SURVEY SAYS! What Marketing Matters MOST to Real Estate Agents

Jul 15, 2021

There is nothing more important to us than helping real estate agents succeed. We continually work to discover new ways to make your work life easier and more effective.

This is why we conduct ongoing surveys, to find out what aspects of real estate marketing are most important to you for your success.

Below are the results of our recent nationwide survey revealing how agents across the country weigh in on all aspects of real estate marketing.

The results may surprise you.

Survey Question #1. How Close are you to Achieving Your Income Goals for This Year?

Survey Question #2. Where do you Focus Most of Your Marketing/Lead Generation Efforts?

Survey Question #3. How Many Contacts in Your SOI Do You Communicate With on a Monthly Basis or More?

Survey Question #4. How Much Do You Spend Per Month on Marketing and Promotion?

Survey Question #5. Which Niche Markets Have You Targeted With the Most Success?

Survey Question #6. What Marketing Challenges Consume Most of Your Time?

Survey Question #7. If You Were Guaranteed 3 Extra Closings a Year From a One-Year Scheduled SOI Campaign, or Your Money Back, Would You Do it?

Survey Question #8. Do You Know How Many Contacts You Should Have in Your SOI Based on Your Income Goals?

The Free Online SOI Calculator

To learn how many contacts should be in your Sphere of Influence based on your income goals, try the Free Online SOI Calculator now, CLICK HERE

The SOI Scheduled Campaigns “3 Extra Closings a Year” Guarantee

Statistics show that 66% of the business generated by top agents comes from family, friends, close acquaintances, and referrals generated by the first 3 groups.

Consistently marketing to these groups is the key to the growth of your real estate business.

A Scheduled SOI Campaign does this while freeing up time for more important tasks like listing appointments & closings.

Our 3 Extra Closings a Year Guarantee

We believe so much in the power of Scheduled Campaigns and what they will do for your real estate business we’re offering a guarantee.

Launch a one-year SOI Scheduled Campaign with a minimum of 150 postcards per month and if after one year you haven’t generated 3 extra closings, and have incorporated the Free BusinessBASE, we will refund the money spent on your campaign.

*SOI, Content Card* Scheduled Campaign (shown above). Learn more, **HERE**

With Scheduled Campaigns, YOU DON’T PAY until each mailing goes out (cancel or change up until the night before mailing).

Click the “GO NOW” link, below (from a desktop or laptop computer) to get started.

I’m Ready to Start Growing My Real Estate Business by Launching a Scheduled Campaign – GO NOW

Please reach out to our support team at 866.405.3638 with questions or if there is anything we can do to help you with your success.

PLUS: When you have time…here are some helpful resources we’ve made available to support your success.

1. The Free 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do when. Four key market segments are included, Niche Marketing, Get More Listings, Geographic Farming, and Sphere of Influence. –Click Here

2. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals. – Click Here

3. Become a Neighborhood Brand

Become branded in a specific neighborhood with a NEW 12X15 marketing piece sent automatically every month to an exclusive carrier route (membership includes your own online Homes & Life Agent Magazine). Watch this video to learn more or Click Here.

4. The Free Real Estate Mailing List Guide

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The Real Estate Mailing List Guide outlines the top tools for generating targeted prospecting lists including Baby Boomers, Empty Nesters, Investors, Lifestyle Interests, High-Income Renters, Move-Up Markets, and more. The Guide also defines done-for-you marketing campaigns to match these markets. –Click Here

5. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

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Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here

6. The Free Online ROI Calculator

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Consistency and automation are the keys to success. Discover how effective direct mail marketing can dramatically increase your bottom line. Enter your statistics in our Free online ROI Calculator and click the ‘CALCULATE MY ROI’ button to see your results instantly! –Click Here

7. The Free Real Estate Marketing Guide “CRUSH IT”

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The “Crush It” Guide includes easy steps to launching an effective direct mail marketing campaign, how to create a targeted prospect list, the perfect way to layout marketing materials for success, seven opportunities available to target in your area right now. –Click Here

Increase Your Marketing ROI Follow the 3 Rules for Direct Mail Success

Jul 13, 2021

Before you launch your next direct mail campaign let’s take a moment to review the three rules for direct mail marketing success.

Choose the right prospect list
Provide a compelling offer
Follow best practices for marketing piece design

Read on to discover how to launch a successful real estate direct mail campaign.

1. Choose the right prospect list

Reaching the right people at the right time is key to the success of any type of marketing, including direct mail. Choosing the people who populate your prospect list is your first job.

To decide who goes on the list, determine your purpose with each direct mail campaign. Are you trying to build brand awareness in a farm area? Generate new clients? Which type, buyers, or sellers? What niche specifically renters, move-up market, baby boomers, fence-sitters, absentee owners, or luxury market (to name a few)?

