You have said it so good. This entity is a gift to us all from Matt and everyone else that made/makes it possible.

 BTW: I went to your website and love your work. MY mother is an artist, too. The type of art that you both do is one gift I have not been blessed with. The picture on the web link just makes one wonder and think. I could spend the day meditating over it. God Bless Wynne (WIN)

 Hi Wynne and thanks for the nice comment about my work, much appreciated. I'm glad it connected with you somehow.

 And yes I agree, we have been given a wonderful gift from AR, we just have to learn how to use it... growing pains, but as with most things in life, it will work itself out over time.

Marti, I am so hurt that you did not mention my Groups 101 with the list... j/k.  I like the idea of your group on marketing one's self.  If you don't mind, I would like to join the group.  It may be some time before I can put a post of my own in the group, but I would love to see what others have to say.  Thanks for putting this out there.

 Jason... actually thanks for pointing that out, your AR Groups 101 was a great post and excellent tutorial for everyone. It's easy to miss stuff with so many new blogs each day, nice to have the extra eyes to cover our backs. Welcome aboard.

Hey Marti~ Thanks for the welcome! As a VA who leans in the direction of marketing this will be a great group~ looking forward to it!

Hi Laura... and welcome. Marketing is the heart and soul of all our businesses. I'm looking forward to your input in the group and exhanging ideas with you.

I'm late for the introduction - but thanks for the welcom!  It's all about Marketing guys, and marti, you bring such a great and refreshing perspective.

Ines

Sorry if this is just for members. I am a Realtor of Canada (in fact I am Spanish), I am also a BA in Business and have Master's degree in Marketing so as you can see this is my favorite topic.

Just wanted to recommend this website since I think it is going to be a great tool of marketing for Realtors and other Real Estate professionals: www.housingmarketmedia.com

I have been working for a long time in getting my website in first places of search engines (a chalenge that I have acomplished) so when I knew about this new web, I wanted to recommended for internet marketing purposes.

Hope it helps...

Adios!

Patricia 

Hola Ines... thanks for the compliemnt and welcome as well.

 Don't forget to add the post you asked me about yesterday, you wrote a great review of the Realty Blogging book and that definitely fits in with the marketing category.

This comment is not about Groups. LOL... 

Hello...My Name is...Oops! That's right I don't have a name. :)

I am "The Lovely Wife"...aka TLW aka Misty (not my name)

Thank you for inviting me to introduce myself. Perhaps someday I will do just that. :)

TLW "The Lovely Wife"...Good Way To Reach Your Group Marti I Like It...ROAR!

Great art. Looking forward to your sharings

this is really a great piece I have not heard for a while.

BTW - I did join Patricia's site to give it a chance.  Patricia, please give us more material to go on like you did to convince me - I'm trying to help out here!

Patricia... we can all learn a lot from each other so your thoughts and ideas about marketing are definitely welcomed here.

Hi TLW... my name is marti and I'm a chocoholic, whoops wrong group. Thanks for signing in. You are the queen of marketing. Just the way you've connected with so many people here on AR sets such a good example for us to follow.

Harper Team... welcome aboard, I see that you're already very prolific contributors. Thanks for sharing with the group and for the compliment as well.

Raman... welcome to you too, it's nice to see so many new faces here today.

Thank You! :) TLW...ROAR!

I am going to just sit back, read, and learn for a while. I hope to be a contributor, but I am still a bit green around the "realtor gills." I joined because I think the "Art of Marketing You" is just essential to anyone in sales. Thanks for having me aboard!

Caron... thanks for stopping by. There are lots of smart cookies here on AR willing to share their knowledge & experience so I'm sure we'll all learn a lot.

Hi Melissa... and welcome aboard. We were all green at one point and you're right about marketing, it's the heart and soul of any business and now... AR has given us the opportunity to share and connect. I'm looking forward to reading your posts when you're ready.

Just 'signed up'  - Marketing communications is always fascinating, and I like a few others I see - do not profess to be 'experts' however want to learn and exchange ideas.

Hi Rob and welcome to you as well, always nice to see a new face here.

