Shown above: Nancy Strickland’s Get More Listings postcard and other Get More Listings postcard designs. See moreGet More Listingspostcard designs HERE
Congratulations, Nancy Strickland you are the winner of this week’s $120 gift card!
Nancy had the following words to say about her success after sending marketing from ProspectsPLUS!,
“Fast turn around, great price, and high-quality. I just received my 2nd order from ProspectsPLUS!; my presentation folders. They look great. The ordering process is so easy and generally only several days after ordering to receive your order and the price is FANTASTIC.”
-Nancy Strickland
Thank you, Nancy!
NEW CONTEST STARTS NOW: Get the FIRST MONTH of Any Scheduled Campaign For FREE! ($120 value)
FARM, Get More Listings Scheduled Campaign shown above.Learn more, HERE
Enter this week’s contest for a chance to win a $120 gift card covering the first month of ANY Scheduled Campaign.
The scheduled campaign includes 150 jumbo-sized postcards, sent standard postage (excluding data and tax. Includes only the first month free of a new campaign).
HOW TO ENTER: Just leave a review regarding how using marketing from ProspectsPLUS! has impacted your business, and you’re automatically entered into our next contest.
Mention a “scheduled campaign you’ve launched” in your review and your entry into the contest is doubled.
Launch a Scheduled Campaign today and save time on your marketing by automating it!
You Can Launch a Scheduled Campaign to any of the following Markets in Just Minutes:
Sphere of Influence Geographic Farm Just Sold Follow-up Holiday Renters Absentee Owners Expireds FSBOs Fence Sitters* Get More Listings* Empty Nesters* Move-Up Market*
(*Located under Farm Campaigns)
And, remember, YOU DON’T PAY for each mailing until it actually goes out (cancel or change each mailing up until the night before mailing goes out. The price shown at check out is per mailing, not campaign total).
TO GET STARTED:
STEP 1: Create your prospect list using our mailing list tools, HERE.
STEP 2: Then, once you have your list, choose your Campaign, select your start date, and add your list, HERE or hit “Launch a Scheduled Campaign”, below.
In the medical field, a physician that deals with the masses is a general practitioner. In the real estate industry, an agent that deals with the masses is . . . well, a real estate agent.
Just as there are medical specialties like neurosurgery and psychiatry, so are their specialties in real estate, yet the industry professionals have been slow to catch on.
Seth Godin, author, entrepreneur, marketer, and public speaker, in a speech to a group of real estate agents, talks about micro-specialization and claims that it’s the best way to build financial assets for the long haul.
Micro-specialization is drilling down into the various specialties you might offer and choosing just one. So, instead of being the guy or gal in town that handles everything from condos to ranches, you would be the Empty-Nestexpert or the Move-Up Market, expert.
Then, you can employ hyper-targeted marketing until you own that specialty. It’s not a quick process, but if you stick with it, you will find long-term success.
Some Markets aren’t Conducive
Niche marketing in large real estate markets, such as Los Angeles or Chicago is easy. Agents in tiny markets, however, will probably find that the strategy narrows your potential client pool drastically and the benefits you might find in a large market just won’t present themselves.
Sure, it’s a Scary Thought
Many real estate agents are cut from the same cloth. They present like they’re unique in their market yet copy other agents. Does “It’s a GREAT time to buy a home!” ring a bell?
Why?
Because everyone else is doing it and because breaking away from the pack is frightening to many people. So, they allow the fear of driving away even one potential client to fuel their march, in lock-step, with every other agent in town.
Godin likens this fear to burning all other bridges in the industry. But to become memorable – to own a specialty – you must burn those bridges. You must step outside the safety zone of the pack.
The Bonus
Choosing a specialty comes with a bonus – branding and targeted marketing are a snap. Once you’ve settled on a niche, you know exactly who your audience is, you know where to find them and, sometimes, even their ages.
“Let me tell you, the day I decided to cut all the other specialties loose to concentrate on my niche, I was terrified. The future was so unsure, but I did it anyway,” one of our Florida clients recently told us.
“Am I sorry? No way!”
If you want to stop chasing business, choose a niche and own it. Become the First Time Buyer Specialist, the Absentee OwnerExpert, or go after the Move-Up Market and let prospects come to you instead of you chasing after them — while competing with every other generalist in town.
You won’t be sorry.
Ready to own the Move-Up Market? Discover Move-Up Market Prospects in your area and get the first 100 prospects for free – for 3 MORE DAYS!
