marketing: Lessons from Your Insurance Agent by Dave Park "The Maverick Builder"
- 03/07/10 11:56 AM
Selling insurance is not easy. It's a highly competitive business filled with a confusing array of products. Consumers don't like to think about insurance, and they usually believe the price is too high. Many people believe that they don't need it, or they're simply willing to put off purchasing a policy until they have more time and/or money. Additionally, buying a policy can be confusing for the uninitiated consumer.
You've rustled up five leads from a topnotch online service. Ready to sell each and every one of them. At least, you think you're ready. Here are some tips to help you … (2 comments)
marketing: Smith Barney Selling by Dave Park "The Maverick Builder"
- 03/07/10 11:13 AM
How often do people try to sell us something before we have expressed an interest, have a desire, or are in the market for what they have? It seems the standard for many salespeople is to try to sell to anyone and everyone regardless of the interest level. When someone attempts to sell us something before we have expressed an interest, the initial thought may be, "Why would I buy from you? You haven't earned the right to sell to me!" The fact of the matter is that selling, both online and off, is about determining if there is a need … (0 comments)
marketing: My Case Against Perfection by Dave Park "The Maverick Builder"
- 03/06/10 06:45 AM
In OZ, after Dorothy's house is relocated to unsuitable soil, she was asked by the Lady in the Bubble, "Are you a good witch or a bad witch?" The same question goes for mother-in-laws and the answer is not a coin toss!
Maverick: "Yes your honor, I represent the defendant. The plaintiff, a mother-in-law is making statements about perfection. Yes being perfect" Judge: "Is that the young man there?" Maverick: "Yes your honor. " Judge: "Does your client wish to make a plea?" Maverick: "Yes he does your honor. Guilty as charged" Judge: "Before I sentence the defendant, councilor … (3 comments)
marketing: "Jack London: Writer or Marketing Genius" by Dave Park "The Maverick Builder"
- 02/26/10 03:47 PM
"Jack London: Writer and Marketing Genius" The Call of the Wild, Mr. London's most famous book is one that you may remember from your high school days. Mr. London wrote over 50 books in his short lifetime. Some of them non-fiction and a few autobiographical. Jack London is a Marketing genius because he always . . . Before I explain, let me point out that Mr. London was a power writer. He wrote adventure stories and tales packed with energy, conflict and character. The lead character maybe man or animal, but you always identified with them. Jack London was a He-Man. … (3 comments)
marketing: "Toot Sweets" by Dave Park "The Maverick Builder"
- 02/26/10 03:28 PM
"Imitation Sugar is Sweet, Too!" Imitation isn't only the sincerest form of flattery; it'salso a power way to learn new business skills. Mark Twain learned how to write by imitating other writers. As a youth he set newspaper stories in type for the newspaper.Tedious work, but it gave him the chance to imitate writers. He learned the fundamentals of great writing by copying. I hear the skepticism, "Mark Twain was a great author." Well you're a great inspector.Your a professional inspector.And you drive a lot. Have you ever walked down a street you normally drive? Did you notice that you saw, heard … (2 comments)
marketing: Fall Down 7 Times, Get Up 8 by Dave Park "The Maverick Builder"
- 02/20/10 10:21 AM
When I am invited to speak at events I always prepare myself for the same questions.What is tht formula for Success?I smile and they frown."It's quite simple" I say, really. "Double your rate of failure." I then pause for effect as they hem and haw. "You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn't at all. You can be discouraged by failure - or you can learn from it." I finish with "Go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because, remember, that's where you will find success." So here are a couple quotes on mistakes: "If I … (1 comments)
marketing: Green and Blue Make Red! by Dave Park "The Maverick Builder"
- 02/19/10 07:51 AM
It appears that "Green" is making builders "Blue" these days. A new poll shows that people who once put a huge emphasis on the government's green efforts now have other issues they care about more.The latest Pew Research Center poll shows that the economy and job market have jumped to the top of the priority list for most people. Last January, 75 percent of Americans polled said that the economy should be a top priority, and in a year's time, that has jumped to 85 percent.On the other hand, however, protecting the environment has fallen from 56 percent a year … (2 comments)
marketing: You Have A Choice by Dave Park "The Maveick Builder"
- 02/19/10 07:39 AM
This is Advantage Home Inspections first ad that was designed right here in Raleigh. The campaign for 2010 is "You Have a Choice!"The slogan is "Experience the Power of a Good Decision." The ad ties in today's complex time with teamwork andends with competing on service instead of price. Let me know what you think!
