ScreenDreamer LLC Success Notes

Good Customer Service Never Goes Out of Style

Online All the Time

In a business like real estate, you are well aware by now that your customers will attempt to contact you at all kinds of crazy hours. Make yourself readily available by using your website to communicate with clients and prospects 24/7.

Have a form on your website where site visitors can ask questions. Make sure you set up an auto responder that will tell the person who filled out the form when you will be getting back to them.

You should also post a question and answer page with typical questions about searching for homes on line, your neighborhoods and more.

You may also want to put an alternate phone number where prospects can reach you when you're out of the office.

CRM – Is it the latest buzzword or the future of business?

By Anthony Severino

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is the greatest thing since sliced bread for successful business people. You see human beings lack the capacity to manage all the activities required to be highly successful in our heads. We need tools to remember our events and the activities we do in our busy, successful lives. One year my wife and I both forgot our anniversary because it was not written on the calendar.

The concept of using tools to manage your business activities has been around for a long time. Paper planners containing a calendar, address book and writing paper were really the first contact management systems. This system worked very well for me until I lost mine by leaving it in a phone booth. Come on, you remember having to make your calls from a phone booth, it wasn’t that long ago! Loosing that planner meant I lost everything I needed to do my job. Talk about feeling helpless!

Computer based contact management came next in the form of programs like Outlook, ACT, or Goldmine. These were far superior to paper planners with more features and backups, which hopefully you remembered to do before your computer crashed. And of course there are the hand held multi-function devices like Palm, Treo and Blackberry. Microsoft is now in the CRM business. Salesforce.com’s CRM is completely hosted, customizable and “on demand” via the Internet. So, besides this new acronym what is the rage all about?

The CRM software on the market today allows us to manage our calendars, contacts and tasks but they are Internet accessible via a web browser. This means I can log in and use my system anywhere and from any computer without special software. I can’t lose it and I don’t have to back it up or update it! I just use it. Most of these CRM systems integrate email with templates, mass emailing, other marketing tools, and sync or run real time on hand held devices and laptops. Some CRM companies include valuable business tools like revenue forecasting and detailed reporting while integrating with online lead capture forms and websites. There are also real estate and mortgage specific CRM versions available. CRM software becomes a complete platform for to run your business. What could be better for the independent business owner, REALTOR® or loan officer?

So now that you know what CRM is and how it can help you to organize your calendar, track your daily tasks, manage your business, market to your contacts and even forecast your revenues, what are you waiting for? The National Association of REALTORS® reports that only 20% of REALTORS® use CRM tools daily. When you are ready to take the leap, look around and choose a provider that you are comfortable with. Some even offer free trials. If your company provides one for you, try it. Make the investment in any training they offer and use the system daily. Staying organized and on track will make you more successful and might just keep you from missing that important date… or your anniversary.

 

Success Notes Bonus Tip:

Besides from being an electronic CRM system, programs such as Salesforce.com also offer outstanding marketing capabilities.  DripTrak marketing will allow you to send campaigns to clients and prospects on a monthly, weekly or daily basis.  Are you using your DripTrak system?  Contact us today if you need assistance. 

 

In the Next Success Notes…

What’s the point in having a great website if your prospects can’t find it?  Building a site just isn’t enough, you need to be using the proper tools to promote your site and make it search engine friendly.  In the next Success Notes, we’ll discuss ways you can increase the traffic flow to your site.

Make Your Prospects Fall in Love with the Community

When the housing market is slow, sometimes you need a little more than a beautiful home to make a sale.

You already know how to sell a house, but do you know how to sell prospects on a community? These days a community itself can be just as important as the particular home. Consumers have all types of needs and wants when it comes to finding the perfect area to call home.

So how can you convince prospects that your area is the right place for them to settle down?

 

Four ways to sell a prospect on a community.

School Systems

When a town has a stellar school system, your home sales will be sizeable. People with children or even people who plan to have children someday often choose towns based on the public school system.

Put together a packet highlighting the benefits of the best school systems in the towns where you have listings. Include facts about class size, busing, extra-curricular activities, unique subjects offered and more.

