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Marketing on Autopilot is a big help when you're super-busy

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Marte Cliff Copywriting

The content of this post was originally published in November of 2012 - and I had forgotten all about it until today.

Today, I got an email telling me there was a new comment from MaryBeth Mills Muldowney, so I re-read the post and the comments. At that time, Brian Rugg told me to re-post it monthly, to remind everyone to keep marketing

It sounded like a fine idea, but of course I didn't remember to do it. 

So here I am, and I don't know if editing this will put it in the stream today, or if it will just be an edit. That means this is not just an attempt to re-post, but an experiment from which I hope to learn something. 

That said... here's some gentle nagging from 2012, with just a few edits. 

Unless you're an absolute hermit - which you aren't because you a real estate professional - you'll have extra tasks to perform in November and December. If you have kids or just love Halloween, the "extra stuff" will start even earlier. Halloween jack-o-lantern

There's someone in your life you need to shop for. You may be expecting
visitors over the holiday or may be making travel plans for either Thanksgiving or Christmas. You may be hosting 20 for Thanksgiving Dinner. You may give or attend Christmas parties.

This year, Hannukah runs from December 6 through 14, so if that's your holiday, early to mid-month will find you busy. And if yours is a family that celebrates both... oh my!

You simply have more non-work activities than usual.You need to find some more hours in your day!

So what's the easiest activity to skip?

The one that isn't calling you on the phone, sending you email messages, or dropping by: Marketing.

Marketing just sits there, waiting until you give it attention.

True, you may have an eager ad rep at your local newspaper or homes magazine calling to remind you to place an ad. But when it comes to prospecting and staying in touch with past clients and your sphere of influence, the only reminders you'll get are from yourself - or perhaps a spouse who is concerned about first quarter 2016 earnings.

So put your marketing on auto-pilot.

If you have an autoresponder program that allows you to write messages now for delivery on specific dates, get those messages loaded and ready! Want to wish your past clients a Merry Christmas or Happy Hannukah? Write the letter now and set it to go out a couple of days before the holiday.

Christmas giftsWant to encourage some sellers to list right now instead of waiting for the new year? Get my holiday prospecting letter set, load it into your autoresponder, and send them a reminder every 2-5 days. If you're already mailing regularly, start inserting one of these letters between the others - effectively lengthening your other campaign by 5 weeks. 

If you're mailing a series of letters to a niche group, take time this week to print all the letters and address the envelopes. Then, in the space where the stamp belongs, jot the date that you need to mail each letter. Put all the similar dates in a pile and stack them where you can't miss them. When the right day arrives, all you'll have to do is affix the stamps and drop them in the mail.

No one can afford to stop marketing for the next 8 or 10 weeks. To do so means to start all over on January 1 and not have any closings happening until those efforts bring results.

Put your marketing on autopilot now, so you'll have time for all those other activities.

Comments(32)

Fred Sed
Fred Sed Group ~ Your Premier Southern California Realtors - Irvine, CA
Your Southern Cali Realtor, Why? Because Fred Se

You're so right Marte! If I don't have a plan in place, I'll get busy with business and set a lot of my marketing efforts aside. It's important to always be diligent and make plans beforehand because you never know what will come up in the future.

Nov 26, 2012 01:57 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Shanna - Thank you - and you're welcome.

Amanda - Yes, if you don't set aside some time to get organized ahead of time, it's just too easy to let time and opportunities pass you by.

Nov 26, 2012 02:00 AM
Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

Marte, these are great ideas for a critical period for marketing. Debbie Laity's addition to the list is also a great idea!

Nov 26, 2012 02:01 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Fred - anything that isn't screaming for attention is easy to set aside when you get busy.

Sharon - I think so too. Enlisting your children in your work takes some of the burden from you - and is a terrific learning experience for them.

Nov 26, 2012 02:09 AM
Rob Arnold
Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. - Altamonte Springs, FL
Metro Orlando Full Service - Investor Friendly & F

Most of the marketing we do is online, via signs, and regular print ads. So it kind of runs by itself.  The other stuff works good too but is much more labor intensive.

Nov 26, 2012 04:59 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Rob - You're right. Those kinds of marketing help you bring in new leads. Automated marketing helps you remain "top of mind" with past clients and your sphere of influence.

However, I do like "capture" pages on websites that give you a chance to drip market to those who aren't quite ready to list or to start house-hunting with an agent. By using a special report to attract them, you can keep them in your future by letting your autoresponder send them useful information every week (or every 2 or 3 weeks).

Nov 26, 2012 05:12 AM
Sharon Sanchez
Ace Home Realty - Carson, CA
Your Number "1" Source For Real Estate.

Hi  Marte.  Thanks for you post.  A lot of agents slow down during the holiday season, but we need to going. 

Nov 26, 2012 05:50 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Sharon - The agents who succeed are the agents who keep going. I've always thought it strange to watch agents simply quit working for a month or two - and then whine all through January and February because they have no closings.

Nov 26, 2012 06:00 AM
Ron Aguilar
Gateway Mortgage Group - Saint George, UT
Mortgage & Real Estate Advisor since 1995

Don't forget to buy you wireless headset for your phone. Ask Santa for this great item. Then start calling people each day for at least 2 hours, your production will grow and so will your pipeline of prospects.

Nov 26, 2012 07:15 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Ron - The personal touch is always a good idea. And if you're at home baking cookies or wrapping gifts, the wireless headset would let you multi-task!

Nov 26, 2012 07:39 AM
Brian Rugg
Rugg Realty LLC Sun City Texas 512-818-6700 - Georgetown, TX
Sun City TX Real Estate - Georgetown, TX Real Est

Hello Marte:

 

Please make a note to re-post this at least once a month from now on. Figuring out how to more fully automate our systems and keep them very personal is a big challenge

Nov 26, 2012 10:44 AM
Nan Jester
Exit Real Estate Gallery Jacksonville Beach, FL - Jacksonville Beach, FL
Realtor, Exit Real Estate Gallery

Thanks goodness all of my marketing at this point is already on auto.

Nov 27, 2012 06:32 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Nan - It feels good, doesn't it?

Nov 27, 2012 06:54 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Brian - OK, I made a note. nMarketing IS a challenge. Back in the days when we used a newspaper and occasional postal mail, it was much simpler. Not as effective - and it cost a lot more - but it was simpler.

Nov 27, 2012 09:07 AM
John DL Arendsen
CREST "BACKYARD' HOMES, ON THE LEVEL General & Manufactured Home Contractor, TAG Real Estate Sales & Investments - Leucadia, CA
Crest Backyard Homes "ADU" dealer & RE Developer

This is a great idea. I actually never thought about post dating Holiday Greetings. Thanks

Nov 27, 2012 01:36 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

You're welcome John. Happy December!

Nov 27, 2012 02:59 PM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

I am just getting ready to put up a post about how my ActiveRain Blog Post are always out there working for me.

Nov 28, 2012 02:52 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Gene - That's true. Our posts just keep on giving...

Nov 28, 2012 09:45 AM
MaryBeth Mills Muldowney
TradeWinds Realty Group LLC - Braintree, MA
Massachusetts Broker Owner

I am writing Halloween cards as we speak!  Great to hit on different holidays with different contacts.

Oct 12, 2015 03:22 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Hi MaryBeth Mills Muldowney, you certainly found an "oldie!" It just goes to show, things don't change all that much in marketing.

I think sending Halloween cards is a wonderful idea. A lot of people mail Christmas cards, but how many reach out for Halloween - or St. Patrick's Day or the 4th of July?

You'll stand out from the crowd! 

Oct 12, 2015 03:27 AM