The Price is Right: But my marketing budget is tight!

The Price is Right. But my Marketing budget is tight.     

Funny. Just this past Sunday,I was reading again the blog Rich Real Estate Agent Poor Real Estate Agent. I admit I haven't been doing a good job reviewing my real estate business plan every month like I am supposed to so that I can gauge my success with the products that I am utilizing and determine which products,tools and services I need to eliminate and replace them with and which ones that I need to keep in my business plan. Writing this blog alone was tough too. Writing this blog I discovered that I really,really need to hire either a Virtual Assistant or Assistant very quick and soon. Hopefully that is going to happen.

Every day I am either on Active Rain or one of the two Mastermind groups on Facebook that I am a member of What should I spend my money on? and Real Estate Success Principles. If you are not a member of these two groups, I highly advise you to become a member of both groups. There are many programs out there that I would love to spend my money on. Its obvious that the more money you spend on different good products,tools and services,the more money you will make in your Real Estate Business. So what's a Real Estate Agent to do if he wants to make more than what he is making but can't spend more than what he is already spending on Real Estate Business? Well you just have to work with what you have I guess. But with this contest,it is an opportunity to do more of what I am currently doing.

With 85% of first time home buyers starting their home buying search online,it makes sense to spend about 85% of that $500 prize on online marketing and spend the rest of the 15% on offline marketing. 

So here's how I would spend my $500 prize money and why

1. Mobile Marketing - $87.00 a month

Why Mobile Marketing? According to www.goappstack.com

•  Over 100 MILLION smartphones are currently in use.
•  Over 50% of business searches on Google are done using mobile.
•  Customers using mobile are ready to purchase.

http://www.goappstack.com

 2. Custom Facebook site-$10 a month

This recorded webinar done by IMSD Facebook is still king in Real Estate Marketing,I remembered Jimmy Macklin said "Many of the people shouldn't follow or do what a lot of Real Estate Agents are doing on Facebook as far as Real Estate Marketing because some of them are doing it wrong. Plus he said Facebook shouldn't no longer be ignored as a Real Estate Marketing tool.

And about three weeks ago while I was watching something on CNBC,some commercial came on and this company talked about how they help companies design their Facebook page and drive traffic to the site. For the price that the guy mentioned to me,its worth taking a look at.

http://www.web.com

3. PPC-Buyerlink - $100 a month

I've generated many leads with my Market Leader website Buy a home in Washington DC since February of this year. While I have had some communication with some of my leads who really want to buy,around 80% are home buyers who are more than 12 months away from buying a house or just browsing because they have nothing better to do. But with a PPC campaign if done right (PLEASE ANYONE GIVE ME SOME GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS),I have a very good chance of capturing some home buyer and seller leads who are twelve months away from buying and or selling a house. Might get some leads who are either nine months or less away from buying or selling their home. Many people I've heard have had success with PPC campaign especially if you target certain keywords. So that would be something that I would definitely love to try. Plus if you spend $100,you will an additional $50 credit that you can add to your PPC campaign.

http://www.buyerlink.com

4. Real Estate Coach-Darin Persinger- As low as $150 a month

I've always wanted a Real Estate Coach. Many of the top producers on the Top 1000 Wall Street Real Estate Professionals in 2012 are successful because they are trained by great real estate coaches. Top real estate coaches that I usually hear of are Darin Persinger,Mike Ferry,Diane Kokoszka,Tom Ferry,Brian Buffini,Joe Stumpf,Craig Proctor,Dirk Zeller and Corcoran Consulting and Coaching. But their services don't come cheap either. One of my favorite Active Rainers said that she is coached by him and that he is very good.  Many people say that he is a good Real Estate Coach as well according to their testimonials on his Active Rain profile http://activerain.com/darinpersinger. 

There are some things that a Real Estate Coach can teach you to help you take your real estate business to the next level. Hiring a Real Estate Coach can be similiar to why some people hire a personal trainer to help them get in shape and stay healthy. If I hire a Real Estate Coach who guides me and holds me accountable,I strongly feel that I am going to be much more productive and accomplish my goals as a Real Estate Professional. Besides name one successful person or athlete who didn't have a very good coach help him achieve success? New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady wouldn't win Three Super Bowls if he didn't have a good coach in Bill Bellick. Denver Broncos Peyton Manning wouldn't be a FOUR TIME NFL MVP and Super Bowl Champion if he didn't have a good coach. Michael Jordan is not the best athlete to play the game because of his innate skills and talent. He had the brilliant Zen Master Phil Jackson helped elevate his basketball talents to higher heights and win six NBA Championships.

http://www.productivityjunkies.com

5. Real Estate Assistant-(On a part time BASIS)-$100.00 a month.

And with three new tools that I am sure is going to help me generate some leads,ON TOP of the leads that I am generated on my leads,ON TOP of buyer and seller leads and deals that I currently have pending,I would finally hire a Assistant. Now I actually one to hire a Real Estate Virtual Assistant. There are three maybe four people on my list. And all four of them are on Active Rain. But since I don't know how much they charge since it is not posted on their websites,I can't choose neither one of them. 

Plus I have to see if this will work on I am not going to sign a long term contract. I am going to do something for a short time to start off with. And once I close more deals from these leads,I will be able to hire a buyer's agent and/or a Real Estate Assistant. And have them take the DISC test to see what their personality trait is.

http://www.odesk.com

6.  Real Estate Newsletters/Postcards- $53

And finally some off line marketing. So what kind of off line marketing will I do. I am going to farm with my newsletters/postcards. Door knock and hand out my newsletters/postcards at a small subdivision,apartment complex with few tenants,local businesses or new builders. With $53 left on my budget,this is all I can afford to. Besides off marketing still works. Don't believe me,just ask Barbara Todaro The most powerful marketing tool to find listings and its only 4-x-5-

http://www.reamark.com

www.activerain.com/real-estate-marketing

 “This post is an entry for the $500 Real Estate Marketing and Tech Challenge.  Learn more about this ActiveRain contest at www.activerain.com/marketing-challenge.”