luxury real estate: A Luxurious Morning: Lotus Blooming in Santa Barbara's Lotusland!
- 07/16/14 07:12 AM
Time out, unplugged this morning was planned by reserving a docent tour at Lotusland in Santa Barbara. Lotusland in Santa Barbara is the legacy of Madame Ganna Walska. She was a Polish opera singer who bought a 37 acre parcel with a lovely Italian inspired villa and an adjacent 2 bedroom home in Santa Barbara in 1940 for $40,000. What a deal!
We were told by our neighbor to visit while the lotus were blooming. Don't let the name fool you, there is so much more than lotus. 25 acres are planted with 18 types of gardens, In our lives … (15 comments)
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luxury real estate: Luxury Real Estate Marketing: The Difference between a Trademark and a “Trustmark”
- 01/11/12 08:27 AM
From a branding standpoint, there is a huge difference between a trademark and a “Trustmark”. If market leadership is your quest, this distinction is of paramount importance.
Trust is the expectation that promises will be kept. Trust is earned by the demonstration of kept promises. In the context of market leadership trust is the consistent delivery of an extraordinary promise of value that results in achieving top-of-mind status in a given product or service category (or a niche within a category).
Obtaining a trademark is relatively easy. But, it takes the constant, steady, unswerving delivery of your unique value … (27 comments)
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luxury real estate: Luxury Real Estate Marketing: The Joy & Luxury of Discovery - Fractal & Fibonacci
- 01/07/12 06:14 AM
We always have our camra with us, when we go to the Saturday Farmers' Market in Santa Barbara. One of our favorite stands is on the right as you enter. Today, there was a surprise on the table. The photo above is a close up. Can you guess what it is?
Here is a wider shot. Do you know what it is? It is a type of green cauliflowe/broccoli known as Romanesco broccoli/cauliflower. It has a milder flavor than broccoli and cauliflower and can be eaten raw. The beautiful famer lady recommended that we roast it at 450 degrees … (28 comments)
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luxury real estate: Luxury Real Estate Marketing: The Luxury of Pastel Sunsets, Wordless Wednesday
- 01/04/12 08:51 AM
Every Sunset is different, and yesterday's was no exception. Unlike Monday's which was fiery and full of oranges and reds, Tuesday's was pastel with the same pinks that inspiried pink housepaint which are still in style on Spanish homes in parts of Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and Santa Barbara.
This picture was taken in Summerland Beach Park, which is perched on a cliff above the ocean, and it has beach access also. It is a dog beach and a horse beach, and locals tell us that at one time it was a nude beach. On occasion, we have spotted some … (21 comments)
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luxury real estate: 50 Top Luxury Real Estate Markets in the USA: Hawaii - Part 4
- 01/04/12 04:20 AM
Maui - The Valley Isle Sure, Oprah and many other celebs own homes here. But, top celebrity status on Maui belongs to Laird Hamilton, often referred to as the “greatest big wave surfer to have lived”. He is also credited for igniting the popularity of stand up paddling (SUP), a sport that Hamilton says is a return to the traditional Hawaiian way of surfing, as practiced by King Kamehameha almost three hundred years ago.
The wind, the sea and year-round ideal weather provides the perfect storm for water sport enthusiasts on Maui. According to Billy Jalbert, who specializes in selling … (11 comments)
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luxury real estate: Luxury Real Estate Marketing: Another Day to Lollygag
- 01/02/12 08:50 AM
We have been delighted with warm weather to start the New Year. It seems to me than whenever it is time for the Rose Parade and the Rosebowl game, we have warm weather to tempt the follks from Wisconsin and other cold venues into moving to our side of the United States. The weather for the game today is forecast at 81 degrees.