 

Entertainment Capital

Although sometimes it's nice to get away for the weekend, high gas prices have caused many people to prefer to stay local for weekend fun.

On your website you can post links and reviews of local restaurants. You can also put up a map of where the closest shopping malls, bowling alleys, movie theaters and other entertainment complexes are.

 

Walk ability

 

These days walk able towns are few and far between. As more McMansion developments continue to pop up on farmland, old fashion style towns with walk able shops become a rarity that many people are looking for. If you have listings in one these towns then you're in luck!

Showcase all of the walkable spots on your website. You may even want to write a short article about how convenient it is to live in a town like this. Include links to any annual town events that will offer your prospects a sense of community spirit.

 

Major Roads

If you don't have any listings in a walk able town, talk to your prospects about the closest highways and how convenient it is to get to different stores and locations. If a major city is an hour or less away, you can also discuss how wonderful it is to live in the suburbs but still have access to a major metropolitan area.

Access to major roadways is definitely a positive feature in any community. The average American is commuting further than ever before. The less time people have to spend on the road, the more time they have to be with their family in their new home.

Using MySpace for Business: The Do’s and Don’ts

Do…  

Have One! Some people still associate Myspace with teenagers, however, recent polls have concluded that the largest majority of Myspace users are now 35 or older. Your target audience is on this site and you should be too. It's a free site—what do you have to lose? Update Often The only thing worse then not having a Myspace page for your business is never updating it. Keep your page current by adding new content and listings whenever possible. Show consumers that you are actively involved in your business. Blog Even if you have another blog elsewhere, come up with some added tidbits for your Myspace blog. Adding a new post to your blog gives consumers a reason to return to your page. If members subscribe to your blog, they will be alerted when you make a new post. You should also send out a bulletin to notify your Myspace friends when you make a new post. Promote Your Listings Post pictures of your listings on your Myspace page. Also include links to your regular website. There is also a real estate section under the Myspace classified area where you may be able to add some listings as well. Network / Join Groups Consumers aren't the only people you can get to know on Myspace, it's also a great place to network. Add other real estate professionals as friends or join some of the many real estate groups. This is a great way to learn about trends in other markets or find out about conferences.

Don't…  

Post Personal Pictures If you want to post pictures of your family or nights out with friends, create a separate personal Myspace account and keep it on private. Posting personal pictures on your business account looks unprofessional and can cost you new customers. Let Just Anyone Leave You Comments This is very important: change your settings so that you have to approve all comments that are posted before other users can see them. This puts you in control of what can be seen on your page. Otherwise, spammers or rude people can post inappropriate comments or graphics on your page. You wouldn't want to go on vacation for a few days and come back and find something that could taint your business image. Stay in control by checking all comments first. Put Up Obnoxious Songs / Backgrounds Remember that this page is for your business, not for you. If you can't find an appropriate song, then don't have any song on your page at all. You wouldn't want to offend prospective buyers by having music playing that has sexual or controversial lyrics. Also beware of what kind of background you use. There are some crazy graphic backgrounds out there that can freeze the page. If someone visits your page and their screen freezes, they probably won't be back again. Stick to a simple background, preferably just colors that match your branding. Let Your Professional-ism Go Since MySpace is a pretty fun and hip site, it's probably pretty easy to get caught up in the internet lingo. Many times on personal Myspace sites and instant messengers even educated adults tend to give up their proper English skills to use words and phrases such as: IDK (instead of I don't know) U (instead of you) OMG (instead of oh my gosh) TTYL (instead of talk to you later) and so on Avoid doing this on your professional MySpace page. Would you write a client an email using abbreviations such as “IDK” or “TTYL”? I don't think so. As cool as your Myspace page is, remember it's still a marketing tool for your business, not a personal chat board.

 

Test Your Marketing Skills

How much marketing are you doing?
Are you keeping up with the latest trends?

You may not even realize how many marketing options you're missing out on. 
Maybe you feel like you don't do enough, but in reality you're ahead of the game.

So do you think you're a marketing leader?  Maybe you need to be sent back to Marketing 101.

Take our real estate marketing quiz to find out if your marketing skills are up to par.

