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Hey I am Here!

I read a post today that caught my eye: Sellers Resort to Weird Deals by Heather Joubran

Randy Prothero's Mall Sign She wrote about some of the creative things sellers have done in tough markets to try and sell their homes. I enjoyed the post and thought I would add my twist to the topic.

I have a little different twist on that thought. The creative ideas may not be what sell the home or yourself, but it may get you noticed in a sea of noise.

If you have a home in a neighborhood that has a lot of listings for sale, how will you get yours noticed? Step out of the box and make it stand out somehow. How about park a nice shiny Harley Davidson on the front lawn with a sales sign on it. For Sale $250,000. We Will Throw the House in for Free.

Sounds silly, but think about it. It may not sell the home, but I bet it will get more people noticing it and possibly a few more showings.

In my town I market myself with the slogan: "Not Just Another Pretty Face"

Now that slogan does not make people hire me as their REALTOR®. (I take that back a couple of clients specifically referenced my slogan.) Let me rephrase that. In general the slogan does not get me business, it gets me noticed. Along with my other marketing efforts, I am one of the most recognized agents in my area. It may not guarantee me business, but it definitely opens doors.

So when you are hitting the wall and getting no progress, consider stepping out of the box a little. Lighten it up and you may get noticed. Once you get noticed you still have to earn the business.

Posted by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® on 03/27/2008 05:19 AM

Comments (50)

marketing, real estate, hawaii, mililani, realtor

Originally posted at: Hawaii Randy's Real Estate Opinions: Hey I am Here!

This post has been included in Hawaii Information Honolulu County, HI Information

50 Comments on Hey I am Here!

MAR

2008

Randy, for some odd reason I love it! It's creative and will surely be remembered.

I love the Harley idea - may have to bring that up to some of my agents and clients trying to sell homes...just might get that extra attention necessary!

Stepping out of the box does get you noticed.

Great ideas. My first office manager (I wish I still had him) always told us: "Be different" Stand out" There are thousands of Realtors in The Keys. Why pick you". Words to live by.

Do you have the "Not just another pretty face" slogan copyrighted? May I use it? I really like it.

Gary

You are known for your tag line. It is what people remember.

I like your ideas for getting noticed. They are tasteful, whimsical, and harmless. We need to be careful about what we say to get noticed. We don't want to unintentionally insult or offend anyone.

Most of the neighborhoods we live in are gated and don't allow long term vehicles to be out side including motorcycles...good idea though.

This is some great advice - I like to think of it as going against the current - Don't do what everybody else is doing. Good Luck

At the end of the day, gimmicks, silliness, and over the edge marketing only gets you so far. It must be backed up with great results, not just service. Imagine a doctor advertising FREE SURGERY ... but the coffee in the waiting room costs $75,000.

That is a great way to step outside of the box! Catching people's attention is huge, after all, that is when it all begins!

Hi Randy,
It is true with so many homes on the market, we do need to find a way to stand out from the crowd. I agree with Mike, once you get the consumer's attention....then you must be FOR REAL!

Randy:

I like your ad! Really does get you noticed ... pretty face and all that you have to offer a customer in need of some real estate consulting.

Sometimes I throw big block parties around my open houses. Gets me noticed and some new customers but never sells the home.

Great idea - and amusing. That would make me want to hire YOU!!! I believe in showing your personality and humor.

Marketing is a fascinating subject to me, and I enjoy finding creative ways to get noticed. I may just use the Harley idea that you referenced!

Getting noticed is getting harder and harder as the Internet becomes more competitive. It's working me to a frazzle.

Dsitinguishing yourself and to a point branding yourself. Both great ways to get noticed...but your right, once you do get noticed, you need to earn the business! Great post!

Getting noticed is what leads to business...heck, getting noticed will get you a speeding ticket as well!

Kris - When I first came up with it, my plan was to make a new humorous slogan each month on my ads. The first month I used this one and I got a lot of response and kept it.

Nathan - if what they are doing is not working, why not try something creative?

Dennis - With several thousand agents in my market, I can't do the same thing the others are doing and be noticed.

Gary - I couldn't agree more.

Gary - The slogan only works if you have a mug like mine. It is also nationally recognized through the blogs and REALTOR® groups. Come up with a new one.

P. Timothy - I have agents from other areas call for showings or visit my open houses that I have never met and they ask if I am that pretty face REALTOR®.

Hi Randy,

I love your creativity! We all know that "man bites dog" gets more attention than the usual.

Rosario - Good point, you do not want to insult anyone.

Neal - I guess you have to get even more out of the box then.

Vincent - You also have to enjoy what you are doing.

Mike - It would make me look. LOL (I don't drink coffee).