We are going to lollygag (we did work for a couple of hours), watch the game, read, and then head on to our Yoga class. Hope you are taking time to do some lollygagging today! Cheers, Ron … (21 comments)
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luxury real estate: Luxury Real Estate Marketing: Things are Looking Up, Good News from our Clients
- 12/29/11 04:49 AM
As 2011 comes to a close here is some exciting news from some of our clients at Napa Consultants, International:
Mary Lou Castellanos Congratulations to Mary Lou Castellanos, of Sotheby's for selling the highest priced property listed on the San Francisco MLS in 2011. Situated on one of the largest parcels on San Francisco's "Outer Broadway, also known as the 'Gold Coast', this treasured landmark combines grand historical architecture with magnificent formal gardens and a backdrop of dazzling San Francisco Bay Views. This grand Tudor revival mansion is known as "The Crown Jewel of Outer Broadway. The property was offered … (12 comments)
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luxury real estate: Personal & Company Branding: The Benefits of a Single-Word Brand Name
- 12/27/11 02:21 AM
STING & SEAL©Aleksandar Andjic - © Semisatch
Choosing the right name for your personal or company brand can help you achieve a strong competitive advantage. One brand strategy that can help you to reach top-of-mind status in your marketplace, as a luxury real estate marketing professional, is to distill your brand identity to a single word.
Many celebrities have been successful at doing this, including Oprah, Cher, Madonna, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Daughtry, and of course, the Donald. We are not suggesting that you must change your name or the name of your company to a single word. But, the one-name … (26 comments)
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luxury real estate: Making the Non-obvious, Obvious: The Role of a Brand Strategist
- 12/21/11 05:11 PM
A brand is the highly focused, abbreviated communication that conveys the essence of what makes you or your company different from and better than your closest competition. It is the distillation of your extraordinary promise of value expressed graphically and in the fewest words possible so that your target market can quickly grasp that you are a match for them. People like to do business with people like themselves, people they feel they can trust. Therefore, a successful brand accelerates the speed of trust and empowers potential referral sources to easily spread the word about YOU.
In our Language … (13 comments)
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luxury real estate: LLuxury Real Estate Marketing:I Am Ready for my Close Up/Wordless Wednesday
- 12/21/11 08:09 AM
I was inspired on the way back from Trader Joe's to exit on Santa Claus Lane and stop at Westerlay Orchids. There was the perfect chocolate orchid staring at me. Here is a close up by Alexandra (De Mille) Seigel. If you are fan of classic movies, the line "I Am Ready for my Close Up" Mr. De Mille (as in Cecil B. De Mille) in Sunset Boulevard as spoken by the sultry and sinister Gloria Swianson.
Happy Wednesday, Cheers Ron & Alexandra
WATCH VIDEOS-
Buzz-Worthy Luxury Real Estate Websites
Personal Branding Case Studies Company Branding Case Studies
About … (15 comments)
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luxury real estate: Personal & Company Branding: Clearly Expressing Your Brand Personality
- 12/20/11 02:22 AM
Brand personality is a concept that you need to pay close attention to as a luxury real estate marketing professional, especially if you want to stand out from your completion in an instant. You only have a nano-second to make an indelible first impression on your target market. Before, you can present your extraordinary promise of value in words you must first capture their attention, visually. Clearly expressing your authentic brand personality graphically (as a brand identity) can do just that. Here is a flawless brand case study that demonstrates the power of a clearly articulating your brand personality.
… (24 comments)
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luxury real estate: Luxury Real Estate Marketing: The 3 Symptoms of a Brand Identity Crisis - Part 2
- 10/05/11 02:38 AM
Here are the 3 symptoms of a brand identity crisis. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms as a luxury real estate marketing professional it might be happening to you!
You cannot define precisely how you are different and better than your competition.You cannot instantly communicate your extraordinary promise of value to your ideal clients. Your market share is eroding. “Market Leader Envy”. You feel jealous of the market leader. The "Copycat Syndrome". You feeling the only answer is to copy the market leader These symptoms do not mean that there is anything wrong with you. They just indicate that … (16 comments)
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luxury real estate: Luxury Real Estate Marketing: The Luxury of Taking A Moment, Part 2
- 06/11/11 10:09 AM
This picture is taken by Cantwell's market in Summerland. You can stop in and pick up a sandwich, salad, or a drink and enjoy it in their landscaped garden area. It is a lovely spot far from the madding crowd to be enjoying a snack al fresco. This beats a counter at a fast food restaurant.
Happy Saturday! Cheers Ron & Alexandra
- WATCH VIDEOS-
Buzz-Worthy Luxury Real Estate Websites
Personal Branding Case Studies Company Branding Case Studies
About Language of Luxury
- JOIN THE LOL COMMUNTIY -
GET FLUENT. GET AFFLUENT!