I send email marketing pieces to my clients or prospects: a)     At least once a week b)     At least once a month c)     Only on holidays or when there is something special going on d)     Never

Social networking is…  a)     Part of my daily work routine b)     Something I do on occasion c)      Something I set up once, but barely use d)     What is social networking?

My blog: a)     Is witty, informative and gets updated on a regular schedule b)     Has a few posts in it, but could use some work c)      Is something I often forget to post in d)     I don't blog, period.

I promote my listings:  a)     On my website, in newspapers or magazines, in email campaigns and almost any other medium you can think of b)     On my website and occasionally I use other mediums c)      On my website or my company's website only d)     I barely promote them and mostly get my business from referrals

My website: a)     Always helps me to capture leads and the design matches my branding b)     Occasionally helps me to capture leads, but could benefit from a few layout changes c)      Rarely helps me to get leads and looks like it was designed in 1996 d)     I don't even have my own agent site

I use video to promote my listings: a)     So often that you might as well call me Steven Spielberg b)     Occasionally, you could compare me to a new indie film director c)      Rarely, because I was unhappy with the results d)     Never, I wouldn't even know how to press play on a camcorder

 

Time to add up your score:

Give yourself 5 points for every A, 4 points for every B, 3 points for every C and 2 points for every D.

24-30 Points: Congratulations, you are a marketing diva or divo.  You keep up with the latest marketing trends and are always ahead of the game.  You're a trendsetter in your business that attracts new prospects and clients with your creative efforts.  You are taking advantage of all the latest things technology has to offer.  Others in the business should admire your marketing skills.    18-24 Points: You're a senior marketer. You're already in the game, now it's time to score a homerun.  You're doing a lot of marketing and putting your best foot forward.  Now comes the time when you need to step it up.  Don't be afraid to go the extra mile to increase your efforts.  Continue with what you're already doing, but put the finishes touches on your projects to transform yourself from a good marketer into a great marketer. 13-18 Points: You're a junior marketer.  Your feet are wet, but you're not diving in.  Your score indicates that you have tried some marketing tactics, but are lacking the commitment to take these efforts all the way through.  Maybe you are pressed for time or maybe you haven't seen success with what you've tried so you've decided to give up.  Why give up, when you can revamp?  Re-evaluate the things you have tried and see what went wrong.  If you are pressed for time, set a goal to try at least one new marketing tactic a month. 0-12 Points: You're still a marketing intern.  Sorry, you need to go back to Email Marketing 101.  Your low score suggests that you haven't tried many of the popular marketing tactics out there that real estate agents can use.  Don't feel bad, there is still hope to improve your efforts.  Educate yourself on some of the topics discussed in this quiz.  If you want to get the best results, you need to use a variety of mediums to reach prospects and clients.  There is no need to feel over whelmed, try one new tactic at a time and watch your lead count increase.

 

You Only Get What You Give: Charitable Marketing

You Only Get What You Give: Charitable Marketing

 

Do you do any charitable marketing?  Taking part in a good cause is not only a great way to give back to society, but also a great way to get your name out there.

 

Charity work gets your face and your name out to the community and also offers you a chance to network.

 

If you are going to spend time, money or energy to promote your business, then why not do some good for the community at the same time?

 

Here are some tips on charitable marketing.

 

1. Jump on the Bandwagon of a Large Event

 

Is a local hospital or charity organization hosting a large event that the whole area attends?  Offer to donate money, goods or your time.  Sometimes running a whole event on your own can be a lot to handle, especially if it’s your first time doing so.  Helping out with an existing event can allow you to learn the ropes. 

 

Larger events also have bigger budgets and more advertising dollars.  As a participant, you can probably donate money to the charity and get your logo on the banners and advertising for the event.

 

2. Sponsor a Team

 

Local organizations, such as little league baseball teams and scout troops are always searching for local businesses to sponsor them.  These types of organizations keep children busy and out of trouble, giving them the foundation for a better tomorrow.  Make a difference in the lives of neighborhood children by giving your money and time.

 

Besides from the satisfaction you will feel from making a difference, you will also get your logo on the kids’ uniforms which is a great walking advertisement. 

