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What's In A Title?

By
Mortgage and Lending with Brand Mortgage Group

I must admit that I have been learning as I try to become more adept at marketing.  I also do some other writing as well and am learning in that area also.  One thing that is very true, and I know always has been, is the "eye catcher", the thing that is going to attract attention.  In selling homes it is the "wow" factor in many cases, what you do to try to grab the potential customer's attention.  But regardless of the business if you are marketing or selling something you have to have some way to "grab" them so that you can present the meat of what you are trying to get across.

In this type of setting, and in many others, it is the title.  If it does not attract your attention as something that might have interest for you there a couple of hundred others just a flick away.  So if you are reading this the title of this blog at least piqued your curiosity enough for you to open it.  I wish I had the magic secret to the most interesting titles in the world. 

I send out a newsletter each week and it is interesting to me to watch the number of "opens".  I am trying to track this to get an idea of what things catch people's attention enough to open it.  If I just send it out as "Merlin's Newsletter" it will be like probably 100 others that they recieve on a weekly basis.  So I always send from me personally with an individual tag or title to the e-mail that hopefully will show that it has some benefit if opened. Of course then I actually have to provide something worthwhile too, which I feel that I do.  But you can have the best content in the world, the most fabulous advice, and it won't mean anything if no one ever looks at it.  My aim in the newsletter is to help, to inform, to assist, so that I can further relationships and create new ones as well.  My feeling is that even if I never get business for someone who reads it that it is helping that person in some way.  If it is I would hope that they would consider referring business to me, but I would still feel good about the help I had provided if they didn't.

It will be interesting to see how many views this gets.  Then I will know if this title created any interest.  Hopefully this has been helpfull and the next time you market be sure to spend as much, or maybe even more, time on your title so that your important content will be viewed.

And also, if you would like to be on my newsletter list....just send me a comment or e-mail and I would be thrilled to add you!  :-)

Comments (4)

Robert Huntsinger
Empire Realty - Upland, CA
Empire Realty Upland, CA - Full Service at a Discount

Merlin,

I think you just described the hook, everything needs a hook to get people to read and hopefully absorb our message.

Take care!

RJH

Jun 12, 2008 04:52 AM
Patricia Aulson
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate - Exeter, NH
Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes

EVERYTHING!    Everythings in a title I think.  it's what catches my attention and tickles the imagination about the whole article.  If the title doesn't  catch my attention I move on usually.

I have a realestate site, www.patricia4realestate.com  and the keywords that are built into the site are what catches the search engines.  They are very important go optimizing my site to get viewers.

That's my opinion......you asked!

 

Patricia Aulson/Realtor/NH,ME,& MA   www.patricia4realestate.com    Hampton NH Real Estate

Jun 12, 2008 04:53 AM
Lorrie Semler, REALTOR® in the Dallas area. Call/text 972-416-3417
HomeSmart Stars - Addison, TX
Real Service. Real Results. Real Estate

I like the possible double meaning of "title" here.  As in "subject" or "title company."

Jun 12, 2008 05:04 AM
jeff lincoln
Lincoln Lawn Frames - Cherry Hill, NJ

How do you grab someone's attention, especially in a very competitive and busy market?   This is the dilemma all agents and brokers face.

 (Although the following may seem like a shameless plug, it is relevant).  I felt the best way to stand out in this busy real estate market was to improve upon the typical "for sale" sign.  Most signs are pretty basic and very little thought goes into this important marketing tool.  I had this idea for many years and finally started a business on the idea of improving the impact of the typical lawn sign (my website, LincolnLawnFrames.com).  

Your sign is your most visiable marketing tool and I urge all agents to make sure that their signs reflect the image they are trying to convey to all those perspective clients who drive by it (and unfortunately, ignore it).  If you are really trying to be a market your listing, you should use riders that point out something unique about that listing. Use a top rider as your TITLE for that property. Say something different that will make them notice.  (riders are also one of the best tools to use when branding yourself).  Fliers are a pro-active way to convey more information to perspective buyers (just make sure you don't run out, especially over the weekend).  My main point is that it pays to better utilize this very visual and public marketing tool.  

For a longer article on this subject, I welcome anyone to get our current e-newletter (available on the website) that talks about "8 ways to make your sign more effective" (this wasn't a sameless plug because i didn't even mention my product).    

Jun 12, 2008 05:35 AM