luxury real estate websites: Luxury Marketing Tip: NO MONEY, NO HONEY! What if We Had Baidu?
- 07/16/13 04:32 AM
Photo by flylosky
When we attended the Club eLuxe International Summit in Paris, we learned about the Baidu business model. Baidu,Inc (pronounced By- doo in English) is the Chinese equivalent of Google whose user interface is very similar to Google. The name “Baidu”, according to the company, was inspired by a poem that was written during the Song Dynasty, 800 years ago. The literal meaning of Baidu is “hundreds of times represents persistent search for the ideal.”
Baidu ranks as one of the top 10 sites in the world according to Alexa.com, with a 98% share of the Chinese … (10 comments)
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luxury real estate websites: Marketing Luxury: The Wow of Parisian Flower Arrangement!s
- 06/16/13 05:00 PM
We are back in Paris after a wonderful weekend in the Loire Valley. Yesterday afternoon, we had a delightful business meeting. We then went on a walk to find a restaurant for dinner. As we were walking on the George V Avenue, we dropped in to see the George V hotel. The lobby had this incredible arrangement of flowers. What you are seeing are peonies, hydrangeas and air orchids. The above was one of the side arrangements.
This one is of the centerpiece of the lobby with the amazing chandelier lighting it all up. The flowers are placed on … (22 comments)
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luxury real estate websites: Luxury Real Estate Branding: 2 Ways to Select a Brand Name - Part 2
- 06/12/13 06:59 PM
In Part 1 of this articles series we mentioned a technique used in personal and company branding: associate the brand name with something people already know; then, use a play on words to engage them in your brand so they remember it after the initial contact.
While in Paris we got hungry for fresh oysters. There are dozens of seafood restaurants in this fabulous culinary mecca that serve oysters. How on earth can you get yours to stand out and be easily remembered? This is a dilemma faced by luxury real estate marketing professionals in markets where many agents … (13 comments)
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luxury real estate websites: Marketing Luxury Real Estate: Staging with Flowers Paris Style!
- 06/12/13 04:40 AM
Our apartment in Paris is right around the corner from the Bristol Hotel, which is very handy, when we wanrt to catch a taxi instead of getting on the metro. Yesterday, we decided to pay a visit to the hotel and see its lobby and check out the restaurant.
Strategically placed the flowers in great abundance gave warmth and intimacy to the large lobby and made you want to sit and reflect on their beauty. This centerpiece is made of red begonias.
What do you think of this staging with Flowers?
Cheers from Paris, and all the best to … (12 comments)
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luxury real estate websites: Marketing Luxury Real Estate: Love Your Competitors!
- 06/10/13 05:18 AM
Novak Djokovic: Photo by: Olga Besnard
As a luxury real estate marketing professional, how to you really feel about your closest competitors? If sustaining or gaining market leadership is your quest, you should love them for bringing the best out of you. That is the mindset of true champions. If you are indifferent or they are bringing the worst out of you, it is time to shift your mindset!
In the men’s semi-final tennis match in Paris at Roland Garros (The French Open) #4 ranked Rafael Nadal defeated #1 ranked Novak Djokovic-9-7 in the 5th set. There were … (9 comments)
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luxury real estate websites: Marketing Luxury Real Estate:Outdoor Market at the Neighborhood Store
- 06/09/13 03:40 PM
In almost every neighborhood in Paris, there are these tiny Mom and Pop stores. Right outside of the store, theey exhibit their handpicked seasonal fruits. Each box is lovingly arranged to tempt the passerby. It is like a mini Farmers Market for those who don't have time or the inclination to go to a larger farmers market.
These little stores add to the character of the neighborhood, and the owners become friends that one sees often, and where one shops for their daily necessities. We found this store in the Marais district on the Rue de Rosiers, which is were … (7 comments)
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luxury real estate websites: Speechless Sunday in Paris /Tuileries Gardens with the Chevres Family!