This sale expires on 10/23/21. 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…below are some helpful tools 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. The Automated Way to 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
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. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook
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
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”
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
According to a CMO survey (a company that collects the opinions of top marketers), only 16.3 percent of marketers “are confident about recommending investing in social media marketing.”
If professional marketers aren’t able to justify spending their clients’ money on social media marketing, then you may want to pass for now, specifically if you’re working with a tight budget.
So where do you spend your marketing dollars when you’re funds are limited?
The proof is in the numbers
Direct mail marketings response rate, according to the DMA Response Rate Report, stands at nine percent to warm leads and five percent to cold.
In addition, the DMA states 56% of consumers believe print marketing is the most trustworthy of all marketing channels.
The email marketing response rate is one percent. Online display ads are even worse, at 0.30 percent.
Clearly, if you are looking for the best place to spend your limited marketing dollars, the answer is direct mail marketing.
How much should you allocate
Before getting clear on your budget you must understand your revenue goals and objectives.
As a guide, businesses spend, on average, 9.8 percent of revenue on marketing, according to the aforementioned CMO survey.
We see you wincing. But consider this: according to NAR, the overall budget item that agents spend the most money on every year is on their automobiles.
Cars aren’t exactly lead-generating machines, yet there you have it.
So, determine a percentage that you can feel comfortable with, based on your goals, and commit to spending that budget during the remainder of the year.
The following are three tips to get the most bang for your direct mail marketing budget
1. The List
For any marketing campaign to be successful you must know your audience. This is even more critical when you’re on a tight budget. Now is not the time to attempt to be all things to all people.
The easiest way to whittle down the audience is by first figuring out if you’re going after buyers or sellers. Make a choice.
This not only ensures that what you mail is relevant to the recipient, but helps you choose a farming area (subdivision vs apartment building, for instance).
Be very picky who you mail to. Throwing stuff against the wall to see what sticks is a sure way to burn through your budget with nothing to show for the time and money spent.
Once you have defined your target markets, use our mailing list tools to create your prospect list.
2. The marketing pieces
After taking into account how many mailed pieces your budget will allow you to send, it’s time to determine an economic format. Postcards are most likely your best bet. They’re inexpensive to print and mail.
If your budget is super tight, consider foregoing postage costs and delivering door hangers. The advantages to using door hangers include that they stand out more and because you’ll save on postage your list can be larger.
Disadvantages include the labor intensiveness of having to visit each home on your list. Also, door hangers aren’t quite as effective when used in neighborhoods where people routinely enter their homes through the garage.
3. Offer something
Come up with a compelling offer and feature that on your direct mail postcards. A free home price analysis, buy first vs sell first evaluation or a free home equity analysis are all effective options.
The idea is to move recipients to act or, at the very least, hang on to your postcard until they’re ready to act.
Bottom line
Now, when your budget is tight, isn’t the time to take chances with marketing your real estate business.
Jumping on time-consuming and costly social media bandwagons that don’t deliver your target audience or wasting time and resources on an email that may not be opened, let alone read, can wait.
Use your budget on marketing that has the highest response rate – direct mail marketing.
The Move-Up Market is a great market to target right now. Especially since, with our current sale, you can get the first 100 prospects on a Move-Up Market list for FREE!
Discover Move-Up Market prospects in Your Area and Get the First 100 for FREE with the Demographic Search Tool.
HOW TO FIND MOVE-UP MARKET PROSPECTS IN YOUR AREA.
Hit “CLICK HERE”, below (from a desktop or laptop computer) and choose the Demographic Search Tool.
USE PROMO CODE: MOVE100 to get the first 100 prospects free.
This sale expires on 10/23/21. 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…below are some helpful tools 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. The Automated Way to 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
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. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook
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
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”
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
Every year, the NAR publishes a survey. And, every year we learn that consumers, despite saying they’d use their previous agent, go with the first agent they meet.
On the face of it, that seems like a pretty sad state of affairs—unless you can use that behavior to your advantage.
The need for speed
An older study of call response times to leads shows that from 35% to 50% of sales go to whoever reaches the prospect first.
This same study revealed that the chances you’ll actually make contact with a lead diminish the longer you wait to call. In fact, it decreases by more than 10 times in the first hour.
Unless you’re a one-woman or man show, wearing all the hats in your real estate business, it’s crazy not to do this ONE THING every time – call leads back a.s.a.p.
Within 5 minutes is optimal
Consider this: A red-hot lead is an online visitor who takes the time to enter her real name and real contact information.
Red-hot leads require your immediate attention. After all, they don’t typically come along every day. These people expect to hear from you and the other five agents they reached out to.
Be the first agent they talk to.
