Recently, my church, the New Pilgrim Baptist Church in Zachary, Louisiana held its annual Brotherhood Conference. As the conference date approached, it dawned on me that this would be a great opportunity to empower the men by discussing how the current real estate market is impacting the economy and vice-versa. So, I got excited and had my name placed on the list of presenters for the conference. I was given 20 minutes to address an audience of about 50 men from various churches and organizations in the community.
The Presentation
My 20-minute slide presentation included the following topics: the local and national real estate markets, the government's $700 billion bailout plan, real estate investing and "What Can We Do to Boost the Economy". The presentation was well received by the audience as questions arose concerning available funds for loans, unemployment rates and home refinancing options. I drove home the point that money is available for home loans. Many people are under the false impression that banks are no longer offering money for purchasing homes. I believe this misinformation is based on what we hear in the media concerning the current recession and the assumption that no money is available. I was safe in this statement since the sales numbers show Baton Rouge area home sales have been somewhat shielded from what the rest of the nation is experiencing. In addition, I spoke with a loan officer and they assured me that bond money is still available in East Baton Rouge Parish.
A Marketing Strategy
Prior to the presentation, I provided each participant with my personalized note pad, which has all of my contact information and a picture. I also had plenty of my business cards on hand. Following my presentation, I was approached by three participants who wanted me to either list their home or to discuss investment opportunities in the rental market. I will be attending these appointments within the next week. The most important thing I did was to obtain a copy of the list of attendees that includes addresses and telephone numbers. Each of these attendees will be contacted by me within the week to get other leads and assess their real estate needs. They will also receive a copy of my newsletter.
Seeing the Forest and the Trees
I know that this is not a new strategy, but sometimes we miss the proverbial "forest for the trees." In other words, our web sites and other forms of media used to reach the masses are excellent, but some of our best clients are sitting in our midst. Over the past few years, I have attracted several clients from my church congregation. I make it a point to keep my name and profession in the face of those who are closest to me. I find that it makes them feel special when I offer my note pads/business card and slighted when I do not.
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