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For More Effective Marketing Copy, Pay Attention to Your Compliments

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Marte Cliff Copywriting

Want to write more effective real estate marketing copy?

Pay attention to your compliments.

When you've done a fantastic job for your clients (as in all the time!) then they've probably thanked you for it. They may even have paid you some specific compliments.

These are like gold nuggets, so treasure them - then use them.gold nuggets

First, ask them for permission to use their comments as a testimonial. This is easier if you've sent a feedback form and you have it in writing, but even if it's verbal, go ahead and ask. Most people will be glad to say yes. Be sure to verify permission to use their names, because names of actual people are important in testimonials.

A case study might be in order...

If theirs was a difficult transaction and you pulled it off despite all odds, you might even want to ask if you can use them as a case study – and even include their photos or a short video of them talking about how well you handled things.

But the "big compliments" aren’t the only ones that count.

The small "thank you's" also give you insight into what you should stress in your marketing copy.

Because you're a top agent, you do things as a matter of routine that lesser agents don't do. You take those things for granted because you feel it's the right way to do business. So when someone gives you a seemingly small "thanks," you might not even notice. Start noticing.  

Those are things that set you apart from the crowd, and they do belong in your marketing copy.

For instance: When you return a call a few minutes after a client left a message and they say "Thanks for calling back so soon." How about when you guide buyers to a house that has some special feature they were hoping for and they say "You remembered!" Or even when a client thanks you for meeting with them in the evening because they couldn't take time off from work earlier in the day.

Your clients aren't taking those small things for granted because in their eyes, they're not only important, they represent better service than they've had in the past.

Before I write marketing copy for real estate agents I ask them to fill out a questionnaire. One of the questions asks what they do different/better than the average agent. Unfortunately, many agents can't answer that until I poke and prod for a while. They simply don't realize that what they do is superior to what the majority does. 

So - pay attention. Keep a notebook handy and jot down the compliments you get. Then use that information in your marketing copy.

And if you aren't sure how to work it in, get in touch... I love writing copy that helps real estate agents let their prospects know that they are the one to choose.  

 

Comments(14)

David Shamansky
US Mortgages - David Shamansky - Highlands Ranch, CO
Creative, Aggressive & 560 FICO - OK, Colorado Mtg

great points here. I think I am going to use these recent compliments as part of our ads bullet points! Thanks for the tip this is good stuff

Feb 09, 2012 05:37 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Thanks David. I've found in writing for agents that the best ones often don't realize just how special they are.

Feb 09, 2012 06:04 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Great tips, Marte.  Recently, we've gotten some great online reviews and I need to add those to a few other places.  I love these ideas for copy..and even blog posts, too.

Feb 09, 2012 09:13 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Debbie - Considering how you work for your clients, you probably have more compliments than you can sort!

Feb 10, 2012 05:22 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Marte, anytime I am fortunate enough to gain a new client, I ask early on in the conversation --- how did you find me?    I so want to know what is working with my marketing!

Feb 11, 2012 04:52 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Joan - That's something all of us should do religiously. Unfortunately, too often I get "Ummm, somewhere on line."

Feb 11, 2012 05:22 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Marte- what a great idea.  We always try to get testimonials from our clients either in written or video format but using the "compliments" we receive from our clients to use as our "tag" lines makes sense. 

Feb 11, 2012 10:59 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Kathy - Good for you for getting video testimonials!

Feb 11, 2012 06:50 PM
Chris Lewis
Gracious Living Realty - Front Royal, VA
I want to SELL your home, not LIST it!

We haven't been making enough use of the testimonials we receive, but started going through the files of letters this month to pull out some of the quotes to use.

Feb 12, 2012 03:52 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Chris - Good for you! And in the future - ask right away if you can use those comments on your website.

Feb 12, 2012 04:26 AM
Rebekah Radice
Imagine WOW! Digital Marketing Agency - Burbank, CA
Social Media Marketing, Coaching & Training

As always Marte...excellent post and points you've made!  Compliments are gold nuggets and too often we dismiss them without realizing how important they really are.  I love the idea of jotting them down so we can use them later.  I carry my notebook everywhere so this is just one more thing to write down and hang onto.  

Thank you!!

Feb 12, 2012 06:15 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Rebekah - I'm so good at giving people more things to do. At least that's what my husband says.

Feb 12, 2012 06:56 AM
Eric Michael
Remerica Integrity, Realtors®, Northville, MI - Livonia, MI
Metro Detroit Real Estate Professional 734.564.1519

I always forget to write down the testimonials or ask them to write something about their real estate experience with me. I gotta keep this in mind.

Feb 12, 2012 10:54 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Eric - Yes you do. Testimonials are some of the most valuable copy you can have on your website.

Feb 12, 2012 11:46 AM