How to Create a Real Estate Website That Will Convert Leads

Feb 1, 2024

Each year, the folks at realtrends.com release their annual real estate website rankings. Those rankings, regardless of the company compiling them, are always a fun read.

Realtrend’s criteria for getting a spot on their list include websites with the “best design.” In fact, they’re looking for “show-stopping websites.”

These are not always the best-designed websites to increase organic SEO or capture leads.

Nope.

It’s not just the prettiness factor that proves a real estate website “… has what it takes.” We beg to differ. The “best” real estate websites actually work for their agent-owners.

They do this by ranking in organic searches, helping to convert leads, educating visitors about the buying and selling process, and informing them about the area and its attractions.

The Quotecard Series is shown above. To learn more, Click Here.

And they do it while not annoying the visitor, making them search for the information they need, by loading at lightning-fast speeds and more.

There’s an old Duke Ellington-composed song that says it all: “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).”

The best real estate websites are not only pretty, but they’ve also “got that swing”

A real estate website that has “that swing”:

Features responsive design (don’t yawn–we’ll explain, in plain English)
Is attractive in its simplicity
Converts visitors, or leads, into prospects
Attracts organic search engine traffic
Is user-focused

Let’s take a look at each aspect in more detail. Then, use this information when having your real estate website built.

Responsive design

This is one of those phrases that makes eyes glaze over.

What it refers to is a website that adapts its “… content based on the browser space available. This allows consistency between what a site shows on a desktop and what it shows on a handheld device,” according to Mads Soegaard at interaction-design.org.

Why is this important? Responsive websites load quicker on mobile devices. And, since 76% of homebuyers use a mobile device when searching for homes and agents, responsiveness is critical.

Attractive in its simplicity

Think “clean” when it comes to a real estate agent’s website layout. Don’t let anything detract from your branding, from your CTAs, and from the user’s experience (fluff won’t be read anyway).

Leave a lot of white space, use short sentences and paragraphs, and take advantage of bulleted and numbered lists.

“… make your website — especially your homepage — simple and clean with easy-to-navigate buttons and tabs,” suggests the pros at quicksprout.com.

Simplicity is key, they say because sites “… with simple designs have higher conversion rates.”

Check back soon for part 2 where we’ll show you how to build a website that attracts organic search engine traffic, ensures higher conversion rates, and the extra “goodies” it should offer real estate agents.

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 Magazin

Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine with rich, full-color content and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct, response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts and 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 6-Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Planner

The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 6-Month Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do and when. Four key market segments include niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

3. The Free Online Real Estate Business Plan

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

4. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

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

Five-Star Roadmap:How Customer Feedback Fuels Your Real Estate Business

Sep 17, 2023

At ProspectsPLUS!, we fully understand the profound impact of our customers’ feedback. It is a testament to their level of satisfaction with our service and underscores our commitment to providing world-class products and service.

With this in mind, we’re thrilled to announce a significant milestone we just achieved: ProspectsPLUS! surpassed 5,000 five-star customer reviews!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you. This remarkable accomplishment would not have been possible without your continued loyalty and support.

Now, let’s delve into the topic of why customer reviews are indispensable to the success of every business, specifically a real estate business.

Why Customer Reviews Are Crucial

They Build Trust and Credibility

Real estate transactions are significant life events, often involving substantial financial investments. Customers want to work with agents they can trust.

Positive reviews from previous clients act as a vote of confidence, assuring potential clients that you are a reputable and reliable professional.

Provide Social Proof

In a highly competitive industry, social proof is invaluable. Customer reviews are authentic testimonials that demonstrate your ability to deliver excellent service.

They give prospective clients a reason to choose you over your competitors.

Positive reviews can also improve your online visibility and search engine rankings. When potential clients search for real estate services in your area, a strong presence with favorable reviews can help your business stand out.

Highlight Your Expertise

Customer reviews often highlight an agent’s specific skills, expertise, or standout qualities.

These insights can attract clients seeking a particular skill set, such as expertise in a specific neighborhood or property type.