 

3. Send Out Press Releases

 

Don’t do good deeds in silence!  When you become involve with a new organization or if there is an upcoming event, send out a press release.  This will give your business, as well as the event free press, helping to increase attendance rates and get your name out there.

 

4. Alert Local Media

 

There is nothing wrong with contacting the local media and inviting them to the event.  You can call the newsroom and let them know there is an event taking place tomorrow at a specific location to raise money for a charity and you wanted to invite them.  Local newspapers and small scale news shows are often looking for events to cover.  This will help you to get more publicity and increase the success of the event.

 

5. Networking

 

When you get involved with a new organization, it’s a great chance to meet new people.  You’ll meet other volunteers, attendees, workers at the organization, caterers—the list goes on. 

 

Work the crowd---at some point down the line most of these people will need to buy or sell a home.  Make sure to be socialable and leave them with your business card or something else to remember you by. 

 

                 

Success Notes Bonus Tip:

In order to get the maximum amount of attendees to your charity event, don't forget to advertise on social networking sites like MySpace.com and Facebook.com. Many people use these websites to find out about local events and make their plans for the weekend.

 

                 

Next Week's Success Notes

Grab your fellow REALTORS® and get on the dance floor. We're taking you for a walk in the shoes of a nightclub marketer. In the next Success Notes, we'll talk about a few top tips you can pick up from those who market to the nightlife crowd.        Success Notes - ScreenDreamer's Real Estate Marketing Newsletter

Super Size Your Business--- Market Like a Fast Food Chain

Do you ever get envious of the success of the fast food marketer? Most other marketers do. No matter what other ups and downs the economy is having, there always seems to be room for consumers to flock to the fast food counter.

 

So, what makes this industry stand out from the rest? On the surface, many may pin the obsession on their cheap prices, but there is much more than meets the eye.

 

The fast food industry marketers are known for being some of the most aggressive in the biz.

 

Are you ready to super size your business?

 

Here are some great tips on how to market like a fast food marketing guru.

 

 

Their Logos are Universal

 

If you see the golden arches, there is no question that you’re looking at a McDonald’s. Fast food logos are unmistakable and well known. When a consumer sees your logo they need to immediately be able to associate it with your brand even when no words are present.

 

So what makes fast food logos so great?

 

-The colors are warm, vibrant and evoke emotions in consumers

 

-Each one is different from others in the industry

 

-They use visually appealing text

 

 

They Conformed to What the People Wanted

 

Traditionally, fast food was based on burgers and fries. But as

America

became more calorie conscious, the fast food industry changed up their identity a bit to meet their needs. From replacing French fries with apples to swapping out soda for water bottles to finally sharing the calorie content with consumers, the fast food industry has made a lot of changes in recent years.

 

The real estate market isn’t the same as it was years ago either. People these days are more computer-oriented and expect more online. Are you offering prospects what they’re looking for? Find out what your prospects want and offer it on your website.

 

Are your prospects also looking for additional in person services? Consider expanding your practices to meet their needs.

 

They Always Try To Convince Consumers to Upgrade

 

We’re all used to the fast food industry’s familiar phrases such as “Would you like fries with that?” and “You can super size for just fifty cents more”. Fast food marketers are always putting the idea in your head that you need more or can have more.

 

So what could you possibly offer your clients besides a home?

 

How about extra closing assistance? Moving vans from a company that you work with personally? Added advertising? Get creative—always suggest a little something extra to your clients.

 

They Appeal to the Senses

 

Food sells because it sets off positive emotions in consumers. Emotions play a big part in advertising for any industry.

 

When consumers make a decision to purchase many times they see something in the ad that can heal or solve a negative emotion such as fear, embarrassment or sadness. The other route is to evoke positive emotions in the consumers from the start. You need things in your marketing that trigger happiness, love, the feeling of being satisfied etc. Often people associate these emotions with a past positive experience and want a way to get back to that feeling. You know the old trick of having cookies baking in the house while possible buyers tour? It’s based on the same principal.

 

In your advertising, make sure to use warm images. You can even do a play on food, it works. People together enjoying each other’s company is another popular theme of love.