Do the call-back within 5 minutes and you’ll not only have the best chance of reaching the party, but call-backs within those 5 minutes convert better than call-backs made later. If you wait for a half-hour, your chances with the lead plummet 21%.
Mortgage Options, Direct Response Free Report, see HERE
What not to say
First, be prepared for the call-back. If the lead expressed interest in a particular property, print out the listing and familiarize yourself with it fully.
Then, don’t be overly salesy. Or talkative. Let the lead take the lead and be prepared to answer all questions.
Many sales coaches say that the first follow-up call should be informative, friendly, and very brief. Again, follow the lead. If he or she is chatty and doesn’t seem in a rush to get off the phone, keep chatting.
If, on the other hand, the lead is all business and seems rushed, take that as a clue to keep it brief.
What to Say
“Hi John, this is Anita Deal with World’s Best Real Estate Brokerage. I’m following up on your request for information on the home for sale at 123 Main Street. How can I help?”
Now, zip it and listen. Answer the lead’s questions and gauge whether he’s got time to talk or needs to be let go.
If it’s the former, ask non-threatening qualifying questions. These include:
Are you working with a real estate agent?
When do you plan on moving?
Have you seen a lender?
Do you have a home to sell before buying?
Don’t let the lead hang up without getting permission to follow up by phone, text or email.
If you offer a lead magnet, such as a free special report, offer to send it.
“May I email you my free report, “4 Mortgage Options With Low Down Payments”. Online leads are among the best you’ll get in real estate. Be brief, don’t be salesy, and get permission to follow up.
Keep it simple and human
Your UVP needs to be simple, both in length and in word choice. Here’s an example of what not to do:
We are “… a dominant online presence with a combination of innovative marketing and strategic outreach. Cutting-edge lead capture and unique tracking URL’s ensure exposure and buyer retention.”
Put yourself in the shoes of a consumer reading this UVP on the group’s website.
What is “lead capture?” And “cutting edge” these terms have become absolute turn-offs. Tracking URL’s? Buyer retention? Where is the part of the UVP that allows the reader to clearly understand the value this team offers?
Then, ironically, this same UVP shows up on seven other real estate websites. Seven agents trying to prove what makes them different share a UVP with seven other brokerages.
Here’s another that we found. “Our astute team creates a plethora of assets unique to your home.”
Aside from dumping the words “astute” and “plethora,” this real estate team needs to describe exactly what “assets” they will “create.”
If you can save consumers money on their real estate deal, make the process easier, or make it quicker, you’ve got yourself the makings of a UVP that will attract real estate clients.
Thinking of going after the Empty Nest niche market for more leads? Right now, get the first 100 prospects on an Empty Nest list for FREE!
Discover Empty Nesters in Your Area and Get the First 100 for FREE with the Demographic Search Tool.
HOW TO DISCOVER EMPTY NESTERS IN YOUR AREA.
Hit “CLICK HERE”, below (from a desktop or laptop computer) and choose the Demographic Search Tool.
USE PROMO CODE: EMPTY100 to get the first 100 prospects free.
This sale expires on 10/16/21. 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…below are some helpful tools 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. The Automated Way to 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
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. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook
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
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”
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
Shown above: Jim Denison’s Just Sold postcard and other Just Sold postcard designs. See more Just Sold postcard designs HERE
Congratulations, Jim Denison you are the winner of this week’s $120 gift card!
Jim had the following words to say about his success after sending marketing from ProspectsPLUS!,
“When my new home project came to an end last fall, I decided to go back to ProspectsPLUS! because I had used them before. The only listing I had turned into a sale and my postcard campaign of Just Listed, Pending, and Sold has led to $5 mil in sales and I still have $2.1 in listings with $1.1 mil due to close in October. I can’t thank ProspectsPLUS! enough for their quick processing and professional postcards.”
-Jim Denison
Thank you, Jim! You are ON FIRE. Congratulations on all of your success!
NEW CONTEST STARTS NOW: Get the FIRST MONTH of Any Scheduled Campaign For FREE! ($120 value)
FARM, Call to Action Series Scheduled Campaign shown above.Learn more, HERE
Enter this week’s contest for a chance to win a $120 gift card covering the first month of ANY Scheduled Campaign.
The scheduled campaign includes 150 jumbo-sized postcards, sent standard postage (excluding data and tax. Includes only the first month free of a new campaign).
HOW TO ENTER: Just leave a review regarding how using marketing from ProspectsPLUS! has impacted your business, and you’re automatically entered into our next contest.
Mention a “scheduled campaign you’ve launched” in your review and your entry into the contest is doubled.
