real estate marketing: You Owe It To Yourself To Write A Real Estate Business Plan For 2011 - 12/30/10 10:19 AM
You owe it to yourself, you owe it to your business, to write a real estate business plan for the coming year, and years to come. Perhaps you already have a plan, and perhaps you already have a clear strategy of what you do, how you do it, and where your business comes from. Well let me come clean. I've never written a business plan for the profession I've chosen and existed in for the last fifteen years. I use the word existed, because that's pretty much what you do without a concise action plan. Don't get me wrong, the existence has … (45 comments)

real estate marketing: The Second Most Asked Question Of Real Estate Professionals - 09/21/10 01:11 PM
In my daily travels and interaction with consumers, friends and family, I'm constantly asked about the state of the real estate market. I've come to the conclusion, that this is a question about the greater economy, and people generally tend to gauge economic healthiness, by what is going on with homes. 
The next question that seemingly comes up is "What area do you work?" My answer in the past, was usually that I work all over, in an effort to appeal to everyone and anyone. In recent years, I've made an attempt to narrow that focus. That focus has grown, and … (13 comments)

real estate marketing: How To Write A Blog: Ten Top Tips To Supercharge Your Blog - 08/31/10 04:29 PM
The more specific title might be, how to write a blog post. But Google gives twice as many results for How To Write A Blog- over 440 million actually, so that is the first tip.  To get your blog noticed, look for great words in your title, tags and content. Writing a blog post seems more intimidating than it has to be. And it is the reason most don't start a blog, or have one they don't use. There are plenty of resources and links to suggestions for writing ideas or what sort of photos to use. I'll go in a … (77 comments)

real estate marketing: Extreme Facebooking: Does It Work For Business? The Kids Say Yes - 08/30/10 07:43 AM
I learned a few things about Facebook last week. First, the behemothth most of us have come to know, is now valued at 33 billion dollars. It is also the largest photo sharing website in the country. But I also learned that a good friend is engaging in something I can only refer to as *Extreme Facebooking.*
A little background. My friend Traci is in her early 20's, a recent college grad, a lender, and has friended close to three thousand people. To say she is ambitious for someone her age is an understatement. Politics, not banking, is her ultimate goal, … (14 comments)

real estate marketing: Selling A Home: We Are In A Price War And A Beauty Contest - 08/23/10 06:13 PM
Let's just lay it on the line. This isn't your fathers real estate market. Mortgage bankers and brokers are dealing with new stringent rules and regulations. Real estate brokers and agents have less business to go around. And inspectors and appraisers are doing their jobs on pins and needles. But the folks under the most pressure in the market are sellers of homes.  Falling values, lots of competition, and picky buyers, make for an uphill battle. What is a seller to do? Throw their hands in the air and give up?
Well, believe it or not, some homeowners actually sell their … (7 comments)

real estate marketing: Real Estate Services: How Long Is Your Probation Period? - 08/20/10 04:09 AM

If you have had a real estate license for more than five minutes, you've been approached by several of the real estate services. Some of them have similar services that claim to advance your services. In a recent blog http://activerain.com/blogsview/1734975/i-know-you-get-29-99-ed-to-death-in-this-business-but-mine-really-works, we discussed the various services that suggest they are the latest and greatest.

I have no problem paying for a service, if it can deliver what it claims. The question is, how long does one wait, to expect results? Many of these companies say it takes a while to notice results. It seems logical, to us as agents, that … (5 comments)

real estate marketing: Featured. Multiple Comments. Widely Read.Reblog. Thought Provoking. The Measure Of An Effective Post - 08/18/10 10:16 AM
When we post to our blog on Activerain or any other blog site, there are many ways to determine the effectiveness of that post. The most immediate proof of a good submission is to have your post featured, which is unique to this particular platform. Perhaps it was a catchy title, good content, or lots of feedback.
Comments also determine that your post resonated. Frankly, I think comments in agreement or disagreement are a good sign. The most successful writers, radio and television hosts, or any other provider of information spur discussion, whether the folks responding agree or debate.
When we are dealing with … (7 comments)

real estate marketing: Florida's Biggest REMAX Office Is Shutting Down. A Watershed Moment? - 08/16/10 12:00 PM
Remax Partners, Florida's Biggest Remax office, is closing it's office after twenty plus years in the real estate business. The reasons for a shutdown can vary. The recession, a volatile Florida market, and expiration of the home buyer tax credit are likely factors why this particular flagship might shut down.
In politics, elections specifically; we study what are called watershed moments. Which are defined as a critical turning point. A moment in time where things will never be the same as before.  I'm not picking on REMAX, which is a fine company, or any other national brokerage. But the real estate … (62 comments)

real estate marketing: The Blog Is The New Business Card - 08/04/10 05:28 PM

 
For years, we have walked a fine line. How do we go after business, yet avoid being thought of as the pushy salesperson? In real estate, we aren't the typical salespeople, in that generally, people want the product we are selling. However, at the end of the day, we do sell, and people have some preconceived thoughts on most folks who are in sales. I know I do.
Because of the internet, and the thirst for real estate information, we are in a unique position when it comes to not being the pushy sales professional. When you are at the next cocktail … (27 comments)

real estate marketing: How Is The Real Estate Market? It's 74 Degrees, Cloudy, And A Chance Of Rain On The North Side Of Minneapolis - 08/03/10 10:58 AM
 

