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Marketing Can Make You a Celebrity

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty 2021016812

Effective advertising not only brings in sales, but it also adds to your face to face effectiveness.  When meeting a perspective client the meetings tend to go a lot smoother if they recognize you form your advertising campaign.  There is an assumption by many potential clients that you must be one of the more effective agents in your community if you have a strong ad presence.  Perception is everything in sales and marketing.

Along with my other advertising I leased signs in the two largest shopping centers in our town.  Since putting up the signs my face and name recognition has improved tremendously.  My slogan has been a big winner for me.  I meet people daily who will reference my slogan.  "Not Just Another Pretty Face"

One afternoon I got a phone call from a teenager who was with a group standing in front of the theaters.  He called to verify I was Daniel's dad.  While looking at my sign they told my son, that is not your dad.  That guy is a rich dude.  So to settle the argument they called the number on the sign and asked if Daniel was my son.

Mall SignsI get stopped regularly by students at my youngest son's school who want to meet me.  They see my signs and picture in the papers and believe I must be a celebrity.

In February I wrote a blog post: I Was Asked for My Autograph Today

The point here is that when we are marketing we are looking for two things:

  • Name and face recognition (an introduction)
  • Leads and sales (the phone ringing)

To achieve those goals we must find ways to stand out in the crowd and we must be consistent.

New agents starting out leave marketing out of their business plan.  That is a giant mistake.  Marketing is critical in every business, especially when you are trying to build a client base.

There are some inexpensive things you can do:

  • Signs/ magnets on your vehicles. (I said vehicles; my wife has them on her car also)
  • Real estate shirts or name tags (I wear mine 7 days a week)
  • Sale and open house signs with your pictures on them
  • Fridge magnets (the business card that doesn't get tossed out)
  • Business cards (color with your picture)
  • Give your cards and magnets to friends and family and ask them to give them out to friends, relatives and co-workers.

Feel free to add marketing ideas to this list.

Posted by

 

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Randy L. Prothero, REALTOR®

Broker-in-Charge, ABR, AHWD, CRB, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, MRP, SFR

eXp Realty

Team Leader - "The Prothero Group"

Randy Prothero is well established as an expert in working with military / VA clients and first time home buyers.  His home seller's (listing) campaign is one of the most aggressive marketing programs in the area.  His luxury home listings sell faster and for more money.

Based out of Mililani, Hawaii. Randy services the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) Performs mediations and ombudsman services for the Board of Realtors.  To improve overall professionalism in his area Randy also offers classes for real estate agents. 

www.HawaiiRandy.comOahu (Honolulu County) Property Search  Hawaii Military Relocations

Comments (63)

Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Michael - My background was 20 years in printing and publishing and I used to manage political campaigns.  I guess I learned a couple of tricks over the years.

Carol - I can not comment on the security issue.  I am 6'4" tall and never really had to worry about it.

Jason - I have to disagree with the philosophy of not putting you picture on the cards and website.  When you give someone a business card, they will not remember you a few days later without something to jar their memory.  The picture is critical.  I can not tell you how many times I racked my brain to remember who's business card that was or where did I get it because it either didn't have a picture or one from 20 years ago that does not even look like the person.

Jun 06, 2007 09:42 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Theresa - What blog post are you referring to?  How can I not have a picture with a slogan like "Not Just Another Pretty Face?  I too ma very well known for my community service and am on several non-profit boards, but do they all know I am a Realtor?  Also what about the 1000's of people who do not know me?

Tim - That will come much later for me.  I am just starting to build the team, so my marketing will eventually have to evolve to incorporate that.

Andrew - I like sending out the schools schedules.  I donate cards to the parents at our middle school.  It is on a multi-track schedule so no one ever seems to know when their children are off school.

I also build websites and donate them to a couple of the schools and community groups.  I have a small ad on the bottom of the pages, saying donated to the community by.......... with a small picture and logo.

Jun 06, 2007 09:51 AM
Joyce Heffner-Williams
Keller Williams Clients' Choice Realty - Monument, CO
Owner/Broker/EcoBroker - Monument Real Estate

I have been working on some ideas of my own.  Yours is great! 
Love the post...

Troy Heffner - Marina Del Rey, CA

Jun 06, 2007 09:52 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645
Troy - Thank you
Jun 06, 2007 09:53 AM
Carl Guild
Carl Guild & Associates - East Hampton, CT
Central Connecticut Real Estate

Face & Name - Face & Name - Face & Name!!!!

