I am one of those Rookies swimming in the sea with no real mentor to help me lead the way. BUT - I'm trusting the "ME" that I've known all of my life and though it is slow going I am planting roots that I truly believe will come back around in a good way over the next few years (and hopefully until I can no longer drive :) ).
As others have done; I too create my own marketing material. The only thing I do order is Business Cards and Nascar Magnet Schedules; those 2 things I cannot have enough of and it's cheaper to order them than print them myself (time is an issue as well).
One thing I noticed foremost is the lack of "Internet" presence Spencer County Indiana has. So many local business folk don't yet see the benefits in online marketing; I however am a total geek and over the past 5 - 8 months I have followed a strict regiment of getting my face and name on "Search Engine" band-wagons. I use MySpace, WannaNetwork, Care2Connect, EBay, Yahoo Groups and as many Free Submit Online Directories as I can manage. Now I realize that you "Get What You Pay For" in many instances but to do a search today vs. before I started doing this tells me that regardless --- it's helping and I AM pulling up in those searches (and I'm far from finished).
As for local marketing ideas: I used to manage a Payday Loan company over in Jasper. The majority of it's centers were destroyed in hurricane katrina but to succeed in that industry in JASPER was like pulling teeth and I took my Brand NEW branch to 2nd in the state for "New Growth" in only 8 weeks time. So - when they closed their doors and I decided to launch my Real Estate Career I knew I would use some of the same methods I used to build that store.
- Partner with Buy Here/Pay Here Car Dealers: Just exchange Flyers and Business Cards
- Partner with Pizza Companies: Offer to build their boxes in exchange for putting a flyer on the box
- Partner with Toys 4 Tots: Do you realize that you get more than 20 Radio Ad Mentions PER DAY during the Toys4Tots Season? Take advantage of this and know it's for a great cause!
I even maintain a membership on our Local TV Channel Blogs/Groups and try to post on a weekly basis because everyone in the tri-state (or a LOT of people) log on and see my signature etc...
Being a Rookie is tough; especially where there is not true set of "Training Standards" happening in your office. All I can say is to use every avenue, get creative and just keep plugging.
-- Jenn
;)
Links;)
Archives
Jennifer, A rookie? You're doing so much. You're ahead of the game!