- 06/09/13 01:05 AM
On a slightly rainy Sunday in Paris, we ventured out for some of the most delicious thick hot chocolate for breakfast! Across the street, the Tuileries Gardens were calling us. Irises and peonies were in full bloom, and the magic of the gardens in front of the Louvre were beckoning everyone.
We loved the scale of the gardens with it separate planting beds and themes and the sculptures gracing the park in great viewing spots.
As we were leaving we noticed Monsieur Chevre (Mr. Goat) hard at work. He is in charge of lawn maintenance,
and … (9 comments)
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luxury real estate websites: Personal & Company Branding: Are You Listening with Big Ears?
- 01/22/13 03:37 AM
In order to engender brand loyalty and generate a continuous flow of referrals you must find ways to listen to and interact with your target market. If you listen with “big ears” you will come to know your target market very well and you will be able to serve them better than your competition does. Here is an example of how a LA radio station has built a loyal audience over 27 years by listening with big ears.
What is the first radio station that comes to your mind in your marketplace? For us, it is 94.7 THE WAVE. Their … (11 comments)
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luxury real estate websites: Luxury Real Estate Website Design: The Magic of Quality Cues
- 01/03/13 01:57 AM
Courtesy of Apple
One of components of our Strategic Brand Analysis that we perform for each of our luxury real estate marketing clients is an audit or review of their current websites and those of their direct competitors. Among many factors, we look for what we call “quality cues”, those small details that add up to a remarkable user experience. Dropping the ball with quality cues is often where complacent market leaders become vulnerable.
We cannot overemphasize the significance of quality cues, as they help to capture leads. And, they are also the sparks that trigger word-of-mouth advertising or … (14 comments)
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luxury real estate websites: Wordless Wednesday: Winter Beach
- 01/02/13 05:52 AM
Ron and I love these big boulders on the beach on Sandyland Beach in Carpinteria. They support mussels and other bivalves, and the crabs that hide among them. Wishing you all a delightful Wednesday and a great start on 2013.
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luxury real estate websites: Happy New Year: Another Fresh New Year is Here
- 01/01/13 08:07 AM
Ron and I found this poem, Another Fresh New Year is here, by William Arthur Ward, who was a teacher and a scholar. It really sets the tome for 2013, as we begin a short week of work. We wish you all a wonderful year ahead and may all your wishes be realized!
Another fresh new year is here . . . Another year to live! To banish worry, doubt, and fear, To love and laugh and give! This bright new year is given me To live each day with zest . . . To daily grow and try to … (20 comments)
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luxury real estate websites: Luxury Real Estate Marketing Tip: Life is What You Make of It
- 12/30/12 11:36 PM
Photo by Petifrere
One of the great poets/songwriters of our time is Paul Simon. His genius is getting under your skin with words that appear to be non-sequitur (out of context). But somehow, the meaning comes through and moves you, profoundly.
This New Year’s Eve, when many are making resolutions, the lyrics of one of his most recent great songs, So Beautiful or So What (April 8, 2011) inspired us. He felt it was his best work 20 years. And, we wanted to share it with you. We believe deeply that life is truly what you make of it.
Here … (23 comments)
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luxury real estate websites: May You Stay Forever Young; The Sentiment Holds Up Today
- 12/30/12 07:18 AM
On December 30, 2009, we wrote a blog post calling " May You Stay Forever Young, The Ultimate Luxury" as an to inspiration to welcome 2010. We think the sentiment and the words by Bob Dylan are valid today as we end 2012 are a classic. Here are the words written for the album Planet Waves, in 1974. This is one of the few songs that Dylan recorded in one take. In his book, he recalled how everything aligned perfectly for this creative opus.
May God bless and keep you always, May your wishes all come true, May you always … (13 comments)
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luxury real estate websites: Marketing Luxury Real Estate: The Face of Envy-World Class
- 12/29/12 12:10 PM
We woke up to pouring rain this morning, which meant our plans to the Santa Barbara Farmers' Market were cancelled. However, we went to one of our favorite markets, Gelson's to pick organic apples and vegetables. As we wre looking at the beautiful display of apples, I spotted apples, named Envy! Envy? I said to Ron. The lady next to me piped up and said, "Try a sample, they are really good!" So we did, and they are amazingly delicious.
