Thoughts on Marketing…

If you’ve been in real estate for long, you’ve had cranky clients. You’ve had transactions with glitches that were difficult. You may have even made some mistakes. You’ve also had some clients who couldn’t be pleased no matter what you did, but this isn’t about them. This is about the ones who had a genuine [...]

Do you use open houses to gather real estate leads? Sometimes they work, and sometimes all you get for your trouble is a few hours alone. That’s pretty frustrating if you’ve gone to the trouble to send invitations and provide refreshments. So try this instead: When you close on a home sale, let your client [...]

Business cards are some of the least expensive but most effective marketing pieces you can buy. Unfortunately, too many people keep them stowed away in a desk drawer instead of handy in their pockets. Your business card should do two things: Reveal both your name and your face – so that people who don’t remember [...]

Surfing the net and looking at real estate sites tonight, I just came across a tip that might help you keep visitors on your pages a little longer – or at least help them find their way a little easier. Check out this post by web designer David Smith.

Even if yours is a holiday message, remember the basic rules in client communication. It’s all about THEM. Stick with the tried and true rule of using “You” at least 3 times as often as you use “I.” Next, make your message a “gift.” Give them an uplifting poem or a beautiful photo. You could [...]

Take a look at your website today, then decide: Is this site a public service or a marketing tool? It might be filled with all kinds of useful advice and tools for your visitors. And you might think that’s enough to make them love you and use your services. But it’s not. They may feel [...]

This week Active Rain published the results of a survey they took to determine the difference in activity between agents. They found some big differences between agents who earned $100,000 or more per year and those who earn $35,000 or less. One of those differences is contact management. Rich agents stay in touch with past, [...]

Marketing your services as a real estate agent is one of those things most instructors forgot to teach when you were getting that license. And yet, if you don’t do it well, you won’t have a chance to use any of the other things you learned. And it isn’t easy. You can spend thousands of [...]

Prospecting is one of those activities that real estate agents know they must do, but one that gets shoved to the bottom of the list during busy times. They’ll probably remember to hand out a business card when they meet someone new, but getting a marketing piece written and sent to their sphere of influence [...]

This message was originally posted on Active Rain, a little over two years ago. It was intended for real estate agents, but the principles apply no matter what business you’re in. So here is the question: Is writing your own marketing materials the highest and best use of your time? You as a real estate [...]