It’s critical to determine your “why” and “who” before you begin. “Why am I conducting a direct mail campaign? Who do I want to reach?”

Then, laser focus your list to that audience using our targeted prospecting list tools.

Suppose you want buyer leads from a particular subdivision. Sure, homeowners may be thinking of moving, but it’s more likely that those currently renting are the best prospects. NAR states most buyers purchase a home within an average of 15 miles from their previous residence.

Or, you may want to target homes in the subdivision owned by absentee owners but target the tenants living in them with the MapMyMail tool.

2. Provide a compelling offer

The second rule refers to your offer, the second most important aspect of a successful direct mail campaign.

Retailers have an easier time with this one. Offering a percentage off, free shipping or buy-one, get-one-free are all popular.

What about real estate agents? What can you offer that might compel a recipient of their postcards to act?

A free report on the importance of timing your home sale. The direct response report,“Timing is Everything” is ideal.
A free home market analysis.
A Free list of homes for sale under a certain dollar amount or a free list of resources.

If you offer enticing seller services, such as free home staging or a free pre-sale home inspection, by all means, play that up as your offer.

If you don’t offer free services, consider choosing one to use as your offer just for the direct mail campaign.

Keep in mind, however, that the number of hoops you force your prospects to jump through to take advantage of the offer impacts the response rate, according to Bob McCarthy at DMNNews.com.

The more they have to do, the lower the response rate.

3. Direct mail piece design best practices

“One strategy we use to get our highest response rates is to make the offer the centerpiece of the direct mail piece”, McCarthy claims.

Whether you choose to include an image of the free report or use text to describe it, mention it boldly and repeatedly.

Your message (its length and graphic requirements) will determine the medium. Keeping it plain and simple? A standard-sized postcard may do the trick, although jumbo, panoramic and mega-sized postcards stand out in the mailbox which makes for a genuinely lasting impression.

If it’s graphics-heavy and you’ll include substantial copy, using one of the larger postcard sizes (jumbo or panoramic) becomes even more important.

Choose a font that’s easy to scan as people sift through their mail. Many direct mail experts recommend using a sans serif font, such as Arial, rather than Times New Roman or another serif font.

Consider varying the font size throughout the text, with more important items highlighted with a larger version of the chosen font.

Additional design tips to keep in mind include:

Ensure your headline is bold and compelling yet short and specific.
Use lots of white space to make the piece appear to be easily digestible.
Sub-headings help guide the reader through the text.
Use a high-resolution photograph.
Avoid placing text over photos.
Ensure that your offer stands out and that your contact information is easy to find.

To save time, take advantage of our already professionally done-for-you postcard designs covering a variety of niches and topics.

4. Send it out . . . and keep sending

Consistency is key when it comes to sending direct mail to your prospect list. Whether you choose to run your campaign bi-monthly or monthly follow the laws of branding and keep sending.

Market conditions may prompt a change in frequency as well. New listings, just sold-homes, and other real estate news deserve an additional “mention” to everyone in your farm area.

5. Track your results

Tracking your results is vital to your direct mail campaign. One of the most popular methods used by agents is the creation of a dedicated landing page on their websites. The URL should be unique to the campaign so that you’ll be able to learn your exact response rate (number of responses divided by the total number of pieces sent).

Marketing experts vary when quoting an “average response rate” for direct mail. The most recent figure puts it at 9% percent. How close or far you are from that figure depends on how closely you follow the guidelines outlined above.

Ready to Launch a Direct Mail Campaign? Schedule a FARM, Call to Action Campaign in Just Minutes.

They’re currently on sale 10% OFF the first month – (sale ends 7/17/21).

FARM, Call to Action Scheduled Campaign (shown above). Learn more, HERE

TO LAUNCH A FARM, CALL TO ACTION CAMPAIGN:

Hit “CLICK HERE”, below, to schedule your campaign (from a desktop or laptop computer).

Use promo code: ACTION10 to save 10% off the first month.

And, remember, YOU DON’T PAY for each mailing until it actually goes out (cancel or change each mailing up until the night before it goes out).

Launch a FARM, Call to Action Scheduled Campaign now, CLICK HERE!

Please reach out to our support team at 866.405.3638 with questions or if there is anything we can do to help you with your success.

PLUS: When you have time…here are some helpful resources we’ve made available to support your success.

1. The Free 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

2. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

3. Become a Neighborhood Brand

Become branded in a specific neighborhood with a 12X15 marketing piece sent automatically each month to an exclusive carrier route. Watch this video to learn more or Click Here.