 

Aggression

 

When push comes to shove, fast food marketers have made a name for themselves for being some of the most aggressive marketers out there. Their advertisements are EVERYWHERE. They constantly have a new promotion or commercial. Their slogans are ingrained in the heads of Americans better than the Pledge of Allegiance. They’re always telling consumers how to get something bigger and better. They’re constantly placing attack ads against competitors…the list could go on forever.

 

In the end persistence can pay. However, many find the fast food industry just a little too aggressive. But if you take just a little bit of their aggressive attitude, it could give you the boost in sales that you’re looking for. Don’t be afraid to stand up to competitors or to put out an influx of new ads—if you don’t your competitors will.

 

 

 

Success Notes Bonus Tip:

 

The fast food industry makes it easy for consumers with conveniences such as being open 24 hours or being able to use a debit card at the drive through. Make it easy for your clients to contact you online. Provide ample forms and contact options so consumers can contact you in the way they are the most comfortable. Then make sure to get back to your leads ASAP. Sometimes scoring the deal is as simple as being the first to respond.

 

In the Next Success Notes…

 

Are minorities becoming the new majority? In some regions, the answer may be yes. We live in a multi-cultural world and to be successful, you need to be a multi-cultural marketer. If you only focus your efforts on a cookie cutter demographic, you will probably find your sales numbers going down. In the next success notes, we’ll discuss how to market successfully when minorities make up the majority of your target region.

Young, Fabulous and Ready to Buy a Home

Gone are the days when married men make up the bulk of the home buying population.  These days, its fair game for all; and young, single, successful women continue to fill up a bigger chunk of the home buying prospect base.

 

Marketing to all prospects in the same way is often very unsuccessful.  You need to slightly alter your efforts to cater to different groups. 

 

Are your efforts appealing to this hip demographic?

 

4 tips on how to market to women who are young, fabulous and ready to buy a home.

1. Know These Women and Advertise Where They’ll Be Looking

 

How much do you know about this group of prospects?  Where do they hang out?  What magazines do they read?

 

If you want to be the agent who lands these clients, you need to be advertising where they are already looking.  Do market research on women who fall into this category and determine where your marketing dollars can best be spent.

 

Suggestions for Media Vehicles for the single woman:

 

-Magazines that deal with their interests: from fashion to business to dating.

 

-Mall advertising, by nature, single people have more money and time for shopping than their married counterparts.

 

-Commercials during TV shows geared to their demographics

 

-Drivetime radio ads

 

      -The internet: purchase ad space on popular social networking sites that

        many singles use for dating, business and to keep in touch with friends.

 

 

2. A single Word or Picture Can Make All the Difference

 

The look and feel of your advertising needs to appeal to the single mindset.  Showing pictures of homes with a family of six and collie standing on the front lawn probably isn’t your best bet to snagging a single, young woman as your client.

 

Be sure to:

 

-Use sleek and stylish pictures and graphics

 

-Use fonts and colors that are appealing to women

 

-Use the same jargon that they do. 

 

-Dare to be a little sexy or funny in your concept

 

If you’re buying promotional items for an event, skip the magnets.  Try martini glasses or something practical for their office.

 

3. Know What They’re Looking For

 

Before you even begin marketing, figure out what type of property these women are most likely to buy.

 

The odds of one person needing a seven bedroom estate are slim to none.

 

Are these women looking for condos?  Do you live in a city where apartments can be purchased?  Are there new townhouses popping up in your area?

Show off the listings you have for these smaller units and make yourself known as a condo or townhouse expert.

 

Make sure your website is filled with photos and details about these hot properties.

 

Some condo and townhouse complexes allow pets, others don’t.  Make this clear on your site.

 

 

 

4. Celebrate Their Lifestyle by Providing the Information They’re Looking For

 

Throughout history, single women who have caught enough flack for their decisions.  It’s the 2000s and time to celebrate women who choose to be independent.

 

When writing content for your website, it’s important to focus on information about schools, but that doesn’t mean much to a single woman with no children.  Make sure to also include the types of things they’re looking for.