I'm new to blogging and I find it fun and exciting. I'm eager to join this group and learn... and hopefully will have some good stuff to contribute also. I've only been in real estate for 3.5 yrs.

Loreena... hi and welcome. Many of us here on AR are failry new to blogging so you'll feel right at home. It's a great place to learn and test the blogging waters. Nice to have you in our group.

Hi Marti

I will see what I have that will fit in here from previous blogs...would hate to think all that time I spent on Madison Avenue was spent only for shopping! LOL 

Allison... hi and welcome, your input will be very welcomed here in our group.

Hi all, I look forward to learning, sharing and getting to know you all; I understand this is the place to be.

Hello Tina and welcome to our marketing group, we look forward to having your input and feedback.  Giselle St.Cyr

Hi Marti!

I'm looking to expand my business exponentially in 2007, and I know that branding myself is going to play a huge role in accomplishing that. I'll be pouring over the group posts for ideas, and probably asking a good deal of questions. So, I'm tickled to find you!

btw, I've seen the name Garaughty in Ireland, but not here. . . are ye Irish, lad?

Hello Dawn and welcome to the marketing group, marti is away right now but yes he is of Irish descent. We look forward reading to your posts, feedback and comments in The Art Of Marketing You group... Giselle St.Cyr

I'm glead to be here - both to learn and to give back.  For example, I'd like to draw your attention to a post I wrote this morning called How ActiveRain Took me to Page 1 on Google in 15 Days or Less and you can too!

ActiveRain is one of those places that is a great away to market yourself.

Now Have a Blessed Day,

John Occhi, Hemet CA REALTOR
www.JohnOcchi.Cin

 Good morning John, yes Active Rain is a great learning tool and a great place to share. Thank you for your input in the marketing group...  Giselle St.Cyr

In this business, whether you are a big fish or a small fish the best marketing is the word of mouth. Then when you get a client from this method it's you (yourself) that is the marketing. If you do a good job with the client you will get many refferals from him/her. However if you don't satisfy this client your reputation will lose some points and you will not get business from this client no more.

Only if you shall succeed with this method shall you do anything more expensive like radio ads, tv ads, buy expensive leads, etc, etc.

HI, I am new to ActiveRain. Thanks, Tami Patzer

Great group! Nice to join you all. I'm Borino. I share tips on listing expired listings, web, and marketing. 

This is a great group.

Ray Nellum, GRLA in Ft. Smith Arkansas

A.K.A.

"To Buy or Sell'um, Call Ray Nellum"

Hi Everyone I just wanted to say you all have some great comments and that art work is to die for.  Thanks for sharinig it.

I have been on the cutting edge of personal network marketing and it still amazes me that peoples sitll think they can sell anything without a personal relationship.  I often ask mortgage, insurance and real estate professionals what kind of personal relationship they have with clients.  I have some tell me that they e-mail a card every now and then, subscribe them to a monthly newsletter (never read by the way) and e-mail them constantly. 

They are amazed that the more they send that crap the less business they actually do.  How many times do you hear of an agent that will make thousands on commissions and never show up at the closing.  Anybody ever watch "Wonderul Life" when the hero takes a bottle of wine to celebrate the new owners home?  Thats personal relationship marketing.  But it only begins there.  It has to continue for years so there is a constant flow of good will.  You become a member of the family because you stay in their lives.

My best friend in the RE business used to be called the Pot Roast Realtor.  On the day you were moving in she would show up with pot roast (a great one by the way) becasue she knew you were not going to get a good meal that day.  That is personal network marketing.  Hell, I bought 3 houses from her just to get pot roast.  She even let me use her membership in the exclusive country club for my wedding reception.  That is personal network marketing. 

Does anyone think I would ever entertain the Idea of going to someone else?  Not with that pot roast at stake!

If any of you need help with understand personal network marketing pleae contact me.  I would love to share some Ideas that work well for me.

 Tom.

Hi, I'm realtively new to AR and have to tell you this group looks like a winner.  I have to admit that even thourh I'm making a living as a mortgage broker, marketing has been my weakness.  Hoping to be of use to the group, and to learn from you all.