Encourage Referrals

Satisfied clients are more likely to refer their friends and family to you. Positive reviews create a ripple effect, potentially expanding your client base through word-of-mouth recommendations.

How to Earn More Customer Reviews:

Make It Easy: Streamline the review process by providing clients clear instructions and links to review sites. The easier you make it, the more likely they’ll follow through.
Timing Matters: Ask for reviews at the right time. It’s often best to request them shortly after a successful closing when the positive experience is still fresh in the client’s mind.
Offer Incentives: Consider offering small incentives to clients for leaving their feedback. Make sure to adhere to FTC guidelines when offering any incentives for customer feedback.
Engage on Social Media: Actively engage with clients on social media platforms. Share success stories and client testimonials to encourage others to do the same.
Ask for Reviews: Don’t hesitate to request reviews from satisfied clients. After a successful transaction, politely ask them to share their feedback on platforms like Google, Yelp, or your website.
Respond to Reviews: Engage with both positive and negative reviews professionally and promptly. Your responses demonstrate that you value feedback and are committed to improving.

By consistently delivering exceptional service and proactively encouraging reviews, you can harness the power of customer feedback to grow your real estate business and establish yourself as a trusted professional in the industry.

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

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

3. The Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Review

The Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Review allows you to enter your business goals for the remainder of the year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals. – Click Here

4. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

Edit Like a Pro: The Top 3 Non-Photoshop Tools for Real Estate Photos

Sep 5, 2023

Even if you use the services of a professional to photograph your listings, there are still plenty of other parts of your real estate business for which your own photography skills might come in handy.

These include snapping neighborhood shots for your neighborhood blog, photographing attendees at your client appreciation events, photos of your buyers standing in front of their new homes, and other opportunities.

These photos are brand-propelling if done and used right. Today, we start with editing these gems and introduce you to three very popular editing apps to help you out.

PicsArt

Price: 7-day free trial, $0, $60 or $84 a year

Who needs this: Those who appreciate a clean, quick way to remove backgrounds.

Pros:

With PicsArt you can edit both photos and video, a boon for agents who utilize video in their marketing.
No steep learning curve.
Easy to use.
An impressive range of editing options, such as AI tools.

Cons:

“PicsArt is fine while using in iOS device but it was responding very slow in most of the Android apps,” according to one reviewer at G2.com.
The free version is loaded with ads for the premium version, popping up in the middle of editing.
“They are gradually moving some of the free features under the payment plans,” says one reviewer. Keep this in mind if you hope to be able to use the free version in the future.
Options are limited on the free plan. For instance, you must go premium if you want to use the video editor.

The Multiphoto Series is shown above. To see more, Click Here.

Pixlr

Price: Free (very limited), $1.99 a month, $7.99 a month, $12.99 a month

Who needs this: Agents who must collaborate remotely with clients, partners, etc.

Pros:

Pixlr is cloud-based, allowing you to access it from anywhere.
Offers an option that edits images through AI.
Simple, easy-to-understand interface.
Well-suited to the novice editor.

Cons:

Although they use it primarily for on-the-fly editing, some reviewers experienced in photo editing claim that Pixlr is “basic” and that many of its functions require updating.
Ads pop up at inopportune times.
Although the template library is growing, it’s a bit paltry at this point.
Since this is an internet-based product, those with a slow connection might want to choose something else.

Snapseed

Price: Free

Who needs this: Agents who are new to photo editing as well as those who need on-the-go editing capability.

Pros:

Owned by Google, the Snapseed app is available for iOS and Android. The desktop version was discontinued in 2018.
Little editing experience is required when using the app’s editing tools.
The price (can’t beat free!)

Cons:

“Snapseed does not automatically save changes, so you need to click the export button to save any edits.” (colesclassroom.com).
Although most features are easy to use, some may stymie the newbie.

Download here for Android and here for iOS.

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

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

3. The Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Review

4. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

The Get-More-Listings Solution: Launch a Neighborhood or City Blog

Jul 31, 2023

Here’s a question for you: Why is it called “a sellers’ market” when sellers aren’t selling?

