http://activerain.com/blogs/toledo Affordable Marketing Help is Here! Former Licensed Agent turned FSBO Listing Coach, Marketing & SEO Coach, is Active Rain Group Leader - "FSBO Killers" and "MASTERS OF COACHING. This Webmaster, Trainer, Speaker, is a Lead Generating Fool and Blogging Junkie... : ) en-us http://activerain.com/blogsview/1295760/fame-then-fortune-or-no-fortune-without-fame <p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></p> <p>Much is written about BRANDING in real estate? &nbsp;What does mean? &nbsp;Do you really have to buy a fancy logo made out of your photo or name? &nbsp;Is that what this is about? &nbsp;Not really. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>Here's a POWERFUL question???&nbsp;&nbsp; How many people in your COMMUNITY think of your name automatically when they think of real estate? &nbsp;In this question, the word "COMMUNITY" can mean family, subdivision, neighborhood, suburb, small town, medium sized city, or major metropolis - depending on where you sell, and how high you have set your sights... &nbsp;</p> <p>If I were to visit your COMMUNITY and mention your name to 10 strangers on the street would they instantly say REAL ESTATE AGENT? &nbsp;Or would they say: &nbsp;<strong><em>"Never heard of him/her."<span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">&nbsp;</span></em></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">You know the expression "</span></strong><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Fame and Fortune</span></strong></em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">."&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong>&nbsp; These two words go together like "Apple Pie and Ice Cream."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The truth is, Fame always comes before fortune. &nbsp;Said another way, there is no fortune without fame. &nbsp;</p> <p>Branding then, is the process of becoming famous, and of shaping the reason for that fame. &nbsp;Said another way, branding means attaching associations and values or emotions to a word or name. &nbsp;</p> <p>What branding does is unlock the door to fortune.&nbsp;</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Imagine that I have a friend who can sing. &nbsp;(We'll call her "Sue" - not her real name) &nbsp; &nbsp;</strong></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>She's a beautiful blonde gal with a shapely figure and a singing voice that is fabulous beyond words.&nbsp; She has more talent than anybody who ever sang on American Idol. &nbsp;In fact, Celine Dion can't even come close to competing with "Sue" when it comes to singing, but </strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>nobody has ever heard of "Sue."</strong></span><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </strong></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>While Celine packs them in at posh Las Vegas night clubs, "Sue" couldn't attract 100 people to a concert. &nbsp;</strong></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>It's not that Sue doesn't have unbelievable talent.....&nbsp;&nbsp; It's because no one has ever heard of her.</strong></p> <p>So here is the million dollar secret: &nbsp;The world is filled with talented people..... and you may well be one of them - but <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>without fame there is NO FORTUNE.</strong></span></p> <p>You may be the best real estate agent in your city......but if your name is not a household word linked to the real estate industry you're dead in the water. &nbsp; People gravitate to <span style="text-decoration: underline;">brand names</span>.</p> <p><span>If you want business to come to you......not your competition.....you have to be a real estate <span style="text-decoration: underline;">brand name</span> locally.&nbsp;&nbsp; You have to be famous for what you do.&nbsp; </span></p> <p><strong>It's not a difficult concept to understand.</strong>....and it's something you don't want to put on hold until tomorrow.&nbsp;&nbsp; <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Your future begins now.</span>&nbsp;&nbsp; If not, tomorrow will be much like today and yesterday.</p> <p>The best way to build a brand is to attract attention and then share a simple but powerful message about how your are different than your competition. &nbsp;Then you get them to remember your name and the industry you work in. &nbsp;</p> <p>Rich media, meaning online video with professional audio narration, is one of the best ways to brand yourself. &nbsp;Put a real estate oriented video of yourself or your listings on your web site, facebook page, active rain blog, and EVERYWHERE YOU CAN in your COMMUNITY. &nbsp;Television is great for building a brand as long as there are affordable ways to be on TV in your COMMUNITY. &nbsp;</p> <p>Here in Toledo Ohio, I can put professionally produced real estate video on television, and give you a free web video with every order - for only $50 a month. &nbsp;Is anything like this available in your community? &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>####</p> <p>Inspired by a blog post that came via email from a third party. &nbsp;I don't know who to give credit to or I would.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:17:03 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1295760/fame-then-fortune-or-no-fortune-without-fame http://activerain.com/blogsview/1293158/what-will-you-do-with-google-wave- <p>I got my WAVE Beta.<img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/1/4/9/5/6/ar12559947065941.gif" height="177" alt="" width="300" style="margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; float: right; border: 1px solid black;" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Anybody else? &nbsp;What are you doing with yours? &nbsp;Let's Talk...</p> <p>or... you know.... WAVE : )</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Here's mine</p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse;"><a href="https://wave.google.com/wave/#restored:wave:googlewave.com!w%252B-zqHQ4dIF" target="_blank" style="color: #074d8f;">https://wave.google.com/wave/#restored:wave:googlewave.com!w%252B-zqHQ4dIF</a>&nbsp;</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Where's Yours? &nbsp;</p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:23:29 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1293158/what-will-you-do-with-google-wave- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1286371/the-back-of-winter-is-broken-the-great-recession-is-over- <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Popular news sources are reporting that the recession is over. &nbsp;</span></p> <div> <div> <div> <p><strong>HOORAY !!!<span style="font-weight: normal;"><img title="Bar Chart Rising" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/3/0/4/0/0/ar125562940500403.jpg" height="346" alt="Bar Chart Rising" width="347" style="float: right; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; border: 1px solid black;" /></span></strong></p> <p>Many bloggers here and elsewhere are waxing dubious about this. &nbsp;They note that jobs and credit are still both in short supply and predicted to get worse before they get better. &nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>IF THAT IS YOU THEN...</strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong> KNOCK IT OFF!!!</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Don't you know you create what you believe?</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>We all function better if we drag around an aura of hope instead of a cloud of gloom!</p> <p><strong>BOTTOM LINE? </strong>&nbsp;It's just like the changing of the seasons on the calendar. &nbsp;There may still be a few cold days left, after the back of winter is broken, but that very day, each winter, when you know the worst is over... it gives hope of the spring season to come... At least for me. &nbsp;Likewise, there is a sadness after the longest day of the year, knowing that winter is coming and ever day will take us closer to it. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">So let them report the end of the recession. </span></strong>&nbsp;Even if there will still be some lingering snowfall in the form of employment reports and such. &nbsp;A Real Estate Market Recovery is Coming. &nbsp;</p> <p><strong>I FOCUS on the TRUTH that the back of the Great Recession IS broken. &nbsp;And that gives me hope.&nbsp;</strong></p> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:14:27 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1286371/the-back-of-winter-is-broken-the-great-recession-is-over- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1273090/promiscuous-online-lead-generation-for-realtors <p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"> <p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left;">Seth Godin has a great blog today about online lead generation and whether you should hide your email address and make visitors use a contact form - or promiscuously share your email address....</p> <p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left;">Many people INCLUDING AR - have decided that the right idea is to NOT share your email address so that you get less spam. &nbsp;&nbsp;Well.... let's see what Seth has to say about that.&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left;">###</p> <p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; padding-left: 30px;">Email contact is like a first date. If you show up with a clipboard and a questionnaire, it's not going to go well, I'm afraid. The object is to earn permission to respond.</p> <p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; padding-left: 30px;">If you sell something, set up an address like "sales@xyz.com". Put this on your home page, "contact us if you're looking for more information or a price quote." Sure, you'll get a lot of spam, but deleting spam is a lot easier than finding customers. (Hint, ask your IT people to make it a mailto link, with a subject line built in. That way, you can use the subject line to find the good email).