branding design: The Lead Generation Triangle - 10/14/14 05:42 AM

The Lead Generation Triangle
Whenever agents ask me what the best kind of lead generation method is I have to answer with the same two words every time, "It depends."
Great lead generation depends on so many factors and it has to match your personality, your skill level and your interest level. If you have no interest in sitting at open houses then you should not be doing that for your lead generation method. You won't be able to sustain them and your energy at the open house will be low. Buyers that come through the open house will … (2 comments)

branding design: Why not Be Unique, Authentic and MEMORABLE! - 04/18/14 02:37 AM

Why not Be Unique, Authentic and MEMORABLE!
Ask any real estate agent that has truly embraced their authentic self in their brand and they will tell you that while it was scary at first, it was probably one of the best business decisions they ever made.
I am not talking about buying a $29 logo online from someone in a foreign country reselling that same logo hundreds of times over. I am talking about having a branding design expert create a cohesive brand identity that visually tells the story of who you are and highlights your area of specialty … (25 comments)

branding design: My Company's Brand or My Brand, Which Should I Use? - 04/04/14 06:30 AM

My Company's Brand or My Brand, Which Should I Use?
A client who had hired us to create her brand was approached by her managing broker. He didn't understand why the agent hired me to do "branding." His comment? "Why do you need to spend money on that? We have company marketing materials that you can use."
Sound familiar? I bet it does. Many agents and managing brokers believe that all you ever need is generic company-supplied marketing materials. So, why is it so important for you to have your own "brand identity"? Well, first of all, let's define … (2 comments)

branding design: Checking in with Your 2013 Goals - 07/09/13 05:48 AM

Checking in with Your 2013 Goals
We just passed the 2013 mid-year mark. Have you taken a look at your 2013 goals to make sure you are halfway towards completing them? If you are like many agents who have been caught up in the harried pace of the recovered and hot market, you may not even know where that goal worksheet is, but you probably are sitting back feeling much better about the balance in your bank account.
You certainly owe it to yourself to celebrate. You made it through one of the worst periods in real estate history … (1 comments)

branding design: The Essentials of Working in a Faster Market - 04/12/13 02:55 AM

The Essentials of Working in a Faster Market
For almost five years agents have found themselves working in markets where sellers' homes sat on the market for extended periods of time as buyers sat on fences. The market was slow to say the least and the buyers and sellers were slow to make decisions. Fast forward to 2013 and some agents in some markets find themselves in markets moving so fast that some buyers can't even write offers fast enough to have them presented. By the time they have made their decision to buy a particular home that home … (5 comments)

branding design: Open House Season is Open! - 04/05/13 02:40 AM

Open House Season is Open!
My favorite time of the year is here - Open House Season!
I love it because agents are charged up. They are polishing their open house tools and putting a shine on everything. Open house season says, "We are open for business!"
With the market picking up in many areas, this spring's open house season promises to be one of the most robust in years. In fact, a Seattle agent recently reported they had over 100 people through their open house!
There are many agents who don't see the value in open houses. There … (3 comments)

branding design: Open Houses: Your Time to Shine When Presenting Features & Benefits - 03/29/13 08:07 AM

Open Houses: Your Time to Shine When Presenting Features & Benefits
I have heard many agents complain over the years about open houses being a "waste of time."
While this could be true if you don't do your marketing ahead of time to ensure traffic, open houses can provide you an excellent opportunity to showcase features and benefits and actually sell the home you are holding open.
If you haven't visited a new home community in a while, consider it a good lesson in how to present features and benefits. The new home sales industry does an amazing job … (4 comments)

branding design: Need Business Now? - 01/25/13 05:10 AM

Need Business Now?
Lead Generation Challenges vs. Buyer and Sellers on the Fence
I was asked the following question last week, and although I had the question slated for an "Ask Denise", I felt the answer warranted an entire Zebra Report as this is something that seems to come up time and time again for my clients.
"Denise, I still don't think I have my lead generation system down because although I have people in my pipeline, they said they aren't ready to do anything until spring. But I need people ready to move now. Help!"
Thank you for … (2 comments)

branding design: Do You Know the 11 Best Pinterest Practices? - 06/29/12 02:31 AM
Do You Know the 11 Best Pinterest Practices?
In an earlier Zebra Report I shared my thoughts about Pinterest, and how it could benefit your real estate business.
As you might remember - or may have discovered since that report - Pinterest is a website where users can curate theme-based images and collections. At heart, it's based on the concept of visions boards and social photo-sharing.
Of course, you can simply use Pinterest for fun, rather than trying to harness its strength for business. But I do think there is enormous opportunity to reach potential clients through Pinterest. If you … (4 comments)

 
Denise Lones, CSP, MIRM, CDEI - Real Estate Coaching & Branding (The Lones Group, Inc.)

Denise Lones

CSP, MIRM, CDEI - Real Estate Coaching & Branding

Bellingham, WA

More about me…

The Lones Group, Inc.

Address: 2200 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham, WA, 98225

Office: (360) 527-8904

Join Denise Lones each week as she looks at the world of real estate and the world at large from customer service to the importance of listing presentations in a one-on-one style. Denise has more than 20 years of experience as a successful agent, broker, trainer and coach. Denise is someone in the know when it comes to real estate.



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