I am pleased to announce the launch of Prominet Marketing TV.  In line with my mantra of the importance of branding yourself, check out the Email Branding 101 Video in the Marketing Tools section.  This is a new site and still a work in progress, but I am working on posting many highly cost effective marketing methods to help real estate agents spend their marketing and ad dollars wisely and efficiently.  Membership to the site is free and includes many free webinars to be offered. Check it out and/or Sign up here: www.ProminentMarketingTV.com

I am working on a new book and I need your help!  I am challenging all real estate agents and brokers to show me the best marketing piece that they feel sets them apart from every other agent.  It does not have to be a product or service that you have purchased from me (www.prominentagent.com), it can be any product or service.

If you think you've got something truly unique, please send me an e-mail with the details and/or a sample.  I will be selecting the top 10 to interview for the book.  How do you separate yourself? What distinguishes you and sets you apart from all others?  How do you keep your name "top of mind" when people think anything real estate related?  

I will not be revealing anyone's secrets or name unless they want to share them (which would be free publicity, hint, hint).  I am also offering a free gift to the best and worst marketeers... the best because they deserve it and the worst because they need it!  This gift is a branding and marketing piece that is unlike anything you're used to seeing, even from me! 

Be sure to mention where you read this article (this helps with MY marketing!) and send those e-mails to dnoyce@prominentagent.com.  Submissions must be made by September 5th to qualify for the free gift.

Good Luck!

Many people think being a real estate agent is a glamorous and well paying position.  And yes, it can be, but those stories are harder to find than they used to be.  What most people do not realize is what it takes to become a Real Estate Agent, not to mention what it takes to BE a Real Estate Agent.

After all the studying, taking and passing the exam you then have to find someone who will allow you to work from their office.  Not to mention, the telephone duty and the long hours, including every weekend.

For an independent contractor, there is very little independence involved.  Now with the down turn in the industry in many areas, the competition is heavier than ever and the customer loyalty is a thing of the past.  You can spend your time showing someone home after home, only for them to stop at an open house and buy from another agent.

Those long hours also include a lot of down time.  Totally non-productive time required of every agent.  The Sunday afternoons at open houses or the long days pulling "phone duty" at the office.

If only you could use that time more productively and make money while you are doing so.

But there is a way.  The Home Based Business industry is one of the fastest growing segments of the economy.  The hours are flexible so you can just drop what you are doing and show a home when you need to.  You can work anytime you choose and from ANYWHERE, since all is required is a cell phone and a computer, which you probably have with you everywhere you go anyway.

Even though it is called Home Based, it is anything but that.  It should be called, Anywhere-Based Business.  Instead of wasting time waiting on clients to show, you can use the time to actually generate an income, a real and substantial income.

For those who work on commission, there is no better way to supplement or replace your income.

You can have the lifestyle you deserve and provide a wonderful lifestyle for your family.  Working with Real Estate Agents directly, I've been hearing a lot of complaints lately.  The question is do you want to be a whiner/complainer who is reactive or a doer/earner who is proactive?  The only "excuse" that remains is YOU! Don't get in your own way.

Please understand that I work only with those who are serious about committing themselves to their goals. If your goal is big enough to get you excited, then contact me.

Success in business and in life is up to you. Take a chance, make it happen.  You and your family deserve it! You can learn more at the website: http://www.prominentlifestyle.com/ or by calling 888-264-8876.

To Your Success...

by Donna Noyce

Let’s face it, if you don’t have an online presence, you’re simply not conducting good business practice. It makes no difference whatsoever whether you use the Internet a lot or not. There are millions of people every day who do, and if they can’t find YOU, they’ll find your competitor.

Today it’s not enough to hide behind (or within) your company’s website. You are an independent business person and therefore you should have an independent website and do independent marketing. After setting up your own site, all your marketing efforts and results will follow you wherever you go. So if for some reason you change companies, you simply update your website and your customers and prospects will still find you just the same.

I use the term “online presence” very loosely. You can build a profile on a networking site (like ActiveRain) and have a presence. And you can put up a totally free profile page complete with all your listings at www.nationalrealestatepages.com. But you still want to have a website to link to that will drive prospects to your own site when they find you there. Then you need to deliver fresh content, tools and resources for your potential clients. This will help you earn their trust, build a rapport and ultimately get more business.

Did you know that the majority of people today begin their real estate search online? As a matter of fact, according to the NAR, buyers start shopping for homes online 18 to 24 months before making a decision to purchase. You'll serve yourself well to let them find you online, capture their information and stay in touch!

A good website can be a very costly expense or a very affordable and worthy investment. Try not to get too caught up in “you get what you pay for.” As a real estate marketing consultant and trainer, I have seen many website companies come and go. I personally have searched long and hard for the right one that I can recommend as a valuable resource for my customers. I am thrilled to report that after much trial and error, I have finally found that company. In fact, the ProminentAgent.com website is a model of one of their sites. While I am not an agent myself, to demonstrate the LISTINGS feature, I used my various products and services as my “listings.” As of this writing, this site is still under construction as I am adding more "listings," but it is fully functional.

Now I help real estate agents, brokerages or appraisers as well as mortgage originators to get set up with their own personal website, complete with all the bells and whistles they can possibly need. There are several options to choose from, starting with an agent site that is completely free, no strings attached.

Like I always say, it’s imperative to your success to differentiate from the masses, and it’s equally important to brand yourself. Remember, what you’re really selling is YOU, real estate just happens to be your product. So focus on selling you and the product will practically sell itself.

Whatever the market is like, what is the most important aspect in the real estate business to bring about the most success possible?

It's your customers - their repeat business and referrals is the lifeblood of any successful, professional agent. 

So, in a softer market, is it MORE important or LESS important to maintain contact and relationships?

Regardless of market conditions, to be successful, should you continuously MARKET YOURSELF?  Why?

Because if you don't, someone else will.  In fact, many others will.  And in times like this, the term, "only the strong survive" doesn't have to be true.  It's more like, "only the SMART will survive."  It's not a matter of how much you do to market yourself as it is what you are doing.

This is a perfect time to review your marketing plan and determine if it is in need of some redirection or even a complete overhaul.  You may or may not be aware, but ProminentAgent.com's "mantra," if you will, is to encourage agents to stand out from their competitors.  Now, more than ever this is crucial.  Afterall, agents and brokers are abundant, but sales are not.

Here are some tips to help you along...

Look at each marketing "item" separately and ask yourself the following questions:

1. How much does it cost me monthly or annually?

2. What kind of response am I getting?

3. Of the responses I get, how much business does it actually bring me?

Now compare your investment vs. your return (ROI)

1. How much is my average commission?

2. How many listings or sales do I need to break even from my investment?

3. Do I think it's likely I will be successful and achieve that number?

4. Is there any way I can leverage or offset my investment?

If the numbers don't add up, then it's time for a change.

At ProminentAgent.com we teach FIVE KEY ELEMENTS that produce the highest results.  The more of the five that are included, the better your results will be in your marketing efforts.