Home > Blogs > Heather Cook > Beyond the Stage Homes

Professional Marketing Tools for Your Business

By Heather Cook

Home Stager with Beyond the Stage Homes

October 21, 2011 09:52 AM

So, for the first time in I don't know how long - many months at least - I have had a chance to go through our projects and start working on some new marketing materials and tools. This is something I thoroughly enjoy however I simply haven't had the time for it; between business being crazy busy and my sister getting married (two ceremonies) I have been neglecting this side of our business. You may have noticed the lack of blog articles - or maybe not lol - but I'm baaaack!

So here are some fun things I made up this week and I used both Picnik and Smilebox to create these fun items. Two of these are flyers with some 'before & after' shots. One of them is a slideshow I created with great background music that I fell in love with. If you like playing around with these types of applications, they are easy and fun to use - and you get a great professional product in the end.

RIB Flyer

RIB Flyer 2

Both of these flyers I am going to have made into postcards which we will hand out at various presentations we do as well as to clients who are considering selling and staging their homes.

Here, is a link to the slideshow presentation which I created so I hope you'll take a moment to view it and let me know your thoughts. After making this slideshow, I full intend to create one specifically targeted to builders and another one which is strictly for home staging. These can be burned to CD and given to your target audience which a great professional touch. They can be used as part of a presentation or as a give away - either way, they are a great marketing tool!

Do you have marketing tools you like to use which are user friendly and low cost like these? If so, I hope you'll share! I can't wait to try more things!

Re-Blog

Comments(17)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Vickie Nagy

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate - Palm Springs, CA

Vickie Jean the Palm Springs Condo Queen

Heather, these marketing materials certainly do show how you can add value to a home through professional staging! Great presentations!

Oct 21, 2011 09:57 AM

Valerie Sagheddu

Apostle Art Home Staging & Design - Stroudsburg, PA

~Home Staging Professional, Poconos, PA

Hi Heather...my RESA buddy!! I love smilebox. I have made several slideshow presentations that I use on a regular basis to send to realtors or new clients. I never thought of doing a postcard though...great idea. I just started using picnik and picassa... love it too! Makes everything look very professional.

Oct 21, 2011 10:03 AM

S. Leanne Paynter ☼ Broward County, FL

United Realty Group, Inc. - Davie, FL

Davie, Plantation, Cooper City & Weston Specialist

Those are amazing before-and-after examples! It's the difference between having to forewarn the buyers "please try to overlook the mess" and "the place shows really well". I can't imagine that in both of these cases, the property didn't sell for more and/or quicker! Where do you get your royalty-free background music or is that provided by Smilebox?

Oct 21, 2011 10:04 AM

Marcia Kramarz

Re/Max Executive Realty - Medway, MA

CDPE,LMC,CBR

FUNNY - I just Discovered PicNic today - And here it is again - and thanks for sharing the other one - I'm off to investigate!!

Oct 21, 2011 10:04 AM

Heather Cook

Beyond the Stage Homes - Kitchener, ON

Delivering beautifully staged spaces

Vickie - They turned out great, didn't they? I find (and probably most of my fellow stagers will back me up on this) that we can all write lists for sellers of what 'to do' before they sell and the majority will get the glazed eyes and stop listening. A simple, effective visual aid like this however .. that gets everyone's attention!

Valerie ... I have missed you!! Sorry I have been MIA .. been that kinda year. Glad you're on the same page as me with the marketing materials - these kinds of things say a thousand words without a wordy email!

Leanne - Thank you! And you're right, both these properties were snapped up fast by some lucky buyers. In terms of the music, it was provided by smile box as one of the choices and I loved it! I think it 'makes' the presentation too.

Marcia - Have fun! I love playing with Picnik and I even made a calendar today with it - used 12 of our staging designs from this year and am ordering a bunch of those to give to realtors we work with. Great marketing tool!

Oct 21, 2011 10:45 AM

Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging

Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR

"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Vvery nice job with the presentations, Heather! It's a great way to showcase your work for agents as well as homeowners.

Oct 21, 2011 11:35 AM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Heather- nice presentation and great job on the Smilebox presentation. I love playing around with both of these programs. And... welcome back.