4. The Free Real Estate Mailing List Guide

5. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

6. The Free Online ROI Calculator

7. The Free Real Estate Marketing Guide “CRUSH IT”

New Agent University: Use Caution When Referring Vendors to Clients

Jul 8, 2021

The first steps in starting a new business are akin to trying to take a sip of water from an open fire hydrant. The number of tasks the new agent must undertake to assure success added to the learning curve can be somewhat overwhelming.

At some point, someone will recommend that you compile a vendor list. This list includes tradespeople that you will refer to clients, such as:

Stager
Home inspector
Cleaner
Landscapers
Pest inspectors
Contractors
Painter
Plumber

You get the idea, right?

Most agents refer to these folks as “vendors,” but we’ve also seen them referred to as “affiliates.” We think the latter better reflects their relationship to you. After all, they are an extension of your brand and your real estate business.

Their customer service, or lack of, will reflect on you

One agent we spoke with told us a story about his early days in real estate. He put together a vendor list based on recommendations from another agent. His first listing was a lovely home that needed new flooring and the owner was amenable to having luxury vinyl plank installed before the listing went live.

The flooring contractor he was referred to by his fellow agent claimed 30 years of experience in the flooring installation business so he felt confident in referring him to his client.

Big mistake.

The job was botched, from start to finish. Our agent’s client sent photos to the agent of floor planks with gaps between them, broken planks glued in place with caulking, ragged cuts and flooring glue spread throughout the home.

The entire floor would need to be pulled up and, since it was glue-down vinyl, there was no guarantee the planks could be reused.

It turns out that our veteran flooring contractor left the job in the not-so-capable hands of two trainees, without his supervision.

Needless to say, our agent friend was horrified and his client took the botched job out on him.

It’s crucial to carefully vet anyone that you will be referring to clients. Don’t rely on just one interview. Check the person’s references, read Yelp and BBB reviews, check with the state contractor’s board to vet those vendors whose craft requires a license.

Finally, check each vendor’s social media pages. Yes, it sounds a bit like stalking, but it’s not. It is basic due diligence and required if your reputation and trustworthiness is on the line.

Set a reminder to re-vet your vendor list every six months or so.

Don’t stop there

Call anyone to whom you refer a vendor to follow up. Ask how the job went and ask if they would hire that particular vendor in the future. Negative reports should be run by your vendor to get his or her side of the story.

Never remain loyal to a vendor that does subpar work or provides less-than stellar customer service to your clients. If you feel even a smidge of discomfort with any of your vendors, rethink referring them.

Your professional reputation is on the line so be scrupulous when vetting vendors for your referral list.

SOI Animal Series Campaigns are Currently on SALE 10% OFF the First Month – FOR 3 MORE DAYS!

SOI Animal Scheduled Campaign (shown above). Learn more, HERE

TO LAUNCH AN SOI ANIMAL CAMPAIGN:

Hit “CLICK HERE”, below, to schedule your campaign (from a desktop or laptop computer).

And, remember, YOU DON’T PAY for each mailing until it actually goes out (cancel or change each mailing up until the night before it goes out).

Launch an SOI Animal Scheduled Campaign now, CLICK HERE!

Please reach out to our support team at 866.405.3638 with questions or if there is anything we can do to help you with your success.

PLUS: When you have time…here are some helpful resources we’ve made available to support your success.

1. The Free 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

2. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

3. Become a Neighborhood Brand

Become branded in a specific neighborhood with a 12X15 marketing piece sent automatically each month to an exclusive carrier route. Watch this video to learn more or Click Here.

4. The Free Real Estate Mailing List Guide

5. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

6. The Free Online ROI Calculator

7. The Free Real Estate Marketing Guide “CRUSH IT”

The Second Half of 2021 Starts Now!

Jul 1, 2021

Are You on Track to Accomplish Your Goals?

To provide you with every tactical advantage during the second quarter of 2021, we’re giving you two free gifts.

The FREE 12-month Real Estate Marketing Planner
The Easy Online Business Plan (a weekly revenue-generator)

If you already have these tools, NOW is the time to revisit them to ensure you’re doing everything to stay on track and MEET your 2021 revenue goals!

1.The Free Real Estate Marketing Planner –

A powerful weekly guide that tells you where to focus your marketing attention each week of the year to achieve more closings. Four key market segments are included, Niche Marketing, Get More Listings, Geographic Farming, and Sphere of Influence.

To Download your FREE Real Estate Marketing Planner, click the “GO NOW” button below.

2.Interactive Business Plan –

2021 Business Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

An easy online business plan that breaks down how many prospects, listings, and closings you’ll need on a weekly basis to hit your revenue goals for the remainder of the year.

To complete your FREE Interactive Business Plan online in just minutes, click the “GO NOW” button below.

Want More Referrals? Stay connected to your Sphere with a Content Card Campaign.

