Our websites are probably the most valuable marketing tools that we as stagers have in our arsenal. The place to showcase our portfolio, design style, service information, testimonials, etc. Most important are those Before and After photos!!!
Creating your website, it's look, and content can also be one of the biggest challenges, especially for a new stager trying to start their business. How do you present something when you haven't had many clients - and how do you get clients if you don't have anything to present?
This is a photo of a room in our home right after we moved in that went on the first version of our website
I've seen many blogs about whether or not to use stock photos. I am always opposed to using someone else's work or photos on your site - even for accent images. There are some great blogs about taking close up pictures of your own staging to use for those images - don't only focus on your wide room shots. When we first started our business we used pictures of our home, our friends and families homes, until we finally had a collection of before and after pictures of homes we staged for clients.
This is a photo of a family members bedroom that was also on the first version of our website
The presentation of your text is also pivotal as it speaks on your behalf. It can take weeks to craft just the right phrasing and you'll find that it continues to evolve as the market changes and your company grows.
Needless to say, we were shocked when we discovered that someone from across the country had not only used our copyrighted photos, but lifted the text directly from our website and replaced our company name with theirs!
Fortunately I crafted a cease and desist letter that was worded strongly enough that their website was pulled off-line immediately. I actually just checked again, now one year later, and the site is still 'under construction'! I'd hate to see that invoice!
How did we discover this? I am a sucker for numbers and stats, so I check our website statistics quite often. I noticed that we had numerous referrals and hits from a particular 'design' website that I hadn't heard of. Upon clicking on it - everything from our site was there. I think we were quite fortunate to have found it, and I've kept my eyes peeled since then.
Before & After photo from our very first staging job - an actual paying client!!!
While creating your first site may seem like a daunting task, it is definitely within your reach. If you can't build one on your own, find someone who can help you, it's really not too hard. You probably have a family member or friend who is very familiar with designing websites and you just don't know it.
Be original - Be creative - Be personal
Use your own Photos - Use your own Words - Use your own Personality
Ultimately that is what will sell you and give you the credibility and success you desire and deserve!
David, great looking photos. I am a HUGE fan of professional staging, I'm sorry that someone lifted your photos.
I've had other agents take my photos from the MLS for condos. They have taken the exterior shots and skyline view shots. It annoyed me that they did that.
Hi David,
Not only are you good at staging, you're pretty darn good at that gum-shoe work too. When it comes to staging, I'm a huge believer! Keep up the great work.
This is happeneing ALL the time. My text was recently lifted directly from my website from another Stager across the country. She has yet to respond to my polite email, we all know what wil come next. Unfortunately reality of life and doing business today.
I believe that you can label your photos so that google can pick them out and identify them, and send you free google alerts whenever the unique word that you put in your photo identification tag appears anywhere google crawls.
I've discovered that my blogs have been hijacked, but I don't know how to get it stopped...and I am so focused on my business I don't really have time to pursue it. However, I do ues Google Alerts and highly recommend it.
David: Unfortunately I have become something of an expert at having photos and web site copy hijacked. Even my AR blog posts have been "repurposed". I now watermark all my photos with a copyright symbol and my company name. I imagine some crafty photo thief could figure out how to erase my watermark, but it won't be easy.
WOW, those after pictures look incredible!
David ~ Thanks. The lifting of the photos didn't even both us as much as the text.
Jen ~ I'm surprised other agents would do that in the same building when its obvious where the pictures originated. Some people are just lazy and don't want to do the work. It should annoy you!
Lynda ~ Thanks for the good words.
Connie ~ Isn't it maddening? And it's so obvious when text is lifted. Other stagers need to spend the time writing their own text and not stealing someone else's. Hopefully they will respond appropriately in short order.
Lynn ~ I wasn't aware of that and will look into that. Thanks!
Vicki ~ I just started blogging recently, so I'm not too concerned about the blog part yet. Hopefully it won't be an issue. I will certainly check out Google Alerts.
Michelle ~ We'll probably start having to go the watermark route as well. I wish we would have started that a long time ago. Oh well, no time like the present!
Ian ~ Thanks alot!
You do have to check often to see that your photos and materials are not used wrongly and take action if they are. All the best.
David ~ There is no excuse for lifting text from another stager's website! Unfortunately, another local stager here in the Portland area plagiarized text from my site --- not once, but twice! I used Copyscape.com to run a report on duplicate content of some of my web pages.... This local stager copied 136 exact words in the exact order and then blamed it on her "Web person" which might have worked for the first time, but not the second time a few months later. The worst part is, she is someone I know and have attended training with and we belonged to the same staging association. I lost all respect for her lack of integrity and lack of concern about it.
Bob ~ It something that can be a little time consuming, but worthwhile to set aside some time once in while to do some checking.
Maureen ~ I can't believe that! Especially from someone in our own market. And then to have a repeat violation. It's one thing to duplicate someone's format or layout, but the text must be original, or diferent enough that it's not outright plagarism. I'm going to check out copyscape.com - I haven't seen that site yet. Thanks for sharing your story!
It is just soooo sad that people have to stoop so low.... if you can't be original in the most basic of tasks, why do you think you'll suceed in the business? Sheesh... sorry this happened to you!
YES it's a common problem and one that we should be aware of, and thanks for your positive attitude and advice for newbies.
Two blogs at the same time on this problem. Good catch. People that steal photos and words are still STEALING. Good job. Ky
Melissa ~ It's interesting that much of staging is about creativity, yet some folks cannot even creatively define themselves. How will they define an empty space?
Terrylynn ~ How nice to see you here! There's been some good suggestions here and anything we can do to help others break into the business in a positive way only helps everybody.
Kim ~ I'm sure it's becoming a more common problem - especially as hobbyists try to quickly break into the field and are not properly trained.