I will share two examples of listings that I got from the slogan. The first was going to interview three agents. She called and asked if this was ‘Not Just Another Pretty Face" I was the first call she made. Once I got here on the phone she decided not to call the other agents and I got the listing. I sold her home and we have since become very good friends.
I have a listing in escrow that will be closing in two weeks. When I asked the seller why she chose me, she said she liked my face. She was referencing the sign I have shown on this post. She also said that with that heavy of marketing I must be successful.

Nancy - Absolutely! You still have to perform and prove yourself. But if they do not meet you, that can not happen.

Cynthia - That is absolutely correct. But you must get their attention to prove that.

Jan - Thank you, I have found it to be quite successful.

Kevin -You might send invitations to the top 25 agents in the area and invite them and their buyers to a similar event.

Sharon - Thank you! I believe in lightening it up a little.

Jason - I have always wanted to do it, but have not had the right situation. I also do not have a nice Harley. (My goal for next year) First I have to learn to ride motorcycle.

Lenn - You are one of the best on the internet. I bet it working your competitors to a frazzle much worse with you in the market. :)

Casey - Nothing replaces professional practices.

Gary W. - Sometimes getting noticed is not all good. Because I am so well recognized and my vehicles have my marketing on them, I have to be careful to be a courteous driver and never do anything that I do not want people seeing me doing.

Lynda - That is a good one.

This is a great tag line! I can't get it out of my head now. A catchy slogan is what you need because that helps people remember you, as you said. Best of luck!

Randy I love your additions to the blog. You're right it might not sell your house but it does get you noticed. There was a woman here in Orlando when Hannah Montana was in concert was giving away the tickets for free with the sale of her house. They were front row. Of course didnt sell her house but she made national news.

Great idea Randy. Thinking outside the box and lightening things up never hurt anyone!

Randy - you're a pretty face but so much more! Have you used chess pieces or motifs in your marketing?

My motto is to be a zebra in the middle of a herd of horses. You always want to stand out. Around here the agents use the same format business card (so mine is very different!) and they all use a very similar flyer. Mine is totally different than the "standard" around here. It's the only way to get noticed!

Sal - I walked in a property rental office earlier and as I walked in I heard someone call out my slogan. It works.

Heather - I am sure she got her home more showings.

Chris - I agree.

Sharon - I haven't, but did in a previous business. My logo was a chess piece and a palm tree. I should really consider that since I am so well known for my chess efforts.

My picture was on the front page of the community paper yesterday, because of how well our children did at the state championships.

Erica - I like your style. My cards are custom designed to be unique as are my flyers and website.

MAR

2008

Randy - Thanks for this post. I better get some creative ideas going - 1st a slogan.

MAR

2008

Randy, I fully agree. Several months ago, I was trying to come with a slogan. But, nothing gave me that warm fuzzy feeling. I should start thinking about it again.

One of the things I love about Real Estate is being able to be different and think outside the box... nice reminder

Virginia - I don't think there are many in my market known for their slogan. That is part of the reason I chose to go that direction.

Rick - It will just hit you one day.

Thesa - There is so much business out there, that all we have to do is pick a niche` and carve it out.

Great post, Randy! You're right about getting noticed being the first step!

Patricia - Thank you

MAR

2008

Randy, i fully agree we must stand out. Great post.

Frank - Thank you.

Randy.... I totally agree.... you make some great points. Yes, it might not always get you business, but getting you recognized certainly could add business in the future. Now, I have been away from the rain for several weeks... and have noticed some features that... well, let me just say, I have seen better... this one should have been featured because of the message... nice job.

I love this creative "out of the box" idea. If I was the buyer and saw a sign on the harley with a FREE home, I probably will buy.

Randy,

Out-of-the-box creativity makes all the difference in a tough mortgage and real estate market like this. Your idea to get at least noticed sounds really valid. It's a good starting point.

MAR

2008

Jeff - Thank you. i have not been as active here the last couple of weeks also. My business has been picking up.

Tina - I may not buy it, but I would definitely look at it.

Esko - If you do not get noticed, you have no opportunity to earn their business.

I am one of those that have been told I'm out of the box a lot! Because of it I try new things and I am amazed at why people have hired me. Something I tried two years ago that I thought was stupid and didn't work was the exact reason they hired me. They thought it was funny, remembered it and kept the thing in their car for the past two years. What was it? A little American Flag that I put on peoples mail boxes on flag day!

Todd - That would be well received in my neighborhood. We have a lot of military. When we first sent troops to Iraq, I bought a stack of magnetic yellow ribbons for my neighbors cars. I still have them on my car and many of us on our street keep our flags out 7 days a week while our troops are in harms way.

APR

2008

Randy, Great post. Now is the time we all need to stand out. Sounds like you are doing a great job of it! Elizabeth www.huntsville-realestate.com

APR

2008

Elizabeth - Thank you

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