We are facing nearly 26% “… fewer homes newly listed for sale compared to last year,” according to recent NAR research. This is despite a 7.1% rise in homes actively for sale compared to last year at this time.

OK, so how do we make this sellers’ market a true sellers’ market? To start, more listing leads would be nice, right?

One effective strategy is to become a neighborhood or city expert. Sure, tons of agents pay that title lip service, but you, my friend, are actually going to live it.

Not only will a neighborhood – or city-specific blog brand you as the area expert, but it will boost lead generation as well.

The Holiday Series is shown above. To see more, Click Here.

And how will it do that?

With the organic website traffic that comes from your neighborhood or city blog.

“Real estate had the highest monthly organic traffic, on average,” of all the industries in the finance category of a recent SEO report published by Conductor. They go on to state that “… searchers looking into real estate are most likely not tied to a brand. This makes investing in SEO and the website experience more crucial since the ROI could be significant if your site provides the desired property solution.”

In other words, done right, and with the current state of SEO, your little blog could pay off big by providing a steady stream of leads.

Remember, this website/blog is in addition to your IDX website

This website/blog will focus on showcasing your in-depth knowledge, expertise, and passion for the city or the neighborhood. Here are some topics you might want to cover:

Neighborhood Profiles: Provide detailed information on different neighborhoods within your target area, highlighting their unique features, amenities, schools, and local attractions. Including lots of photos.
Local Market Updates: Regularly update your website or blog with the latest trends, market statistics, and insights specific to the neighborhood.
Home Improvement Tips: Share practical advice on enhancing the value of homes in the area, such as remodeling ideas, landscaping tips, and cost-effective renovations.
Local Events and Activities: Promote community events, festivals, charity drives, and other neighborhood activities to foster a sense of belonging and showcase the vibrant community spirit.
Local Business Profiles: Where to get the perfect cup of coffee or a yummy breakfast or dinner. Best yoga studios, hair stylists, auto mechanics, etc. You can find ideas for these on Yelp.com or join your Nextdoor.com neighborhood and read neighbors’ reviews.

Consider inviting local business owners, experts, or community leaders to contribute guest posts or interviews on your website or blog. This not only adds diverse perspectives but also increases the likelihood of them sharing your content with their own networks.

Don’t forget to cross-post every piece of content to social media.

DIY a WordPress site or have one done for you?

While WordPress might be the least expensive way to set up a blog or website, there is another option and that is what is on offer at ParkBench.com.

Dubbed “the only service in the world that actually builds community websites for real estate agents” by the company’s CEO and co-founder Grant Findlay-Shirras, it’s certainly a service worth a look.

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 aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts and 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 6-Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

3. The Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Review

4. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

Magnify Brand Visibility and Stay Connected the Easy Way with Automated Marketing!

Jun 14, 2023

When clients need a real estate agent, it pays to have an easily recognizable name at their fingertips. But coming up with fresh, eye-catching content and sticking to a regular schedule of sending this content out is incredibly time-consuming.

An automated, recurring marketing campaign is the easiest way to maintain brand exposure and stay relevant; while freeing up time for more high-level tasks.

Put Your Time to Better Use

Automating your marketing ensures you adhere to your long-term marketing strategies because you never miss sending out a campaign.

Scheduling postcard campaigns to go out automatically allows you to focus on prospecting, handling listing appointments, and developing other business growth strategies.

Meanwhile, targeted campaigns are working in the background to drive customer engagement and
ensure clients have your name in mind when it is time to list a home or find a new property.

The Content Card Series Campaign is shown above. To see more, Click Here.

Scheduled postcard campaigns give you the competitive edge

Regardless of speculated market shifts, homebuyers and homeowners will continue looking to trade up or relocate and will reach out to agents to take the plunge.

With an ongoing scheduled postcard campaign, you ensure your name is front and center with your target market when they are ready to strike.

In addition, various campaigns are available with customized messaging to fit certain niche markets. For instance, many fence-sitting homeowners are unsure if this is the right time to sell. The Fence Sitter postcard campaign is designed with the ideal message that speaks to their looming concerns and calms their fears.