</p> <p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; padding-left: 30px;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left;">Read the whole thing, or subscribe to his blog and get updates by email, at: &nbsp;<a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/10/promiscuous-dispersal-of-your-email-address.html">http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/10/promiscuous-dispersal-of-your-email-address.html</a></p> </span></p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:11:27 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1273090/promiscuous-online-lead-generation-for-realtors http://activerain.com/blogsview/1265060/google-wave-tip-do-it-now-get-ahead-of-next-technology-wave <p>Google WAVE is the next big Technology thing. &nbsp;Unbelievable. &nbsp;Transforming. &nbsp;Disruptive. &nbsp;Empowering.<img title="google wave" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/6/1/7/1/1/ar125443072811716.gif" height="362" alt="google wave" width="614" style="border: 1px solid black;" /></p> <p>If you don't know what it is, find out at <strong><a href="http://wave.google.com" title="google wave" target="_blank">wave.google.com</a>&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://wave.google.com/help/wave/about.html">http://wave.google.com/help/wave/about.html</a>&nbsp;</p> <p>If you do know then GO REGISTER WAVE(CITYNAME).com or WAVE(CITYNAMEHOMES).com</p> <p>DO IT NOW. &nbsp;</p> <p>Why? &nbsp;You can ride the hype, profit from the PR machine and searches that are coming for waves that serve your city. &nbsp;You can corner the mind share for social media and collaborative networking in your city. &nbsp;</p> <p>It could be as big as dotcom, and as small as your private cash machine.</p> <p>Then again, If I have to explain, then maybe this tip is not for you...&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:00:26 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1265060/google-wave-tip-do-it-now-get-ahead-of-next-technology-wave http://activerain.com/blogsview/1260089/help-can-you-coach-me-for-free-i-ll-pay-when-it-works- <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>An agent wrote me a few days ago asking for help</strong></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span>- (This makes sense, since I AM a Real Estate Sales Coach after all)</p> <p>She was having a tough time, and want to know if there were any coaching programs that could be provided free until she started making more money.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">My heart goes out to agents like this.</span></strong><span> I wish I could, and have tried... But have learned that I cannot help those who are not already able to produce at least some results. &nbsp;</span></p> <p><span><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Here is why...</span></strong></span></p> <p><span><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">A coach can help a good runner become a great runner, but cannot help a complete non runner become a competitive runner.</span></strong></span></p> <p><span><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span> Does that make sense? </strong></span></p> <p><span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">There has to be some talent... Some Desire, Some Native Ability, and A General Awareness about what it takes to succeed - Or it's a waste of time for both parties.</span></span></p> <p><span>In this case my answer to her might be helpful to others. So I share it now with names changed to protect all parties:</span></p> <p>##################</p> <p><span>Dear Joan:</span></p> <p><span>You contacted me through Active Rain and asked for coaching help with the idea that you could pay later, once the business came in. &nbsp;You shared that you are having a tough time - but that you used to be fairly successful in real estate, with a specialty of new construction sales. &nbsp;You wondered if my FSBO coaching techniques might work for you. &nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">First, Joan, let me say that I am sure you are a good agent.</span><span> &nbsp;I am sure that it is your past choice to specialize in the New Construction Market that has led to your present dry spell. &nbsp;</span></p> <p><span> You asked for some help with coaching, but noted you don't have even have cash for postage or mailings, much less payments to a coach. &nbsp;I understand... I REALLY DO. &nbsp;I have taken clients on in the past in similar circumstances. &nbsp;I reasoned, that because <strong>my &nbsp;specialty was listing FSBO's - I could provide coaching on telephone prospecting - that had almost no cost and a rapid payoff in listings. &nbsp;In this way, I felt that I could truly help the agent get going for little money - just as I had started out.&nbsp;<br /></strong></span></p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">IN THE PAST:</span></strong><span> &nbsp;If a realtor wanted a bunch of listings, fast, then FSBO Prospecting Calls and FSBO Listings were the best, fastest and easiest way to go (IMHO). At that time, FSBO's were mostly just self reliant and strong personalities who were simply giving things a try until they realized they needed a Realtor. &nbsp;I have heard this stage called INTERVIEWING REALTORS. &nbsp;Some actually put up a sign merely to invite Realtors who are paying attention to contact them. &nbsp;They could be educated and listed - profitably if a Realtor was not fazed by the frequent mild rejection events ("No thanks"), and the occasional double barreled rejection speech. &nbsp;("You slimy Realtors are All Alike, wrecking the housing market and artificially inflating prices... Come to my door again and I will meet you with a shotgun").&nbsp;</span></p> <p>I was GOOD and the average FSBO (who really wanted to sell) was easily shown how the real estate market really worked. <strong>&nbsp;AT ONE TIME, this&nbsp;conversion of FSBO sellers</strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong>formed the bulk of my own real estate practice as well as my coaching practice. &nbsp;However, I also found that an agent will quickly hit a wall as far as how many hours there were in a day or week. &nbsp;After you get to about 10 listings, it gets harder and harder to find time for all the appointment setting and negotiating, and seller servicing, and buyer calls and showings.... &nbsp;The agent just does not have as much time for un-interrupted FSBO prospecting. &nbsp;</p> <p>This is the stage where an agent finds that online marketing and advertising allow the leveraging of time. &nbsp;</p> <p>With my background as a dotcom marketing guy, this was second nature to me. &nbsp;Consequently, as I grew into this level of practice,&nbsp;Online marketing and effective advertising skills became additional areas of expertise, and areas within which I coach. &nbsp;</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">TODAY, HOWEVER, THINGS ARE DIFFERENT. <span style="font-weight: normal;">&nbsp;T</span></span></strong>he<span> market is </span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">so different now</span><span>, that I really cannot recommend a single minded focus on FSBO sellers (at least not to new agents). Most of the FSBO sellers today are not just 'interviewing realtors' but are actually expireds who still don't believe what the last agent said about the price that is right for their house. &nbsp;There is still money to be made in this sector, but the agent has to be more selective than ever, more able to turn down unlikely scenarios and weed through prospects to choose the good ones.</span></p> <p><span>I think working a good online marketing program and a good referral program are probably your best bets for low cost prospecting. But even this will take some money and some time for posting or specialized web services, hosting of doorway sites, drip email programs, and more. &nbsp;Blogging and social media marketing take time, even if the platforms are free. &nbsp;If your budget is really ZERO then there are a number of ways to go, but Social media marketing, at Facebook might be best. Do you facebook? Read up on that and DO IT !</span></p> <p><span>For referral programs, there are many out there. They main thing they all teach is STAY IN TOUCH with friends and family and past clients. Let them know you are still in the business, from time to time, and that you would like to know if somebody they know becomes interested in buying or selling. Share that this is important to you and that you would be willing to show your appreciation if they can share the names of people you might be able to help. If you do well with accountability then you might want a regular weekly appointment with a personal coach. I don't have a referral coaching program so I would not be that guy... but if all you need is some help knowing WHAT to do, then here you go... </span></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span> <strong>One of the best things to do is just call EVERYBODY you know and visit a bit over the phone. Admit you have not been in touch for some time, feel badly about it, and want to catch up a little. Ask FORD questions and get them talking (Family, Occupation, Recreation, Dreams). Most people love talking about themselves, so HELP THEM GET STARTED AND LET THEM DO IT!Ask about their family, life, where they went on vacation, how is work going - etc... Stay positive. If they are having a tough go, avoid getting sucked into mutual complaining.... Empathize, meet them in their pain and share some encouragement if they are having a tough time... </strong></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 60px;"><span><strong>........but don't share your own struggle - EVER - at least not in detail. &nbsp;FIRST, this call is not about you. &nbsp;Second, you will just sound like a looser if you call to complain. Why would a friend hire you if you could not sell anything? &nbsp;</strong></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span><strong>Agree that their pain is reasonable, given the circumstances, then&nbsp;LEAD THEM OUT of their pain, with statements of hope. &nbsp;If the conversation goes well, invite them to a face to face lunch or breakfast or coffee meeting... &nbsp; &nbsp;</strong></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span><strong>REMEMBER, this call is not a sales call, but a relationship building call. &nbsp;</strong></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span><strong>HOWEVER: &nbsp;If it is a genuine relationship, and you have expressed genuine interest in the state of their life, then you have a right to share a little about yours... &nbsp;As you end the conversation, let them know:</strong></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 60px;"><span><strong>It's been tough season in the real estate world, but that you are actively overcoming this by working hard.