marketing: Real estate investing - probably not a course I would recommend - 10/10/09 09:20 AM
I always get a chuckle when I pass this sign sitting on on a lonely street corner.  Something about it just screams successful real estate investor (that's sarcasm in case you didn't pick up on it). 
If you were really serious about real estate investing I'm doubtful that this is the avenue you should pursue.  Chances are this investor bought into a "get rich quick" scheme and found out that the most lucrative means of making money the course taught was selling it to others.
Like most multilevel marketing practices there's probably far more money made selling the system to family, … (10 comments)

marketing: If you want new clients, give this a try. - 10/08/09 12:09 PM
I took two new listings this week from brand new clients.  I always like to ask how they found me and why they decided to go with me vs. any of the other thousands of real estate agents active in Boise, Idaho?  In doing so I've discovered, re-discovered, and confirmed the largest return on investment of all the things I do to generate new clients. 
The answer to the first part of the question is somewhat predictable, they found me on the internet, usually Google.  That's to be expected, it means what I'm doing online with my websites and Active Rain … (156 comments)

marketing: Hobbs Herder - Yet another reason not hire Hobbs Herder to build your website - 10/04/09 02:02 PM
Hobbs Herder - Yet another reason not hire Hobbs Herder to build your website I received a call from a frantic SEO company who had been hired by their client to optimize their Hobbs/Herder website for better placement on Google.  It seems Hobbs/Herder was unwilling to return calls and he was desperate to know exactly what the story was and wondering if I could provide some insight.
Here's about all you need to know if considering Hobbs/Herder to design your website.  You, or anyone else, you might hire to work on your website besides Hobbs/Herder will not be allowed to do … (11 comments)

marketing: "Project Impact" Dominating real estate the Walmart way - 09/09/09 06:03 AM

Want to dominate your market area?  Are you wondering how?  Well you could take after one of the biggest retailers in the world and focus on getting the business that steep discounts alone won't buy you. Walmart, the nations leading discount retailer, is launching a new campaign aimed at crushing the competition.  Coined "Project Impact" Walmart plans to focus on three initiatives to drive the competition out.
1. Cleaner less cluttered stores to improve the shopping experience. 
2. Friendlier customer service. 
3. Focusing on categories where they can beat the competition.
 
Two of these really aren't anything new … (76 comments)

marketing: When clever advertising goes too far - Meet the IHC, Institute for Human Continuity - 09/06/09 09:05 AM
So I'm watching a show on Mayan predictions this morning when a commercial comes on.  Between carrying on conversations with the wife and kids and I here something about a lottery for the chance of survival after the events of December 2012 destroy the world as we know it.
I chuckled to myself and and made a mental note to Google these nut jobs and find out who they are.  Maybe you've seen it to, if not here is their website:
IHC: Institute for Human Continuity
I clicked around a bit trying to figure out if it was real and low … (3 comments)

marketing: WARNING! Unprotected Tweeting may give you "The Clap" - 08/21/09 09:34 AM
OK, I get it, I need to embrace social media and Twitter is one of the big ones. 
Apparently the porn industry also get's it and it seems like hardly a day goes by that a new follower with some sort of foul comment about what it is they'd like to do to me.
I get so tired of trying to keep up with policing the account that I just write off using it as a business tool.
Maybe I'm missing something, is there a way to prevent these or at least lower the number of indecent proposals you get on Twitter?
… (5 comments)

marketing: How blow your credibility before you even get started - 08/21/09 09:05 AM
In a day and age when email and social networking reign supreme I have to give props to anyone going"old school" on us.  I received this fax blast a while back and it is a great example of how not to position yourself as an expert.
It stars off alright but read closely and see if you can pick up on what I did:

If you didn't pick up on it I'll flip it over so you can read the footer:

