Posts Tagged ‘listing marketing’
7 Signs You Need a Break!
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011
With the holidays just around the corner, many of you are probably looking forward to a much needed break! Whether you’re gathering with family or friends, or are just craving a few days of personal R&R, having a little time to switch gears and turn off the noise of work can be just the thing you need to get refreshed and ready to go for the new year.
Now you may be one of those real estate agents that thinks, “Take a break? I wish!” As Real Estate Virtual Assistants, we know that there’s a lot of hard work and endless hours that you as real estate agents put into your company. If you own your real estate company or are with a very small firm, you probably feel the extra weight of keeping the momentum going, and a break seems out of the question.
However, not taking time off can hurt you more in the long run! If you get to the point of being burnt out, you’ll have to take a much longer time off in order to recover and your business, co-workers and even family and friends will suffer. So, how can you tell it’s time for a break? Here are seven key signs:
1. Loss of Joy- If the job you once loved and were passionate about is now becoming a dreaded part of your day… you need time away from it. Being passionate about your job, especially in this line of work, is imperative! Your clients will notice and your work will clearly reflect your passion, or lack thereof!
2. Lack of Focus or Creativity- It’s impossible for anyone to run at full speed all the time. When you notice you’re not able to focus and solutions to problems seem to allude you; you need a break! Give your mind a rest and you’ll find a much more productive you when you return!
3. Constantly Feeling Overwhelmed- As a real estate agent, there seem to be a million things demanding your attention at the same time. High maintenance sellers, first time home buyers, showings, marketing, social media, networking events, etc… the list appears endless! If you’re feeling buried under the weight of all these things and are having a tough time prioritizing… take a step back! Take the time to look at your business from a distance and you’ll feel more in control.
4. Irritability- We all have off days where we feel on edge, but if you’re feeling this way on a regular basis it’s a good sign you need a day off. Whether it’s related to stress, depression or worry; your irritability can have an effect on your co-workers and clients. Be sure to take a break before you burn bridges!
5. Insomnia- Sleep is essential to keeping a fast paced and high demand lifestyle. If you’re finding it’s hard to fall asleep at night, getting fresh air during the day, sunlight and even exercise can help get your inner clock back to normal sleep rhythms. Take a personal break to do these things on a daily basis!
6. Health Issues- A good sign that you need a break is when you begin developing health issues. Hopefully you’ll see warning signs and take a break before this occurs, but many people will ignore the red flags until it’s too late. Stomach issues, regular migraines and not feeling well on a regular basis may mean it’s time to visit your doctor. Chances are, they’ll prescribe a much needed break!
7. Warnings from Family and Friends- If those that know you best and are around you the most are concerned you’re overworking yourself; take note! They may see the warning signs before you do and can be that voice of wisdom that you need to heed! They’re looking out for your good and it’s important to not ignore their sound advice.
I hope that you take the time needed this holiday season to relax and enjoy being with loved ones! This is a great time of year to unwind and take in a few personal days so that you can hit the ground running in 2012!
If you’re worried about the amount of work that seems to be piling up and feel that you can’t take a break with all there is to do; let your Real Estate Virtual Assistants know! They can cover your listing marketing, social media,website maintenance, print marketing, real estate blogging, and much more! Take that much needed break this holiday season and rest assured your work is in good hands!
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Generate Business NOW —Even As the World Crumbles
Monday, August 22nd, 2011
The news from Wall Street and Main Street (i.e. the housing market) could hardly be less encouraging. And to put a cherry on that sundae, the “experts” are now saying we will likely be entering another recession (like when did we stop having the first one?). This all begs the question: How are you going to generate new business when everything seems to be falling apart?
The first thing to remember is that no matter how bad the economy gets, people will still be buying and selling real estate. I remember being in the business (actively buying investment properties) when interest rates on 30 year loans were around 17% – 18%. The key is to help those who need to sell –right now! This means aggressively courting the FSBO’s and Expireds of the world. The majority of these folks need to sell, no other option available, which means they need YOU.
I made a lot of money during another recession (in the mid 1970′s) specializing in FSBOs. Here are some proven tips to help you turn these market opportunities (FSBO’s and Expired’s) into cash:
- Sell the appointment, not your service - you have to get “belly to belly” with these folks if you want to list their home. Many agents make the mistake of selling their services over the phone. The only thing you want to use the phone for is to get that in-person appointment. So get good, real good at selling the appointment.
- Be their advocate - FSBO’s and Expired’s tend to be stressed out and just a little bit cynical about Realtors. Make it clear that you are there to help them achieve all of their goals, whether or not you get the listing.
- Have an irresistible marketing plan - you better have something that will make them go “Wow!” when it comes to selling their property. Something that most other agents in your area are not likely to offer. For an incredible example of this review the 2/8/11 GUEST EXPERT “How to Win Every Listing and Have Sellers Pay You Upfront!“ Live Group Coaching archive.