It’s currently on sale 10% OFF the first month – sale ending in 3 days.

SOI, Content Card Scheduled Campaign (shown above). Learn more, HERE

TO LAUNCH AN SOI, Content Card CAMPAIGN:

Hit “CLICK HERE”, below, to schedule your campaign (from a desktop or laptop computer). Use promo code: CONTENT10 to save 10% off the first month.

And, remember, YOU DON’T PAY for each mailing until it actually goes out (cancel or change each mailing up until the night before it goes out).

Launch an SOI, Content Card Scheduled Campaign now, CLICK HERE!

Please reach out to our support team at 866.405.3638 with questions or if there is anything we can do to help you with your success.

PLUS: When you have time…here are some helpful resources we’ve made available to support your success.

1. Become a Neighborhood Brand

Become branded in a specific neighborhood with a 12X15 marketing piece sent automatically each month to an exclusive carrier route. Watch this video to learn more or Click Here.

2. The Free Real Estate Mailing List Guide

3. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

4. The Free Online ROI Calculator

5. The Free Real Estate Marketing Guide “CRUSH IT”

6. The Free 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

7. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

Ready to LEVEL UP This Quarter? Check Out the FREE Master Marketing Magazine For Ideas!

Jun 29, 2021

LOOK INSIDE: For a FREE Report & FREE Prospect List!

Catapult your real estate business to the next level during the 2nd half of 2021 with strategies from the online Master Marketing Magazine!

It’s Chock-Full of Valuable Content Like,

The 50 people to add to your sphere to get more referrals
7 local market opportunities in your area right now
How to prove you’re the neighborhood expert & dominate
Go from one new listing to becoming a market maker
How to use Direct Response Reports to get more listings
How to uncover a goldmine with absentee owners
And, more…

Check it out, click, “GO NOW”

Want More Referrals? Stay connected to your Sphere with an SOI Content Card Campaign. They’re currently on sale 10% OFF the first month – (sale ends 7/3/21).

SOI, Content Card Scheduled Campaign (shown above). Learn more, HERE

TO LAUNCH A SOI, Content Card CAMPAIGN:

Hit “CLICK HERE”, below, to schedule your campaign (from a desktop or laptop computer). Use promo code: CONTENT10 to save 10% off the first month.

And, remember, YOU DON’T PAY for each mailing until it actually goes out (cancel or change each mailing up until the night before it goes out).

Launch an SOI, Content Card Scheduled Campaign now, CLICK HERE!

Please reach out to our support team at 866.405.3638 with questions or if there is anything we can do to help you with your success.

PLUS: When you have time…here are some helpful resources we’ve made available to support your success.

1. The Free 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

2. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

3. Become a Neighborhood Brand

Become branded in a specific neighborhood with a 12X15 marketing piece sent automatically each month to an exclusive carrier route. Watch this video to learn more or Click Here.

4. The Free Real Estate Mailing List Guide

5. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

6. The Free Online ROI Calculator

7. The Free Real Estate Marketing Guide “CRUSH IT”

What Every Real Estate Agent Should Be Reading This Summer

Jun 26, 2021

I hear what you’re thinking; who has time to read? We aren’t suggesting a Netflix-type binge on a book, although some of the ones we found for you are certainly binge-worthy.

Keep it by the bed, poolside or in the car to read while waiting to meet a client.

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body,” wrote the late Joseph Addison, British essayist.

And, apparently, he was right. Doctors in the UK have long understood the positive power of bibliotherapy to reduce stress, increase brain function and improve mental health. Added benefits include readers becoming more empathic, resulting in improved relationships.

Let’s dive into 3 non-fiction books that may just help with your real estate business as well.

“Atomic Habits,” James Clear

At 123 weeks on Amazon’s bestseller list and ranked 5 stars from 43,491 ratings, it’s pretty obvious that James Clear’s “Atomic Habits” is worth a read.

Clear, “… one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation,” show readers how to deal with habits, good bad and those that will “… lead to remarkable results.”

One reviewer at Amazon.com followed the author’s advice for 100 days and claims that “… they have sincerely worked.”

There aren’t many negative reviews but, if you read reviews often, you know that someone always leaves one. From complaining about the forced registration on Clear’s website to another reviewer complaining that “It could be summed up in a couple of pages,” only 1% of the book’s reviews are negative. You can purchase “Atomic Habits” at amazon.com, thriftbooks.com, and walmart.com.

“Believe IT: How to Go from Underestimated to Unstoppable,” Jamie Kern Lima

“Are you ready to believe in you?” Apparently, many people are; at least enough to help catapult author Jamie Kern Lima to the number one spot on Wall Street Journal’s bestseller list, the New York Times’ list, and the bestsellers list at USA Today.