&nbsp;Tell them you will be ok if you can just find a few more buyers or sellers (be cheery as you say this).</strong></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span><strong>Just ask.. "So, do you know anybody who might need to buy or sell a house? THEY WILL SAY NO... That's ok. Just go ahead and ask the QUESTIONS BEHIND THE QUESTION. You know, many people say that until they think about it for a minute, or think about the life events that lead up to buying or selling a house, so I have to ask... - Do you know anybody who has a baby on the way - how about somebody getting married (or divorced?) - Maybe you know somebody who is struggling with house payments that are too high? - How about somebody who needs to relocate for work? </strong></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span><strong>If they seem to know somebody, ask for the opportunity to serve them. &nbsp;Get a name, address, and phone number. &nbsp; CALL THEM and tell them their friend mentioned their name as somebody who might benefit from a free consult with a realtor.... &nbsp;Close for a face. &nbsp;</strong></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 60px;">If they don't seem to know somebody who needs your help, just make sure they know that you specialize in serving friends, and friends of friends - instead of strangers... &nbsp;Let them know it would mean a lot to you if they run across somebody who could use your help. &nbsp;Tell them you offer a nice little thank you gift for people who help you in this way - so you hope to hear from them. &nbsp;</p> <p style="padding-left: 60px;">In Parting: Ask them - if I sent you a few of my business cards - do you think you could hand them out to somebody who might need a Realtor?&nbsp;</p> <p style="padding-left: 60px;">THEN SEND A personal thank you note,</p> <p style="padding-left: 90px;">IT WAS NICE TO CATCH UP BY PHONE TODAY. &nbsp;I HOPE __________________COMES TRUE FOR YOU (tap into a dream or mention something positive from the conversation).</p> <p style="padding-left: 90px;">AS I MENTIONED, I LOVE HELPING FRIENDS AND FRIENDS OF FRIENDS. &nbsp;HERE ARE A FEW CARDS TO PASS ON IF THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES. &nbsp;IT WOULD MEAN A LOT TO ME. &nbsp;</p> <p style="padding-left: 90px;">BEST WISHES... Joan &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Everybody knows 100 or 200 people</span></strong><span>. You included. </span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Call them all.</span><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;Start today. &nbsp;&nbsp;Some people may only talk for a couple minutes, but some will talk for 20-30 minutes. &nbsp;It's ok either way.&nbsp;This will take a couple weeks if you do it right. &nbsp;By the end of the calling and follow up mailing, you will have some new clients. &nbsp;If you get a machine, don't Leave a Message - that's too easy for both of you and won't go anywhere in the long run. &nbsp;Hang up and try back at another time of day. &nbsp;Maybe they work days? &nbsp;Try some in the evening. &nbsp;Maybe they have a club on Monday night or Wednesday night, try SATURDAY MORNING. &nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>I hope that helps. It's good advice, and from the heart:</span></p> <p><span> <strong>I truly wish I could do more for you. Experience tells me I cannot</strong> - because it's not really about me... It's about YOU - the agent who is not making any money and wants magic answers.</span></p> <p><span><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The only magic answer is that hard work pays off and you need to change something about what you are doing. </span></strong> I have tried to help agents before on the basis of paying from future closings, but it seems like the ones that don't have any money when we meet never do dig themselves out because they are not focused enough or disciplined enough or willing to follow directions.</span></p> <p>Once you get to a certain point with free telephone or online prospecting... then advertising is a tool that helps you meet new clients (FOR MONEY) while you are too busy serving current clients to invest more time. &nbsp;That's right. ADVERTISING BUYS THE PROSPECTS YOU DONT HAVE TIME TO CHASE DOWN IN PERSON. &nbsp;</p> <p>Advertising is EXPENSIVE, but not as costly as peaking at 15-20 deals a year. &nbsp;If you don't understand what I just wrote, you are not ready for a professional coach. &nbsp;If you do understand, then you could benefit a great deal from a professional coach. &nbsp;</p> <p><span> <strong>My ideal coaching client is already having some success </strong>and just needs help being even more efficient and productive. Maybe they do the referral thing pretty well but want to add FSBO CONVERSION to their practice, or vice versa. &nbsp;I am a good teacher, but there has to be a base line of potential. As I said earlier, a good coach can help an average runner become a great runner. But they cannot help a non-runner become a runner. </span></p> <p><span>The best measure of a good baseline is... that the client is already having some success but knows they could do better... </span></p> <p><span>Joan: &nbsp;I could be wrong in your case, and you may be on the verge of a breakthrough. I think so just by the way you write. So I wish you the very best... and if things pick up a bit and you want somebody to help you with accountability and encouragement and techniques that will take you to an even higher level, let me know. &nbsp;I can help you leverage what you are good at, so that you can put more money in the bank by working smarter instead of harder.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>Warm regards, </span></p> <p>Coach Lonn</p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:41:39 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1260089/help-can-you-coach-me-for-free-i-ll-pay-when-it-works- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1235516/positive-thinking-realistic-thinking-time-to-make-some-changes- <p><span> </span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>You mean just THINKING about that canteen won't get you through the desert? &nbsp;&lt;LOL&gt;</strong></p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;">OK. &nbsp;I am a proponent of Positive thinking -&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration: underline;">but not a "NegaPhobe".&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;">Positive Thinking + Realistic Thinking = Time to Make Some Changes?</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;">Our own Jim Crawford of AR fame wrote an excellent post today on the dangers of practicing POSITIVE THINKING to the point of avoiding realism. &nbsp;</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;">This post of mine began as a reply to his post, and then became an article in it's own right.</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;">#####</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>Positive thinking will only get you so far. </strong>&nbsp;Keeping one's chin up, and one's smile on, is important. &nbsp;But some people just go overboard with the Positivity... &nbsp;You probably know the type. &nbsp;Many of them have fallen on their face this market cycle, because, as Jim Pointed out in his post, If you are going to cross a desert, you probably ought to take a canteen instead of just think about one....</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>These days there is a backlash against the CHEERLEADER types</strong> who refuse to even discuss negative issues like unemployment or the economy or price pressure caused by foreclosures. &nbsp;</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">But let's also remember.... The job of a leader is to keep HOPE alive.</span></strong> &nbsp;(One of my favorite quotes these days).</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>I think we can be realistic and still keep hope alive.</strong> &nbsp;Is it a tough market? &nbsp;Yes, worst in 50 + Years. &nbsp;Do properly priced and staged homes sell? &nbsp;Absolutely!</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>Up here in Ohio, I have been teaching Realtors to tell both stories lately</strong>. &nbsp;"Because of the challenging times, something extra might be needed in the marketing" (That's when they present SELLER PAID ADVERTISING - a separate blog post).