Seeking Marketing Advice from Veteran Stagers

Danielle,  I have done all of the above.  I handed out the brightly colored labeled file folders in my first week at this location and I know that some realtors still use that file folder....it has MY staging label on the top...name/phone number and my business card glued inside. 

My best marketing to realtors was first to join their association as an affiliate and attend their weekly meetings.  It wasn't easy and it did take time to build trust and relationships but that was over two years ago and now I only attend the meetings once or twice a week and they keep calling.  After establishing some one-on-one conversations at those meetings then I would follow-up with visits to their offices with information, literature and a token gift.  It does take time so you have to be patient and build those relationships like we do on AR. 

Good luck. 

Danielle;

    I agree with what Ginger said above.  The BEST marketing is the face to face relationship marketing.  Realtors, as do most professionals, receive a TON of printed materials that easily get tossed aside.  It's sad because so much money is spent on these products, but think to yourself how many flyers and postcards received at your home go straight from the mailbox to the trash can. 

    I did a presentation for a group of professional stagers that was titled...Twenty Dollars,Twenty Minutes and the Dollar Store.  Now I'll admit, some of the ideas were a bit far flung, but the point was to see how many marketing items I could gather in twenty minutes for twenty dollars.  I took home my items and went to work putting little tags to them.  A couple of examples...I found the cutest little set that contained a golf ball and some golf tees...my marketing line....A Staged Home is Guaran-TEED to show better!  Drive more buyers to your listing.  A great little gift to give to a male Realtor.  It gives him something fun and out of the ordinary and its something that could be used.  Bonus...don't you think that from that point on every time a Realtor would see a golf ball and tee's he would be reminded of me and my services. 

Another example:  A mini manicure set.  Tag line...  Clip the competition.  Polish up your listings with the services of ( insert business name here ), and Nail the sale!

  Go ahead and take the Dollar Tree Challenge...See how creative you can be. 

Do let me know if you try my suggestion and if it works for you!

Good luck!

Cheers!

Danielle:

     Just noticed your business name...now how perfect is " clever marketing " by Clever Arrangements! 

Obviously, the Diva has April Fool's mixed up with Mardi Gras, and yit agin, has been hitting the sauce and blogging. (See how she signs everything 'Cheer's).  Psssst, everyone, the intervention is planned for later this week pass it on!

The best way to begin a marketing program is to begin networking.  The best networking group that I know of is BNI (Business Network International).   You can visit each BNI chapter twice before joining, and in your neck of the woods that would give you exposure to probably five to ten Realtors.

Product giveaways are an effective way of supporting an awareness campaign, but rarely lead directly to business.  What Realtors seem to be looking for, are stagers who produce results (so putting together some statistics is helpful), and they're also looking for a defined product and pricing package.

Best of luck, and you're welcome to join us for the intervention! <G>

Danielle,

Tom is right they want everything spelled out for them with pricing and what they get for their money.  I have found to make a flyer for them to include on their listing packet is very helpful. The flyer says what service the homeowner will get "compliments" of the agent.  I also put a disclaimer at the bottom as courtesy for the agent is that any further services desired by the homeowner will be at homeowner expense.  Have that ready as your waiting for the phone to ring. The drop off flyers for the mailboxes or reference file have not been so successful. 

I also joined the real estate affliation that has brought me a ton of business.  We had a pay a fee to belong for the year, but you HAVE to go to the functions.  There isn't one function that I have attended that I haven't gotten a new agent from.  NOT ONE!!  We are doing a breakfast sponsorship next week with the chance to speak, I'll let you know how it goes!!

Good luck!! 

Lisa Conover Rearranged For Change Omaha

Hi Danielle,

When I started my business I was in the same boat as you - Two small dudes, and a small window of time to work.  I see from reviewing your site you're trained in both home staging and interior redesign.  Since everyone and their brother is a "stager" these days, and you may have a bit of saturation in your area - and you may want to take a little about "turn" on how to market yourself.

Driving around to Realtor offices during your Mommy free time is not going to serve you well, and guess what? -Everyone and their brother is doing the same thing. 

Time management and Creativity is key when you are doing the Mommy Juggle. 

Sit down and create a marketing plan based on your existing lifestyle and who you come in contact with on a daily basis and how you can market to that group.  The great thing about young Moms is that they like to talk, and are very interwoven w/in the community. Young Moms are also advocates to other young Moms that are Entrepreneurs.

Since you spend most of your day w/other women, why not 1st start w/your Interior Redesign services and build that up, which will spill over to your Staging services.

Here's what I did - ( Now grant it this is in 1999, so the market was a bit different.) My thing back then was "Are you read to get the Little Tyke Gym out of your Living Room?"

Marketing my business was going to have to be done very creatively, since "alone" - work time was a very tiny slot in my day.

What I could do for marketing though, was to market around my daily life w/my dudes. I chit chatted my new business up, and made lots of phone calls when the dudes were sleeping or playing.  When they were in day care at the health club, I blabbed to all the "girls" in my aerobic class about my new biz .. While at my Mommy & Me class, waiting to retrieve my child from school, and at the PFA meetings - Blab blab blab.  I also have been known to talk to strangers in-line at the grocery store, TJMAXX etc.... ( still do after over 9 years in the business.) 

Once I landed my 1st job, I then marketed that job to the hilt and let everyone I knew to come and see my work. I did the whole "before" and "after" party thing -  Anyone who booked a job at the party got a party discount, and any paid referral got them a discount off their next service.   At the party make sure to do a little Q&A time, or a quick seminar on how to make a mantle magnificent. This will land you invitations to speak.

Perhaps you'll come up w/whole new idea - Let us know what the outcome is. The key though is to market to those you interact with on a daily basis.

Danielle;

    I should also mention to you that a great resource for marketing tips on the Rain is in the Real World Home Staging for Newbies group mentored by Karen Dembsky.  Another woman whom I have gained some wonderful tips from is Nika Stewart.  You can find her here on the Stage it Forward forum.  She has a very informative free newsletter program.  I have learned lots of wonderful, useful, inexpensive means of marketing through her program The Decorator's Success Coach. 

    One additional suggestion I would like to share with you is speaking at your local library.  I had a friend who was very successful in setting up a speaking engagement during a children's story time.  The children would be in one area doing a story and craft project, while the Mom's were in another area listening to decorating presentations. 

     As to Tom's comments above....an intervention being planned for me???  I've never been to one before, I wouldn't know what to wear!  ( ; 

Cheers!

Diane;  

    If you have microsoft office they supply plenty of free flyer templates.  If you just want to design and print through a service I think vista prints has a fairly affordable service.  I'm sure there are many others.  I would just do a google search.  Good luck!

Cheers!

HI Danielle!  I've built my business on personal relationships.  I am an active affiliate member of our local Realtor Association and attend our weekly marketing meetings.  They refer me to their clients.  It does require discipline and organization to start the morning this way, especially if you are staging after the meeting, but I really enjoy going.  I am still doing this 5 years later and volunteer and get involved with fundraising whenever needed!! 

Regarding a brochure-I made my tri-fold in microsoft office.  Simple, easy to do!  Best wishes to you and much success!!  Cathy Lee, ASP  www.cldesignservices.com