There will always be business. And in times like these when it seems everything has been made that much more difficult, you may just be open to doing things that are proven to work, in any market. And that my friend is the gift of troubled times.
The Tweak That Will Double Your Business
Saturday, July 30th, 2011
Why did one top producing agent suddenly lose four listings in a row when he’s used to about a 98% listing presentation closing rate? He has since fixed this problem, but it’s the same one that most agents have and don’t even know it.
The top producer in question has a nearly unbeatable value proposition for his potential sellers. The reason it stopped working for him is that he “went off script” as he put it. He fell back into the lazy habit of focusing on “features” of what he will do for sellers, rather than the benefits. We witnessed this same proclivity during our recent “Why should I choose you?” listing presentation contest. Nearly every contestant proudly presented the features of what they would do and make them stand out instead of the benefits that would be important to a seller.
The reason it is so easy for salespeople to sell features is that we are so familiar with our services that we “collapse” the benefits with their respective features. In fact, it is hard to imagine why anyone doesn’t immediate “get” the benefits of those wonderful features we so readily and excitedly expound upon. The problem is that most prospects won’t get it, and in fact may feel intimidated by not understanding why those features are supposed to be so valuable.
People buy with their emotions and justify it with their intellect. Benefits are the shortest distance to the heart of the prospect, features are the roadway that support that journey. If benefits are even mentioned in a presentation, they usually follow the feature (the old “features / benefits” selling script). This is ass-backwards. Always, always, always share the benefit first, then justify how it will be delivered via the feature.
High-powered selling is not magic or even hard if you understand and apply basic human behavioral principles. Prospects are only interested in what you can do for them from a benefit perspective. They don’t want to know about the drill, they just want the hole. Learn this well and have the discipline to apply it to every sales situation and watch your closing ratio shoot skyward.
Why Should I Choose You?
Saturday, July 16th, 2011
It’s not too often that I get to be on the “consumer” side of real estate. Yesterday I helped my wife evaluate two Realtors for the possibility of listing her mother’s home for sale. We asked a series of questions starting with “Why should we pick you over all of your competitors?” and that’s when the fun began.
The look on the face of the first one (who had 31 years in the business) was priceless. After composing himself he shares that he’s in the office every day at 8:30am and returns all his phone calls in a timely manner. No really, that’s what he said.
Then we asked “What is your marketing plan that will make this home stand out from all the others and give us the highest value in a reasonable time?” At that, he points to his very nice (customized and hard-bound even!) presentation package and says: “It’s in there, read it –or do you want me to read it for you?” At which point we quickly (yet politely) ended our meeting.
The second one wasn’t much better. He was quite a bit younger and more hip to technology yet he still stumbled all over the question as to why he should be chosen over anyone else. When asked about his marketing program he started rattling off his budgets for print and online advertising, yada, yada yada. When asked why he spends so much money on print when most people use the Internet he said: “I only do the print to satisfy the sellers and to promote my company, we’ve actually never received any business from it.” When we requested that he put together a comprehensive marketing plan for my mother-in-law’s home, he nods at the folder in his hand then gives it to us. Unlike the first agent, it was not customized, had only examples of mostly print advertising and no formal plan whatsoever. We’re still looking…
Granted, most consumers are not going to be quite as, well, thorough as we were. Never-the-less, if they can’t quite articulate the question, they are thinking it: “Why should we chose you over everyone else?” If you can’t answer that in a powerful and straightforward way (while avoiding the typical bromides of “I work hard!”, “I already have buyers interested in your home!”, “I have tremendous experience?”, etc.) then you are working way too hard and earning far too little.
You already have your answer if you are specializing in a niche. Otherwise, take the time to come up with a powerful response. Take it from someone who has just experienced it first hand from the consumer side, you will quickly appear to be head and shoulders above your competition within the first five minutes of any listing appointment.
How to Generate 10,000 Page Views In One Month
Wednesday, September 15th, 2010
It is very rare indeed when something comes along that works as advertised. Here is an incredibly powerful, quick and easy tool that will turn your listings into lead generation monsters…
Craigslist the Smart Way
ListingsToLeads.com is a service that automates most of the process of posting your listings on Craigslist in a way that generate results, big time. The sad fact is that most REALTOR’s attempts to use Craigslist to generate leads from their listings fail miserably. Scott Pierce, CEO and Founder of ListingsToLeads.com is a Craigslist Guru that figure out the formula for consistent lead generation results, which includes:
- High-impact HTML ad templates – which can be customized with your brand look and feel;
- Compelling Call-To-Action Landing Pages – essentially a powerful and proven lead capture system;
- Best Practices – for posting your Craigslist ads for maximum exposure and impact.