Fellow author Glennon Doyle recommends the book especially for female entrepreneurs (which includes, by the way, the largest pool of real estate agents in the country).

Founder of IT Cosmetics, Ms. Lima is devoting all proceeds from the sale of this book to Feeding America and Together Rising.

Reviewers call the book “authentic,” “inspiring” and “motivational.”

Find “Believe IT” at amazon.com, walmart.com and barnesandnoble.com.

“Create Demand and Stop Chasing Business: Secrets From a Top Real Estate Producer,” Ron Howard

Perhaps best-known within the real estate industry for creating and launching contract-writing software for the residential real estate industry (ProForms), Ron Howard is also quite well-known as a local, Baltimore philanthropist.

In fact, a Maryland newspaper named him “… as one of Maryland’s most influential people due to his non-profit work,” according to the book’s Amazon page.

Well, that’s cool, but what qualifies him to write a book for real estate agents?

How about 16 years as a Baltimore top producer? His team ranks consistently among the top sellers in their market and Howard, personally, “… has earned his brokerages highest annual sales award – the Diamond Club – 9 times, while also being inducted into their Circle of Legends and Hall of Fame,” according to his bio at workmansuccess.com.

The book’s Amazon rave reviews include “Practical guidance with no BS filler,” “Ron’s approach is easily implemented in day to day life,” and “In a crowded field of real estate business books this stands out as current and relevant; worth the read!”

Get the book at amazon.com, goodreads.com and barnesandnoble.com.

Here’s wishing you a happy and productive summer 2021!

Grab the attention of your audience and keep it, with a Real Estate Times Campaign!

Real Estate Times Campaigns are currently on sale 10% OFF the first month – for 3 MORE DAYS! (sale ends 6/19/21).

Real Estate Times Scheduled Campaign (shown above). Learn more, HERE

TO LAUNCH A REAL ESTATE TIMES CAMPAIGN:

Hit “CLICK HERE”, below, to schedule your campaign (from a desktop or laptop computer).

And, remember, YOU DON’T PAY for each mailing until it actually goes out (cancel or change each mailing up until the night before it goes out).

Launch an Real Estate Times Scheduled Campaign now, CLICK HERE!

Please reach out to our support team at 866.405.3638 with questions or if there is anything we can do to help you with your success.

PLUS: When you have time…here are some helpful resources we’ve made available to support your success.

1. The Free 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

2. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

3. Become a Neighborhood Brand

Become branded in a specific neighborhood with a 12X15 marketing piece sent automatically each month to an exclusive carrier route. Watch this video to learn more or Click Here.

4. The Free Real Estate Mailing List Guide

5. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

6. The Free Online ROI Calculator

7. The Free Real Estate Marketing Guide “CRUSH IT”

BUSY SUMMER? Schedule Your Marketing in Just Minutes & Get BACK TO SUMMER!

Jun 15, 2021

And, Don’t Pay Until Each Mailing Goes out, Cancel or Change ANYTIME!

Real estate clients, summer vacations, and family cookouts have you in over your head this summer?

Schedule your marketing in just minutes and get back to summer!

And, remember, YOU DON’T PAY until each mailing goes out (cancel or change up until the night before mailing).

**Launch a FARM, Get More Listings Campaign**

Launch a FARM, Get More Listings Scheduled Campaign by clicking the “GO NOW” button, below (from a desktop or laptop computer).

And, remember, YOU DON’T PAY until each mailing goes out (cancel or change up until the night before mailing).

Get started, GO NOW

**Launch an SOI, Animal Series Campaign**

Launch an SOI, Animal Series Scheduled Campaign by clicking “GO NOW” below (from a desktop or laptop computer).

And, remember, YOU DON’T PAY until each mailing goes out (cancel or change up until the night before mailing).

Get started, GO NOW

Launch a Year of Holidays in Just Minutes!

Launch a Holiday Series Scheduled Campaign by clicking the “GO NOW” button, below (from a desktop or laptop computer).

And, remember, YOU DON’T PAY until each mailing goes out (cancel or change up until the night before mailing).

Get started, GO NOW

PLUS: When you have time…here are some helpful resources we’ve made available to support your success.

1. The Free 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

2. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

3. Become a Neighborhood Brand

Become branded in a specific neighborhood with a 12X15 marketing piece sent automatically each month to an exclusive carrier route. Watch this video to learn more or Click Here.

4. The Free Real Estate Mailing List Guide

5. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

6. The Free Online ROI Calculator

7. The Free Real Estate Marketing Guide “CRUSH IT”

Your real estate tech budget: What to concentrate on in 2022

Jun 8, 2021

We hear you: “Oh, goody. . .yet another blog post on how I should spend more money.”

Actually, we know you have a tech budget (ahem), and we know that part of it is allocated to real estate lead generation.

