Everyday of our lives we are surrounded by brands. Did you know that as a real estate agent, YOU are a brand? So, what does your brand say to the world? Have you given it any thought?
Today, as I was trekking my neighborhood streets delivering 200 flyers door-to-door I gave this a lot of thought. Thoughts such as, “ughh, this would be so much easier if I would just hire a teenager to deliver these” went through my head. After all, 200 flyers takes me about 2 hours of fast-paced walking to deliver. Can you blame me for thinking this?
But, a homeowner I met along the way made me reconsider. As I approached his home, he was working on a bicycle in the driveway. I asked if he would mind if I left a flyer on his door since he looked busy. He agreed and I started to walk away. As I was leaving he asked what the flyer was and I told him briefly about the promotion.
But, here’s where I learned something.
He thanked me for not being pushy and told me that to him, that goes a long way and says a lot about me. Then he told me that he would keep the flyer and my number and refer me if he heard of anyone thinking of buying or selling.
As I walked away, I wondered if he’d have the same perception of me if I’d had a teenager delivering those flyers…hmmmmm, probably not.
Walking flyers is physically hard work, but it’s part of my brand. It allows me to see the homes in my neighborhood up close, to meet neighbors face-to-face, to establish some goodwill and show that I’m a hard worker and not afraid to get out there and do the work.
My name is my brand. My actions, both small and large, are also my brand. And, how the public perceives me and the way I run my business affects my brand directly. Remember, brands are more than just logo’s and color selections. They are the essence, feelings and perceptions that a consumer has when they see your name.
I still don’t necessarily enjoy hand-delivering flyers and I may catch myself fantasizing about getting someone else to do it from time-to-time, but I will continue to push on. In the end, I know my clients hire me because I do go that extra mile (tennis shoes and all) and I will put in the work. That’s my brand and it’s worth protecting with as much gusto as any McDonalds or Procter & Gamble would use to protect theirs.
Photo credit: Salvatore Vuono
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