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Are You Setting Your Sights Too High...???

Are you setting your sights too high...MEMBERS ONLY...???

Chris Elizabeth Griffith, that well known AR blogger from Florida, recently wrote a post about how she gears her writings to a 10th grade level...

I respect Chris, and certainly wouldn't argue with her blogging skills and successes...BUT...

I also know how adept 'Madison Avenue' and professional adsmen operate...and how many billions are spent each year on various media ads...including written, TV, radio, internet, and mail and drip campaigns...SO...

When I heard last week that most 'Madison Avenue' ads are written for a 4th grade mentality...I began to wonder...

I'm not big on 'reinventing the wheel'...I like taking present day cutting edge knowledge and improving on it, whenever and wherever possible...Again I'm not big on going back to 'square one'...if you don't have to...!

How does this all tie together and relate to real estate...?

Every individual, no matter what age and intelligence level is a consumer...if we are to be successful in sales we need to target our efforts towards those we seek to reach...and if we're not sure of our target market, why not err on the side of safety and do what 'Madison Avenue' does...target the greatest segment of the population in the hopes of reaching not all, but many if not most!!!

That's certainly a mouthful...and as it relates specifically to blogging...LISTEN...

I have a ten year old at home...of course he's in 5th grade, not 4th, and I would say he is of above average intelligence...in order for me to be a good parent to him, I must communicate on a level he understands...else I run the risk of losing him to outside influences...

My oldest child, my daughter, who has a couple of degrees and is somewhat older, can easily understand what I communicate with Jared, my 5th grader, but HE may not be capable of fully understanding communication between me and my daughter so easily...

And so to make parenting as easy as possible to my 7 at large children, I try to use a compromised form of communication that all would understand...it makes family deliberations less complicated and reduces the need for repetition...let that sink in awhile...

And back to blogging...since I've trained my mind to think on that level, and since 'Madison Avenue' has been successful at 'PATTERNING' my mind and millions of others by incessant state of the art ads geared at maximum grabability...when I'm blogging I simply let the words and thoughts in my mind flow out onto the page...AND...

VOILA...you have another post...GOTCHA!

Posted by Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ on 10/01/2008 10:03 AM

Comments (25)

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Originally posted at: Fran The TitleMan's Blog: Are You Setting Your Sights Too High...???

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25 Comments on Are You Setting Your Sights Too High...???

OCT

2008

Wow Fran, I understood your whole post. Thank you for reminding us who are audience is...

Paul,

And all I wanted to do is stimulate discussion!!! :) Thanks, Fran

Fran: I uh... I uh think I understand... Uh... Perhaps I need to go back to grade school... LOL

Actually that is REALLY SAD! A pitiful testament to our society and education system!

Steve,

Exactly...I believe there is more we can read into Madison Avenue's actions than any poll can reveal...! Thanks, Fran

P.S. Bring back the nuns!!!

Fran - Thanks for linking Chris' blog, which is a fantastic tip concerning "readability statistics". I have never given any thought of what grade level to write and never heard of "Madison Avenue". I try to convey my message in simple words that everybody understands.

Fran The Title Man!

You've given us more "food for thougth"..."MAXIMUM GRABBABILITY" is always important when advertising!

Petra: Conveying in simple words everyone understands IS "Madison Avenue"...!

Rebecca: There can't be that many Bs in grabbbbabbbility...! LOL

Thanks, Fran

Fran-

Sometimes words are not needed at all- they can just get in the way.

Reminds me of subliminal messages...

Fran - It's especially difficult to write about 'mortgages' in a simplistic way with all the jargon in our business. Sometimes I'm able to get it done and sometimes it's a miss. Part of the challenge of blogging is catching and keeping the attention of those who you are trying to reach out too.

Fran

This makes absolutely 100% sense.

Sincerely

Tom Braatz

Mott: Subliminal...???? LOL

Jason: Your comment is exactly why borrowers need to rely on professionals like us to make the transaction as transparent as possible...and consumer friendly!!!

Tom: Thanks for the affirmation!!! :)

Thanks, Fran

Fran,

For once I understood everything that you said....lol. On a more serious note, sometimes it's hard to know at which level to gauge something...I generally just go with whatever my mind is telling me to do.

Jo,

Don't read too much into this post...I generally do the same as you...I go with whatever my mind is telling me, but sometimes have to learn when NOT to say anything!!! Still learning! :) Thanks, Fran

Fran, I think it depends upon the topic in your post. If you're explaining a complex subject like the Wall Street bailout or certain mortgage topics, it may be difficult to "dumb it down." However, most real estate topics should be able to be explained in simple terms. If you can't explain what you do and talk about the real estate market in an easy to understand way, that's a problem.

I always remember Denzel Washington's line in the movie Philadelphia "Now explain it to me like I'm a 4 year old!"

Brian,

Yes, this is a generalization and pertains mainly to advertising!!! Thanks, Fran

4th grade level? Those Madison Avenue people must not do very well. I have watched Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? And most are not! So where does this fit in with your theory?

This topic reminds me of that TV show "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?" I never seem to get many of those questions right. 4th grade sounds about right. ;o)

Evelyn: You make my point exactly...Madison Avenue understands that the mentality of the greatest number of Americans is 4th grade level...hence, that's where they target their efforts!!!

Greg: See my comment to Evelyn above! You said it!!!

Thanks, Fran

Great post Fran. Hey, in the midst of letting your mind's thoughts & words flow, do you ever get writer's block? You consistently pump out some good stuff.

Fran, I enjoyed your post and the way you shared about how you relate to your children of all ages. I find myself doing the same with a 10, 11, 15 and 19 year old and truthfully I find myself doing it with different clients based on their knowledge of topics. It's true you must write from the heart and in a straight forward, simple kind of way that will be attractive to MOST. I also think pictures convey messages that help make your message make sense. As always I appreciate your thoughts and how you present them - they work for me so keep on writing! ~ Anne Marie

OCT

2008

Eugene: I just let it all come out!!! LOL

Anne Marie: I too enjoy your posts and tips!!!

Thanks, Fran

Fran.... some very good points. One main point that I have noticed amongst others is that some people set their sites to high... and this can lead to trouble... depression, possibly less business in the next month or year... etc etc...

jeff belonger

OCT

2008

Jeff,

The media or politicians will be the ones guilty of creating a depression if one comes...not the people!!! Thanks, Fran

I'm meeting with an investor today who happens to be an immigrant and we met at an open house I was holding. We ended up talking for over an hour and when we were done he said, I want you to me my agent! I've been in this country for 17 years and you are the first agent that I've ever met that didn't talk down to me and treat me like I didn't know anything, just because I wasn't born here.

Don't talk down to people, it doesn't work!

TC,

We're here to serve the title needs of our customers...whoever they may be...! Thanks, Fran

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