The ad copy wasn't bad but leaving "Mitch's Carpet" on the fax footer shoots all kinds of holes in your credibility.   I said to … (9 comments)

marketing: How to tell if your home is overpriced - the creepy crawly test. - 07/15/09 04:08 PM
How do  you know when your home is overpriced?
Well you could have your agent pull comps and if they're halfway competent you could take their word for it.
Or you could wait until the lock box on your front door sits long enough for all the creepy crawly things to feel safe enough to make it their home.
Bottom line if the spider living in your lock box is netting more visitors than  you are chances are you're priced out of the market.
Statistically they say it takes two to three times longer to sell a home through price reductions … (54 comments)

marketing: Key factor consumers use in picking their agent - 05/28/09 06:21 AM
Ever wonder how prospects pick their agents?  According to a study at from Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business "word-of-mouth" referrals were the top way to find out about prospective agents.  Now before the "by referral only" crowd starts beating their chest there's a catch.
Those people seeking "word-of-mouth" referrals aren't blindly taking your word for it.  Their next step is a stop by the Internet to check out the prospective agent and their presence in their target neighborhood or area. 
This drives the point home that it should not be thought of as all one or the other.  You need … (26 comments)

marketing: Which icons should I use? Help! - 05/24/09 12:47 PM
I've laid out two new graphics for my website and I can't decide which I like better.  I figure there is no better way than to put it to a vote.  So here's your chance my fellow rainers to put in your two cents.  Should I use the new ones:
 
and
 
or
The two currently displayed on the right hand side of my blog?  Let me know what you think since I can't seem to decide.
 
 
… (17 comments)

marketing: Car shopping and home sellers who knew the two had so much in common. - 03/17/09 03:19 PM
I'm in the market for a car and I've been combing craigslist and other various classifides. I keep coming across the following quote "below book." Just about everyone who has bought a car knows there are two primary "books" that give you a value estimate. One is NADA and the other is the Kelley Blue Book.
So I've lost count as to how many times I've seen the quote "below book." It occurred to me that these sellers make the same mistake that home seller's do when they don't get a reliable market analysis. When trying to determine a homes … (3 comments)

marketing: Check your links! - 03/09/09 12:11 PM
Are you checking to make sure the link you just posted is working? I'm guilty of this too. Sometimes I get into a hurry and forget or get quite a few going and miss one. I've even seen this on peoples AR profile pages too. The link to their own personal website is not configured properly so it's just sitting out there doing nothing for you.
Do yourself a favor and make it a habit. When you proof read you posts for grammar and spelling errors (because we always do that right?) click on your links to make sure they're … (13 comments)

marketing: Your hanging sign's new best buddy! - 02/09/09 09:22 AM

I thought I'd share with you a simple solution I've found for my hanging signs. These little guys hold a lot more weight than the conventional clips most manufacturers give you and are far more secure.
If you're an agent and haven't had some sort of mishap with your sign give it a bit, you will. I find if you use these little quick connects if you're sign goes most likely your sign pole is going to have to go with it. Carry a little crescent wrench with you and snug them up and pranksters probably won't want to work as … (9 comments)

marketing: Lower Price or Buyer Incentives? - 10/27/08 06:23 AM
Here's a question that comes up all the time.  When selling a home sellers are often confused aboout which might be the better route to drive traffic.  I found this article interesting in explaining just what a buyer incentive is used for: http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2008102701?OpenDocument.
So what's the answer?  Both!  Here's why, a buyer incentive may help boost your traffic over competing properties if and only if your property is priced accurately at market value with the competition.  Buyers are more savy than ever and if they're not their agents should be.  In the end as this article states the price ultimately has to agreeable … (2 comments)

marketing: Trulia, The Babysitter For Real Esate Agents - 08/17/08 01:20 PM
I've been answering questions on Trulia for a little while and believe it or not actually generated a few inquiries.  Most of what seems to come across for my area are sellers, desperate to move their homes and wanting advice. 
What I've learned is Trulia really has a way of exposing agents.  With some many agent ready to jump on questions you'd better have all your T's crossed and I's dotted when your seller decides to post a question on the site. 
I ran across one such instance with a seller pleading for marketing ideas and digging into the listing found … (1 comments)

marketing: Hobbs Herder - 07/21/07 10:04 AM
I took a Hobbs Herder seminar a while back.  I ended up contracting with them to do my marketing materials.  No one in my area is doing anything like it that I have seen.  I have talked with two other agents out of my office who used them and received varying feed back.  One paid to have them design their materials and has never bothered to get it printed.  Seems like a lot of money to throw at something like that and never use it.  The other has used the materials and has a pretty negative view of them.  Although in … (50 comments)