&nbsp;</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: normal;"> <p><span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Coach Lonn</span></span></p> <p><span style="line-height: 15px;">Follow:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.twitter.com/lonndugan" title="Twitter.com/lonndugan" target="_blank">www.twitter.com</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.MyRealCoach.com" title="My Coaching Site" target="_blank">www.myrealcoach.com</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bigmarketingsolutions.com " title="My Marketing Site" target="_blank">www.bigmarketingsolutions.com</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/lonndugan " title="My Facebook Page" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/lonndugan&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.BigDesign.net" title="My Graphic Services Portfolio" target="_blank">www.BigDesign.net</a></span></p> </span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Sat, 12 Sep 2009 08:53:06 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1235516/positive-thinking-realistic-thinking-time-to-make-some-changes- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1233814/300-000-points-and-43-referrals-later-it-s-all-good- <p><p>This is a great story about the effectiveness of Social Network Marketing, AR in particular!</p></p><div id="reblogging_tag">Via <b><a href="http://activerain.com/blogsview/1231988/300-000-points-and-43-referrals-later-it-s-all-good-">Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage</a></b>:<br/><blockquote><p>OK....I'm there....FINALLY THE MONKEY IS OFF MY BACK.&nbsp; I'm real.&nbsp; I really am a part of Active Rain.&nbsp;</p> <p>I guess that I've always had my<img title="Playing in the Rain can be so much fun" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/1/7/4/2/6/ar12525899462471.jpg" height="521" alt="Playing in the Rain can Be so much fun" width="380" style="float: left;" /> eyes set on the 300,000 point number ever since joining Active Rain two and 1/2 years ago.&nbsp; My story is simple.&nbsp; I'm a net neophyte who was dragged into Active Rain kicking and screaming.&nbsp; I was told that this was the wave of the future.&nbsp; I was told that it was a great way to get your name out on the net.&nbsp; I relented and moved forward in stupidity and angst as I struggled to learn <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">BLOGGIN 101.</span></strong></p> <p>Eight months later I received my first referral.&nbsp; Well.....to shorten a drawl, it's been two and 1/2 years and I just received my 43 referral from the rain.&nbsp; Let' snot forget that I've been able to give out a number of referrals to other lenders as well as other realtors.</p> <p>HTML is an abbreviation for .....&nbsp; "what you talking about Willis?"</p> <p>SEO....I just learned about 4 months ago that it's Search Engine Optimization (I thought it was something ot do with real estate...kinda lika a CMA).</p> <p>Social Networking....isn't that done at a bar or a Chamber of Commerce mixer?</p> <p>Either way....it's for those who are serious.&nbsp; If you're serious it's a great place to be.&nbsp; The rain's not an add on...it really is part of a serious business plan.&nbsp; <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>But if you're serious...then you'll find that your success means that you can have fun playing in the rain too.</strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong></strong></span></p><div class='agent_signature'><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; font-family: arial black,avant garde;">Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; font-family: arial black,avant garde;">Illinois FHA Specialist</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; font-family: arial black,avant garde;">630-417-7172</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img title="Cherry Creek Mortgage Company - Saint Charles, Illinois" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/3/7/9/5/3/ar125255677735973.jpg" alt="Cherry Creek Mortgage Company - Saint Charles, Illinois" width="237" height="73" /></p></div></blockquote></div><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:47:38 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1233814/300-000-points-and-43-referrals-later-it-s-all-good- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1226749/google-profiles-now-on-the-move-in-search-engine-results- <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 11px; color: #333333;"> </span></p> <h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_4aa3ae8c29f155f96913950" style="display: inline;"><strong>Do you have a Google Profile yet?</strong> &nbsp;It will soon be a mandatory item for those who want to control how they are found online - and what they look like.&nbsp;</div> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><br /></div> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><br /></div> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><strong>It's free</strong>, kind of like an AR or facebook profile without all the fluff - (yet?)</div> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><br /></div> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><br /></div> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><strong>Google has BIG PLANS for these Profiles</strong>, combined with <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Google WAVE</span>, which will be the NEXT BIG THING coming online... (oh yeah... it's hard to explain but will be AWESOME to use)</div> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><br /></div> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><br /></div> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;">If Google wanted to change the rules, and put YOUR profile a<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">s #1 search result for your name... they could do it - system wide - in, oh, about, 10 seconds. &nbsp;</span></div> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><br /></div> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><br /></div> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">This last alone is a good reason to do it!&nbsp;</span></div> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><br /></div> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><br /></div> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">See Example:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.google.com/profiles/LonnDugan" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" style="cursor: pointer; color: #3b5998; text-decoration: none;">http://www.google.com/profiles/LonnDugan</a></span></div> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><br /></div> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><br /></div> </h3> <p><span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Coach Lonn</span></span></p> <p><span style="line-height: 15px;">Follow:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.twitter.com/lonndugan" title="Twitter.com/lonndugan" target="_blank">www.twitter.com</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.MyRealCoach.com" title="My Coaching Site" target="_blank">www.myrealcoach.com</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bigmarketingsolutions.com " title="My Marketing Site" target="_blank">www.bigmarketingsolutions.com</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/lonndugan " title="My Facebook Page" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/lonndugan&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.BigDesign.net" title="My Graphic Services Portfolio" target="_blank">www.BigDesign.net</a></span></p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Sun, 06 Sep 2009 08:04:30 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1226749/google-profiles-now-on-the-move-in-search-engine-results- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1226747/seo-a-new-game-can-you-control-what-comes-up- <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal;"> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"> <h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal;"><strong>Online marketers be advised.</strong> Social media participation can trump optimized web sites at Google! &nbsp;<br /><br /><strong>Search Engine Ranking formulas are changing dramatically</strong>, in favor of social media over 'search optimized web sites, and will continue to do so. &nbsp;</h3> <h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></h3> <h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal;"><strong>Googling my name</strong> used to get several optimized web web sites at top of page 1 - starting with the once holy "Exact Domain Name" match to key word googled. &nbsp;eg: &nbsp;Google Lonn Dugan and get lonndugan.com as #1 result. &nbsp;Now, I have a pretty darn good track record of getting page one when I want it, for whatever search phrase I want... &nbsp;So this change is HUGE!&nbsp;</h3> <h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></h3> <h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal;"><strong>I am not sure exactly when this happened,</strong> but it is a Game Changer.</h3> <h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></h3> <h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal;"><strong>In this new game.</strong><strong> &nbsp;Blogs, twitter, &amp; facebook dominat</strong>e 3 of top four google results for the same keyword Lonn Dugan. &nbsp;AR is right in there BTW!</h3> </span></div> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><br /></div> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"> <h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal;"><strong>WHAT'S IT MEAN? </strong>&nbsp;<br /><br /><strong>Social Media Presence now more important than carefully crafted web presence? </strong>Think about that for a minute. &nbsp;What does it mean if Google ranks a facebook page higher than a web site? &nbsp;It means you need to carefully craft your social media contribution. &nbsp; &nbsp;</h3> <h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></h3> <h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal;"><strong>What if you have been using your facebook page for silly personal stuff</strong> and it presents quite a different picture of you than your optimized web sites? &nbsp;</h3> <p>Now - you can file under "Things that make you say hmmmmm." &nbsp;Or you can do something about it!