Launch a Scheduled Campaign today and save time on your marketing by automating it!
You Can Launch a Scheduled Campaign to any of the following Markets in Just Minutes:
Sphere of Influence Geographic Farm Just Sold Follow-up Holiday Renters Absentee Owners Expireds FSBOs Fence Sitters* Get More Listings* Empty Nesters* Move-Up Market*
(*Located under Farm Campaigns)
And, remember, YOU DON’T PAY for each mailing until it actually goes out (cancel or change each mailing up until the night before mailing goes out. The price shown at check out is per mailing, not campaign total).
TO GET STARTED:
STEP 1: Create your prospect list using our mailing list tools, HERE.
STEP 2: Then, once you have your list, choose your Campaign, select your start date, and add your list, HERE or hit “Launch a Scheduled Campaign”, below.
Digital marketing is hot with real estate agents. This provides an amazing opportunity for the agent who decides to take a different approach and become a BIG FISH in a small pond.
How do you do this? with direct mail.
Oh, I know what you’re thinking. “She works for a direct mail marketing company, of course, she will say this.”
Statistics, however, don’t lie. Direct mail marketing is not only strategic, but it can also be laser-focused to a particular audience and it works.
Why fish for listing leads in the huge ocean that is digital? Think about it; doesn’t it make more sense to cast your net in a smaller pond filled with people who you are certain ACTUALLY OWN HOMES?
Some things to consider
In a recent survey of real estate agents, 82% said their marketing goal this year is to “improve their social media presence,” according to Becky Brooks at theclose.com.
A worthy goal, but not very focused. Think about this: while they are chasing after Facebook leads, you’ll have little competition vying for attention in homeowners’ mailboxes.
With targeted direct mail you will not only reach homeowners. If you narrow your mailing list to only homeowners who have lived in their homes a certain number of years, or who live in starter homes or any other preferred criteria, you will have a far greater chance of taking listings than by randomly posting on social media.
For instance, by targeting homeowners who have been in their home for seven or more years, you’re creating a great list of potential fence-sitters to go after.
Fence Sitter postcard campaign shown above. To learn more, click HERE
Another thing to consider is the pandemic. In a recent USPS study, slightly more than 40% of Americans said that since the pandemic began, their excitement about receiving mail increased.
Nearly half of respondents said that a direct mail piece prompted them to go online to get more information about the sender.
The volume of direct mail plummeted from “… 213 billion pieces …” in 2016 to 120 billion last year. Interestingly, despite the drop in volume, the response rate skyrocketed nearly 200%.
You’ll have far less competition for eyes on your mail pieces and a better response rate than ever before.
Who makes up your potential seller audience?
Now that we’ve got you looking for listings in all the right places, what will you be sending? Keep in mind your audience – older generations, such as Baby Boomers and Gen X make up 75% of the real estate market combined.
When considering your direct mail marketing piece, don’t take valuable time out of your day to create marketing from scratch.
ProspectsPLUS! offers hundreds of marketing templates targeted specifically to your niche audience and designed by direct response experts.
Next, determine your recipient’s needs (boomers may want to downsize or move near their grown children) and offer a solution that is compelling (don’t worry ProspectsPLUS! has this covered for you as well). Check out the Empty Nest Series located under Farm campaigns.
Decide on the compelling offer to get those homeowners reaching out
A market update is always a good way to break the ice. Yes, it may be time-consuming, but it doesn’t have to be.
A simple chart of recently listeds, under contracts, and solds, along with bedrooms, baths, square footage, and prices, is something that hits my mailbox once a quarter. Do I read it?
You bet I do!
Then, there are the absentee owners to consider. Many have been hit hard by the rent moratorium and want out from under their investments. Take a look at what we offer to market to these possible listers.
If you have a freebie they can download or you can deliver, all the better. Offer them the Direct Response Report, Advice For Cash-Strapped Landlords.
Consistency is key in any lead generation campaign, so send just-listed and just-sold postcards when appropriate. Keep reminding them just how much their neighbors are getting for their homes in this on-fire sellers’ market.
FOMO (fear of missing out) is real.
Another way to keep those listings flowing? A YEAR ROUND Holiday Postcard Campaign.Staying top of mind with Your Sphere & Farm is easy with a Monthly Holiday Campaign.
And, Holiday Campaigns are ON SALE 10% OFF the first month– 3 More Days!
Holiday Postcard Campaign (shown above). Learn more, HERE
TO LAUNCH A HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN:
Hit the “CLICK HERE” link, below, to schedule your campaign (from a desktop or laptop computer).
USE PROMO CODE: HOLIDAY10 to get 10% Off at check out.
