Ar_home_b_search
 

Or maybe for some people it is easier than it is for me. Every time I sit down to update a brochure, letter or campaign I need to work at talking about me. It is so easy to wax poetically when it comes to houses, where are the right words to describe who I am. What is my Value Added Plan, Unique Value Proposition or Personal Profile Outline? How to keep it light with just a dash of humor. Well, I found some tips help to jiggle the old brain cells. Sharing it here, I hope it helps others jog the memory.

  1. What's my purpose? What's my philosophy? Keep it simple, speak from the heart. Bring it from a place of enjoyment in what you choose to do with your time. Why did you get into real estate in the first place. This is not a place to preach. Keep your comments somewhat under control. Under promise and over deliver is always good. You want to both impress the reader and make them comfortable with you.
  2. Background Data - Licensed since when, in how many states, with what other letters beside your name, all that stuff. Plus it is helpful to talk a little about what you did before real estate. Do you have a financial or computer background? Do you have construction or interior design experience? Or maybe you have moved a lot.Relocation experience is definitely helpful to a large section of the market. People do business with people. Let them know a little about you. {I like to build gingerbread houses and have competed over the last few years at the Strawbery Banke Annual Gingerbread Contest. We won first prize last year with "Cottage on Snowflake Lane"}
  3. Who are you in town?Are you involved in community activities, member of any clubs, volunteer for local government. How long have you lived there - forever? Be a tourist in your own back yard and be able to sell it as the greatest place to live.
  4. Finally, What are you willing to promise or commit to? Words like "I am committed to..."; "I enjoy..."; "I will provide..."; "Your satisfaction is my..."; "You can rely on..."; "I feel my .... will enable me to ..."; "I promise to ..."

Growth is a never ending process. Don't let your web presence get stale with old bios and pics. Keep it updated and ever changing.

Shannon Aldrich

Keller Williams Coastal Realty

Portsmouth, NH

www.RealEstateSeacoast.com

 

 
Post is included in group: ABC's of Real Estate Marketing
Post is included in group: Agent Image & Self-Promotion
Post is included in group: Effective Farming
Post is included in group: Marketing 101
Post is included in group: Marketing for Cheapskates

11 Comments on Talking about Yourself is Hard Work

SEP
05
2008
1,545,742 Points 416 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Not to worry.  Folks don't have any interest in agents anyway.  They want to know about real estate.  They merely tolerate agents. 

I find that information about the area, homes for sale is the way to connect.  About agents, I stress experience, area knowledge and contact info.

 
9:46am • #1
207,133 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Lenn you might be right there,but sometimes maybe they want to know a bit about us. But I think the majority of the time they just call whoever is on the sign or whoever answers the phone and set somthing up with them.
9:57am • #2

Shannon. Good post. I believe and it has been proven that clients want to know the Agent. The Agent has to sell him or herself first, then the facts. If they do not have trust in you, the deal will probably never go through. Thanks for sharing. Royal..
9:58am • #3
159,958 Points Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Shannon, thanks for the blog.  I agree with your commentsbut would add: we need to be very careful about how we describe who we are.  Being a gingerbread house maker is one thing, but being a member of a particular political or religious group could offend potential clients.  Now, I'll guess the religious comment just offended some people.  If you are okay with saying you are a "Christian" Realtor, by all means please do that, just understand that some people may not want to do business with you.  If your business can handle that, then go for it.  I'm not suggesting people lower their morals or values just think about the impact of your statements before you just lay it out there for the world to see.........Lew
10:04am • #4
178,898 Points 20 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor

If you are working on a brochure, then maybe ask someone you respect to maybe write something about you from their perspective.  I think I am going to do that next time.  It could be interesting to see what they say about us instead of what we say about ourselves?
10:32am • #5
706,299 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Excellent advice!     I'm grappling with a total overhaul of my website, as we speak.    A quieter market allows for time to update.
12:22pm • #6
SEP
07
2008
1 Featured Post

Some great tips and reminders, we have to sell us before we can sell them

Have A Great Day
11:35am • #7
SEP
09
2008

I don't want to come off as cocky or arrogant so I do try to find the "right" words.  Sometimes that equates to very few words keeping the option to update later open.  The prospect should get an idea of who we are because the two of us must fit in order to work together.
8:36pm • #8

I usually see how the client acts or what they talk about and try to find common intrest, I picked up 5 buyers last week by being friendly, listening to them and being myself.
9:11pm • #9
SEP
19
2008

Shannon,

Good stuff. I respect like-minded professionals who understand the importance of preservation of reputation and building a sense of "knowing" and sincerity among their prospects, clients and colleagues. You give some great pointers which I will definitely assimilate and make use of!

When talking about myself, I like to use my "Elevator Speech", which is what I would confidently recite if I walked onto an elevator and met the Executive Director of the NHAR, and is often a ten second or so blurb that explains not only what I do but also how it benefits the prospect or listening audience. Example: "My name is Jamie Woods and I'm a 1st time buyer specialist with HeritagePlus Mortgage in Hooksett. I enlighten and educate renters all over New Hampshire on how to qualify for affordable home ownership and receive government insured, low fixed rate financing so they may stop paying their landlord's mortgage and start paying their own." 

Or, in the case of refinancing a prospective customer, "I help homeowners all over New Hampshire lower their monthly housing payments when the opportunity to do so becomes available so they may put more of their monthly money back into savings and thereby help meet the challenges of rising fuel, food and heating costs."

In addition to the great pointers and tips which you give, Shannon, if you haven't assembled and memorized at least three "elevator speeches", you should try it! They prompt the prospect to ask questions and participate in lengthy chats about THEMSELVES! And in our similar businesses THAT'S who we want talking about is our prospects because that's how we learn their issues and challenges and how we can best meet their needs!

~ Jamie
5:52pm • #10
SEP
23
2008
680,088 Points 18 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I try to keep things short and sweat about myself --and stress what it is in for the consumer!  It is tricky to maintain a consumer focus and yet demonstrate your knowledge.  
8:38am • #11

This blog does not allow anonymous comments
 
Crossedarmshires

Shannon Aldrich ~ NH & Maine Real Estate Seacoast

Rye, NH

More about me…

Keller Williams Coastal Realty

Office Phone: (603) 610-8511

Cell Phone: (603) 502-7660

Email Me

Sharing perspectives about living in the New Hampshire Seacoast & Southern Maine area from a native professional real estate consultant. Marketing ideas for other real esate agents that can be used in any market.



Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog

Find NH real estate agents and Rye real estate on ActiveRain.