</p> <p>BEST CHOICE? &nbsp;DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! &nbsp;Think of your Social Media Pages as Web Sites you can Optimize for your Keywords - and keep it presentable for heaven's sake!</p> <p><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 10px;"> <p><span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Coach Lonn</span></span></p> <p><span style="line-height: 15px;">Follow:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.twitter.com/lonndugan" title="Twitter.com/lonndugan" target="_blank">www.twitter.com</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.MyRealCoach.com" title="My Coaching Site" target="_blank">www.myrealcoach.com</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bigmarketingsolutions.com " title="My Marketing Site" target="_blank">www.bigmarketingsolutions.com</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/lonndugan " title="My Facebook Page" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/lonndugan&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.BigDesign.net" title="My Graphic Services Portfolio" target="_blank">www.BigDesign.net</a></span></p> </span></p> </span></div> </h3><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Sun, 06 Sep 2009 07:59:32 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1226747/seo-a-new-game-can-you-control-what-comes-up- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1226733/free-is-good-but-so-is-stuff-you-pay-for- <p><strong>From the FATHER of MODERN MARKETING: &nbsp;Seth Godin - His Blog Today</strong></p> <p>#######</p> <p>"<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">In the free media world in which we're living now, it's so easy to get stuck on not investing, on avoiding outlays at all cost. Frugal is an admirable trait, but being a miser is dumb."</span></p> <p>#######</p> <p>It's a Good Read! &nbsp;In fact.... I highly recommend you subscribe. &nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 11px; color: #333333;"> </span></p> <h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_4aa3ad6d8419f4e99658278" style="display: inline;">Find out why&nbsp;<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">he says free is good but stuff you pay for is also good! &nbsp;<br /><a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/09/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" style="cursor: pointer; color: #3b5998; text-decoration: none;"><span>http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/</span>2009/09/index.html</a></span></div> <div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="display: inline;"><br /></div> </h3> <p>&nbsp;</p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Sun, 06 Sep 2009 07:42:13 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1226733/free-is-good-but-so-is-stuff-you-pay-for- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1218369/toledo-real-estate-fall-market-better-than-usual- <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 11px; color: #808080;">Toledo Real Estate - Toledo Homes For Sale - The Fall Market in Toledo Ohio is more active than usual... </span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 11px; color: #808080;">Consumer Confidence Increasing</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 11px; color: #808080;">Tax Credit Working</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 11px; color: #808080;">First Time Buyer Activity now turning those sellers into Move Up Buyers...&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p> <object height="344" width="425"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JPwHzNhvCt8&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JPwHzNhvCt8&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" height="344" width="425"></embed> </object> </p> <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 11px; color: #808080;">Agents who have dropped out of print, or cut advertising budget may pay heavy price by becoming invisible. &nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 11px; color: #808080;">More visible homes sell faster. &nbsp;More visible agents will sell more homes! &nbsp; </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 11px; color: #808080;">Of course, I recommend HomeFinder Channel 100 to buyers, sellers and agents : )</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 11px; color: #808080;">See <a href="http://www.homefinder100.com" title="Toledo Real Estate Search ~ HomeFinder Channel 100" target="_blank">www.HomeFinder100.com &nbsp;</a></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:21:44 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1218369/toledo-real-estate-fall-market-better-than-usual- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1207364/what-do-people-remember-about-you- <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 11px; color: #333333;"> <h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">"People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel." ~Mother Theresa &nbsp;</h3> <h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br /></h3> <h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Do people know who you are? &nbsp;What do they think of when they think of you? &nbsp;What do they remember.</h3> <p><span style="font-size: 13px;">It's pure gold to anyone in Sales to have this concept and their memory creation engine under good self-management.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br /></h3> <h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="font-size: 13px; color: #333333; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br /></h3> </span></p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:38:13 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1207364/what-do-people-remember-about-you- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1205969/newspapers-dying-faster-than-bad-neighborhoods <p>Still selling old school? The final bell has rung. &nbsp;</p> <p>NAR says 87% of buyers use INTERNET and not Print.</p> <p>Cable TV is an even better Choice!</p> <p>In Toledo Ohio, Choose HomeFinder Channel 100 - Ask Your Agent !</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Newspapers are Dying Faster than a RUN DOWN NEIGHBORHOOD <br />According to their Own Report (Newspaper Association of America</span></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/9/5/0/4/4/ar125095240844059.jpg" height="367" alt="" width="400" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://newsosaur.blogspot.com/2009/07/realtors-repudiate-newspaper-ads.html">http://newsosaur.blogspot.com/2009/07/realtors-repudiate-newspaper-ads.html</a></p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Sat, 22 Aug 2009 09:50:43 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1205969/newspapers-dying-faster-than-bad-neighborhoods http://activerain.com/blogsview/1204656/time-only-goes-in-one-direction- <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;">The human mind can achieve what it can concieve and believe </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;">&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;- Napoleon Hill</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;">###</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;">Thoughts become things. &nbsp;Choose the good ones. &nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;">&nbsp;&nbsp; - Mike Dooley, www.tut.com&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;">###</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;">Time only goes in one direction. Forward! &nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;">If standing with one foot in yesterday and one foot in tomorrow then how can you walk in the gift of today?</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;">Charge each day with focused belief in magnificent possibilities and that is what you will find.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;">&nbsp;&nbsp; - Coach Lonn</span></p> <p> <p><span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></p> <p><span style="line-height: 15px;">Follow:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.twitter.com/lonndugan" title="Twitter.com/lonndugan" target="_blank">www.twitter.com</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.MyRealCoach.com" title="My Coaching Site" target="_blank">www.myrealcoach.com</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bigmarketingsolutions.com " title="My Marketing Site" target="_blank">www.bigmarketingsolutions.com</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/lonndugan " title="My Facebook Page" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/lonndugan&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.BigDesign.net" title="My Graphic Services Portfolio" target="_blank">www.BigDesign.net</a></span></p> </p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:36:46 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1204656/time-only-goes-in-one-direction- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1193738/the-dinosaurs-are-dying-the-dinosaurs-are-dying- <p><span> </span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;">The posts of others here at Active Rain often trigger comments from me that end up becoming posts in their own right on my own blog. &nbsp;This is one of those : )<span style="line-height: normal;"><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/4/1/2/8/6/ar125016522668214.jpg" height="188" alt="" width="250" style="float: right; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; border: 1px solid black;" /></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal; white-space: pre;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Dinosaurs are Dying....