Advantage Home Inspection Raleigh . . . performs the Nation's Best Home Inspection and provides the Nation's Only "No Denied Claims Warranty" available in the industry. For the last 18 years, Advantage Inspection has been the deciding factor for the people we serve: Buyers, Sellers, Real Estate Agents … (3 comments)
marketing: Acronymns aka ADRDU by Dave Park "The Maverick Builder"
- 02/17/10 08:01 AM
Today's AcronymnsYahoo - You Always Have Other Options! In this time of economic crisis, the only thing we have to fear is ... acronyms, suggests Louise Radnofsky in the Wall Street Journal . The idea that there is not a government program that can't be distilled into a bunch of letters was popularized, of course, by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, or FDR. Not to be outdone, the Obama Administration introduced the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, or RAT, intended to sniff out "waste, fraud and abuse in the $787 billion bailout plan." Then there is SNAP which stands for the Supplemental Nutrition … (1 comments)
marketing: Machete Innovation Part 2
- 08/02/09 08:20 AM
Machete Innovation to Jungle Growth Part 2 The Maverick Builder 2. Where is the purchase or buying decision made? This is a great question because unless you have researched this question or brought in focus groups, you are probably not sure of the #2, #3, #4, and #5 answers. Please re-read the question. I did not say "Who" made the decision, but "Where" was the decision made. Now go ask everyone you know. Whether it's a Realtor, a Vendor, a Leeds Group or online. Find out where the purchase decision is made. In the Car, at the Realtors office, in … (0 comments)
marketing: Have You Thought About Selling Fashion?
- 08/02/09 07:38 AM
EBay has been referred to as the fashion capital of the internet, and with good reason. According to one ratings website, EBay's Clothing, Shoes & Accessories category is the #1 website for fashion. The site attracts well over one million buyers a month who are specifically looking for fashion-related items; these same buyers spent $2.4 billion last year alone on items from the CS&A category. EBay is often the first port of call for buyers looking for unique, rare or limited edition fashion items that no one else has. So if you're thinking of expanding your business into another area, … (3 comments)
marketing: Welcome to the Jungle!
- 06/08/09 09:58 AM
Machete Innovation to Jungle Growth Part 1 When Procter & Gamble first championed brand management, astute marketers quickly boiled it down to four things: •· Superior understanding of the consumer •· Product or service differentiation •· Strategic marketing •· Innovation Great strength resides within the simplicity of these core principles. Service providers (home inspectors/Realtors) need an understanding of consumer relationships with the brand (The Company) within the context of their everyday lives, as well as how they - or someone shopping for them - relates to the brand. This means gathering and applying insights at every touch-point along the path to … (0 comments)
marketing: Where is the Opener?
- 05/18/09 09:22 AM
A home inspector friend and I were talking one afternoon about how to improve his selling skills. He has been an inspector for 13 years, but as of late his business has been slow. He was telling me how bad he felt because he wasn't getting many appointments. People weren't returning his phone calls. In addition, the few people he was speaking to weren't interested in hiring his services. In the next sentence, however, he sparked up and said - with a great deal of pride, 'I'm a great closer. Just put me in front of a prospect, and I'll walk … (4 comments)
marketing: You Sell Like a "GIRL"!
