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Do you use Hobbs-Herder?

Hobbs-Herder paid a yearly visit to our office. We have thought about using them in the past to do a professional layout for our team. The marketing materials that agents who do use them in our office are quite nice and we are wondering...by a show of hands (or e-mails) if you think the considerable money spent is worth it or not.

We do a good amount of business now and are not sure we should spend the additional money on the program. It needs to make our lives easier (not necessarily make us more money). We do the majority of our business of our website www.katyhomefinder.com so give us your opinion please.

Posted by Team DiMuria, Katy Texas Realtors on 12/08/2007 12:00 PM

Comments (17)

real estate advice from your katy texas realtors

17 Comments on Do you use Hobbs-Herder?

DEC

2007

Who is Hobbs-Herder? Are they a national organization or just regional? Do they have a website?

Hobbs-Herder has pitched me a couple of times. I just cannot justify the expense. Maybe if you had a team of ten agents it might make financial sense.

They are the top national real estate advertising company. I believe the website is www.hobbsherder.com

Hire a business coach instead!

Hey Jill,

I am wondering if the program could make for an easier time achieving the goals I have (better advertising on my website as an example) so I can work less! I am not sold either...just a thought.

I find H&H very limited.

I looked at them 2 years ago and found their system to be OK, if yo`ure a novice.

I have been to one of their seminars and there was a lot of interesting information, but it is not gospel. I used some of their ideas and created my own branding system, for a much lower cost. I like it and it makes it easy to have a guide line to go by, but no means is the anwswer to all. It sounds like you have a nice business going as it is. I would just borrow from them to incorporate into your own program.

I have been looking at H/H for a while. I decided to not use them because I wasn't sure that the business philosophy they promote matches with mine. However, they have a lot of great information, and insights. I wouldn't completely pass on them, but I would also investigate other vendors and options.

MAR

2008

I'm a currrent HH client. I've been using them for more than two years. It has been the bes thing that has come my way. They are not just a marketing program, they also give you the tools and systems you'll need to keep the leads and clients you get praising your services. It gives you a road map of how to set up your BUSINESS and treat it as such. With every business there is an investment and risk. For me, it has delivered on everything they promised and I go back to my local Gateway seminar to pick up more tips. It is a process and you have to be diligent. But it works!

JUL

I have just signed up for the H&H Gateway seminar in Baltimore, and I am very pumped about going. I am new and still getting my feet wet and establishing a client base. This may be why I am so excited but actually I agree with Sidney above that it will be a process and I will have to be diligent & that if this is your style in business it can work great. Sometimes the things I have learned in seminars in my 2 career fields have been very basic common sense but until someone 'guides' you and assist you in following through - it just doesn't get done. As Greg Herder said in the 'video' A Winning Mindset (I watched through my company's intranet) -- Some of these things are very easy to do.... and therefore are very easy Not to do.....

That really struck home with me..

Has Anyone else had any experiences with the Hobbs & Herder seminars?

OCT

2 other agents from my office and I are going to the seminar in Baltimore Oct 6. I'm pretty excited about it. I can handle all the print materials myself since i just recently retired from my graphic design business, but I am interested in creating a knockout website that can help capture buyer and seller leads. I talked to an agent that had HH do his web site, and while happy with the overall product and philosophy, did not have a particularly good experience with the web piece of it.

So... I'm looking for a company that can help me with a sophisticated web site design. Any recommendations?

OCT

If you are not going to use their website or materials...then you shouldn't pay the money to go to the seminar. That kind of defeats the process for you unless you want to get the "marketing philosophy" that most agents don't get and is the reason for the success of their agents.

Website don't need to be sophisticated...what they need is way for people to interact with the site and that is done with content..giving away free reports, and talking about YOU..not your designations and the stale "I'm the best agent because I have experience and I work for you, my client" There needs to be a reason for their visits which include free reports, a blog and connections with the other social sites.

Their sites also includes a very good contact management system that helps keep ALL the materials in sync...the postcards, free reports, website, logo and emails are all the same look..to keep all your touches consistent. The contact mangement system is simiar to TopProducer...the system is SmarterMail

Many of the agents in our office HATE the websites for HH even if they like the marketing materials.

I suggest a Point2Agent website and use one of the many sources that they offer who do site upgrades.

If you do any website, I would suggest something from a company that is not just real estate related because you will "look" like everyone else. Keep it simple and offer materials people want which gives them a reason to visit and coming back.

Thanks for the comments. I can design the look and feel of the site no problem. Just need someone to implement with all the real estate bells and whistles and a way to manage the contacts, emails etc. I've noticed that many of the Hobbs Herder sites look similar. Some are outstanding from a visual standpoint, but many are pedestrian.

The beauty of HH is how they make you understand what is important and what is not. A nice looking website with the "bells ans whistles" is not what you concentrate on. The key is to have a consistent look on all your materials. The site. Your emails, business card, signs...everything needs to be the same. The other major thing they help you to realize is that your brokerage is secondary. YOU are the commodity and your logo should be front and center. If you put the brokerage first then you are solidifying their marketing. They will remember the brokerage because at that point it is more familiar than your name.

The HH websites include a contact management software in which you can send branded emails to your clients and colleagues. One button sends it to everyone on your lists. It's similar to the many Realtor flyer emails except these look like your website and other materials. Look at some of the content offered in the HH sites and they won't be the same cookie cutter offerings from the other template agent sites. If you want to build your own and have the extras put in the you might as well get the HH site and copy it for your other branding.

OCT

I went to the seminar, was impressed with the presentation and did sign up with them to write copy and do the web site. I spoke with the webmaster (also a designer) who said that yes, they did have problems in the past keeping up when the market was crazy and booming. They are currently handling their work load quite well and don't anticipate scheduling problems.

As an owner of a graphic design firm for many years, my assessment of their price of approx. $5600 was not out of line to develop a site, given that all of the backend contact management and email software was provided.

We will see. I am willing and excted about working on this.

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