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Throwback Thursday: The Devil Always Has An Offer

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Education & Training with Although I'm retired, I enjoy sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals.

"I'll make you an offer you can't refuse."
-The Godfather

On June 5, 2017
I published the following content in a blog post.  Although it did garner the coveted Feature Gold Star, I thought it might be worth bringing back as a reminder for all.  It will be new content for any readers who missed it the first time around. 

* * * * *

Q: Dear Carol:
Why isn't my marketing working?
-Stumped

A: Dear Stumped: 

Have you ever heard that it takes listening to something 6 times before it totally sinks in and you remember it?   Why is that?  Well, research has shown when you are exposed to new information for the first time, you forget some of it within a day, most of it within the first three days and almost all of it within a week.    

Why is that?  I think it is because our minds wander.  Maybe the information was never actually comprehended the first time.  Maybe you only heard part of what was being said, and the rest just blew right over your head.  

I got to thinking about this yesterday after listening to a church sermon.  The pastor said, "The devil always has an offer".  For some reason, when I heard that one sentence I totally spaced out and have little recollection of what the rest of the sermon was about.  My mind took its own path, and I started thinking about YOUR real estate business.  Crazy, isn't it? Why would I let my mind wander to real estate at a time like that?  Well, because that's what brains do.  They have a mind of their own, so to speak. They have their own agenda... and we sometimes have little control over its spontaneity.  

So, what's the point of telling you this?  The point is, I get discouraged by agents who say their marketing isn't working.  They say they sent out 100 mailers and got no response.   Why would you even expect a response?  Do you respond to every piece of junk mail you get because someone is trying to sell you some product or service?  Oops... did I just call your mailings "junk" mail.  Why, yes... yes, I did. That's all it is until you have established some sort of rapport with your target prospect.  You MUST market your products and services over and over and over and over and over and over before you can realistically expect any results.   You can't expect any results or loyalty until you have proven that you are in for the long haul and have value to offer them.   Once you have established your expertise and reliability... then you can and should expect results.  If you aren't getting results after that, you aren't sending out the right message for the target audience.

The devil is an expert at making enticing offers over and over and over.  Are you?   Don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting you make deceiving offers, as the devil does.  I am, however, suggesting you take a lesson from his persistence.  

Like, The Godfather, you need to make an offer they can't refuse, AND you need to keep making it until they truly believe your offer is in their best interest.  That is what the devil does.  Take the devils marketing tactics and use them for good.    

Posted by

Carol Williams

"Information is FREE.
Knowledge, Experience & Integrity Are Priceless."

- Carol Williams

Retired: Real Estate Broker/Owner, Property Manager 
Coaching, goal setting, and marketing consultant

Active: Golf & Travel Blogger
"Golf isn't a sport. It's a lifestyle."
SeniorWomenGolfers.com
TopTeamCarol@gmail.com
 

Whatever You're Doing, Make It Fun!



Comments(42)

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Barbara Todaro
Keller Williams Elite - Franklin, MA
"connecting land with builders"

Good morning, Carol Williams the bottom line is "marketing is not a one shot deal".... 

Aug 18, 2018 05:23 AM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

So true Carol Williams and something i like to discuss with my seller before listing. Marketing is being in the right place at the right time. When their eyes are open

Aug 18, 2018 06:31 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good morning Carol - I don't know how I missed this one.  I am glad that Debbie Reynolds reblogged it.  This is spot on.  In learning and development we call this spaced repetition.  For example, how did you learn your multiplication tables.  Is it any different with your advertising message?  Repetition of valuale information works.  After all how many advertising jingles on TV can you sing?  

Aug 18, 2018 06:34 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

I love how you took the devil and set him up as a perfect example of what to do. LOL

Brilliant!

Aug 18, 2018 08:21 AM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Neuro-science will tell you much of our daily activity is learned behavior and so we are mkostly on auto-pilot. To get to critical thinking takes time and effort.