The smart money is on automation

According to Lenskold Group, 78% of marketers reported that marketing automation increased revenue.

And 75% of brands saw a return on investment within 12 months due to using automated marketing campaigns (Focus Research study).

Launching an automated marketing campaign is the best way to make every moment count in your business, raise your brand profile, and stay relevant.

To get started launching a scheduled campaign or learn more, Click Here.

To check out our FREE Contact Manager, Click HERE.

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

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

3. The Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Review

4. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

Guess Which Buyers Have Joined the Luxury Homebuyer Ranks?

Jun 8, 2023

The media love to promote the idea that our millennial generation is so saddled by student debt that they require a bailout from the American taxpayer.

Guess what? That’s hogwash.

In reality, according to an Experian survey of student loan debt, Gen X and baby boomers, each hold more student loan debt than millennials.

According to a different Experian survey, fewer than half of millennials (42 percent) claim they have never been denied credit. Most surprising is that “… 66 percent of millennials have no student debt at all,” claims the Boston Globe’s Beth Akers.

More important, at least for real estate agents targeting millennial homebuyers, there are more than half a million millionaires in the millennial generation, and “… 93% of them have a net worth ranging from $1 to $2.49 million,” according to Mark Politi at LinkedIn.com, citing Coldwell Banker research.

Recent Engel & Völkers Trend Report surveys find that many have a higher net worth. Of the Americans looking to buy a home for more than $3 million dollars (so-called “peak luxury buyers”), nearly 60% are members of the millennial generation.

The number of younger millionaires will explode with the baby boomer inheritance wealth transfer over the next few decades. And according to the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury study, they will shop for high-end homes.

How can you position yourself to be the go-to agent for this cohort?

Carve out your space on social media

Yes, it takes time, but engaging with others on social media is critical to attracting these luxury homebuyers. Remember, the millennial generation was our first to grow up online.

However, not every social media platform is right for real estate agents. Keep your target market in mind in choosing where to market. For instance, millennials, born between 1977 to 1995, are, in 2023, between the ages of 28 and 46.

Older 40+ millennials are the wealthiest, with the top 1% net worth at nearly $8 million. The top 1% in the 35 to 39 age group is worth more than $4 million. The youngest group’s top 1 percent is about $600,000, according to Levi Rasmussen at WallStreetSurvivor.com.

These statistics should help when choosing which platform to use. Check its demographics to ensure it attracts your target audience.

“There is often a misconception among luxury brands and marketers that digital marketing is incompatible with the luxury industry,” according to Rumble Romagnoli with Relevance, a “… luxury digital marketing agency.”

People believe that UHNWIs [Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals] do not engage in social media, do not make online purchases, etc., or that if they do, it is only through super-exclusive social media sites or at private member’s clubs. This is absolutely not the case,” he concludes.

LinkedIn and Facebook are two of the best social media platforms an agent can use to target this audience. You might also consider Instagram ads, Romagnoli suggests.

Concentrate on emphasizing your expertise in both the luxury market and the local real estate market in general.

Erin Nicole Davis, citing an Engel & Volkers luxury homebuyer trend report, adds that “… real estate professionals who provide a personalized, high-touch experience when working with these buyers” will be the winners.

Bonus: You may just end up rolling in referrals!

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

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 and when. Four key market segments include niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

3. 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

4. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

3 Strategies to Prevent Your Real Estate Deals From Going South

Apr 10, 2023

In recent months, more than 15% of home sales fell through nationwide, according to a Redfin analysis. If you’re a Phoenix, Las Vegas, or Tampa agent, you’re undoubtedly familiar with this, as these cities have the highest number of incompleted real estate deals.

According to a survey from Cinch Home Services, the top 5 reasons for these derailments include:

The buyer walked
The buyer’s mortgage application was denied
Seller backed out
Home inspection issues
The home didn’t appraise

Don’t wait for your deals to start falling apart. Being proactive rather than reactive will help avoid some more common problems.

