Using sex in advertising is about as old as advertising itself.  We have seen it in beer commercials, soda commercials, magazine ads, the super bowl halftime show, blah blah blah.  Anyone over the age of 12 knows what I’m talking about.

So, is the same true with Real Estate?

Well, I would argue that it depends on what kind of Real Estate you are trying to sell.  For a first time buyer in a family neighborhood, it is probably not appropriate, or even effective.  But, there are certain kinds of property that are inherantly sexy anyway.  Beach houses, high rise condos, resort properties - all of these types of properties have a certain sexiness to them - and it just so happens that Florida has more of this kind of property than most any other state (except maybe California or Hawaii).

Shaun McLane, an Orlando Realtor, saw this as a niche that (in a sluggish real estate market) just couldn’t be ignored.  He put together a video, and posted on YouTube, that got him into a little hot water and kicked up a little controversy at the same time.  Shaun posted this video, and because of its contents was given an ultimatum by the managing broker of his real estate firm.  He was given the choice of taking it down, or be terminated from employment.

Well…the video is still up, and he now works for a different real estate firm.  While I admire his tennacity (I am equally as hard headed), I also see her point.  As a real estate broker and owner of a real estate firm, she is responsible for all sales agents under her, and ultimately responsible for any advertising.

So, should she have given such an ultimatum?  If it were me, I would have talked to Shaun about how we could use that kind of “outside the box” thinking to make advertising that was as eye-catching, but maybe more appealing to a general audience, rather than a hardline stance.  The truth is, I was not in the meeting, so I don’t know exactly what was said or how it was said, but a more diplomatic alternative could have been more useful for both parties.

I could have posted the video right on this post, but elected to put a link to it on YouTube instead to avoid possibly offending some of my readers.  While I don’t see this as pornography, it is at the very least, racey.

Good luck Shaun, and keep thinking outside the box…our industry needs it.