I Lied…
I have to confess that the title of this post is a little off —the case study detailed in the video below actually had over 12,000 page views in the last 31 days as a result of using Craigslist ads.
Just click the video image below to view a 1 hour full-screen video that includes a case study of how Linda Jefferson of GoArmyHomes.com was able to generate over 12,000 page views in just one month advertising only 31 listings on Craigslist. BTW, she also receive three lead phone calls this past weekend alone asking to see homes just from these ads…
This is one of those things that if you don’t use it, well you are leaving major money on the table —period!
NOTE: Mr. Internet®, RUSSER Communications, its staff and officers receive no compensation whatsoever from any third party vendors (unless he/they are directly involved with the creation and/or improvement of a vendor service or product), and make no recommendations as to the suitability of the products or services mentioned in this article. Always thoroughly investigate any product or service before trying or purchasing.
The Ultimate Listing Website
Sunday, August 22nd, 2010
If you think the Web only works for buyers think again. Here’s a Website that is specifically designed to generate listings and doesn’t even use search engines to drive traffic to it.
Focus, Focus, Focus
Mega-producers Noel & Lee Bittinger are members of my ULTRA eTEAM and decided to go after the more affluent listings in the Canton, MI area. Only after months of planning and refinement did they even speak to a Web designer. The extraordinary result is SellingCantonHomes.com. It was the focus of a recent HOT SEAT session we did to evaluate its effectiveness and refine it even further.
The video below is a recording of that Webinar that shows you exactly what they did on the site and why it is such a powerful listing generating machine (be sure to watch it full screen!)
The site shows a lot of clever thinking and the application of rock-solid online business-generating principles. Take some time to study this site, view its “irresistible offers”, read the copy to see how engaging it is and so on. This goes so far beyond the typical “For Sellers” button or menu item on the typical agent Website —something potential sellers recognize instantly.
Websites are not just for buyers. Literally half the market is being ignored online, until now…
QR Codes: Use Mobile Technology to Market Your Business!
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010Everyone is familiar with bar codes. They make retrieving information easy with a simple scan, helping businesses run smoothly and efficiently.
Wouldn’t it be great if this technology could be used to market your real estate business and connect with your clients? Well, now you can using QR Codes!
What Are QR Codes?
QR Codes are the latest and greatest emergence in mobile technologies, allowing you to transfer and link to information with a simple click of a cell phone camera. So what exactly are QR codes? QR-Codes are two dimensional barcodes, designed to have their contents decoded at a high speed. To put it simpler – think of them as a bar code that works like an online link.
The acronym QR is derived from the term Quick Response and that is just what these are!
How Do they Work?
Most mobile phones with a digital camera will work. The camera, along with decoding software, captures a picture of the QR Code and translates the information stored on that particular code.
This information can be a link to a website, contact information, MP3 file, a coupon, and much more.
Get Your Own QR Codes!
To get a list of decoding software/applications just do a quick Google Search for QR Code Generator and you’ll find a plethora of sites and widgets just waiting to create your QR Code. Here is a QR Code generator that we tried. You decide what type of information you want to store in your QR Code (Link, Contact information, Calendar Event, etc.), and then just add the information, click generate and there is your code! You can save the image and imprint it anywhere you want!
Using QR Codes to Benefit to Your Business…
Imagine a potential customer walking past your window and noticing the black and white image that resembles something out of the magic eye book.
They take a picture of it with their cell phone and are instantly connected to your website, or they can find your contact information automatically stored in their phone.
QR codes are simple to generate and can be imprinted on countless objects and marketing materials such as T-shirts, business cards, flyers, postcards, signs banners, and much much more.
ALERT, INNOVATIVE IDEA!!
If your office puts flyers in a store front window, make sure your flyers have a QR Code for that listing which will of course lead the potential buyer to the listing on your website! They may not want to go in to the office and chat, but you don’t want them to anyway…
You want them to visit the website for more information and call YOU!
It maybe too soon to tell how mainstream these QR Codes will become, but they are so simple to use why not stay ahead of the curve!
Your Real Estate Virtual Assistant can incorporate QR Codes into your flyers, postcards, newspaper ads and more!
Carrie Gable and the team at RealSupport, Inc. are our “VA Quick Tip” columnists offering expertise in real estate marketing, technology and more. RealSupport’s office and team of 9 full-time staff members is located near Chicago, IL. Their successful team works virtually for many top real estate agents nationwide. Pioneers in the Real Estate Virtual Assistant industry, RealSupport offers marketing, branding, website and logo design, listing marketing, lead generation, technical support, transaction management, social networking, blogging and much more… Just ask!Visit us Online at RealSupportInc.com
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How To Put Your Listings On Facebook
Saturday, December 12th, 2009As a team of Real Estate Virtual Assistants, we’ve done our research and wanted to share some of our 
favorite Facebook Applications with you. They’re an easy and effective way to help you promote your business at little to no cost!
