READ THIS.... DO THIS.... WIN!!

If you're looking to succeed in 2009 here are a few great places to start.  

STAY HEALTHY...   You're of no value to yourself of your family if you are out of action.  This means eating right, getting enough exercise and sleep.   Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.   Cut down on the coffee and cigarettes...and spend at least 30 minutes a day doing some form of exercise.   This is valuable time that should be built into your daily routine.

CREATE A GAME PLAN..  No sport team goes into a big game without a game plan.   Anyone who hopes to win at anything wouldn't dream of not having a game plan.   What's your's??    It's a serious question.    WHAT IS YOUR GAME PLAN TO WIN?!    If you don't have an immediate reply to that question, you're in big trouble.

Get yourself a written business plan.  Lay out everything in your business plan that pertains to your business....including your game plan, budget, realistic projections etc...   Anything and everything that has to do with your business should go into that plan.   DO NOT FIND AN EXCUSE NOT TO DO THIS!!!   Only about 30% of real estate agents have a written business plan.   Guess who the winners are???!!

CHANGE YOUR WEBSITE..  Chances are your website is out of date.   Make it super easy to navigate....create features that will bring viewers back...provide many crisp clear photos of your listings...choose colors which will capute the eye and invoke trust. 

You website should play directly to your targeted customer's concerns.  Forget the detailed bio about how wonderful you are.   It's sad....but no one cares about you personally.    You customer only cares about his own needs and concerns.   SPEAK TO THOSE NEEDS AND CONCERNS and eliminate the words "Me, My, I, We" or any reference to yourself.   Play directly to the reader's interests only.   If you wish to create a separate BIO page please do so.....but make your home page speak directly to your customer's concerns.   Talk with a good real estate coach and website programmer to achieve your best results.

ELIMINATE THE COMPETITION...  If everyone is selling hot dogs at the ball park.....SELL PEANUTS.   Find ways of setting yourself apart from the herd.   By target marketing (or niche marketing) you'll place yourself in a class by yourself and reduce competition.   These days everyone specializes...   Why not you??     Do some research to find that specialized real estate need that no one locally is filling and then fill it.   

TALK TO SUCCESSFUL AGENTS...    Everyone loves to give advice.   Talk to the most successful agents in town to learn their secrets of success.   Ask for their opinions and ideas.    Have a list of questions prepared....and write down their answers so you don't forget.

NETWORK LIKE CRAZY...   Don't just meet people....build relationships.   Become a "name dropper" in your advertising.   Find legitimate ways of using the names of local celebrities in your advertising.   Use the credibility of others to build your own credibility.

GET INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY...  When you take you've gotta give.   Give your name to the media as a spokesperson for real estate issues, write articles in local community newspapers, become an after dinner speaker at local service club dinners and work the room while you're there.

VIRAL MARKET..   This means blatantly asking others to spread your fame to their friends and associates.  Nothing beats a personal endorsement.   Ask those whom you meet and know for that endorsement.

TALK LESS.....LISTEN MORE..   Keep your big mouth shut about your own personal accomplishments and be interested in the accomplishments and needs of others.   Here's a personal slogan to keep in mind...   "I'M A GOOD GUY....YOU'RE A GOOD GUY...  HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR YOU??"

BE SEEN IN PUBLIC PLACES..    Attend local functions or anyplace there's a crowd.   Emulate a politician.  Shake a lot of hands and kiss a lot of babies..   Leave a positive impression of yourself.   Give then a couple of your cards with something hand written and personal on the back to jog their memory.

ASSOCIATE YOURSELF WITH A CHARITY..  Let your good deeds attest to your character and caring for the community.  Become a very public person.

STOP PLACING HUGE ADS IN NEWSPAPERS..   (Speaks for its self..)

OUCH!!!   I didn't realize I'd written a book.   There are still so many more ideas left to tell..  

DO THESE THINGS......  You'll come out way ahead.    They're a good start to the NEW YOU in 2009.

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Make sure everyone in your office reads this blog..

Thanks.  Sincerely, David

www.tailgatetags.com