4th Quarter Marketing Plan
Ready or not, tomorrow is the beginning of the 4th quarter of 2018. I am appreciative that the September Active Rain Challenge was to create and share a marketing plan for the last three months of this year. This blog post may be a bit more detailed than was required, but if I’m going to work on a marketing plan, I might as well prepare one that is comprehensive enough to be useful to me.
Background:
I am a real estate broker that specializes in selling rural homes, land, farms and ranches in the Colorado Springs area.
In addition to the normal things that go along with listing and selling residential real estate; I spend a lot of time educating buyer prospects and other agents about issues that pertain to rural properties and rural life in Colorado.
These topics range may range from basic information about water wells & septic tanks to advising on the feasibility of farm business plans. Unfortunately, sometimes people do not know that they don’t know what they really need to know. This can create numerous challenges for a buyer or seller. As result, I want my marketing to be educational whenever possible.
I have 5 objectives that I want to accomplish with my marketing. I want to:
- Sell the homes, farms and/or ranches that I list in a timely manner for the best possible price.
- Attract buyers and sellers that would benefit from working with an agent that specializes in horse properties, land, small farms and ranches
- Educate
- Promote Colorado
- Stay in touch with past clients
“Sondra’s Shop” My newest marketing strategy:
Late this summer, I decided to implement a new, yet somewhat old fashioned, marketing strategy. I plan to ramp up my blogging and websites. I am also opening a brick and mortar retail shop that will also be home to my real estate office.
I was blessed to be lease a retail space in Calhan, which is a small town outside of Colorado Springs. The shop’s “official” opening will be this Tuesday - Oct 2, 2018 – hopefully.
My shop, Sondra’s Shop, is geared towards those that love Colorado’s country lifestyle. The shop features art, home décor, a few antiques and lots of books. In time, my goal is for the shop to carry one of the best selections of: home & garden, horse, and farm & ranch books around.
I also want to the shop to carry an amazing selection art & photography that features the Colorado lifestyle. Of course, there will be great photographs of the different homes and land that is for sale in the area. During my “trial” opening, I discovered that the pig art and chicken home décor have been the two most popular themes. Horse items have been a close third.
The shop has been called, “cute”, “fun” and “comfortable.” Best of all, the shop is allowing me to meet people without feeling like I am a pushy real estate agent.
Details:
My 4th quarter marketing plan focuses on both the retail shop space and my online presence.
Even though I love the Christmas season and the holidays, my overall marketing strategy will be more “season” oriented rather than holiday oriented.
October:
Decorating theme: Fall Foliage, Pumpkins
Educational topics: 1) New home for the holidays? 2) Winterizing house, barns, chicken coops; 3) Greenhouses; 4) Horse stables & indoor riding arenas; 5) Issues specific to Colorado real estate
Localism Ideas to highlight: 1) Places to see fall foliage, 2) Fall festivals, 3) Things to do
Possible Swag: candy, bookmarks with theme, postcard/magnets with CO photograph
November:
Decorating theme: Fall Harvest, Thanksgiving
Educational topics: 1) Buying/Selling a CO home in the winter months, 2) Winter care of livestock, pets and plants, 3) Winter heating: Fireplaces, wood burning stoves, 4) Kitchens and 5) Issues specific to Colorado real estate
Localism Ideas to highlight: 1) Fall festivals, 2) Fall arts & craft shows, 3) Things to do
Possible Swag: candy, bookmarks with theme, holiday cards with a CO country photograph
December:
Decorating themes: Snow, Birds, Christmas & New Years Eve
Educational topics: 1) real estate year in review, 2) Entertaining spaces, 3) Cleaning tips; 4) garages & workshops; and 5) Issues specific to Colorado real estate
Localism Ideas to highlight: 1) Holiday shopping fairs, 2) Holiday parades, light shows & other events, 3). Things to do.
Possible Swag: candy, bookmarks with theme, New Year’s cards
Thank you for reading.
If you or someone you know is wanting to buy or sell a rural home, farm, land or ranch in the Colorado Springs, Parker or Elizabeth areas, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Sondra Meyer
Broker/Owner
Star View Real Estate
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