1. Vet the buyer

According to the aforementioned Cinch survey, 42% of derailed deals in recent month’s resulted from a denied loan application.

Buyers’ agents should thoroughly vet their clients to ensure they qualify for a loan and are prepared to financially complete the deal.

Listing agents might want to consider requesting “… a recent pre-approval letter from the lender, written within the last 30 days,” suggests a Boulder, Colorado agent at realtor.com.

Additionally, ensure that the buyer has a lock on the interest rate. “Buyers that have a mortgage rate lock are more likely to close the purchase versus those that still need a rate lock,” according to zondahome.com’s chief economist Ali Wolf.

Jason Gelios, author of “How to Think Like a Realtor,” offers up some signs for a listing agent to be on the lookout for that might indicate that the buyer isn’t as strong as you might hope. These include:

A small down payment
Requests for credits or concessions from the seller
A pre-approval letter from an unfamiliar lender

2. Tighten up those contingency timelines

Not too long ago, we were engulfed in a hot, hot, hot sellers’ market, so much so that the word ‘contingency’ almost became obsolete.

“Now, the supply and demand balance has changed,” Aly J. Yale at money.com reminds us. “Buyers have leverage, ushering in a new age of contingency-laden deals.”

“Homebuyers now will agree to buy a house and be doing the inspection, and then back out because they found another home they love more,” cautions a Redfin agent in Las Vegas.

Before accepting a contract, counsel your client to counter with a request to shorten any overly-long contingency timelines. The less time the buyers have to shop around for another home while still under contract on your listing, the better.

3. Consider a pre-sale home inspection

Nearly 40% of failed real estate deals can be blamed on home inspection results.

We get it: Many agents hesitate to recommend a pre-listing home inspection to their clients. Some say it’s because it presents additional disclosure items. Whatever the reason, the truth about the home will come out in the buyers’ inspection report anyway.

Be proactive so your client has the full picture of what she’s facing when the buyer’s inspection results come in. This allows your client to fix or replace anything you’re sure will be an issue for the buyer.

At the very least, you’ll have time to strategize how to handle negotiations if there are problems with the home.

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 aesthetic. 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 and when. Four key market segments include 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 these boxes but is also 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

5 Reasons Smart Agents ALWAYS Send Just Listed/Just Sold Postcards

Apr 3, 2023

Real estate agents are always looking for ways to increase their exposure and generate leads. One effective marketing strategy that has stood the test of time is sending Just Listed and Just Sold postcards.

If you’re wondering why even the highest-producing agents still spend time on this marketing tactic, read on.

Five Reasons Why Smart Real Estate Agents Continually Send Just Listed/Just Sold Postcards:

Builds brand awareness

Just Listed and Just Sold postcards are an excellent way to build brand awareness. By sending regular updates on your recent listings and sales, you remind potential clients of your expertise in the field. This can help you stand out in a crowded market and increase the likelihood that clients will choose you over competitors.

Even if you don’t have any current listings or solds of your own, you can still send a postcard announcing to your farm or targeted neighborhood what property was just sold or just listed in the area.

Or highlight a property listed or sold by someone in your office. This can still trigger inbound leads for you.

Targets potential clients

Sending postcards to a targeted audience can help you reach potential clients looking to buy or sell a property. You can purchase mailing lists segmented by location, income, and occupation, making it easy to target your ideal demographic.

Creates a personal touch

In today’s digital age, getting lost in the noise of email and social media is easy. By sending a physical postcard, you can create a personal touch that sets you apart from competitors. A postcard is tangible, and people are more likely to remember it than an email or a social media post.

And I often hear of agents who show up to a listing appointment and are shown the collection of their postcard mailings that have been kept by the homeowner.

It’s cost-effective marketing

Compared to other forms of marketing, sending postcards is a relatively inexpensive and fast way to get in front of prospects in your market. This makes it an affordable way to reach potential clients and generate leads.

