Go on... Get out there!

You can't win if you don't play. We hear that all the time when they talk about buying a lottery ticket. Well it's true in so many parts of our lives - the way we interact with others, how rewarding it is when we sit on the floor and play with our kids or grand kids. And how we can reap the benefits of developing a well-rounded marketing plan to promote our own real estate business.

And when I say "well rounded," I don't mean that you simply advertise in your local paper. I mean that you take a good hard look at all the options that are available to you. In today's competitive market we must leverage the most effective media plan available. And because we all understand that everything cost money, we have to be smart and selective when deciding which media will work the best for us in the particular market we operate in.

So that might mean that advertising weekly in the hometown newspaper is the way to go. But if that publication offers a deal where for a few dollars extra they will include you in their online edition - expanding your reach exponentially, do the math and decide if your ROI wouldn't be much better served.

And remember, there is also the social networking opportunity which is free. If as a Realtor you don't have a Facebook page or a Twitter account, just to name a few, you're missing out on a chance to promote your business, your buyers, your sellers, and your expertise. And believe me a high percentage of your competitors (many of them in your same office) are doing this and reaping the benefits.