 

When moving to a new area people are often interested in:

 

-Nightlife

 

-Restaurants

 

-Information on the closest local city

 

-Accessible highways (for work or for visiting family and friends)

 

-Local women’s groups or singles’ groups

 

-Church or community organizations to volunteer in

 

-Malls and other shops

 

Remember one of the best parts about doing business with a single woman is that she is the sole decision maker.  When you sell to a couple, both people need to agree to use you as their agent and also agree on the same home.  If you can get a single woman on your team, her opinion is the only one that matters.  So don’t overlook this ever growing demographic; get women with the money and power to buy a home on your side.

 

 

Success Notes Bonus Tip:

 

Join forces with local furniture and decorating shops in your quest to advertise and promote.  Single women have the joy of being able to decorate their new home anyway they want.  Provide links on your site to local places where they can purchase items for their new digs.

 

In the next Success Notes…

 

Have you ever paid attention to the marketing tactics used by the fast food industry?  Real estate professionals could probably learn a thing or two from the aggressive ways of the fast food marketer.  In the next Success Notes, we’ll discuss how taking pointers from fast food marketing gurus can help you to super size your next commission.

Stop Playing Hardball: Score a Homerun with Your Prospects

Consumers are bombarded with hundreds of messages every single day.

Between the internet, outdoor advertising, television and radio, the possibilities of where people can see messages are endless. Many consumers get tired of constantly being pressured to buy.

Although hard selling is important, sometimes the way to a consumer’s heart is through the soft sell.

So don’t play hardball all the time, mix it up for the best success.

Here are 4 soft selling tips.

 

The Soft Sell vs. the Hard Sell

 

What is a Hard Sell?

 

A hard sell is usually a very forward and forceful attempt to sell a product or service. Advertisements that literally tell the consumer to buy now are considered a hard sell. Many hard sells put a time limit on a deal, such as a sale ending on a certain date. Hard selling is effective because it puts pressure on the consumer and uses strong, persuading words. However, hard selling is also the most annoying type of advertising, especially when a consumer has already been bombarded with many other hard sells.

 

What is a Soft Sell?

 

Soft selling takes a more subtle approach to get a company name and brand out there to the public. Often, this type of advertising doesn’t even directly sell a specific product. It may take more touches with a soft sell to make a consumer take action, but prospects usually find this type of advertising less invasive and some even get excited to see the next campaign.

 

Stop constantly bombarding your prospects with the “buy now” or “pick me to represent you” messages.

 

Try some of these soft selling strategies:

 

1. Provide      Prospects and Clients with Tips

 

Send consumers emails providing them with tips on the things you know best: curb appeal, market advice and more.

 

Emails that provide legitimate and useful information are less likely to get deleted or lost in SPAM filters than emails that bombard people with direct promotions.

 

Sending out informative and accurate emails will also show prospects that you know your stuff. Everyone wants to do business with an educated REALTORâ that they can trust.

 

2. Entertain

 

You may or may not have heard of the term “infotainment” before, but this craze can be your best friend. Infotainment stories as the name implies, combine entertainment and some type of information. These pieces are a lot lighter than hard news and often have hidden marketing agendas, but are entertaining and do provide some type of value to the viewer.

 

Online video hosting sites, such as YouTube, make it easy to host your own videos. Make your own infotainment videos to attract prospects to your site. Some video ideas are: home buying tips, virtual tours, town tours and more. Make sure to include your branding in the video.

 

You can even go the fictional route and make shorts about a fictional family buying a home.

 

3. No Obligation

 

Many prospects don’t like to be pressured into something they’re not ready for. Buying a home and picking a real estate agent is often a big decision. Offer consumers a no obligation consultation. Allow them to get to know you pressure free.

 

You can also throw events where you can mingle with potential clients. Showcase some of your best past sales and your services. Sometimes taking the pressure off is what can bring a sale on.

 

4. Newsletters

 

Having your own e-newsletter is a great way to touch base with prospects and clients without pushing a sale on them.

 

When you have a weekly or monthly newsletter, you’re guaranteed to touch a certain amount of consumers every month, regardless if you’re making a sale or not.

 

If you always use interesting and relevant content, you will normally develop a group of loyal readers over three to six months. A newsletter gives you the chance to show off the fact that you’re an expert at what you do. Once prospects trust in you, they’ll ask for your services when they’re ready.

