Home > Blogs > Tammy Lankford, > Lake Sinclair: we love it, we know it, & we sell it

Branded #1 Mixed Nut!

By Tammy Lankford,

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 GREC# 169695

October 20, 2008 01:26 PM

I got quite the surprise the other day. A friend of mine called and asked if I was going to be at the office for a while because he needed to come and "talk to me about something". Is Jack thinking of selling his house? Is something wrong? Jack bought his lot from a former agent of mine about 15 or so years ago. Jack and his wife Darlene and I have a very close mutual friend, who also used to work as an agent for me, Shirley. Shirley and her husband Charlie returned to Florida a few years ago.

I was puzzled as to why Jack called. You see, I usually only see Jack a few times a year with one of those times being when he pops in the office and says... hey girl are you still gonna sponsor our bowling team again this year. I have answered yes the past 11 years. Jack has been the one constant on the team all these years. Other bowlers have come and gone. They all have worn bowling shirts with my company name and they always have my card in their pocket to offer to anyone who asks about property.

Well this year to my delight, Jack came by the office to present the plaque on the left to me. My team won FIRST place this season. The league is called Mixed Nuts (since the writing is very small) which is really fitting for not only the bowlers, but really the wonderful group of people who presently and have in the past worked for me.

I am really proud of my team and was just delighted that they came by and left this plaque that now adorns my wall in the reception room at the office. I really want to say that sponsoring this team has always been a pleasure and that I will continue to do so in the future.

Someone suggested to me early on in my career as a Broker that I might want to "get my name out there" for name recognition (really before I remember "branding" becoming a catch phrase) I've sponsored benches at super markets, golf holes, various high school sports programs and calanders, and always this bowling team. This kind of thing doesn't cost a lot of money and I can absolutely guarantee that if any one of the the bowlers from any of the 11 years gets asks to recommend a Brokerage Firm, it will be mine.

So what community things are you doing to "brand" yourself or your company?

Comments(20)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Marie Westerman

Blanchard and Calhoun Real Estate/ Wilson Parker Homes - Evans, GA

New Homes Sales Specialist Evans GA REALTOR

use to love to bowl but now that I'm in Waynesboro GA I would have to drive 1 hour just to get to a bowling ally.

Oct 20, 2008 01:33 PM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I guess I'm really lucky that there are 3 colleges in the little area I live in, because so many "things" are here because of Georgia College and State University, Macon Technical College and Georgia Military College that add stuff to do and culture to enrich this area. (are you a hour from Augusta?) which direction

Oct 20, 2008 01:36 PM

Donna Harris

Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com - Austin, TX

Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator

That's great that you've stuck with the sponsoring for such a long time. Many times, people try something for such a short time and don't give their marketing a chance. How many deals have you closed because of the bowling team over the years?

Oct 20, 2008 01:38 PM

Janna Scharf

Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene - Coeur d'Alene, ID

Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert

This brought back a few happy memories. Long, long ago I used to be on a cookie league bowling team, where each team was a kind of a cookie. Let the good times roll!

Oct 20, 2008 01:39 PM

Jenn Neumann Deer

RE/MAX Southern Shores - Surfside Beach, SC

Surfside Beach Real Estate

This sounds like a fun activity to sponser and be involved with. I would love to hear what other people do to 'get their names out' to the public in their areas. Thanks for sharing and congrats on your team's 1st place!

Oct 20, 2008 01:50 PM

Susan Mangigian

RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA

Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

I'm more of a bumper bowler myself, although I was tolerated in a league many years ago. Also, I'm a bit of a nut, so I may fit right in with your group! Congrats on the prize!

Oct 20, 2008 01:53 PM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Donna- It's really hard to say... I'd say at least 1 a year, but then I wonder how many times I have had a closing that I don't really know the waitress at Chiles waiting on the bowling team having lunch and asked them. In that one case this year I do know. But I wonder when some times one of them has put a bug in some one's ear before they walk in with a print ad in their hand and I never ask what led them to my office.

Janna- that sounds fun. I'll have to suggest it.

Jenn- Yeah I'd like to hear some other ideas as well. But I know Jack has several shirts with my company name on them that he still wears... even not on bowling days.

I've had one agent be very successful with Golf Tees

Oct 20, 2008 01:58 PM

Susan Emo

Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON

Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

A pioneer brander ! I'm impressed. with your loyalty to this team - congrats on the plaque and the recognition it brings with it. I just recently began sponsoring a small dance group that was struggling in our community. I too, am interested in what everyone else is doing - share the ideas!

Oct 20, 2008 01:59 PM

Heather Goodwin

Licensed by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission - Shreveport, LA

Results That Move You

What a great idea! I may see about sponsoring someone that I would be willing to support on an ongoing basis. Tell Jack congrats!

Oct 20, 2008 02:07 PM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Susan M-- I'm not fabulous, but I gave up bumpers when my daughter was 6.

Susan E- I do pride myself in loyalty. It really wasn't/isn't about winning. The team plaque is nice, but so not important in the big picture. It's the getting my name out there every Wednesday night for 11 years. The sponsorship fees and shirts are minimal costs.

Oct 20, 2008 02:07 PM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Heather- I will, thanks. Let me know if you decide to do something like this. I'd be interested in what you choose.

Oct 20, 2008 02:08 PM

Acai Berry Select

Acai Berry Select - Downers Grove, IL

Nice plaque,

Oct 20, 2008 02:31 PM

Tony & Darcy Cannon

Aubrey and Associates Realty - Layton, UT

The C Team

Tammy, good idea, nice plaque!

Oct 20, 2008 02:42 PM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Peter- thanks, I thought it was just great.

Tony and Darcy- It didn't really start as an idea, but it's turned out to be a great one.

Oct 20, 2008 03:51 PM

Donna Harris

Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com - Austin, TX

Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator

Tammy Tammy Tammy, you should ALWAYS ask how someone hears from you. I've gotten people who said that they heard of me through so and so. Well, many times, I've never even worked with so and so, but I'll know the name as someone who knows another so and so. I like to see the circles that are made.

Oct 20, 2008 10:38 PM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Donna- Personally when I am working with a client I do always ask. But when things are really busy around the office sometimes I don't get to ask every client who is working with other agents in my office... And I also used to have a give to client at closing survey that had that questions, but that's been missed from time to time as well. But trust me after you said my name three times I'm haning my head in shame and I PROMISE I'LL DO BETTER!

Oct 21, 2008 12:44 AM

Cherimie Crane

Cherimie Crane & Associates - Beaufort, SC

I love the plaque! I sponsor a fishing team:)...and when I'm really good, they even let me go along.

Oct 21, 2008 01:08 AM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Cherimie- Now you have me really curious.. is it a team in tournaments in your area? There are lots of bass tournaments on my lake, that might be a great idea. Thanks for sharing.

Oct 21, 2008 05:38 AM

Dinah Lee Griffey

Windermere Peninsula Properties - Allyn, WA

Managing Broker Windermere Peninsula Properties

We have a community service day. Where we help out in the community, and we always do a booth at the relay for life. I like the idea of sponcering a team.-Dinah

Oct 21, 2008 06:38 AM

Terri Visser

Desert Sky Real Estate, LLC - Redmond, OR

CRS - 12 Years Selling Central Oregon Real Estate

My office tries to stick to exclusives like you mentioned. This year we did a golf bench, a supermarket board ad and I personally do a display ad at my gym and an ad in the quarterly newsletter that same gym circulates in the local paper. I also get to put my property fliers up at that gym. Anything for people to remember who I am!!

Oct 22, 2008 05:08 PM