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If you were a product would people pick you off the shelf?

By
Education & Training with Bill Fields Learning Systems

All Star Coaching SalewomanFirst of March is coming fast. The end of March will mark the end of our first quarter for 2012. Make sure your goals are set, your strategies are created and your action steps are complete.

 

If you were a product, how would you market yourself?

 

Would you be high-priced or marked down? Would you advertise yourself as the "best" or the "best alternative"? The "fastest" or the "longest lasting"? The "most convenient" or the "most exclusive"?

 

These are not idle questions. If you were introducing a new product or service, you could easily spend months and thousands of dollars trying to come up with some answers to insure success.

 

That's why it amazes me when genuinely talented people do not apply the same principles to an even more important product-themselves.

 

The more I deal with top producing sales professionals, the more I appreciate how personal marketing-and more important positioning-helped them get there.

 

The most successful real estate sales professionals not only do the right thing at the right time (or even the wrong time), but they know how to turn it to their advantage. Ask them about their success and they'll tell you they not only worked hard and did a good job but they were always focused on positioning themselves correctly in the market.

 

This sort of "positioning" requires neither brilliance nor scheming, just a little honesty and objectivity about how you are packaging yourself in your market and what your long term personal promotion plan is.

 

Think of yourself as a product and create a plan to position your product and get more people to buy it.

 

Thought for today: The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong too be broken!

 

Have a productive day.

 

BF

Joy Daniels
Joy Daniels Real Estate Group, Ltd. - Harrisburg, PA

Bill~ WoW!  2012 is flying by.  I can't believe February is almost history!!  We also try to be sure that our service is top notch in our office...

Feb 22, 2012 10:21 AM
Anonymous
Anonymous

Ellie, everyone needs a good plan to market themselves and to follow that plan. I grew up in Baltimore and miss those Maryland crab cakes!!

Feb 22, 2012 10:23 AM
#15
Laurie Clark CRB Angel Realty LLC Your Monument Realtor 719-502-6572
CRB-CCSS-ASD-HBS-RSD-Denver Short Sale Agents - Monument, CO
Angel Realty, LLC

Congrats on the feature! You make some excellent points, Marketing plans are critical to our success. Thanks for sharing and have  a great week.

Feb 22, 2012 12:36 PM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale
This is an interesting idea. We should be marketing ourselves in the same way we would mark a home.
Feb 22, 2012 01:14 PM
Ron Cooks
The Real Estate Marketplace - Killeen, TX
Texas Real Estate, Ft Hood/Killeen Homes for Sale

I like the commodity perspective you've introduced, an interesting way to evaluate our worth.

Feb 22, 2012 06:29 PM
Cheryl Ritchie
RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD
Southern Maryland 301-980-7566
Great thought provoking post for this early AM blog reading sprint!
Feb 22, 2012 07:27 PM
Bill Fields
Bill Fields Learning Systems - Treasure Island, FL

Thanks Cheryl, Ron, Tammie and Colrado Realtors, appreciate your feedback. Check for our daily post and let us know what you think. Haver an incredible day.

Feb 22, 2012 08:15 PM
FN LN
Toronto, ON

Hi Bill - Choosing the appropriate marketing images and slogans are critical.  Some businesses and people select slogans that cause others to never use their services.

Feb 22, 2012 08:27 PM
Bill Fields
Bill Fields Learning Systems - Treasure Island, FL

Marc, you are absolutely right. It's like that haven't really thought about the message the customer will receive. Thanks for your thoughts!

Feb 22, 2012 08:42 PM
Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA
Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD
301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

I'm so happy that you got one featured Bill. . .now a lot more people will get to know the person that inspired me earlier in my career.

Feb 22, 2012 09:17 PM
Bill Fields
Bill Fields Learning Systems - Treasure Island, FL

Fernando,

Thanks for your kind words and constant support. I think it's more about the title than the content! I'll have to keep working onthose titles!! Have an incredible day.

Feb 22, 2012 09:49 PM
Bryan Robertson
Los Altos, CA

Interesting perspective on how agents brand themselves.  I try to avoid using terms such as "best" but instead focus on what information and experience I bring to the table.  If I can give the client an edge, that's my brand promise.

Feb 22, 2012 11:22 PM
Bill Fields
Bill Fields Learning Systems - Treasure Island, FL

Bryan, I think you make a good point. The clients are interested in how what we offer benefits them not who calls themselves the best. Thanks for your thoughts.

Feb 22, 2012 11:48 PM
Adrian Willanger
206 909-7536 AdrianWillanger-broker.com - Seattle, WA
Profit from my two decades of experience

Bill-Not unlike how vendors fight for key space on grocery story shelves and isle, agents need to do this in the mind of their clients. I like the concept you use on how do you position yourself when marketing yourself? Positioning is a key component of being successful. 

Feb 23, 2012 05:46 AM
Bill Fields
Bill Fields Learning Systems - Treasure Island, FL

Adrian, I like the grocery store analogy. Thanks for the feedback. I hope you'll look for our daily blog. Wishing you much success.

Feb 23, 2012 07:09 AM
Jill Sackler
Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY
LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

Food for thought. The year is going so quickly and I'm not where I want to be.

Feb 24, 2012 05:22 AM
Charles Stallions
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services - Pensacola, FL
850-476-4494 - Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze, Fl.

Being the "Total Package" I am a high price commodity so people will pay the price because I am in such demand. LOL Great post worthy of a feature and a repost.

Feb 29, 2012 09:35 PM
Bill Fields
Bill Fields Learning Systems - Treasure Island, FL

Charles, great response. I wish more agents understood their worth and helped to protect our commission dollars. Thanks for responding. Hope you'll follow our daily thoughts.

Feb 29, 2012 09:37 PM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Excellent points.  Those  of us who are on top of our game keep the bar high.  That's a good thing.  

Mar 07, 2012 10:00 AM
Bill Fields
Bill Fields Learning Systems - Treasure Island, FL

Paula, you're right, keeping the bar high is a good thing! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Mar 07, 2012 10:07 AM