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Your Marketing Plan Says a Lot About You

By
Managing Real Estate Broker with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services

What you offer sellers as a Marketing Plan says a lot about who you are as an agent. Is it just a to do list that you causually share with your prospective seller, or is is a strategic plan to maximize exposure and results?

Let's break it down into some simple pieces...and lets start with what consumers tell us they like and dislike.

The number one complaint I hear as a manager and as an agent is that "my agent never calls...", or "I only saw my agent once when they took the listing...", or "everytime I try to call I only get their voice mail...", "yea the house sold but my agent really didn't do any thing..."

Does your Marketing Plan have built in communication activities?

In my plan for example, I tell the sellers they will hear my voice every Monday no matter what happened last week. Even if I have nothing to say I will call them. Even those clients who tell me they prefer email and texting, they will still get a call on Monday along with the emails and texts. I also build in weekly written showing activity reports, not only from the lockbox system but from my web traffic, Trulia and Zillow traffic reports. And I schedule a 30-day Marketing Report, a face-to-face meeting to review updates in the market and buyer feedback and create the next 30-day Plan. If you have all this great, if you don't...steal mine and use it. I didn't invent these ideas, they were taught to me.

Does your Marketing Plan create an accountability mechanism, so the seller can follow along and verify that you did what you said you would do?

My plan lays out specific steps and almost all of them can be verified by the seller and they keep a copy of the plan so they can check off the things I do. At the end of a 90 or 180 day listing term did the seller see and feel that you worked as hard as you said you were going to? Or, do they feel you took the listing and sat on a beach somewhere. You all work hard to get homes to sell, don't be afraid to lift the curtain and let the sellers see what you are doing.

These are just two simple things that can make your marketing plan work as hard as you do. Take the challenge and check your Marketing Plan for these things and even send it to me for a courtesy review. I would be happy to give you some suggestions or even tell you that you have a great Marketing Plan. You can email it to me at JimGainerRealtor@gmail.com

Go make it a great day!

 

Show All Comments Sort:
Judd Reynolds
Exit Team Realty - Savannah, GA
Savannah, GA

Jim, I like your face to face 30 day Marketing Report and the accountability mechanism ideas. The first one allows you to show them, or let them confirm (show numerous web sites with their listing info) with you there, the quantity and quality of the exposure you have been giving their property. The second idea confirms you did what you told them you would do. Both of these are positive reinforcement for continued relationships regardless of the outcome.

Mar 05, 2010 01:11 AM
Tami Behler
Prudential Bob Yost Homesale Services - York, PA

Jim, I like both your suggestions of "hearing my voice every Monday" and your 30 day Market Reprot.  Not only does it sound like it keeps you on task but your sellers know exactly what to expect.  Thank you so much for sharing this advice!

Mar 06, 2010 02:00 AM
Janie Diggs
Realty Executives Liberty - Hinesville, GA
ABR, ASR, GRI

Yes! I agree that a good marketing plan is very important.  You mentioned the accountability and the communication.  I use Top Producer for this.  Everytime I do anything for a listing I lg it in Top Producer.  Top Producer has a web page for the Client, where the client can log in at anytime and see what I have been doing with their listing.  It is great! The Clients love it!

Mar 06, 2010 01:53 PM
Michael J. Perry
Fathom Realty - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

I think just the fact you deliver it in writing creates a check off list and Accountability . It must deliever ongoing exposure during the entire marketing period !

Mar 13, 2010 01:00 AM