It seems that no matter where I go, I hear the question, that many of us get in this business: How is the real estate market? There could be several different intentions when this question is asked:
The person who is asking the question is just making general conversation, based on what we do for a living. After all, asking a person about their occupation is right up there with talking about weather, the local sports team, or the popular tv show of the day.
The person asking you this, believes the market is in the tank, and engaging in schadenfreude. … (20 comments)

real estate marketing: So You're On The Rain? Activerain, And How Our Customers Think - 07/26/10 10:12 AM
We were out to dinner with college last weekend, when the conversation turned to real estate. I mentioned to the husband, that I recently made a contact, from the internet. More specifically, I went on the explain that I have a blog on a national real estate site.
"So, you're on The Rain" his wife asked.
The fact that she didn't remember the exact name, was of no importance to me. She had visited Activerain numerous times, and really liked it. Although she is a teacher, she is, as she puts it; addicted to real estate. We went on from there, … (10 comments)

real estate marketing: Do You Have A Blogging Schedule? - 07/19/10 06:10 PM
I find that I tend to work on ActiveRain several times a day. The AR application on the Iphone allows me to read posts while I'm at the grocery store, or stuck at a light. Did I just admit to reading while driving? Well, kinda, but lets just move past that. Anyway, lets just say I read throughout my day.
But I find that I generally write posts or comment on blog posts the first thing in the morning, and again at night. Perhaps because I have young children, and I have to squeeze my writing in before my girls wake … (15 comments)

real estate marketing: Has Activerain Replaced The Office? - 07/14/10 06:36 PM
I was speaking with a colleague this afternoon. She has been considering leaving her current office, to go out on her own as a broker. One of the main concerns she has, is losing the traditional office environment. The office provides her with camaraderie, answers to difficult questions, marketing ideas, and the occasional referral.
My suggestion is that she try blogging on Activerain for a few months. Our industry has changed dramatically over the past five to seven years, as the meteoric increase in internet activity and social networking has really made the world smaller. We can communicate with agents in … (54 comments)

real estate marketing: How Do You Market New Homes? - 07/13/10 12:30 PM
I'm in the process of marketing a new home community, and thought what better place to come to, than Activerain. The builder I'm working with is delivering a great product, in a strong selling area of town. One of my first moves, is to do an open house/promotion.
Title companies can only do so much now, but I'm going to check with my rep to see what they are willing to contribute. A mortgage broker I work with on a regular basis will also help with a gift card or two. Marketing will be via all the social media- Facebook, Twitter, … (0 comments)

real estate marketing: Lunch Is For Wimps...and for Realtors - 07/12/10 07:30 AM
Lunch is for wimps, is one of the best lines, in a movie with the most great lines, save Casablanca or The Godfather. Oliver Stone has made a sequel to his 1987 classic, which is due this fall (I suppose he missed Shia Labeouf destroying the legacy of another great 80's movie, Indiana Jones, but I digress). So CNBC and other outlets have been replaying Wall Street this spring and summer.
In the film, Michael Douglas's character, Gordon Gekko suggests that "lunch is for wimps" It seems Mr. Gekko is too busy making deals, taking over companies, and generally wreaking havoc, … (12 comments)

real estate marketing: Thou Shalt Not Network? - 07/11/10 08:26 AM
As people depart church this afternoon, I'm reminded of a conversation I had with a colleague recently.  We got on the subject of a local agent who will remain nameless. The agent I was speaking with said "Well you know they belong to that church, so they can work it for referrals." I've heard people hint at this in the past, but never blatantly say as much about another realtor. It's not like we are dealing with, say; politicians, who seemingly do such things on a regular basis.
Looking for business at a place of worship, isn't any better than attending, with … (6 comments)

real estate marketing: I Know You Get $29.99'ed To Death In This Business, But Mine Really Works - 07/08/10 06:00 PM
This afternoon, I got the latest in the marketing calls that we get in this business. The time it was from Zillow. Who proceeded to inform me, that I could become a Premiere Agent if I signed up for their service. Featured Listings, Top 2 placement. Increased Contact, a Show Ad, you get the picture.
I've received similar calls from Realtor.com, companies who guarantee high Google ratings, unlimited virtual tour companies. We all know the players. The question is which, if any of these things work effectively for the price. Which do any of you have and recommend?
I'm all for … (9 comments)

real estate marketing: A Day In The Life Of The Realtor - 07/07/10 12:16 PM
Arrive at the large brokerage at 9am. Speak to your office mates for while drinking the morning coffee. At 10, the Reynolds arrive and the receptionist escorts them to the conference room. After discussing the homes you plan to show them, they follow you out to your vehicle, where you proceed to show them anywhere from three to fifteen homes that day.......and so the process goes.
That was the real estate experience, as little as five years ago. Business goes in cycles, and the real estate business has moved faster from 2006 to 2010 than anytime I can remember. Have you dramatically … (3 comments)

real estate marketing: Can Realtors Have Political Opinions? - 07/06/10 07:01 AM
  
Recently I went to a closing at a title company, that is located in the same building of a large real estate franchise. What I noticed, is a trend that has increased over the last several years. Numerous realtors had political stickers on their vehicles. I'm not suggesting that realtors have gone bumper sticker crazy as of late. Furthermore, despite what most people think, our nation, states, and communities have seen much more contentious times. A simple review of history, would prove that politics has always been a hotly debated issue. Also, it isn't as if realtors haven't always been opinionated individuals.
What … (9 comments)

real estate marketing: What has been your best marketing idea of 2010? - 06/19/10 06:02 AM
We are almost at the halfway point of the year. Actually, it will be July 2nd. Regardless, it is a good time to reflect on the marketing ideas we came up with at the beginning of the year. My idea was to get a Rainmaker account on Activerain and attempt to blog, not only on this platform, but others.
I also wanted to nail down that often ignored database, that is the foundation of any real estate business. Frankly, I wanted to *be better online*- whatever that meant at the end of December last year. The blogging has gone well, and servicing … (5 comments)