</span></strong></span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;">No - the sky is not falling. &nbsp;However, there are "hallowed" marketing techniques in the real estate world that are dying out - along with the agents who have not migrated to electronic marketing.</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;">I just read a really great AR blog about the power of the sign (and brochure box) in real estate marketing. &nbsp;</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;">I hate to say it but the days of planting a sign and rolling in buyer calls are diminishing fast and may go the way of the dinosaur - SOON.</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;">It used to be that a sign call was the golden moment. &nbsp;But this happens less and less often today. &nbsp;Realtors who have survived until now using OLD SCHOOL marketing are not likely to make it through the next few years.</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;">Why? &nbsp;Because today's buyer has been online for A YEAR OR TWO, exposing their email address to Realtors who want their business. &nbsp;Oh well, maybe they were only registering their house hunt, and signing up for automated home searches, and ordering free reports (and ending up on drip email with web marketing savvy agents). &nbsp;</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;">Today's buyer has been educated - DON'T CALL THE SELLERS AGENT... YOU NEED YOUR OWN AGENT...</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;">So TODAY, the only buyer making a sign call is one who has not &nbsp;yet met a Realtor they like. &nbsp;And this kind of buyer is becoming an extinct species.</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;">Now about that brochure box... I suppose trees are a renewable resource, more or less, but it still costs fossil fuel to deliver those tree based flyers to those petrochemical based boxes... &nbsp;Follow?</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;">I vote for electronic marketing - every time!</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;">If you are a broker, teach your agents how to do this. &nbsp;If you don't know how, call a speaker, trainer, coach, or consultant (raising hand). &nbsp;</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;">If you are an agent, don't put it off any longer. &nbsp;Learn more about electronic marketing. &nbsp;Start today. &nbsp;I have helped agents increase web traffic visitor count from less than 10 a day to over 100 visitors a day. &nbsp;What do you think that does to lead counts?&nbsp;</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;">If you are a seller, choose an agent who understands.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Thu, 13 Aug 2009 07:13:55 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1193738/the-dinosaurs-are-dying-the-dinosaurs-are-dying- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1187284/help-my-clients-asked-for-a-reduction-in-my-commission- <p><span> </span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;">Clients want the best commission deal they can get. &nbsp;Who can blame them? &nbsp;If you can make a believable case that 7% or even 8% is the best deal, then they will list for 7% or 8%.</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;">Is it ok for Clients to ask for a discount or reduction? &nbsp;Sure it's ok for them to ask. &nbsp;How can you blame them for asking? &nbsp;They are just trying to get the best deal they can.&nbsp;</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">HOWEVER, If one of you is a Realtor, and one is a client, then somebody better be better at negotiating than the other, (FYI: it should be the Realtor) !</span></strong></p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;">BTW: &nbsp;If two Realtors talk about commission rates, in person or online then that is illegal price fixing. &nbsp;</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;">HOWEVER, I am no longer actively selling, so I can talk about commission rates in detail, as a coach or journalist - even if two Realtors cannot. &nbsp;</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;">The amount you can charge is tied to your ability to fully explain the benefits of your service. &nbsp;Basic service will never be more than the 'discount rate' while great service will always be worth more than average. &nbsp;I offered clients choices between 6 and 10 percent. &nbsp;For each level of commission, I painted a picture of how much more work I could do, and how much more advertising and marketing I would be able to afford - and most importantly, how much I could offer a Buyer AGent. &nbsp;Most of my listing clients chose 8% because it was in the middle. &nbsp;Nobody wants to be cheap and nobody wants to pay too much. &nbsp;: ) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">WHAT IF THEY WANT A REDUCTION BECAUSE THE HOUSE SOLD FAST?</span></strong></p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;">I used to deal with the inevitable "fast sale commission reduction request" AHEAD of time, in the listing presentation. &nbsp;When finishing up the commission negotiations... &nbsp;</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>One more thing... &nbsp;I want you to know I do most of the work of selling your house in the first 10 days and the last 30. In between, we answer the phone, schedule some showings - etc. &nbsp;Just so you know, once I take photos, write the marketing copy, do the online marketing and online listing syndication, get you in the MLS properly, then there is a lull in the middle. &nbsp;It's not a lot more work until an offer comes in. &nbsp;Many people don't understand this and it has caused some confusion, so I am sharing this information with you now - just in case. &nbsp;I&nbsp;do a good job for all my clients but some sell faster than others due to circumstances beyond all control. &nbsp;I have had clients for whom all the stars aligned, and we sold really fast. These clients sometimes asked if I would reduce my commission because we sold so fast. &nbsp;I used to tell them, Here I am feeling like a million bucks, because you did not have to sit on the market for 6 months or a year, and we are about to enter the hardest part - the last 30 days, with inspection, appraisal, closing preparations, and you want to cut me off at the kneecaps? &nbsp;So, I just want to make sure, if we sell your house extra fast, will you want to celebrate my good work, and refer me to friends, or will you want to cut me off at the knees?</strong></p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;">Never again did I have that commission reduction question come up after a fast sale. &nbsp; &nbsp;: )</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em;">&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Sat, 08 Aug 2009 10:40:51 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1187284/help-my-clients-asked-for-a-reduction-in-my-commission- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1184409/invisible-agents-sell-more-homes- <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tom Peters said: YOU CANNOT SHRINK YOUR WAY TO GREATNESS. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I say SLOW WON'T GROW (sm). copyright 2009 Lonn Dugan all rights reserved. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Both sayings have something to do with beating this economy if you are in real estate or related field. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande'; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cost cutting can lead to invisibility in the marketplace. Invisible agents can't sell houses!</span></p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:19:11 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1184409/invisible-agents-sell-more-homes- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1184249/creative-real-estate-lease-purchase-as-viable-option- <p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"> <div style=""> <p>This market calls for more creative approaches to real estate. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Many agents and sellers are opposed to a Lease Purchase Sale. &nbsp;It works like a land contract but is available even for sellers whose mortgage has a due on sale clause (most do - effectively preventing a land contract sale which IS A SALE while a lease purchase is an AGREEMENT TO SELL that is not completed yet). &nbsp;</p> <p><strong>CONSIDER: &nbsp;A lease purchase&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration: underline;">IS AN AGREEMENT TO BUY AND SELL (that closes later)</span>. &nbsp;</strong>Not all people with bruised credit are cashless. &nbsp;When there is a down payment, then it can work well. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>BENEFITS FOR THE AGENT:</strong><br />Agents can help a seller and a buyer so that both win. &nbsp;The agent can earn either a full commission on these when a seller accepts a buyer offer! &nbsp;All that is needed is for the buyer to have a down payment. &nbsp;I used to accept 50% upon seller receipt of down payment, and 50% upon eventual closing.</p> <p><strong>BENEFITS FOR THE SELLER:</strong>&nbsp;<br />In many cases, the seller may not need the lump sum sale but may more DESPERATELY need the monthly cash flow drain to stop. &nbsp;&nbsp;Typical Lease Purchase arrangements allow the sale at a higher than market price (because the buyer has issues and cannot buy at market).</p> <p><strong>BENEFITS FOR THE BUYER:&nbsp;<br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Even buyers with bruised credit need a place to live. &nbsp;Besides, not all people with credit problems are deadbeats. &nbsp;Some&nbsp;simply have too many medical bills, or had a bad patch during a messy divorce. &nbsp;Or ??? &nbsp;We are not in the judging business. &nbsp;Some have just completed a bankruptcy, wherein their equity in their home was exempt. &nbsp;Bankruptcy first, then sale of home... done right, they may have $20,000 to $30,000 or more in cash. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span></strong></p> <p><strong>EVERYBODY WINS:</strong><br />If solving a cash flow problem for a seller, and a credit availability problem for a buyer can solve problems in living for both, and put money in a realtors pocket, then it's worth looking into.</p> <p><strong>WHAT IF IT NEVER CLOSES?<br />First, I think more of these close than may be first estimated. &nbsp;Second, the buyer is attached to the completion by a SIGNIFICANT down payment. &nbsp;If buyer stops paying, or never buys, then the seller will evict the non-buyer. &nbsp;Seller also uses the retained down payment to repair any damage - pay mortgage payments while the house goes back on the market. &nbsp;The seller has a chance to stop the pain of paying two mortgages, and now can sell again in a better market. &nbsp;The agent who helped with all this may even collect another commission : ) &nbsp;</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> </span></p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:00:59 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1184249/creative-real-estate-lease-purchase-as-viable-option- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1184205/press-release-a-bright-spot-in-toledo-ohio-real-estate-market <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>August 6, 2009 -&nbsp;PRESS RELEASE -&nbsp;FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">Buckeye CableSystem <span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Contact: Lonn Dugan</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">5552 Southwyck Blvd <span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Real Estate Manager</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">Toledo</span><span style="color: black;"> OH<span>&nbsp; </span>43614</span><span style="color: black;"> <span>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span>419-724-7279</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:ldugan@cablesystem.com">ldugan@cablesystem.com</a> </span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: #000033;"><span><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/5/6/7/1/4/ar124956900041765.jpg" height="163" alt="" width="259" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; border: 1px solid black;" /></span>A BRIGHT SPOT IN LOCAL REAL ESTATE NEWS:<br /> HomeFinder Channel 100 Grows, Welcomes Agents of Danberry Realtors<span>&nbsp; </span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000033;">HomeFinder Channel 100 is proving to be a bright spot in the local real estate scene.<span>&nbsp; </span>Buckeye CableSystem&rsquo;s 24-hour real estate channel and the companion web site at <a href="http://www.homefinder100.com/">www.HomeFinder100.com</a> celebrated their first anniversary recently by reporting growth in several key areas.<span>&nbsp; </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000033;">HomeFinder Channel 100 recently added two new participating Brokers and several Agent Advertisers. Real estate related ad sales are increasing, as is consumer interest in both HomeFinder Channel 100 as well as the HomeFinder100.com web service.<span>&nbsp; </span>Finally, a new ad campaign has been launched to report higher levels of buyer interest and sales activity as the economy begins to recover. </span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: black; font-weight: normal;">The newest brokerages to join the program include Danberry Realtors, considered the market leader, and Key Realty, which is the fastest growing new brokerage serving Greater Toledo.<span>&nbsp; </span></span></strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000033;">&ldquo;With Danberry on board, we are now able to serve agents at 9 of the top 10 brokerages in town,&rdquo; said Steve Piller, vice president of advertising sales for Buckeye.<span>&nbsp; </span>&ldquo;Several of the most successful agents in Greater Toledo have come on board recently.&rdquo;<span>&nbsp; </span>Web or TV ads have recently been placed by top producing agents such as Mark Kruse, Deborah Gedert, and Kendall Gigax of Danberry Realtors, Dick Helminiak at RE/MAX Preferred, Allen Hotchkiss at Sulphur Springs, as well as Tammy Frye and Jack Schroeder at RE/MAX Masters. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000033;">&ldquo;HomeFinder Channel 100 has also experienced growth in terms of advertiser sales as well as daily audience,&rdquo; added Lonn Dugan, </span><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: black; font-weight: normal;">real estate manager for Buckeye</span></strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000033;">.<span>&nbsp; </span>&ldquo;Channel 100 is now delivered to over 80,000 Buckeye CableSystem digital subscriber homes.<span>&nbsp; </span>In addition, thousands of unique visitors have viewed over 1,000,000 Web pages in a single month according to independent log file analysis report by AWSTATS&rdquo;, he said.<span>&nbsp; </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000033;">&ldquo;HomeFinder Channel 100 helps spread hope and help to an actively buying or selling audience.<span>&nbsp; </span>People have been scared by all the news about credit problems and foreclosures.<span>&nbsp; </span>They need to know that home loans are available, and that properly priced and staged homes really can be sold in today&rsquo;s market.<span>&nbsp; </span>It&rsquo;s a fact that buyer interest in real estate is growing again due to low prices, great loan rates, and the $8,000 refundable tax credit offered to first-time home buyers.&rdquo;<span>&nbsp; </span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000033;">-More-</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000033;">&nbsp;<span style="font-weight: bold;">HomeFinder, Page 2</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000033;">&ldquo;The past year proved to be a challenging time to launch a new real estate marketing service,&rdquo; Mr. Piller said.<span>&nbsp; </span>&ldquo;But it turned out to be a great opportunity to bring local media into the mix and show our support for those who want to sell their homes,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;Television has always been powerful and effective.<span>&nbsp; </span>Now it&rsquo;s affordable for Realtors and home sellers.<span>&nbsp; </span>The technology for this was conceived right here in Toledo by Buckeye CableSystem. No out-of-town company could do what we have done.&rdquo;</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000033;">A new ad campaign pushes the theme &lsquo;Real Estate Sales Are Blooming.&rsquo;<span>&nbsp; </span>Ads run on HomeFinder Channel 100 and many other cable channels, as well as online.<span>&nbsp; </span>&ldquo;Our promotion of the $8,000 first time buyer tax credit is one example of how we support the efforts of home owners, buyers, Realtors, and allied trades working to overcome market trends&rdquo;, Mr. Dugan said. &ldquo;By sharing good news, we offer hope&rdquo;, he added.<span>&nbsp; </span>The ads also promote unique features at HomeFinder100.com such as an exclusive Open House Guide with unique search and mapping tools.<span>&nbsp; </span>A new Featured Agent Program helps buyers or sellers locate agents who specialize in modern marketing methods as well as those who lead in sales in certain areas or home types.<span>&nbsp; </span><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000033;">As for the popularity of the service, Dugan notes that, &ldquo;A television show is easy to share with a friend or spouse, while our web site offers unique and powerful real estate search engine features.<span>&nbsp; </span>The Featured Agent program at HomeFinder100.com help make the site especially useful.<span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000033;">&ldquo;Our Featured Agents are among the most active in the real estate market&rdquo;, Mr. Dugan said.<span>&nbsp; </span>&ldquo;Several are telling us that 2009 is off to a great start compared to recent years.<span>&nbsp; </span>Some agents may still be waiting for better days, but the ones we are helping are excelling, at least in part because they are committed to providing the best marketing for their sellers,&rdquo; he added.<span>&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Sellers working with Featured Agents can have their home on TV 3 times a day, 7 days a week, until the house sells.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial;">Dugan notes that &ldquo;Our growth signals good news for the broader local economy.&rdquo; He believes that a recovery is coming in the real estate sector.<span>&nbsp; </span>When it arrives, it will usher in a larger economic recovery for greater Toledo.<span>&nbsp; </span>A number of businesses depend on real estate activity.<span>&nbsp; </span>Obvious beneficiaries include mortgage lenders and title companies.<span>&nbsp; </span>Other businesses that will also benefit from improvements in the housing market include appliance and furniture retailers as well as window and door, siding, roofing, flooring, and landscaping services.<span>&nbsp; </span>All do better when more homes are being sold.<span>&nbsp; </span>&ldquo;As the economy improves, we can help them reach the increasing number of buyers and sellers who need their services&rdquo;, says Mr. Dugan.<span>&nbsp; </span><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: black; font-weight: normal;">HomeFinder Channel 100 features homes for sale in Greater Toledo, including areas of Southeast Michigan.