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What form of marketing will work for you?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Cornerstone Business Group Inc 0225086119

Just because everyone else is doing something doesn't mean you should do the same. Does that sound like a parent-child comment? Well, it kind of is, but that's not my intention this time. About 15 years ago, I raced mountain bikes on an amateur team. It was a blast. We did 24 hour relay races. So, that meant that for about 36 hours, you didn't get any sleep or rest, but the adrenaline that you were operating under was like a Red Bull drip.

One of the problems we ran into from time to time was rain. Rain can make cycling a real challenge. Mountain bike tires are designed with deep treads that bite into the dirt really well, unless the dirt becomes mud. Once those knobby tires are full of mud, they can add a good 10-20 lbs, or more, to your ride, and those tires also become slicks which give you no traction on any path.

Because of the mud issue, I decided to ride on slicks. The tires weren't slick like a like a balding rock star. They were knurled in the middle and had tread down the sidewalls. On a mountain bike course, you're often riding at sharp angle to the ground. The sidewall treads evacuated the mud very quickly and the knurled center didn't accept any mud, but it did offer a little bite. People thought I was crazy, but my 16 lb bike stayed 16 lbs throughout the races, and my teammate's bikes gained weight like a bored teenager. 

The point is this, in any business, your success will depend on what works for you under changing circumstances. As a real estate agent, I'm not a door knocker, or a cold caller or a lot of other things. I love the Internet, and the Internet has become my marketing partner. I've invested my energy on designing and maintaining a web-presence that funnels clients to me over and over. 

In the early days, I received a lot of advice from other agents who followed traditional paths. It didn't take long to realize, if I was going to be successful in this business, I had to find my own path. I had to determine what would work for me. Though many colleagues had tried and true systems that were working for them, I knew I could never do them. They were mud on my tires. I would find myself exhausted and frustrated if I used their methods. 

In this business, you've got to take a realistic look in the mirror. What is most compatible with your personality? I will never do some forms of marketing, but I will follow paths that I can excel in. If you're shy, knocking on doors may not be for you. Something else will likely work better with your personality. 

What form of marketing will work for you? Don't worry if it's not what everyone else is doing. Some people thought I was nuts for using slicks in mud. At least that's what they thought until they had to carry that extra mud across a mountain at 3:00 am in the morning. I made a choice that seemed bizarre at the time, but it didn't take long for others to see the value in it. 

Comments(17)

Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I was just having this conversation with an agent whose only been in the business for a year and a half.  Don't do things just because people tell you to.  Figure out what you will do consistently that fits your style.  And keep track of what is working.

Aug 22, 2016 04:59 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV

That says it all in less words, Chris Ann. 

Aug 22, 2016 05:18 AM
Denise Hamlin, Broker/Owner
Cardinal Realty ~ 319-400-0268 - Iowa City, IA
Helping Happy Clients Make Smart Choices

Love the mountain bike analogy. And yes, I completely agree. It just so happens the Internet is my marketing tool of choice too. If you're good at door knocking, go for it. I'm not. I found very early on that it's very hard to be consistent doing something you don't like to do. And consistency is the key to success in real estate.

Aug 22, 2016 05:25 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV

Well said, Denise.

Aug 22, 2016 05:26 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Mike- when you're starting out, you have to try different methods but at some point, you have to figure out what's going to fit into your personal world.  

Aug 22, 2016 05:34 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV

Kathy, I'm so glad to be working at this time. I would have really have had a hard time using traditional methods.

Aug 22, 2016 06:52 AM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Mike, as a new agent, I did the door knocking and the cold calling for about five minutes, knew I was horrible at both as neither matched my personality. If we're not enjoying what we're doing, our clients will see it and failure will be on the horizon. Do what works for YOU, it's not about others anyway. Great post!

Aug 22, 2016 06:19 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV

Beth, you are so right. Clients know when we're thriving and when we're not. 

Aug 22, 2016 06:52 AM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Mike, so, so true! If the shoe doesn't fit, you will limp, moan, complain, cry and toss it out! 

I am very comfortable with internet marketing. Not so with door knocking or calling. 

Aug 22, 2016 06:22 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV

That's a great image, Andrea.

Aug 22, 2016 06:51 AM
Donna Foerster
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Great post Mike. This should be featured! We all hear ideas from other agent about what worked for them, but that doesn't mean it will work the same for us. We need to play to our strengths!

Aug 22, 2016 10:49 AM
Donna Foerster

I know of a several new agents who got "regular jobs" because they couldn't find their way.

Aug 22, 2016 10:55 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV

Exactly, Donna. I can see how agents can leave the business out of frustration because they are trying to operate outside of their strengths. 

Aug 22, 2016 10:52 AM
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Mike, this is very good report on what form of marketing will work.

Aug 22, 2016 11:33 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

I must admit that I've been licensed since 1981, and have never knocked on a door to market.  I've found that staying in touch with past clients, via a newsletter has been the most reliable over the years.

Aug 22, 2016 01:49 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Another good analogy Mike, we do need to step out and do what will work for us.

Aug 22, 2016 03:00 PM
Gordon Freeman
RST Consultation CO., LTD. - Conway, WA
nhatrangrenting.com

Try to focus more on social media.

Aug 22, 2016 06:17 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Good morning Mike.  The people who decide on features missed out on this one. 

Aug 22, 2016 07:44 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I can't agree more - we definitely should do what works for us and what fits our personality. 

Aug 22, 2016 08:56 PM
JM Padron, CCIM, CCP
THE JMTEAM NETWORK - Orlando, FL
CCIM, CCP, International Commercial Broker

This is a great post Mike, love the analogy, what it works for some doesn't work for all of us, and I agree 100%, your effective method must be tied to your personality. Thanks for sharing

Aug 22, 2016 09:45 PM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning Mike Cooper I agree fully with JM Padron, CCIM and came here from his reblog.... I hope many read this post.... the point here is that you need to find your passion and comfort zone....and then go full force.... you'll leave them all in the dust....

Aug 22, 2016 10:02 PM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV

Barbara, I couldn't agree more. 

Aug 22, 2016 10:38 PM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Mike. I like your style and your creativity is what makes you unique.

Aug 22, 2016 11:04 PM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV

Thank you, Sheila. 

Aug 22, 2016 11:17 PM
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Mike, this was a very creative post and it is true. Rather than following the habits of the maddening crowd, often the alternate path works better for us. Thanks to JM Padron, CCIM for his re-post of your blog.

Aug 22, 2016 11:26 PM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV

That alternate path has been good to me, Sandy and Norm. 

Aug 22, 2016 11:43 PM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

I am like you. My main marketing focus is through my website.  I used to do all the cold calling and door knocking. Not for me anymore, as are scripts which I never used. We have to find our own path.

Aug 24, 2016 05:46 AM