A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard
things well.


Americans are having 3.5 billion brand-related conversations per day. Are they talking about your brand?  Are they talking about you?  You are a brand!

According to recent findings <http://m1e.net/c?50136946-BK1jjTsGTvytY%402950489-a.kT247ovJ8Lk>  unveiled at the Word-of-Mouth conference in Las Vegas in November, spending on word-of-mouth marketing grew to $981 million in 2006, an increase of 35.9%. Word-of-Mouth marketing grew more than the overall marketing services category (7.7%) and the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (5.7%) in the same 12-month period.

Word-of-Mouth spending is expected to reach $3.7 billion by 2011 - almost 50 times more than the $76 million spent in 2001. And just who are consumers talking to? Nearly 80% trust recommendations from friends, family and 'influential' persons most. The second-most credible source is newspapers with 63%.
Are you keeping in touch with your past customers and prospects?

In today's challenging market, staying one step ahead of the competition can be the degree of separation between the successful lender and the struggling lender.  As you know, in real estate the established rule is:
"Location, Location, Location"

A great rule of mortgage lending or real estate is:
"Differentiate, Differentiate, Differentiate"

So, how can you set yourself apart from your competitors?