 

 

 

No one is saying you should completely cut hard selling out of your routine, but if you’re used to constantly playing hard ball, mix some soft sales mechanisms into your marketing plan and measure the results. What do you have to lose? There’s no obligation anyway.

 

 

 

Success Notes Bonus Tip:

 

Send out greeting cards to clients and prospects for holidays and birthdays.  This gives you a chance to get your name in front of a consumer without having to directly sell them anything. Seeing your name may trigger them to contact you if the timing is right.

 

In the Next Success Notes…

 

Does the Fourth of July have you singing the red, white and real estate blues? Marketing around a major holiday can often be a challenge for even the most business savvy individuals. Have you been feeling like all of your prospects are on vacation? In the next Success Notes, we’ll discuss how you can still have a big pay day while your prospects have gone away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The REALTOR'S Guide to Being a Local Celebrity

The internet is a vital part of real estate advertising.  However, when you first encounter someone online, they’re a complete stranger.  Prospects like to feel that they know the person they are doing business with.

Make yourself stand out from the crowd.  Localizing your site and improving your local reputation is a great way to make consumers trust in you.  Local celebrities always seem to cash in on the big bucks, so why not give it a try?

 

Take yourself from REALTOR  to trusted local sales icon.

 

 

1. Show Yourself Off to the Public: Attend and Sponsor Local Events

Celebrities become well known because they don't hide in the shadows. They get out there and get noticed.

Sponsoring and attending local events is a great way to become an active and respected member of the community. If the general local public adores you and feels like they know you, they will recommend you to others.

       

So, what can you get involved with?                   Little league teams are always looking for sponsors. Imagine your logo on the front of shirts of 20 kids who will be all over town. This allows you to do something nice for the community and get some walking advertisements.                     The town carnival: Does your town have an annual town fair or picnic? Sponsor a booth and socialize! Collaborate with a popular company like the town pizzeria or the cotton candy vendor. Display your logo on their booth and get to know the members of your community at the same time.                     High school productions: Many high schools put on big plays every year and need to sell ad space. This is a cheap way to show your brand off to their parents. You can even attend the event or donate refreshments.                     Grand openings: New restaurant in town? You can be sure everyone else will be checking it out, so you should too. Be in the know and be where your prospects are. Celebrities always know what's going on. It also makes a great conversation starter when meeting someone knew who could be a potential client.                     Start a welcoming committee for new town residents. Consumers will remember how nicely you treated them and recommend you to others.

2. Show Off Your Expertise About Local Places on Your Website

The public looks for area information from other local celebrities: journalists, nightclub promoters, town officials and so forth. As a real estate professional, you help many people transition into the community and would be a prime candidate to provide them with this type of information.

After your experience at a new club, restaurant, Movie Theater or whatever else is new in the area, write a review on your site.

This will help increase your content count, but also shows how well you know the area. When someone chooses a new community, dining out, schools and entertainment can be an important factor. Show that you're an expert that knows what's happening around town.

You can even establish a successful blog where you write about these types of things. Your fans will soon be tuning in to read every week.

3. Famous All Over Town

Get your face all over town, literally. You need consumers to feel like they know you.

Celebrities have their face on the cover of national magazines, MTV and Vegas billboards.

       

Imitate this on a small scale:                   Advertise on shopping carts, picture included                     Get your face and ad on a local billboard or bus stop                     Make an appearance on the local news or cable access channel                     Buy an ad on local radio                     Attend town meetings and speak in front of everyone                     Do something noteworthy and notify the local papers                     Send out a press release every time you sell a house

4. Attitude is Everything

If you're going to be more well-known, you need to act and look the part all the time. We've all seen celebrity-ism backfire when celebrities can't control themselves.

Don't let a catfight at your son's hockey game or a rumble with a rude neighbor in the grocery store ruin your reputation.

       

Act professionally all the time; your potential clients are everywhere                 Be helpful to those in need                 We're all human, you're going to disagree with people, but talk to them about your problems privately, don't cause a scene.                 Share your expertise with others                 And most importantly, be yourself. Smile and be friendly. If you seem like an inviting person, others will respond the same way.