Linked In, Facebook, Active Rain
Follow Us on … (20 comments)
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luxury real estate: Luxury Real Estate Marketing: Beyond Online Self-Service - Part 2
- 10/29/10 04:11 AM
Harry Potter's Friend - The Snow Owl
As a luxury real estate marketing professional you have just moments to capture and hold the attention of website visitors and differentiate yourself from your competition. A stunning, distinctive looking website may snag their attention, but to hold it you must offer original content that they cannot find elsewhere. MLS Search, generic community information, local school information, etc., has become a commodity because it is available on just about universally. In general it is very difficult to compete based on website features that your competition can easily match. It is … (7 comments)
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luxury real estate: Luxury Real Estate Marketing: Less is More Tip #2
- 06/25/10 03:08 AM
It is a really good practice, as a luxury real estate marketing professional, to keep track of the interests of your contacts. Are you a wine enthusiast? Do you enjoy sampling unique cheeses? If so, chances are you have some previous clients and others in your contact database who feel as you do. Here is a low cost idea that leverages common interests and can generate meaningful marketing results.
Here in Santa Barbara there is a wine store called East Beach Wine Company. It is Santa Barbara’s largest specialty wine store. Each Friday night they have a … (6 comments)
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luxury real estate: Rice Without The Price-A Luxury Real Estate Marketing Tip!
- 04/15/10 03:23 PM
For those luxury real estate marketing professionals who like to play games on the Web, here is a site that is amazing. Go to www.freerice.com. It is a vocabulary game. For each word you get right, they donate 20 grains of rice. It is free, it is fun, and hunger is on its way out. You improve, and life improves for someone hungry.
So far, since its debut in October of 2007,77,687,498,910 grains of rice have been donated. How do they do it? You can advertise on the site, and those dollars buy rice. A great marketing idea for luxury … (4 comments)
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luxury real estate: Luxury Real Estate Marketing Essentials: The “It Factor”
- 04/10/10 04:17 AM
As a luxury real estate marketing professional, you need to discover your own “it factor.”
The “it factor” refers to an indefinable quality a person has. They exude a charisma. Charisma is defined as “personal magnetism, the ability to inspire enthusiasm, interest, or affection.” This applies to everyone, whether or not they are in the entertainment industry, politicians, religious leaders, or job applicants.
We all have it without exception. What is your “it factor”, are you expressing it or hiding it?
WATCH VIDEOS: "Buzz-Worthy" Luxury Website Design
Personal Branding Case Studies and Company Branding Case Studies
GET FLUENT. GET … (11 comments)
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luxury real estate: Food for Thought :Interesting NAR Report regarding Realtors and Technology r
- 03/26/10 07:03 AM
Our favorite pizza, spinach and goat cheese with homemade pizza dough (made with wine)!
The 2009 NAR Report has the following points/highlights on the subject of Realtors and Technology. We found it revealing of what is happening today.
1. 60% of Realtors have a website that averages 5 years. Given that each Internet year is equal to 7 dog years that means that the average site is 35 years old.
2. The most common information presented on these websites are the personal listings.
3. Over 33% of Realtors use social networking sites.
4. 17% of Realtors regularly use … (8 comments)
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luxury real estate: Luxury Real Estate Marketing: Discover Your Client's Most Pressing Needs
- 03/17/10 02:24 AM
In a previous post we referred to the importance of acquiring a deep understanding of your current and potential clients’ mindset. We call this the study of psychographics, which is comprised of the personality, values, attitudes, interests, activities and lifestyles of your target market. However, as a luxury real estate marketing professional, to provide remarkable service you also need to discover your client’s most pressing needs, right now.
The late, Peter Drucker, author and management consultant, once said, “The aim of marketing is to know and understand the customer so well the product or service fits him and sells … (6 comments)
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luxury real estate: Luxury Real Estate Marketing: Is Luxury Out of Style?
- 12/30/09 03:13 AM
1957 Mercedes Cabriolet
Luxury real estate marketing professionals need to stay abreast of current etiquette when conversing with high net worth clients. Economic conditions tend to affect the degree of conspicuous or inconspicuous consumption. But, is flaunting one's wealth ever in style?
Given the current economic conditions and the propensity of the media and talking heads to point out the downfall of the luxury retail market this holiday season, the following question comes to mind: Is luxury itself out of style?
The answer is NO. The essence of luxury is an object or a service that is well made/well done. … (6 comments)
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