Generates referrals

Just Listed and Just Sold postcards can generate referrals from your existing clients. When people receive your postcard, they may share it with friends or family members who are interested in buying or selling a property. This can help you generate leads without having to do any additional marketing.

Bottom line

Just Listed and Just Sold postcards are a highly effective marketing strategy that has been proven effective time and time again.

By sending regular real estate activity updates to potential clients, you can build brand awareness, target your ideal demographic, create a personal, tangible touch, and generate referrals.

If you’re a real estate agent looking to increase your exposure and generate leads, consider adding Just Listed and Just Sold postcards to your marketing strategy.

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 aesthetic. 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

3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

Right Now, Your Real Estate CRM is Worth its Weight in Gold. Here’s Why!

Feb 28, 2023

Back in the dinosaur days of real estate, a simple Rolodex, populated with the contact information of people in an agent’s sphere, ruled the day in most real estate businesses.

As technology advanced from those tiny 2.25-inch x 4-inch Rolodex cards, agents demanded more bells and whistles, which resulted in today’s sophisticated Customer Relationship Management platforms.

With the market in flux, it’s a good time for the less-than-busy agent to get to know their CRM and reacquaint themselves with the gold mine it is.

How about starting a drip campaign to drum up some business?

One of the best ways to grow your business and stay top of mind with your network is by reaching out to each person consistently over time.

Many agents swear by their drip campaigns, sending either automated emails or direct mail out to selected contacts in their CRM. However, how frequently you contact these people sits on a fine line between reaching out and spamming.

Some experts claim that dripping on these folks once a week is going to eventually get your marketing materials tossed in the trash or blocked from delivery to your contacts entirely – especially if they don’t plan on moving for a year or so.

A monthly email is more appropriate – even longer is fine. Just making consistent contact without annoying people is what’s most important.

You have one chance to lure these recipients into reading your drip campaign, which occurs with your first attempt.

The Content Card Series is shown above. To see more designs, Click HERE.

Depending on your database’s size, you may have to create several focused campaigns. Some of the categories to think about include quick (the operative word here) information for:

Homebuyers
Sellers
Condo buyers
FHA or VA buyers

To stay top-of-mind with past clients, think about sending information on their interests:

Gardening
Interior decorating and design trends
Green living
Food
Birthday, anniversary, new baby, and other greetings

The Content Card Series offers many of the topics listed above. Whatever you choose to send, make it count. Wow, them – make the recipients look forward to the next one.

Face-to-Face

Sometimes a face-to-face encounter is called for. Many successful agents plan client-appreciation events periodically throughout the year or one splashy annual event.

One California agent uses her CRM to classify her clients according to how big their sphere of influence is. Those with a huge network of contacts she calls her “A” group and those are the ones she tends to go a bit above and beyond to maintain the relationships.

Her preferred method is to never miss their birthday by issuing a lunch invitation for birthday week. Pricey? Perhaps, but memorable and tax-deductible as well.

Follow up with industry colleagues

Stick all those people you do business with on a regular basis into your CRM too. Begin building relationships with them by attending networking events or even holding your own for title company representatives, escrow people, lenders, contractors, plumbers, home inspectors, and electricians.

Client retention is business promotion at its subtlest, and your CRM is the most valuable tool you have right now.

While letting people know you value them, you plant a seed that will hopefully blossom into a big, fat pipeline full of referrals.

Be sure to check out the CRM that we offer to our customers FOR FREE. It allows you to grab contacts from various customer lists, target them with specific marketing meant just for them, and keep historical notes and personal data (i.e., birthdays, family members, home anniversary dates, etc.).

To check out our FREE Contact Manager, Click HERE.

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 aesthetic. 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

3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

Plentiful, High-Quality Photos are a Listing MUST-DO: So Find a Good Photographer

Feb 20, 2023

It’s safe to say that most real estate agents aren’t professional photographers. Most do, however, carry smartphones with them – phones with cameras.

It’s all too tempting to skip the expense of a professional photographer and snap photos of a listing with that handy dandy iPhone.

So, while your clients work their fingers to the bone to get the home ready for the market, in walks their real estate agent, breezing through the house snapping phone photos, then slaps them on the MLS and calls it a day.