So, we looked for the three most important pieces of technology that help generate leads.

The perfect CRM

Most established agents already own and use a CRM. Many of them despise what they have. Yet, your CRM may be the most important tech tool in your business..

The perfect CRM for your business, however, isn’t necessarily the same one that your buddy in Phoenix uses in his real estate business.

Because we can’t possibly know what your hot buttons are, we can’t recommend what to look for in a CRM. What we can tell you is that you’re more likely to use a CRM that you don’t hate.

Make a list of your current CRM’s limitations – the stuff that drives you nuts on a daily basis – and start shopping for one that better meets your needs. Ask colleagues what they use and why they like or dislike it.

As you cruise the internet, using the search term “best crm for real estate agents,” avoid articles published by companies that offer CRM systems to agents or by those who work for such companies (read author bios to find out if there’s an agenda).

This is the one piece of tech that every agent simply must have, so take your time, and be willing to spend as much as it takes on the one that is best for you.

3-D virtual tours

There seems to be a misconception among agents that real estate videos are popular with the public. They aren’t. When it comes to online home tours, they can’t compete with 3-D virtual reality tours.

And the popularity of the latter is growing, while video’s popularity wanes. For example, nearly 80% of homebuyers surveyed by Zillow said “… they wanted the ability to view a 3D virtual tour.”

“… the popularity of these tools is not going to wane any time soon, even as the pandemic continues to slowly fade,” according to Dan Handy at Zillow.com.

When homebuyers want to learn more about a listing, they don’t want to be restricted to what a videographer shows them. The ability to cruise around a home at their own pace, virtually, and to pick and choose which areas to scrutinize, is valuable to them.

Lest you think that this preference for a more immersive home shopping experience rose out of the pandemic, consider that a Coldwell Banker study in 2018 found that nearly 80% of homebuyers would prefer their first visit to a home be via virtual reality.

It also found that 62% of the respondents claimed that “… they would be more likely to choose a real estate sales associate who offered VR house tour capabilities as a service for their clients” over one that did not.

Listing clients expect virtual tours of their home while it’s on the market. Consider 3-D tours over video for maximum buyer engagement and seller satisfaction.

Americans are on the Move! There’s No Better Time to Offer a Relocation Guide Opt-In

Jun 1, 2021

Known as “The Great Reshuffling,” 11% of Americans moved last year. More than 7 million moved to a different county, many to another state.

Employers made it easy to do, offering remote working alternatives which, for many, appear to be the new normal.

The states with the highest cost of living, such as California, New York, and Minnesota were among the losers while Nevada, Idaho, and Arizona ranked among the most popular destinations. In fact, California has lost more than 182,000 residents since the start of the pandemic.

“It’s the first time in California’s recorded history, that the state’s year-over-year population dropped,” Kate Larsen reported at abc7news.com.

The states with the highest number of inbound moves, according to magazine.realtor, include:

Idaho
North Carolina
Maine
New Hampshire
Alabama
District of Columbia
New Mexico
Nevada
Alaska
Kentucky

If you sell real estate in any of these states and don’t offer a free relocation guide as an opt-in, what are you waiting for?

How to create a relocation guide

The first decision you’ll need to make is whether you’ll DIY the project or outsource it. Doing it yourself will take time away from your business. How much time will depend on how in-depth your guide will be (number of pages, photos, etc.)

Check out what other agents are offering to figure out what you like and which fit your needs. Here are a few examples to start with:

live-in-las-vegas.com: Although we love the layout of this one, the information is terribly outdated.

TIP: Concentrate on using evergreen content. That is content that remains relevant over time. For instance, How to Lose Weight is far better than How to Lose Weight in 2021.

If, however, you want a magazine-style layout, a guide in E-book form or another medium, you’ll be better served hiring a professional writer.

oliverrealty.net: Very simple guide with an “insider” vibe to it. The only thing we would’ve changed is to add more photos.
Long, full of yummy photos and valuable information, Team Aguiler in San Diego’s relocation guide is amazing. Yet, there are three glaring omissions: the lack of branding and contact information, a table of contents at the end rather than the beginning of the guide and it’s not being used for lead capture.

Don’t just give your guide away with an instant download. Ask for name and contact information in exchange.

What not to do

Avoid the urge to load up the guide with overt marketing. This document is meant to be of value to potential clients, not to your business.

Take care in the photos you use. Naturally, you’ll not want to use another’s photos without written permission. If you take them yourself, ensure that they look professional.

Even if you fancy yourself a writer, hire a proofreader before publishing. You’ll find some with reasonable rates online at fiverr.com and upwork.com. Otherwise, you may be embarrassed by something like this (and, yes, this photo is live on the agent’s site).