Oct 21, 2011 11:44 AM

Heather Cook

Beyond the Stage Homes - Kitchener, ON

Delivering beautifully staged spaces

Maureen - thank you!! It is a great way to showcase the work we do - can't wait to show it to people now!

Kathy - It *is* lots of fun isn't it? As I mentioned its one of my favourite things and I love exploring new marketing tools. And thank you for the 'welcome back' .. its nice to be back.

Oct 21, 2011 12:37 PM

Ginger Foust

Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA

Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Welcome back Heather. Love both presentations. I have many postcards and my favorite is a large one that I created with Picnik. It's just so easy when you can upload one collage that contains many examples plus your message. Since blue is "my" color too I love all of your after shots with blues on your slideshow. Nice work.

Oct 21, 2011 05:35 PM

Janet Jones

Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI

Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Hi Heather--nice to have you back. Your marketing materials are great and will certainly grab a lot of attention. Nice work.

Oct 21, 2011 06:39 PM

Kathy Nielsen

http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA

Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

I LOVE your flyers. And you're right, pictures speaks volumes to what it is we do.

Kathy

P.S. Picnik is an incredible tool and one I couldn't live without.

Oct 22, 2011 12:52 AM

Kathy Burke

Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA

S.F. East Bay Home Staging

Heather......First....glad your BACK! Next....I have not used Smilebox but LOVE your slide show!! The border and captions really guide the presentation!! SOOOO professional. I would also include it in emails to agents/realtors who you do business with as a reminder of your services and the VALUE you bring. I try to do a monthly email out to my data base just so they "remember me" when they need a stager!

I now need to go check out Smilebox and see what I can do with it.....THANKS!

Enjoy your weekend!

Oct 22, 2011 05:22 AM

Heather Cook

Beyond the Stage Homes - Kitchener, ON

Delivering beautifully staged spaces

Ginger - Thanks so much and I'm glad you're utilizing Picnik as well. Its such an amazing tool for our industry! We have the upgraded account with access to all the different tools/fonts etc and its most definitely money well spent! We love the blues too - although we did have a stretch were it was all about the reds and before that it was all about the greens!

Janet - Thanks so much - glad you liked them! I love that they look great and were fun to do. Doesn't get better than that. In fact I can't wait to get back in there and do some more ... maybe later today!

Kathy - Thank you :) I think they rock! Glad you're another Picnik convert and I have seen some of your marketing materials which are stunning. My next thing is to try that 'fade out' effect you showcased on one of your blogs which I thought was phenomenal.

Kathy - You are such a sweetie - thank you for the warm welcome back. Isn't the smilebox slideshow awesome?? I am working on a builder presentation this week which will be quite a bit longer but I'm using Smilebox and its going to be both a visual treat for the eyes and very professional. Can't wait! Hope you enjoy your foray into Smilebox land and pls share what you create!!

Oct 23, 2011 04:10 AM

Digital Digital

Alachua, FL

full service

Hi Heather,
Nice job!
I've never tried smilebox but it seems like a nice tool.
Keep up the good work!

Nov 02, 2011 03:25 PM

Heather Cook

Beyond the Stage Homes - Kitchener, ON

Delivering beautifully staged spaces

Wandanna - You should try it - will let you make some good some good marketing materials for your listings or to market your business! I just surprised my partner with a calendar which I made from our portfolio and I made it on picnik. Thanks for commenting - hope business is going well for you!

Nov 04, 2011 03:46 PM

Margaret Oscilia

Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon - Salem, OR

Home Stager, Salem Oregon

I'm working with slideshare to create some slide shows -- the biggest advantage is that you can see statistics on the slideshow. I'm developing dynamic shows for agents to use on their laptops and ipads for listing presentations. Hope to see you in January and know our absences from blogging mean we are over the top busy staging!

Dec 17, 2011 01:19 AM

Heather Cook

Beyond the Stage Homes - Kitchener, ON

Delivering beautifully staged spaces

Sounds amazing Margaret - I love that idea and would like to do the same type of thing for our agents as well. This way the agents don't have to think about how to present home staging - we create everything for their listing presentations so staging always comes across in a positive light. I am inspired now to go create something along the same lines while I have some 'free time' over the holidays.

And you're right - the lack of blogging usually means we are crazy busy with staging which is great.

Dec 17, 2011 03:35 AM