected from the 20 agents who have posted most recently. Again, fresh submissions keep you in the rotation.

Agent Insight is such an easy addition for you to make to your marketing plan. In fact, both of the Tuscaloosa subdivisions referenced above are in the top five results of a current Google search! There are many subdivisions and neighborhoods which don’t have any submissions yet. Go grab them and become the Featured Local Expert waiting for potential clients to find you!