Hello all,

Just jumped into the group... and I have to say I'm thrilled to be here!  It seems I came across the information just when I needed it-- I'm hoping to make leaps and bounds this year with my onine marketing, and this looks like just the place to trade great information.  Thanks for the links to the tutorials above.  I just ordered both "Realty Blogging" and "Real Estate Rainmaker: Guide to Online Marketing" as a result of the posts.  Looking forward!

Best wishes,

Sandi

The Art of Marketing You.  What a most appropriate forum to share ideas.  At the end of the day it is more about us as individuals and how we handle ourselves with others.  I look forward to adding value to this area.

Thanks...

-Meg

  IT was a nice thought

I am very happy to have found this.  I am just back from Keller Williams Family reunion in Las Vegas and took a Branding seminar, but I want more!!!!  This will fill the ticket.  Thanks!

kathy

Marko... welcome to the group and for your feedback. You're right about the power of word of mouth marketing, not just for the exposure it brings but also for the credibility you get from others talking about and recommending you to people they trust.

Tami, Borino and Ray... welcome to you all as well, we look forward to your contributions.

Thomas... thanks for the very nice comment about my artwork and welcome to the group. I love your story about the Pot Roast Realtor, what a cool way to be remembered.

Sandi, Meg, Raman and Kathy welcome to all of you and I'm looking forward to reading your input in the Art Of Marketing You group.

Rhonda... welcome to the group, it's great to have people like you here to get feedback and input from related industries like staging.

Marti,

Where have you been? or where have I been?

Miss you, my night owl Buddy!

How is life treating you these days??

Ginger

I was just checking out different groups and had not had a chance to check this one. I found it has a lot of great information.  I am going to have to find a little more time to read some of the posts here.  Lots of very helpful tips and insights.

You have worked very hard to put all this info here for us - I look forward to making an appt at my laptop to view it all - as a Stager we have to get the word out!  Thank you for sharing!  

  Thanks for suggsting AR Groups 101 - Etiquette and Creating.

Thanks for welcoming me into the group. I'm afraid I'm a bit slow here in figuring this all out. It's kind of like trying to several books at once. I'm trying figure out the plot, setting and all the characters. It's great!! Thanks for all the hard work that has gone on to make this happen. It's really wonderful. Rhonda Rawlins, Glastonbury Home Staging

Ginger... hi back to you. Yes I've been kind of quiet here on AR since January. I've been super with various projects but should be around again soon. I hope you and Roger are both doing well, catch you later my late night friend...

Joan, Margaret Ann and Tonia... welcome to all three of you. The marketing group is happy to have you aboard and we look forward to your posts and comments.

Hi All...I'm new to AR -- I need marketing help, so here I am!!!  I'm looking forward to learning how to market ME better.  I love my job, love my clients (well, most of them), I provide excellent service to all of my clients (even those who don't think they need it) -- just not sure how to tell everyone what I do for them...

Hello,

I am new to this group also and I am loking forward to learning new ideas as well as sharing my own.  All the best!  Thanks for the invite for the introduction.

Joy

Hi,

I'm looking forward to learning a Lot, and contributing where I can.

Best,

Sean 

Marti-

Thank you for providing such valuable information. I look forward to learning alot and hopefully being able to contribute.

Hi, My name is Dianne Barody and I am from Pensacola Florida. 

Judi, Joy & Sean... welcome aboard to all 3 of you, we look forward to having your input, ideas and feedback.

Jacki, Trish, Dianne... welcome to you as well. We're all learning from each other here in the marketing group. Sharing ideas with people that we'd probably never meet without the benefit of belonging to Active Rain.

Thank you for having me. I look forward to reading more posts in this group. I look forward to building long relationships through the Marketing Tips on AR. And to be able to contribute where I can.

Luisa... hi and welcome to the marketing group. It's great to have you here and we also look forward to building marketing relationships with you.

The Art of Marketing You is a subject that most agents have no concept.  I see so many who promote their companies and then hope to go along for the ride.  If they change companies (which many do) then they have to start over from square one.

