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.

Turn on the Green Light: Increase the Flow of Traffic to Your Site

Turn on the Green Light: Increase the Flow of Traffic to Your Site

Having a great website is one of the most important steps to increasing your business. However, what is the point of having a great site if prospects can’t find it?

How many visitors are you getting on your site? 

After you create your website, you need to make sure that you optimize it so that it’s search engine friendly. You should also make sure to spend time promoting the site and getting your web address out there.

Is your website putting you on the fast lane to success? Or is your traffic slow because no one can find you?

Here are five tips for getting more visitors to your website.

Banner Ads

Banner ads are a cost effective form of web advertising that can drive more traffic to your website. A typical banner ad is a graphic, usually resembling your branding, that can be placed on some other website that you think your target prospects frequent. When they click on the banner, they will be taken directly to your site. Many banner ad programs will allow you to pay per impression, meaning that you get to set your own budget based on the number of visitors you’re are looking to receive. 

 

SEO

SEO or search engine optimization is one of the best ways to increase your place in search results. When consumers search for real estate agents on a search engine such as Google, they are more likely to contact those companies who have websites that pop up on the first page of search results.  If your site is listed on page two or an even higher number, you could be losing visitors. 

SEO optimization includes many components such as keywords, content, coding, site layout and much more. 

Contact us today to learn more about getting SEO on your site. 

 

Campaigns / Newsletters

Sending out email marketing campaigns or a company newsletter is a great way to keep the attention of prospects and customers. When you are doing an email campaign, ALWAYS make sure to set up landing pages that will drive traffic back to your site. The best approach to doing this is to begin writing an article or promoting an offer in your campaign, but make readers click a link to learn more. Once you have them on your site to see that article, there is always the chance they will look at listings and take other actions.

 

Promotion Through Other Campaigns

Are you currently using other mediums besides the internet to promote your business? Are you advertising your listings in newspapers or magazines? Doing non-internet marketing campaigns gives you one more place to promote your site. Make sure to say “Visit Us Online” and post your web address on all these campaigns. Consumers who may only know you through your print ads might be driven to visit your website for the first time. 

Get Listed in Directories

In a business such as real estate, many consumers are looking for a local agent to sell their home. This means it would be beneficial for you to be listed in as many local directories as possible. Superpages, Yahoo local and the local Yellowpages are just a few of the top directories out there. Listing your website in these directories will help you to get more local, qualified buyers to your site.  Contact ScreenDreamer today to find out more about Local Connect, a solution that can get you listed in many of the top directories in no time. 

Success Notes Bonus Tip…

Do you have any friends in the moving business? Storage business? Or any other business that a person in the process of moving could benefit from? See if your contact would be interested in doing a link exchange program where you promote their site for free on your website and vice versa.

 

In the Next Success Notes…

In a world filled with so much technology, sometimes we forget that simple things, such as great customer service, is what can keep our businesses in a good name. Are your prospects recommending their friends to you? Are you getting repeat business? In the next Success Notes, we’ll discuss tips that can improve your customer service.

 

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.

 

YouTube and You

The YouTube phenomenon, it’s everywhere.  It takes on topics as small as children making a home movie to issues as big as presidential candidate debates.

YouTube has opened up the doors for marketers of all types to add video to their marketing efforts.

So, how can you utilize YouTube as a real estate professional?

Get behind the camera today, check out our tips.       

The Virtual Tour

                                                

What You'll Need:               Video Camera                 Editing Software                 A Presentable Property                             How it can improve your marketing efforts:               Imagine the impact it could make if consumers could take a virtual walk through the listings directly on your website.               Consumers will be more likely to make an appointment to tour the listing in person, if what they see online is intriguing. People are busy and don't have time to walk through every single open house in the neighborhood. Online virtual tours will help them to narrow down their search.

       

Real -Estate- ity TV

                                                

What You'll Need:                               Video Camera                 Editing Software                 Actors (they can even just be family, friends or co-workers)                 A property that's stuck on the market, a short script                             How it can improve your marketing efforts:               Stand out from the pack by creating your own reality show. Use a property that you can't seem to sell as the setting for the story. Showcase how great life could be living there and add a little twist so that prospects keep coming back to see the next webisode.

       

Narrate Your Website

                                                

What You'll Need:                               Video Camera                 Tripod                 A big smile                             How it can improve your marketing efforts:               Post a video on the homepage of your website welcoming prospects to your website. This will help consumers to connect with you on a personal level. You can also take the opportunity to point out the best features or best listings on your site.

       

More to View with an Interview

                                                

What You'll Need:                               Microphones, Video Camera, Camera Man, Editing Software, Knowledgeable Interviewee                             How it will improve your marketing efforts:               Provide prospects with an extra reason to spend extra time on your website or to come back and visit again. Do an interview with someone knowledgeable about the real estate market, community events, new trends and more. This will add a little something extra to your site and will also help add to your knowledge base and credibility.

               

 

                                                                           

Success Notes Bonus Tip:

Sick of typing? Mix it up a little by trying a video blog. If you're a weekly blogger, your text can get a tad boring for both you and your prospects. Throwing video into the mix will help to revitalize your blogging efforts.

       

       
                               

                                                                   

Next Week's Success Notes

Sometimes it's the little things that can get a listing stuck in limbo. In the next Success Notes, we'll discuss the small things that can prevent a property from selling. Share these tips with your prospects and clients.               Success Notes - ScreenDreamer's Real Estate Marketing Newsletter

       

 

                                           

•	For more information about ScreenDreamer,               visit: www.screendreamer.com

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.

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.