Pic of mom and children on a website?

[reikidad1961]

My wife has bookmarked several site and blogs created by woman who have a picture of themselves with their children on their sites and my wife thinks its a great selling point, but I disagree and I don't want our young children's picture on the net and I don't want them used as a selling point? I don't even want my wife's picture online, but if she insists then ok.
How does everyone feel about this? If your site isn't good enough or your copy good enough why try to improve it by using a picture of your kids? Does it make you a more attractive and reputable seller to display yourself with your young childen on your lap? Or maybe it makes you a real person with a real life? Whatever, I am not happy about having my children on the net.

[Clayton Jolin]

Hmm...

You always get a royality free stock photo to do the work for ya!

Regards,
Clayton

[dorim]

That addresses part of his question.

[rhelaine]

makes you more human....so why not...
I wouldn't have any problem with that...more people see my wife and kids at the grossery store than on the internet

[Sylvia Meier]

I have always had pictures of me and my children online (see avatar), I don't see it as an issue, but that's just my opinion.

Sylvia

[ExRat]

Hi reikidad1961,

There's a high chance your wife was looking at a flog.

Do you have the url?

If it was a flog, it would be a VERY good example for her to show that the people who make flogs (fake blogs) are VERY skilled at using elements that make them look genuine and believable.

So the irony is that the more genuine it looks to the un-trained eye, the more likely it is to be fake.

Most flogs follow a very similar outline and one way to identify them is if it says 'comments closed due to spam abuse' at the bottom.

Hi Sylvia,

You could study some flogs and make sure your site(s) doesn't resemble one, in case you want to avoid any issues.

Here's an interesting breakdown of what a flog is.

list of known flogs

images commonly used by flogs

[Sylvia Meier]

Yah my sites that have pictures of me and the kids don't typically sell anything, ones like my personal blog etc, the sales pages I have don't include kids pics but thanks for the link Roger, very informative read.

Sylvia

[ExRat]

Hi Sylvia,

I guess if you're not selling, no problem. But flogs are specifically designed to look like personal blogs so...

[Shaka]

A face humanizes a business and makes it appear more personal. I know I am far more likely to make an online purchase if I see a picture of (the alleged) owner. The effect is enhanced if the owner tells the prospect a little about himself or herself (whether it is true or not – you never know). Many split tests have proven these tactics render results all the way back to direct sales copywriting which is where I started. And, of course, in the online world you have limited means to make a good impression on the prospect. You have to use what you have!

Regarding your wife and family, split tests have shown that this, too, can bump results. However, in this case the results are somewhat dependent on the product or service you are selling. Additionally, cute puppies and attractive women (which have no bearing on the product) have also been shown in split tests to boost results of most products.
If you are undecided and I can certainly understand your concern, why not test your results with clipart photos to see what happens. At least then you can review the results and determine if there is a financial benefit in doing so.

I know there are frequently questions as to how someone should position or price their offers. And while input from others who have experience in a given area can accelerate your learning curve and certainly should be taken into account; the only real answer EVER to these questions is to test!

[sbucciarel]

Seeing the wife/kid thing on a sales page just makes me think of flog ... fake blog and it loses credibility with me. I don't want to see or care whether not someone I'm buying from has a wife and kids. I only care about the product and the price.

[Shannon Tani]

I think it depends. WHat are these blogs and salespages? Is it a "mommy blog" that details the trials and joys of raising kids? A "cooking for kids" blog? A craft business where the mother sells homemade cloth diaper wraps? These are the types of things where a picture would lend more credibility.

However, I don't think it would be necessary for other types of products.

Personally, it doesn't bother me any to have pics and videos of me and my kid online. I've got several videos of my baby on YouTube because our family all lives so far away. I've even got a bathtime one on there that shows his willie. I didn't think about covering it up at the time and I don't think it's that big of a deal.

Love,
Shannon