According to envy.com, "When New Zealand's passionate apple researchers brought together the best features of Braeburn and Royal Gala in … (12 comments)
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luxury real estate websites: Marketing Luxury Real Estate: The Quest for the Best!
- 12/29/12 05:31 AM
On December 20, 2009, we wrote about the best in class of taquerias in Santa Barbara. It is still one of our favorite places here. Friday, we were there for lunch and marveled that each time we go, it is as good as we remembered from the last time we were there. This restaurant has exsited since the early 80's and each time we leave there is a line forming out of the door, and it continues to form down the block daily.
We used this example as being the best in class in their niche and consistently getting … (7 comments)
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luxury real estate websites: Marketing Luxury Real Estate: A Three Way Win-Win Strategy
- 12/28/12 05:08 AM
One of the little markets we frequent for certain delicacies and wines is Tri-County Produce Co-op on Milpas Street in Santa Barbara. It is the only grocery store within walking distance to the beach, and you get a great view as you check out. They have a wonderful strategy where everyone wins. If you bring your own bag for your purchases, you are given a ticket that is worth .05cents, and then you can deposit in one of the 8 different charities represented on the wall. They started this last year, and they have already donated $8938.85.
Everyone wins, the … (8 comments)
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luxury real estate websites: Luxury Real Estate Marketing Tip: Try Basecamp for Listing and Marketing Coordination
- 12/27/12 12:47 AM
Sometimes you need to go outside of the real estate industry to find the best (and simplest) systems for luxury real estate marketing coordination and listing coordination. We highly recommend Basecamp, a cloud-based project management software-as-a-service.
Basecamp lets you create a custom template with To Do lists in your own words. Save the template and use it for all of your listings (you can always make modifications for specific listings). Each listing becomes a project. Because it is web-based your entire team (e.g., your assistant, your photographer, co-listing agents, etc.) can all have access to it from anywhere.
Documents and … (23 comments)
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luxury real estate websites: Marketing Luxury Real Estate: The Storm is Coming,Wordless Wednesday!
- 12/26/12 09:28 AM
After a rainy night, we woke up to a clear day. As we took off for errands this morning, the winds were chasing clouds on one end while on the other side clouds were coming in. The weather reporters issued small craft warning as the ocean was beautiful with big and small white caps. And now it is dark and pouring...We love the rain...it make us appreciate the sunshine.
The picture above was taken as Ron was driving on the 101 freeway. I loved the reflection of his hand on the steering wheel.
Happy Wednesday, Cheers, Ron & Alexandra
WATCH … (8 comments)
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luxury real estate websites: Luxury Real Estate Personal & Company Branding: The "Hailo" Effect
- 12/25/12 11:37 PM
Luxury real estate marketing professionals often ask us about the importance of selecting the right brand name. It really comes down to how fast and easy you want to make it for your potential referral sources to remember your name, because top-of-mind status IS the name of the referral game.
In marketing luxury real estate, previous conventional wisdom focused primarily on your “sphere of influence”, those people who know you directly and think highly of you. But, with the advent of the Internet and social media the very concept of your sphere can change radically.
The fundamentals of staying in … (18 comments)
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luxury real estate websites: Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, And Joy to All
- 12/25/12 12:00 AM
Greeting from Santa Barbara
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday, Happy Kwanza, and Happy Everything you are celebrating.
Cheers, Ron & Alexandra
WATCH VIDEOS-
Buzz-Worthy Luxury Real Estate Websites
Personal Branding Case Studies Company Branding Case Studies
About Language of Luxury
- JOIN THE LOL COMMUNTIY -
GET FLUENT. GET AFFLUENT!
Linked In, Facebook, Active Rain
Follow Us on Twitter: LuxuryMarketing
… (18 comments)
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