Listing Photos DO Matter

Let’s get into the statistics. The National Association of Realtors has found that 92 percent of homebuyers start their search for a home online. Of those people, 98 percent say that the listing photos are the most important information they find.

Nearly all of them!

Then there is the study from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA’s Institute for Behavioral and Experimental Real Estate. This study finds that the typical homebuyer won’t even look at a listing that doesn’t include photos, and when he or she does look at a listing, the first thing viewed is the photos.

Finally, another study finds that listings that include professional photography get 61 percent more views than those with agent-generated photos.

So, ok, we know that listing photos are an important aspect of generating interest in a home that’s on the market. But there’s more.

The Photo Introduction Series is shown above. To see more, Click HERE.

Pro vs. Amateur

Now, here’s the study that should make you pay attention. A while back, the Wall Street Journal reported that “At the closing table, listings with nicer photos gain anywhere between $934 and $116,076 . . . over listings using photos from point-and-click cameras.”

Your listing clients are paying you to market their homes so that they make the most money possible in the shortest amount of time. The value of hiring a professional photographer is obvious.

How to choose a real estate photographer

As you gain experience as an agent, you will hope that home sellers will ask you about your past marketing efforts. So, ask the photographers you interview the same question. Ask for recent listing photos. Then, request the following:

Names and phone numbers of agents they’ve worked for.
An itemized list of what his or her fee includes. Pay close attention to how much of the post-production work is included in the price.
If a licensing fee isn’t on that list, ask if the photographer charges one and how much it is.
Ask if he or she will retain the copyrights to the photos.

Don’t neglect your due diligence; call those agents that each photographer has worked for.

Choosing the least expensive photographer is easy, especially as a new agent with limited funds. Keep that temptation at bay by understanding that listing agents who use professional photographers earn more money at closing than those whose listing includes bad photos. (Redfin)

Welcome to the world of real estate!

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 aesthetic. 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

3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

How to Market Your Real Estate Business During a Downturn

Feb 9, 2023

Recessions used to be painfully easy to spot. Lately, however, the definition of the word “recession” seems to stymie even the most experienced and well-regarded economists.

Is it any wonder that the general public, and real estate consumers in particular, are now confused about the economy?

Whether or not your real estate practice is feeling the financial pinch that many other small businesses are experiencing, it very well may be in the future.

Should you discontinue marketing during the downturn?

Your competition may be tempted to do so. Which is the biggest reason you should absolutely not stop marketing.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be bringing you several tried-and-true real estate business marketing methods that, although some are time-consuming, will be easy on your budget.

The Market Update Series is shown above. To see more, Click HERE.

Consider increasing your content marketing

Content marketing, by definition, is not meant to promote your brand (although it often does) but to attract and spark interest in your real estate services.

Right now, consumers (whether ready to buy or sell or wait it out) want to be kept abreast of the economy and the housing market and get tips on how to solve challenges in buying or selling in this market.

Blogging is one of the best and least expensive ways to accomplish this. Before you put your fingers to the keyboard, however, let’s take a look at some of the plusses of blogging:

Have a blog on your website? If you consistently add content to it, you may receive 97% more inbound links than the agent who doesn’t have an active blog. “Inbound links boost a website’s authority, which is a major page-ranking factor.” (Fundera.com)
Marketing advisory firm DemandMetric finds that “… companies with blogs generate 67% more monthly leads than those without.”
Their research also finds that you’ll spend 62% less on content marketing than on other forms of marketing.

Structure your blog posts for easy-reading

Most of us have landed on a blog post that hits us like a wall of words. And many will pass it by for just that reason.

Blog content needs to be easy to read, so break up long paragraphs and create additional interest by inserting bullet points, numbered lists, and lots of white space.

The folks at SEMRush find that a bulleted list every 500 words produces an average of 70% more traffic than posts that don’t contain these breaks.