Your REALTOR.com listings on Facebook:
The first widget or application works with www.REALTOR.com. REALTOR.com has just updated their page on Facebook and is now granting access to their application to all REALTORS!
Click HERE to view the REALTOR.com Facebook application!
You can now add your REALTOR.com listings to your Facebook page. They will have their own tab called “View My Listings” When someone clicks to view, they’ll be lead directly to your REALTOR.com page.
MAKE SURE your Real Estate Virtual Assistant is enhancing all of your listings on REALTOR.com to ensure the best exposure to potential buyers! With so many listings being featured online, your listing really has to pop. To make sure your listings pop, make sure you are uploading 25 photos, adding your enhanced ad copy, two headlines and a special message. The more details, the better!
Canadian MLS Real Estate Professionals:
“Don’t Feel Left Out Canada!” There is a brand new application for Facebook made specifically for Canadian MLS Real Estate 
Professionals. This great application gives REALTORS a separate profile page aside from their personal page to showcase listings, custom links, business profile and much more! The company is currently working on getting an IDX Search Compatible with this application so that your listings can automatically feed. For now, they need to be manually entered.
No time to play around with Facebook? No big deal, hire a Real Estate Virtual Assistant TODAY!
Carrie Gable of RealSupport, Inc. is our “VA Quick Tip” columnist offering expertise in real estate marketing, technology and more. RealSupport’s office and team of 9 full-time staff members is located near Chicago, IL. Their successful team works virtually for many top real estate agents nationwide. Pioneers in the Real Estate Virtual Assistant industry, RealSupport offers marketing, website and logo design, branding, lead generation, technical support, transaction management and more.
Contact Carrie
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Tracking the Effectiveness of Your Craigslist Ad Just Got Easier
Friday, October 9th, 2009Craigslist has become a very powerful tool for many real estate professionals. We typically recommend posting your listings to Craigslist. It is also a great place to post events like Home Buyer Seminars, general ads like “Receive a FREE Market Analysis of Your Homes Value”, and even for recruiting new agents.
As Real Estate Virtual Assistants, the online marketing efforts that we implement can be pretty extensive. At RealSupport, we provide package pricing per listing for listing marketing and we are often asked to recommend the best sites for advertising our client’s listing. I’m a big believer in Craigslist (however, I do realize there are reasons it doesn’t make sense for some agents), so this site is typically part of each of my client’s listing package.
Some of our clients spend upwards of $400 for us to market their listing. We want to be certain they are getting the most bang for their marketing dollars. In search of a tool that would allow us to make sure we have the data to back-up our positive opinion about Craigslist, we have been testing a free tool call http://craigslistadtracker.com/ that can be used to track the activity of each Craigslist ad. So far we have found this tool to be easy to use, accurate, and consistent in providing us hit reports on each ad.
With that said, perhaps we find the result to be the opposite and our ads are not being viewed… before you throw out baby with the bathwater, I recommend tweaking your ad title. On a similar note, if you are posting your ads with HTML code from some other source (like Postlets), you MUST still upload a photo. Most Craigslist users will not click on an ad that does not have a PIC (which is the notification next to the title indicating there is a picture uploaded to the ad). I did not like the way the uploaded photo looked with the attractive HTML code from Postlets, so we tricked the system and we upload a blank image… now the ad still looks nice and the ad indicates there are pictures (which of course there is because that is part of the HTML).
How it works
- Register an account
- Create a tracker
- Insert the tracking code on your craigslist ad or webpage
- Every page view will be logged for reporting
- Analyze the report
Why use this service?
- Know the number of page views your ads receive
- Know which type of ad gets the most clicks or generate more leads
- Know your visitor locations
- Up-to-the-minute real-time stats
- Email notifications
- Track unlimited postings
- Several reports and charts to help you analyze your stats
- Invisible and seamless tracking
- Timezone conversion for reporting
- Image hosting and tracking
- It works on Craigslist, Oddle, Myspace and other networks that support HTML listings
- It is simple and FREE to use
You can’t manage what you don’t measure. Click here to create an account.
If all this sound just a little to complicated, you need a Real Estate Virtual Assistant! Let a REVA do the work for you… all you should worry about are the results, right?
Carrie Gable of RealSupport, Inc. is our “VA Quick Tip” columnist offering expertise in real estate marketing, technology and more. RealSupport’s office and team of 9 full-time staff members is located near Chicago, IL. Their successful team works virtually for many top real estate agents nationwide. Pioneers in the Real Estate Virtual Assistant industry, RealSupport offers marketing, website and logo design, branding, lead generation, technical support, transaction management and more.
Contact Carrie
Visit us Online at RealSupportInc.com
Join Our LinkedIn Group
Become a Facebook Fan
Follow me on Twitter
