Business Practices that Paid off in 2009

As we countdown to a new year and new decade I am reflecting on what has been effective in my business for the past year.  I want to continue to do what works and gives me proven results and dump the rest.

Thankfully when it comes to my business, it is pretty easy to track what works and likewise, what doesn't.

My blogging efforts have had a huge return on investment in 2009 in many ways.  My blogging efforts have established me as a local expert in my market, my market reports are widely read, I have been interviewed by my local newspaper, I have gained many clients through blogging and had three of my largest closings in 2009 directly attributed to my blog on Active Rain, so my AR blog gets to stay in my repertoire.

Reading AR posts has given me so many new ideas to try; some have worked out really well.

Here's a few that gave me good results:

• RealEstateShows.com virtual tours where I can post an unlimited amount of pictures
• Single listing websites
• youmail.com voicemail (if I forget my phone at home, I can listen to my voicemail's on my computer at work!)
• Using Twitter
• Using Facebook
• Learning SEO (search engine optimization) 
• Adding postlets to my sidebar on my blog
• How to beef up my AR profile

2009 was my first complete year at my new office, RE/MAX Coastal Redwoods.  This move has proven to be extremely cost effective. I left a large, thriving office to go with a start up RE/MAX office.  The owner at RE/MAX loves all the new marketing efforts that I learn about and is willing to invest with me in them.  My office is, in my humble opinion, on the cutting edge of internet marketing in comparison to our competitors.  I believe much of that has to do with what I learn from my fellow bloggers on Active Rain. 

My office is ringing in the new decade with a bang with our first annual client appreciation event.  It is going to be RE/MAX Coastal Redwoods way of showing our clients and the vendors and other professionals that we work with, how much we appreciate their efforts.  I believe this is also a cutting edge effort as I am not aware of any other office in my market, including the office I worked at before RE/MAX, that does anything similar. 

I expect 2010 to be an even better year than 2009 for me and my office.  We are experimenting with signage and other new marketing efforts that will clearly show RE/MAX Coastal Redwoods is ahead of the competition.  I will share these new efforts throughout the year and of course, give you feedback on what gives proven results.

As I continue to contemplate business practices that gave a good ROI for 2009 and where I would like to put my marketing dollars for the coming year and where I would like to expend my valuable time I allot to my business, I know this for sure, Active Rain has proven it gives back more than I give.

I would like to thank the Active Rain staff and some Active Rain members who have helped me in so many ways either directly or by providing consistently informative posts:

Active Brad
Broker Bryant
Missy Caulk
Marti Garaughty
Lenn Harley

God Bless all AR members in the coming year,

Fran

       

Thank you for stopping by. Your comments on this post are welcomed and appreciated.

Brought to you by Fran Gatti at  No one works harder for you!  Bus: 707-464-5400, Cell: 707-218-8162 Email: frangatti@remax.net Website: FranGattiHomes.com My Blog: Fran's Blog RCDPro®