<span>&nbsp; </span></span></strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000033;">The unique service works with the Multiple Listing Service to allow Realtors to advertise homes both online and on TV.<span>&nbsp; </span>Ads at <a href="http://www.homefinder100.com/">www.HomeFinder100.com</a> are free to all agents and sellers.<span>&nbsp; </span>Listings include h</span><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial; color: black; font-weight: normal;">omes for sale by all participating Realtors^&trade; at all participating brokers.<span>&nbsp; </span>Optional upgrades add agent&rsquo;s photos and phone numbers to web listings and create a TV ad.<span>&nbsp; </span>Participating agents report that they get more calls and showings on the homes they sponsor at HomeFinder Channel 100</span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: Arial;">-30-<br /> <br /> </span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:33:55 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1184205/press-release-a-bright-spot-in-toledo-ohio-real-estate-market http://activerain.com/blogsview/1167304/bugged-by-nar-reports-on-market-trends- <p>Are you bugged by NAR and the way they are reporting market trends?</p> <p>This week, they report things like:</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Existing home sales SHOT UP 3.X Percent in June of '09... </strong></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Third month of increases&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>when the exact same study and press release also says</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span><strong>June '09 sales are still behind those of June of '08?</strong></span></p> <p>Oh - I get what they are saying... &nbsp;</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>April was better than March</strong></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>May was better than April</strong></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>June was better than May</strong></p> <p>OH.... No Kidding? &nbsp;THAT'S TRUE EVERY YEAR. &nbsp;It's not news.</p> <p>What is news is that NAR is SPINNING a continuing decline into a recovery that is not yet true.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Now don't get me wrong. &nbsp;I want to put a positive face on every day and go out and make a difference for somebody who still believes in the American Dream. &nbsp;AND I DO. &nbsp;But I just don't like this duplicity.</span></p> <p>Anybody else?</p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:44:20 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1167304/bugged-by-nar-reports-on-market-trends- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1166139/toledo-ohio-real-estate-market-report <p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"> <div style=""> <p>Toledo Real Estate Market Continues Slow with average sales price and volume continuing below one year ago.</p> <p>An a national level, things are getting better - with RISMEDIA and NAR reporting sales voume in total units sold up 3.6 % overall.</p> <p>While they say this is the third month of improvement, they note that sales are still below June of 2008.</p> <p>######</p> <p>RISMEDIA, July 24, 2009-Existing-home sales rose for the third consecutive month with inventory easing and home prices declining less sharply&nbsp;in June, according to the National Association of Realtors&reg;.</p> <p>Existing-home sales-including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops-increased 3.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.89 million units in June from a downwardly revised pace of 4.72 million in May, but are 0.2% lower than the 4.90 million-unit level in June 2008.</p> <p>Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, is hopeful about the gain. &ldquo;The increase in existing-home sales occurred in all major regions of the country,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We expect a gradual uptrend in sales to continue due to tax credit incentives and historically high affordability conditions. Despite the rise in closed transactions, many Realtors&reg; are reporting lost sales as a result of new appraisal standards that went into effect May 1 of this year.&rdquo;<br /><span>Read more:<a href="http://rismedia.com/2009-07-23/signs-of-change-existing-home-sales-rise-36-in-june/#ixzz0MCTsR8MN">http://rismedia.com/2009-07-23/signs-of-change-existing-home-sales-rise-36-in-june/#ixzz0MCTsR8MN</a></span></p> </div> </span></p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:58:47 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1166139/toledo-ohio-real-estate-market-report http://activerain.com/blogsview/1162750/real-estate-marketing-pour-it-on-before-you-run-dry-and-can-t-turn-it-around <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: 'lucida grande';"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; font-family: Verdana; white-space: normal;"><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/6/6/2/2/3/ar124827168832266.jpg" height="225" alt="" width="350" style="float: right; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; border: 1px solid black;" /></span>Real Estate Marketing <br />Is it Time to Pour it On <br />Before You Run Dry <br />and Cannot Turn It Around?</strong></span></p> <p>####### ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: 'lucida grande';">Seth Godin's blog today says it very well. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: 'lucida grande';">"You can't shrink your way to greatness," said Tom Peters. Yet that's what so many dying businesses try to do. They hunker down and wait for things to get better, but they don't. This isn't a dip, it's a cul de sac. It's over. Right this minute, you still have some cash, some customers, some momentum... Instead of squandering it in a long, slow, death spiral, do something else. Buy a new platform. Move. </span></p> <p>####### -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p> <p><strong>What does this mean to Realtors?&nbsp;</strong></p> <p><strong>Well, if you start the winter season with 50% more active buyers and new listings than you had at that time last year, you will probably make 50% more money this year.</strong></p> <p><strong>How do you get all those buyers and listings?&nbsp; SIMPLE: You only need 50% more prospects than you had a year ago.&nbsp; </strong></p> <p><strong>Now you are not going to find those prospects if you try to downsize your real estate practice to match the recession. &nbsp;Are you sitting around at home and moping about how long winter is going to be? &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p> <p><strong>Time to make choices. &nbsp;Want to shrink your way to greatness? &nbsp;You can try. &nbsp;But the stakes are awfully high.&nbsp;</strong></p> <p><strong>Cost cutting won't put 50% more money in your pocket this winter. &nbsp;But smart marketing can! &nbsp;</strong></p> <p><strong>Beat the odds - pull out all the stops - prospect, market, go hunt potential buyers and sellers like you REALLY MEAN &nbsp;IT.</strong></p> <p><br />OH, yeah.... if you don't know where they are... ONLINE @ www.HomeFinder100.com and FACEBOOK too : )</p> <p>$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$</p> <p><strong>Ask about new Facebook Marketing Group - Email Coaching Series<br /><br /></strong></p> <p>Once a Week Email -&nbsp;Facebook Coaching Club 101 -&nbsp;Tips For Beginners <br />- $20 for one month email coaching. &nbsp;</p> <p>Once a Week Email -&nbsp;Facebook Coaching Club 201 -&nbsp;Tips for Advanced Users<br />- $50 for one month email coaching</p> <p>Laser Coaching By Phone, as needed, if needed<br />- From $25 per call (15 minutes).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:06:04 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1162750/real-estate-marketing-pour-it-on-before-you-run-dry-and-can-t-turn-it-around http://activerain.com/blogsview/1161231/these-are-the-best-of-times- <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Apparently, These are the BEST OF TIMES in Real Estate : )</span></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">From Seth Godin's Blog today: &nbsp;</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">"The best time to do great customer service is when a customer is upset. &nbsp;The moment you earn your keep as a public speaker is when the room isn't just right or the plane is late or the projector doesn't work or the audience is tired or distracted... And everyone now knows that the best time to start a project is when the economy is lousy."</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">Seth Godin (read the rest of his blog post on this, or subscribe at&nbsp;<a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/07/winning-on-the-uphills.html" style="text-decoration: none;">http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/07/winning-on-the-uphills.html</a></p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">DO YOU AGREE? &nbsp;DISAGREE? &nbsp;WHY or WHY NOT?</span></strong></p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:41:10 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1161231/these-are-the-best-of-times- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1156593/google-chrome- <p>Just started using Google's "Chrome" Browser. &nbsp;</p> <p>IT'S FAST !!!&nbsp;</p> <p>Have you found anything it won't do? &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p><div class='agent_signature'><p> <script src="http://static.ak.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- FB.init("bd331cea33b534ff481550d5a1a0c1e6"); // --></script> </p> <div style="font-size:8px; padding-left:10px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/HomeFinder-Channel-100/94960293215">HomeFinder Channel 100</a> on Facebook</div></div> Lonn Dugan (BIG Marketing Solutions) Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:58:04 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1156593/google-chrome-