Carl Guild

Get it everywhere! Excellent Post! 

Jun 06, 2007 02:01 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Carl - I love it.  I am thinking of ordering new magnets with my picture for the cars.

Jun 06, 2007 02:06 PM
Christy Powers
Keller Williams Coastal Area Partners - Pooler, GA
Pooler, Savannah Real Estate Agent
Great ideas. I love the sign. It's so tropical. Perfect! Your business card is awesome too. Great post. Thanks!
Jun 06, 2007 03:08 PM
Gary White~Grand Rapids Home Selling Pro Call: 616-821-9375
Flexit Realty "Flexible Home Selling Solutions" - Grand Rapids, MI
Real Estate Services You can Trust!
Nice post.  Advertising can be expensive or effective or both.  Your approach is effective.  I use cable tv and get calls all the time from older widows!  They always say I have such an honest face.  I really do not know how to take that......most are my grand mothers age!  They do list so say thank you.  keep up the good work and send sunshine to Michigan!
Jun 06, 2007 03:27 PM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE
P.S. Pictures are good when there's Adobe Photoshop to blur out the wrinkles ...haha!  (I think that's the only reason I have my picture anywhere...hahahaha)
Jun 07, 2007 04:52 AM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired
Great Post. I have pictures on everything. I put a teaser picture on Active Rain for about 10 days, since my new site launches and it sort of ties in. I will go back and put my picture back there very soon as it is essential that people see and know who they are talking to. I engaged Hobbs and Herder a lot of years ago. they were ahead of their time then but helped me understand that in advertising and marketing, logos and Branding are essential if you are to survive with all the competition. One new source that can engage the client in helping you market yourself is ListingCard.net . It is a small photo handout card about their house. They are to put a few hundred of them out there. It serves two purposes. 1. to expose the property and seller is doing that by getting the cards out there at restaurants ,shops and stores where they shop. Each time one is looked at oor piicked up, the agent is also marketed. And the Seller is doing the leg work. I like part the best.
Jun 07, 2007 06:22 AM
Leo Namiot - LeoLends.com
Canopy Mortgage - Leo Namiot - Saint Augustine, FL
More than just great rates
Great post and a very nice advertisement. Thanks and good luck Super Star!
Jun 07, 2007 07:33 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Christy - Thank you

Gary - I want to do cable TV but have to wait until I get a couple of agents to help chase down all of the leads.

Sally - Wrinkles and gray hair just make me look distinguished.   LOL

Jun 07, 2007 09:11 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

William - Thank you for sharing about the listing cards. That sounds very effective.

Leo - Thank you for the words of support.

Jun 07, 2007 09:18 AM
Kelly Turbeville
Keller Williams - Lake Forest, CA
Turning Real Estate Dreams into Reality

Randy- Good information, but I also wanted to recommend besides a photo a logo is important.  Last week I was sponsoring a petting zoo at the local school carnival and I have banner I put up and it was really cute many of the older kids were coming up and going hey your famous!

 

Jun 07, 2007 11:59 AM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645
Kelly -  That is great.  You know the image you are presenting is good when the children think you are famous.
Jun 07, 2007 12:48 PM
Steven Shewell
Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. - Ephrata, PA
The Mortgage Maverick

I'm a BIG believer that your picture should be on EVERY piece of advertising that you do.  The face recognition is invaluable.

Think of it this way...how many people do you THINK you know simply because you recognize their face?  It's the same with the buying public!

Jun 07, 2007 12:51 PM
Pat McCray, ABR
CENTURY 21 AAA North (Capac Office) - Berlin Township, MI

Randy,  Great Post. 
I too believe that it is important to keep you name and picture out there for people to see.  The more they see you face, the personal bound happens.  You become familiar to them. real person.
So, as you put you face for all to see, better have a smile ready at all times.

Jun 07, 2007 02:57 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Steven - It is so important, I can not stress it enough.

Pat - Thank you, I have to keep working on the smile.  :)

Jun 07, 2007 08:24 PM
Melissa Olson
HOPE Lending LLC - Bellevue, WA
HOPE Lending LLC
I fear putting my company information on my auto for safety reasons.  However, people have said they like my business card with my picture.  I love the fridge magnets and sometimes say....in my family it's a big deal to be put on the fridge, won't you add me please?    Next is the name tag, shirt, and hats!  :)
Jun 10, 2007 07:31 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645
I have friends and clients who have several of my magnets on their fridge.  They they give them out to friends and ask for more.
Jun 10, 2007 07:40 PM