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Put Your Heart In Internet Marketing - and a lot of other things

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Real Estate Shows

A Story Without Love Is Not Worth TellingAlan Alda, in his new book, "Things I Overheard While Talking To Myself," quotes a famous rabbi in explaining what makes a good talk: "What comes from the heart goes to the heart."

That's powerful stuff.

It also relates to your Values. There too, if it's not in your heart, in other words, if you don't believe it, you cannot own it. And if you don't own it, you cannot convey it to others through your actions, the most authentic form of communication.

If you try to fake it, you become inauthentic, a phony, hollow.
The best you can hope for is that you might be elected to Congress.

If some of your Values are around professionalism, integrity or service then those Values should impact what you bring to the party with your Internet marketing (along with everything else you do).

I heard a speaker at the last Inman Connect Conference in San Francisco. His name is Hugh McCleod.
He's a talented, creative, out-of-the-box, guerrilla-marketing consultant. He's also a good cartoonist. In talking about effective communication, he said it most profoundly. "A story without love is not worth telling." That statement lit me up like fireworks on the Fourth.

His simple message, I believe, needs to have a presence in every visual presentation, every narrative, every description, in all aspects of everyone's marketing program but most particularly on the Internet. The Internet lends itself perfectly to that kind of expression.

Most sellers have lived in their home for some period of time. They've created and stored important memories there. If your strongest message about your value to your clients is "I can save you $4,000 on commissions," please go shoot yourself.

Tell compelling stories, in words and pictures. Communicate love. I think that, today, love is an endangered emotion. Put some back in the world. We need it.

What do you think?

Comments(15)

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Jeff Turner
RealSatisfied - Santa Clarita, CA
Bill... you and I have talked about this a great deal, so you know I could not agree more. The focus on information on the Internet is luring real estate agents into believing if they just present more information, they will attract more people. It's simply a lie. More is not better. Better is better. And better is often defined by how well the agent captures the feeling of a home. Anyone can help me find a house with the right number of bedrooms and bathrooms. It takes a pro to help me find a home.
Oct 01, 2007 03:06 AM
Jennifer Esposito
JenRan Realty, LLC - Woodstock, CT
I agree whole-HEARTedly!
Oct 01, 2007 03:09 AM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos
Bill,  Of all the classes we take to become agents perhaps one glaring hole would be the ability to market with emotion.
Oct 01, 2007 03:14 AM
Sarah Cooper
Real Estate Shows - Hurricane, WV
Amen, Bill!  I think you said this perfectly.  :o)
Oct 01, 2007 03:26 AM
Scott Cowan
RE/MAX Professionals - Olympia, WA

Bill- Great post! thank you for sharing this will all of us here at AR. I agree with you that if we are not authentic then we will a phony.  Doing what we care about is vital to our success in real estate and any activity.

Best,

Scott 

Oct 01, 2007 03:31 AM
Dave Cheatham
INC Financial - Bartlett, IL
The Heart is it.  Most of my clients say they work with me because they know I want the best for them.  I try to get people to see that.  It seems to work.  People hearts connect and their eyes tell the story too.  Thanks for the post.
Oct 01, 2007 04:38 AM
Jason Lopez
SmartRealty Solutions - San Diego, CA

Great post Bill.  I often tell my agents that while the Internet may lead them to you, it can only take them so far.  They can view pictures and virtual tours online, but that is just not the same as stepping inside a home for the first time and soaking it all in.  

If an agent can develop the skills, and that is what it is, of building great rapport quickly, getting in front of them and blowing them away with service that goes above and beyond, then they will see a tremendous growth in their business, no matter what the source of the customer is.  But you hit it right on the head...do it for the love of it! 

Oct 01, 2007 05:47 AM
Bill Leider
Real Estate Shows - Manhattan Beach, CA

Jennifer...Thanks

Sarah... And thanks.

Oct 01, 2007 05:49 AM
Bill Leider
Real Estate Shows - Manhattan Beach, CA
James...Thanks. All credit for the picture goes to Jeff Turner.
Oct 01, 2007 05:49 AM
Bill Leider
Real Estate Shows - Manhattan Beach, CA
Bill...you made an interesting point about the absence of marketing with emotion in the classes one takes to become licensed. I don't think you can teach authenticity, which is really what I'm talking about. You can certainly point out the need for it. But as I think about it, if I'm teaching someone to be authentic, perhaps what I'm really teaching is how to look authentic when you're not. True authenticity comes from within. The best we can do is teach some communication techniques to help make its expression more explicit and understood. Thanks for your comment.
Oct 01, 2007 05:56 AM
Bill Leider
Real Estate Shows - Manhattan Beach, CA

Scott...Thanks for responding.

I think doing what you care about is important for you. I think caring about what you're doing is important for your clients. 

Oct 01, 2007 05:58 AM
Bill Leider
Real Estate Shows - Manhattan Beach, CA

Jason...Thanks for your comments.

I believe that building rapport can begin with your Internet presentation. And that too, as you point out is a skill that can be learned and mastered. Communicating from the heart, with emotion can and should be ingrained in your Internet marketing presentations. It will open more doors where face-to-face relationships can be built and sustained.  

Oct 01, 2007 06:02 AM
Bill Leider
Real Estate Shows - Manhattan Beach, CA
Dave...Thanks for your response. I agree with you.
Oct 01, 2007 06:04 AM
Martin Rodriguez
Pacific Funding - Valencia, CA
Senior Loan Consultant

Bill

You hit it right on!   When you believe it, you own it, you convey it.  Which translated means your consumer knows what to expect from you and lasting connections are made through it. 

Love is the difference between an aquaintance and a relationship.  There's nothing wrong with acquaintance but its relationships that we thirst for.  Authenticity and Love is at the core of this.

Thanks...  (love the graphic -- did you make that?  I had to ask)

M

Oct 01, 2007 07:13 PM
Bill Leider
Real Estate Shows - Manhattan Beach, CA

Martin...Thanks for reading and commenting. I'm glad you agree. Great minds think alike. :)

Jeff Turner gets credit for the graphic.  

Oct 02, 2007 01:16 AM