Then, vow to add some spice to each post

Plan on adding images to each post. Types of engaging images include:

Stock photos
Screenshots that help explain the content
Infographics
Charts

According to the SEMrush State of Content Marketing 2020 Global Report, your blog posts’ images are critical to getting more traffic.

Blogging consistently during an economic downturn shows your website visitors that you’re still engaged in the industry, despite the slowdown. It demonstrates that you understand their concerns and are ready to assist them.

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 aesthetic. 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

3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

What Various Experts Say to Expect From this Quarter’s Real Estate Market

Jan 30, 2023

Some call the current housing market a “correction,” while others describe it as “in transition.” The truth is, none of us know for sure what’s coming.

We know today’s real estate market is nothing like what we’ve become accustomed to. If you’re the adventurous type, this is an exciting time.

To help you weather the current market, let’s unpack the various forecasts floating around online and try to make some sense of them.

Concessions, concessions everywhere

When was the last time you saw an offer to purchase replete with buyer concessions? It’s pretty much unknown to new agents who’ve joined the industry in the past couple of years. Today, however, rate buydown requests, money for repairs, help with closing costs, etc., are making a comeback, according to research by Redfin.

“Home sellers gave concessions to buyers in 41.9% of home sales in the fourth quarter … That’s up from just over 30% in both the previous quarter and the fourth quarter of 2021,” claim Lily Katz and Taylor Marr at Redfin.com.

In 2022, San Diego saw concessions included in 73% of home sales, while 62.9% of Phoenix contracts contained concessions.

The Real Estate Times Campaign is shown above. To see more, Click HERE.

Will rates quit their upward trajectory?

Experts are all over the place on this one. Greg McBride, Bankrate’s chief financial analyst, says that rates for a 30-year mortgage will sit at 5.25% by the end of 2023.

Between now and then, our survey of various experts shows:

“Fannie Mae sees the average rate of a 30-year fixed getting to 6.8% in 2023,” claims Kevin Graham at Rocket Mortgage.
Freddie Mac is predicting the 30-year rate will be 6.4%.
Bob Broeksmit, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s president, projects a 5.2% 30-year rate by the end of this year. (HousingWire.com)

As you can see, the experts are all over the map when it comes to predicting future mortgage rates. To get a better feel for what to expect in the spring real estate market, the pros with Motley Fool urge us to keep an eye on the March Fed meeting (March 21 and 22, 2023).

Will there be buyers?

The ShowingTime Showing Index®, at the time of this writing, reports that home showings fell by more than 30% nationwide. This drop is due, in large part, to the typical winter slowdown, so it’s not as scary as it appears on the surface.

According to a survey at NBC.com, more than half of homebuyer respondents say that the economy is causing them to reconsider buying a home. The good news is that nearly 1/3 of respondents replied that they are still considering buying.

If the Fed plays nice, we may just have a decent spring real estate market. Keep in touch with your sphere and farm, and you’ll be way ahead of the game.

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 aesthetic. 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

3. The BusinessBase, SOI building system

4. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan

5. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

Agent Tools

Responsive design

Attractive in its simplicity

Why Customer Reviews Are Crucial

How to Earn More Customer Reviews:

And how will it do that?

Remember, this website/blog is in addition to your IDX website

DIY a WordPress site or have one done for you?

Put Your Time to Better Use

Scheduled postcard campaigns give you the competitive edge

The smart money is on automation

Carve out your space on social media

1. Vet the buyer

2. Tighten up those contingency timelines

3. Consider a pre-sale home inspection

Five Reasons Why Smart Real Estate Agents Continually Send Just Listed/Just Sold Postcards:

Builds brand awareness

Targets potential clients

Creates a personal touch

It’s cost-effective marketing

Generates referrals

Bottom line

How about starting a drip campaign to drum up some business?

Face-to-Face

Follow up with industry colleagues

Listing Photos DO Matter

Pro vs. Amateur

How to choose a real estate photographer

Consider increasing your content marketing

Structure your blog posts for easy-reading

Then, vow to add some spice to each post

Concessions, concessions everywhere

Will rates quit their upward trajectory?

Will there be buyers?