By marketing YOU it doesn't matter where you hang your shingle, your message remains the same and you just get new business cards.

Steven... great point you make about personal marketing(branding), welcome to the group, I'm looking forward to reading more of your input & ideas.

Hello,

What do I call you?

Nice to meet you and it is a pleasure to be posting in your group

Neal... hello and welcome to the marketing group. The group founder is marti garaughty and my name is Giselle St.Cyr

Hi Marti,

Thanks and what a cool idea!  I started working on my own branding just a few years ago (been in the biz 14 years - I think I started getting clear about this stuff at around year 11...slow learner!). I developed a first logo with NEBS (they're great) then reworked it with PRO STEP MARKETING and have had their help getting my branding going with postcards, flyers etc. Next step is onto my websites.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you all have to say on this interesting topic!!

Just dropping by to say hello!  I joined a few weeks ago but haven't spent much time in here.  I am starting the process of marketing myself for the first time.  I know this is an on-going thing, but I have to get it kick-started.  Look forward to reading and learning, and hopefully contributing something... 

Have a great day!

Abby

So much info!

Look forward to sharing and learning here...

Thanks ActiveRain!

Mary, Abby & Troy... welcome to all of you, it's nice to see so many new faces in our group recently. Just a friendly reminder, please try to keep your posts in this group relavent to the topic of marketing. We're looking forward to reading and sharing your ideas.

Thanks Marti.  I'm somwhat new to AR and have to admit I've been meanign to check out the Ettiquitte 101 blogs.

All the best,

Beth

Hi Beth... and welcome to the group, it's nice to be having so much input, feedback and exchange of ideas from people like you in related industries.

Thanks for the welcome.  I'm new to the industry and excited about the opportunity.  I do have a strong marketing background and plan to be a frequent participant of this group.

Thanks for creating this group. 

Kate Bourland

Hi thanks for the welcome and thanks for referring us to other helpful groups!

Katie & Simon... a BIG welcome to the both of you.

Hi and thank you for such a warm welcome.  I look forward to learning and sharing with the group.

Thanks much. Appreciate the thoughts.

Carolin Benjamin
Bob and Carolin Benjamin - The Benjamin Team - Keller Williams Integrity First Realty - Gold Canyon, Arizona

Pamela, Bob & Carolin... welcome to the marketing group, we look forward to your contribution and blogs.

I just wanted to say thanks for having me.

Hey I wanted to ask you if you would please join my AR Group. I would be honored to have you there. It is called:

http://activerain.com/groups/KentuckyProfessionals

Thanks so much

Ben

Hi Ben... good morning and welcome to the marketing group. It's nice to have you here, I'm looking forward to input & feedback from someone in the mortgage industry.

Hi All! We are new to Active Rain. We are overwhelmed by the great ideas we have heard/found here. Thanks for having us! Ron and I are always trying to be creative and to stand out in our marketing but we have SOOOOO much to learn. We would also love to share what we know when we can.

Thanks! Jill Fuhre r

I would just like to give some food for thought to all REALTORS who might come across this posting.  As part of Generation "X" with friends in "X" and "Y", I can tell you first hand that many, many people are completely uneducated about real estate and real estate transactions. Though it may be something you eat, sleep and breathe, most of the general buying public does not understand how to go about buying or selling a property, nor do they understand how a REALTOR can benefit them in this process. Recently I had a friend call a selling agent directly and make an offer on a property to her over the phone. They had no idea that as buyers they could use a REALTOR and not have to pay for it; or that they should have their offer in writing for their own protection. I helped her see the light, referred her to an agent and saved her $$$ because she was going to hire an attorney to help her through the process. I would recommend to all agents that they do their best to reach out to the general public and educate them on the value of using a trained professional.  Most people see the value, once explained.  Use your website to explain the basics of real estate agency and how it can benefit them. Remember something that might seem basic or simple to you is worth a pot of gold to them!

Jill, Ron & Cassandra... welcome to all three of you, it's nice to see so many new faces in the marketing group lately.

Looking forward to learning and contributing where I can. Thanks!

Hi Jeff and welcome to the group, your contributions about marketing will be very welcome to us all.