It’s an easy mistake to make and you may not even catch errors such as this (the URL at the top of the photo is misspelled). Get a proofreader.

Again, don’t give the guide away without capturing information. Set up a landing page to drive prospects to and keep it simple. Name and email or phone usually suffice.

According to a study by hitwise.com, relocators are more than 20 percent likely to visit real estate sites than the average consumer. Get that relocation published and grab your share!

Turn Your Just Sold Listing into MORE LISTINGS with a One-Year Just Sold Campaign!

*ust Sold Follow-Up* Campaign is shown above. Learn more, **HERE**

TO LAUNCH A JUST SOLD FOLLOW-UP CAMPAIGN:

Hit “CLICK HERE”, below, to get started on your Just Sold Campaign (from a desktop or laptop computer).

And, remember, YOU DON’T PAY for each mailing until it actually goes out (cancel or change each mailing up until the night before it goes out. The price shown at check out is per mailing, not campaign total).

Launch a Just Sold Follow-Up Campaign now, CLICK HERE!

Please reach out to our support team at 866.405.3638 with questions or if there is anything we can do to help you with your success.

PLUS: When you have time…here are some helpful resources we’ve made available to support your success.

1. The Free 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

2. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

3. Become a Neighborhood Brand

Become branded in a specific neighborhood with a 12X15 marketing piece sent automatically each month to an exclusive carrier route. Watch this video to learn more or Click Here.

4. The Free Real Estate Mailing List Guide

5. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

6. The Free Online ROI Calculator

7. The Free Real Estate Marketing Guide “CRUSH IT”

New Agents: Fill Your Pipeline Quickly with Facebook Real Estate Leads

May 26, 2021

Has cold calling officially become a thing of the past? There are more than a few agents out there and several well-known real estate coaches that would say NO.

I would say minimally, it might not be the most efficient option. Unless you consider spending 7.5 hours to make 209 phone calls to get one appointment efficient.

Generating real estate leads on social media, if done right, is not only efficient but pleasant as well.

Facebook can be a goldmine for new real estate agents.

Why Facebook?

The platform’s demographics are one of the most compelling reasons to use Facebook for real estate lead generation. The largest age group among Facebook users is 35 to 54 (right in line with the average real estate consumer). Next, nearly 75 percent of users earn more than $75,000.

Finally, a study of CRM data from various companies across the planet finds that while the highest lead conversion rates come from referrals, the second-highest can be attributed to leads generated on social media.

If you understand the power of Facebook when it comes to real estate lead generation but haven’t quite figured out how to tap it, consider starting with Facebook groups.

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Join some groups

Start by finding some groups that Facebook thinks you might like. You can do that by going here and then clicking on “Discover.”

Naturally, if you post frequently to Facebook, the algorithm is going to assume you are interested in real estate so be prepared for lots of real estate-agent-related groups among the suggestions.

There’s nothing wrong with joining these groups but to generate real estate leads, however, go where consumers hang out.

You’ll find a “Categories” list on the left side of the page. And, since “all real estate is local,” the best category for a real estate agent to peruse is “Local.”

Here you’ll find some interesting groups. Mine includes one for a popular neighborhood in my city (with 31,000 members). As an agent, I would join that one. But there are tons of others to join as well.

Choose groups with interests that you can blog about because that’s one of the ways in which you’ll be using these groups to generate real estate leads.

Don’t be “that annoying real estate agent”

When interacting in your Facebook groups, keep your focus on the “social” aspect of social media. You’re not there to sell yourself or your business but to build relationships and get your name in front of people.

Don’t just use the groups to share your blog posts; interact with other group members.

And, keep in mind that some groups have rules, so learn them and abide by them.

It’s also important to keep in mind that interacting in groups is not about getting a flood of leads right now. Like most lead gen strategies, you’re building future business.

PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine, with rich, full-color content, and a sharp, professional esthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts, combined with engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you.

Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and, it costs less than sending a greeting card! – Click Here

2. The Free 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do when. Four key market segments are included, niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

The most effective thing you can do to build a real estate business is to become more visible, more likable, and remembered more often. The BusinessBASE™ not only checks all of these boxes, but it is a business building machine. In two easy steps, you can begin to build a robust sphere of influence that will provide you a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. – Click Here

4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

6. The Take a Listing Today Podcast

Watch the ProspectsPLUS!, Take a Listing Today Podcast for actionable content to help you get more listings. – Click Here

What Happens After the Just Sold Postcard?

May 25, 2021

Don’t Shut That Door JUST YET!

You sent out your Just Sold postcards to 100 homes around your sale, patted yourself on the back, and now it’s time to move on to the next potential listing, RIGHT?

WAIT…you just introduced yourself to a new list of prospects, don’t be so quick to leave them behind.