- 05/18/09 09:01 AM
Yup, it's Girl Scout Cookie time in our part of the world. [And, yes, my English teacher DID tell me never to start a sentence with the word "Yup."] For those of you who are unfamiliar with the sights, tastes, and overall experience of helping your daughters sell Thin Mints, Samoas, and Do-Si-Do's, you're missing a fundamental and wide-ranging education about the dynamics of sales, selling, and salespeople. Here are some points I've garnered while helping my daughter, Nicole, age 12, and Troop 429, make their sales numbers. These pointers are hard-earned, field-tested, and as applicable to you and your business … (8 comments)
marketing: Talk'n 'bout My Generation!
- 03/16/09 02:09 PM
When Mick Jagger belted out this tune for the Stones, I do not think he could have envisioned anything like the kids of today! I've heard them called by many names as of late: Generation Y, Gen Y, The Plug-and-Play Generation, The Gotta-Feel-Good Generation. What they're all referring to is the new young generation - our current 20-somethings. Every generation "deals" with the generation who comes after them. Their different views, their different ways of doing things, and so on; this generation is no exception. Why is everyone talking about this new generation now though? They've been coming along for years. … (8 comments)
marketing: Pushy Purveyor Problem!
- 03/16/09 01:51 PM
I'll bet you can't say it three times real fast! And I'll be you can't stand pushy salespeople. How often do people try to sell us something before we have expressed an interest, have a desire, or are in the market for what they have? It seems the standard for many salespeople is to try to sell to anyone and everyone regardless of the interest level. When someone attempts to sell us something before we have expressed an interest, the initial thought may be, "Why would I buy from you? You haven't earned the right to sell to me!" The fact … (2 comments)
marketing: Dynamite!
- 03/05/09 11:45 AM
Some of the most effective things in life are the simplest. Marketers spend a lot of time trying to understand the psyche of consumers, discover ways to predict economic trends and a million other aspects of business that can determine success. It pays to remember that some things are just basic, common sense and as easy as pie. Let's look at some tactics that just might be the key to the success you've been pining for. 1. Keep An Eye On Your Best Customers Wouldn't be great if all of your customers were just like them? ...easy to please, loyal, and … (2 comments)
marketing: Marketing ABC's
- 03/05/09 11:27 AM
Winning Sales Strategies You Can't Market Without! 1. Attention-Getting Ads Get Results Think about it...how many advertisements do you hear every day...how about every hour? Let's face it, we're bombarded with magazine ads, newspaper ads, TV ads, radio ads, and the Internet is plastered with ads on every site. Not many of the astronomical number of advertisements stick with us, and make an impact. How can you make your ad STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD? * Make a dramatic statement: "Even my dog knows ...." * Surprise them with the unexpected: "Use for 30 days totally free..." * Ask a thought … (0 comments)
marketing: "7" is Craps!
- 01/18/09 07:44 AM
Marketing a business can be fun, exciting and creative. It can also be very frustrating and expensive if one doesn't know what outcome they are looking for or how to evaluate cost effective methods of marketing. Over the years people have come to know me for my unique ability to develop low cost and no cost strategies to market and promote a business, product or service. Strategies that have realized incredible returns. People have also come to know me as someone who is a stickler when it comes to putting systems in place. My marketing successes are a direct result … (7 comments)
marketing: Put Me In Coach!
- 01/14/09 12:52 PM
When you hear the word "coach", what comes first into your mind? Do you picture a basketball team with a man/woman shouting out directions? Or perhaps a football team with a man/woman pacing to and fro and calling out the names of the players? Coaching is no longer reserved to sports teams; it is now one of the key concepts in leadership and management. Why is coaching popular? Why are Real Estate teams growing in success? Why does it work? The Team Leader (Coach) levels the playing field. It is a behavior or role that leaders enforce in the context … (4 comments)
Mentoring by creating business platforms and structures that foster ideas and innovation.
Advice on Real Estate sales strategy development through visualizing innovation and streamlining its implementation.
Sales and Marketing tips for the Home Inspection Industry.
Selling insurance is not easy. It's a highly competitive business filled with a confusing array of products. Consumers don't like to think about insurance, and they usually believe the price is too high. Many people believe that they don't need it, or they're simply willing to put off purchasing a policy until they have more time and/or money. Additionally, buying a policy can be confusing for the uninitiated consumer.
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