Aug 18, 2018 08:48 AM
Fred Dorsey

Agree

Aug 18, 2018 12:25 PM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Well said, Carol. I remember when local paper ads were very popular. It took 90 days of continuous daily advertising to make the phone ring. After that, it rang all the time. Most businesses gave up after a week or month. 

Aug 18, 2018 09:19 AM
Margaret Goss
@Properties - Winnetka, IL
Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

Carol - my husband and  were just discussing this. I have been sending out about 150 postcards every-other-month for around 4 years. It's been slow going - 1 listing the 2nd year, 1 listing the 3rd year, and now it's 2 just this year alone.

It does take time - lots of it. But if you're in it for the long haul, it will pay off. 

Aug 18, 2018 09:20 AM
Michael J. Perry
Fathom Realty - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

A great read !!! So many newbies attempt to buy their business from strangers and fail miserably ! Most consumers do business with people they Know & Like .

Aug 18, 2018 10:58 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

 Carol Williams  - great blog post. Th reviving it.  Tell them over and over again. 

Aug 18, 2018 12:41 PM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Thank you for running this message again. I'm not sure I saw it the first time around, but needed to hear it again. Such a great post!

And I love the way you deal with spam ;-) 

Aug 18, 2018 03:12 PM
John Henry, Florida Architect
John Henry Masterworks Design International, Inc. - Orlando, FL
Residential Architect, Luxury Custom Home Design

Carol, you did us all a great service by reblogging this information.

So very true....

Now... you may send out hundreds of flyers and run ads all over the internet.

If they are not getting results there may also be a problem with your message or lack of asking for the deal, etc.

Hmmmm

Aug 18, 2018 06:53 PM
Eva B. Liland Century 21 Doug Anderson
Century 21 Doug Anderson - Lancaster, CA
Glad to be of Service 661-714-1643

As a Realtor you  have to have enough strenght just like an Energizer Bunny that just keeps going and going. Persistency is the key to succeed.

Aug 19, 2018 10:21 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

There are all kinds of relationships in this business...yes...some of them "Devilish" !

Aug 20, 2018 06:54 AM
Ron Barnes
Associate Broker at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Georgia Properties - Jasper, GA
"Most agents claim they're #1 - I THINK YOU'RE #1!

Unique article! Well put and useful for many of life's situations.

Aug 21, 2018 05:26 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Apex Realtors, LLC ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
Educating. Encouraging. Serving.

Good morning Carol Williams,

Great post and I missed it so glad that Ron Barnes re-blogged it. Congratulations on the gold star..well deserved! Repetition of valuable information always works.

Aug 21, 2018 05:37 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Carol

There are some valuable lessons here. I'm glad you let your mind wander, and shared with us!

Jeff

Aug 21, 2018 06:25 AM
Marney Kirk
Cummings & Co. Realtors - Towson, MD
Towson, Maryland Real Estate

Carol, there are some great lessons in here! Think like the devil, but do good with it! LOL

Aug 21, 2018 08:09 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

I harp about this a lot. I talk about the reasons why sending just one letter is likely a waste of time and money. I tell agents that it would be better to mail to 100 people ten times than to 1,000 people one time. I even carry it through to my prospecting letters page, where I explain WHY agents need to mail over and over again.

And yet...

One young agent who had purchased a set of letters called me to ask if it would be OK for him to combine all the letters into one long one and mail it. He wanted to save on postage.

Not long ago I wrote about drip marketing and a few people objected to the name. Now I think I'll rename it: Continuity Marketing.

Aug 21, 2018 03:01 PM
Kevin Mackessy
Blue Olive Properties, LLC - Highlands Ranch, CO
Dedicated. Qualified. Local.

Always good to do your due diligence about marketing tactics, maybe testing some out, and always seeing what works about them for you.  That way you aren't just hearing sales pitches over and over.  

Aug 23, 2018 12:30 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Thanks to Marte Cliff  for the reblog...such a good reminder...Carol, You have a lot of wisdom in this post.

Sep 28, 2018 10:00 PM