You’ve opened a new relationship door and demonstrated you’re real estate mastery, don’t shut that door NOW!

**Turn Your Just Sold Listing into MORE LISTINGS with a One-Year Just Sold Campaign!**

One-Year *Just Sold* Scheduled Campaign shown above (available in 3 colors) **HERE**

Keep that conversation going!

You’ve made an impressive introduction to your Just Sold prospect list now it’s time to keep that conversation going.

Launch a one-year Just Sold Campaign by clicking the “GO NOW” button, below (from a desktop or laptop computer).

And, remember, YOU DON’T PAY until each mailing goes out (cancel or change order or add to mailing list up until the night before mailing).

Launch a Just Sold Follow-Up Campaign – GO NOW!

PLUS: When you have time…here are some helpful resources we’ve made available to support your success.

1. The Free 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

2. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

3. Become a Neighborhood Brand

Become branded in a specific neighborhood with a 12X15 marketing piece sent automatically each month to an exclusive carrier route. Watch this video to learn more or Click Here.

4. The Free Real Estate Mailing List Guide

5. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

6. The Free Online ROI Calculator

7. The Free Real Estate Marketing Guide “CRUSH IT”

What You Need to Know About Real Estate Testimonials

May 17, 2021

I won’t spend $6 on a vegetable brush at Amazon.com without first checking customer reviews.

It would be an understatement, then, to say that it blows my mind that a guy wanting to sell his house (his HOUSE, for pity’s sake) picks the first agent that comes along.

After all these decades, real estate consumers still find the pool of agents in their town interchangeable. “You’re all alike” is a statement that deserves a look of shock in polite society, yet people think nothing of using it to describe real estate agents.

So, how does a knowledgeable, hard-working, awesome customer-service-providing agent combat this?

By getting your clients to do it for you, via testimonials (or, reviews as they are more commonly known).

Reviews are critical in the current marketplace

We recently read a study published at BrightLocal.com, that found nearly 90% of consumers age 35 to 54 (which is roughly the average age of buyers and sellers) routinely read reviews for businesses.

Sadly, only 15% of those folks were reading reviews of agents. As Millennials get older, however, experts predict this number to grow.

There is a right way, and there’s a wrong way

We’ve found several real estate trainer blog posts recommending that agents give a “thank-you gift” in exchange for a “positive” testimonial.

There’s a difference between encouraging honest feedback from your clients and requesting “positive” reviews specifically in exchange for something.

This suggestion violates federal law and, sometimes, the terms of service of the testimonial site.

“Companies must make it clear when they have paid their customers to write favorable testimonials,” according to Jessica Rich, director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Google will ban users for offering to pay for positive testimonials. And, over at yelp.com they state that “Business owners should not be asking customers to write positive reviews for their business.” Learn more about Yelp’s terms here.

Other things to consider about real estate testimonials

Like most online content, it’s only as good as its recency. If you aren’t consistently posting fresh reviews, you may lose business to the agent who does.
The average number of reviews Americans read before making a decision is 10 (statista.com). Keep this in mind when updating or creating your website’s testimonial pages. Put the 10 best reviews you have at the top of the list.
An unsigned testimonial, or one signed with first and last initial, has the potential to create distrust in the viewer. Don’t use them.
Always ask permission from a client to post their review but never ask him or her to give up intellectual property rights to the content in the review. Oh, and get that permission in writing (or via email) and keep a copy in the client’s file.

Consider including testimonials in your direct mail marketing pieces, specifically if they come from the same niche you are targeting.

For instance, a rave review from a client with a rental property that you helped sell, would be a highly credible addition to the marketing pieces in an absentee owner campaign you’re launching.

Did you know Absentee Owner Scheduled Campaigns are currently on sale 10% OFF the first month? (sale ends 5/22/21).

*Absentee Owner* Scheduled Campaigns (shown above). Learn more, **HERE**

TO LAUNCH AN ABSENTEE OWNER CAMPAIGN:

Hit “CLICK HERE”, below, to get started on your Absentee Owner Scheduled Campaign (from a desktop or laptop computer).

Launch an Absentee Owner Scheduled Campaign now, CLICK HERE!

Please reach out to our support team at 866.405.3638 with questions or if there is anything we can do to help you with your success.

PLUS: When you have time…here are some helpful resources we’ve made available to support your success.

1. The Free 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

2. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

3. Become a Neighborhood Brand

Become branded in a specific neighborhood with a 12X15 marketing piece sent automatically each month to an exclusive carrier route. Watch this video to learn more or Click Here.

4. The Free Real Estate Mailing List Guide

5. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

6. The Free Online ROI Calculator

7. The Free Real Estate Marketing Guide “CRUSH IT”