And, remember, YOU DON’T PAY for each mailing until it actually goes out (cancel or change up until the night before the mailing goes out). This sale expires 10/2/21.
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…below are some helpful tools 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. The Automated Way to 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
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. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook
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
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”
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
Have you ever puzzled over what value you offer potential and existing clients that no other agent (or few others) offer?
Or, do you bundle up the same service as every other agent in town in the hope that it will be enough to prove to consumers why you deserve their business?
Determining your “unique value proposition,” or UVP for short, is critical, especially if you work in a market saturated with other real estate agents.
Quick explainer for newbies
A UVP “… is a concise, straight-to-the-point statement about the benefits you offer customers,” according to Solomon Thimothy at inc.com. “In other words, it’s an explanation of what makes you different,” he concludes.
It sets you apart from other agents. “It’s the promise you make to your customers and clients to deliver a unique experience, claims Tony Khuon at agilelifestyle.com.
So how do I come up with this UVP?
Think about what you can offer that few other agents do. If you’re a veteran, brush up on the VA home loan. Your UVP is that you are uniquely qualified to work with veterans.
If you’re an ace marketer or come from a marketing background you no doubt offer creative marketing solutions to home sellers. Solutions other agents can’t match. That’s an amazing UVP.
While many agents have started offering free services to their listing clients, the number still remains small. Stand out from the crowd by offering one or more of the following:
Free staging
Free housecleaning
Free curb appeal consultation
Free handyperson services (such as two hours of services, or something similar)
Yes, the thought of paying for these services is uncomfortable, but homeowners value these and, therefore, they make a dandy UVP.
Two more “services” that consumers find attractive are discounting your commission or giving a portion of your commission back to the community.
You don’t need to spend money, however, for what you offer to be considered valuable. “Homes I list sell for an average of 3% or more above list price.”
If true, that’s a pretty compelling UVP.
Remember to add your unique service to all of your marketing as a powerful call to action.
Your UVP needs to be simple, both in length and in word choice. Here’s an example of what not to do:
We are “… a dominant online presence with a combination of innovative marketing and strategic outreach. Cutting-edge lead capture and unique tracking URL’s ensure exposure and buyer retention.”
Put yourself in the shoes of a consumer reading this UVP on the group’s website.
What is “lead capture?” And “cutting edge” these terms have become absolute turn-offs. Tracking URL’s? Buyer retention? Where is the part of the UVP that allows the reader to clearly understand the value this team offers?
Then, ironically, this same UVP shows up on seven other real estate websites. Seven agents trying to prove what makes them different share a UVP with seven other brokerages.
Here’s another that we found. “Our astute team creates a plethora of assets unique to your home.”
Aside from dumping the words “astute” and “plethora,” this real estate team needs to describe exactly what “assets” they will “create.”
If you can save consumers money on their real estate deal, make the process easier or make it quicker, you’ve got yourself the makings of a UVP that will attract real estate clients.
Did you know our Holiday Scheduled Campaign is currently on sale 10% OFF the first month?
Farm, Holiday Scheduled Campaign is shown above. Learn more, HERE
TO LAUNCH A HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN:
Hit “CLICK HERE”, below (from a desktop or laptop computer).
USE PROMO CODE: HOLIDAY10 to get 10% Off at check out.
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). This sale expires on 10/02/21.
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…below are some helpful tools 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. The Automated Way to 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
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. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook
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
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”
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
You may already be familiar with these tools, but are you really making the most of them? When strategically used, not only do they make your work life a lot easier, but they will help you generate new business as well.
The best smartphone for agents
Your smartphone is the one tool you’ll use more than any other in your real estate practice.
Most REALTORS® — more than half – use the Apple iPhone®, according to NAR, second in popularity is Android™. While a smartphone’s features are critical in an agents decision-making process, the types of apps it can run and their ease of use is important to consider as well. Again, the iPhone® gets the award – this time for the sheer number of apps, but the number and variety of Android™ apps are increasing.
When making your final decision, be sure to compare the audio quality on speakerphone and Bluetooth. This is important since you’ll most likely use the phone a lot while driving (if that’s legal in your area). And the audio quality between phones can vary greatly.
At the beginning of your career, you’ll probably rely on your phone to take photos and videos, take time to verify the photo and video display and resolution are high-quality. Most newer Apple iPhone® and Android™ phones do an adequate job of capturing images and video with high-quality resolution.
New smartphone apps that make work easier
RPR Mobile – easily search properties, create and send branded reports.
BombBomb – send personal video emails to your clients from your phone on the fly.
Waze – up-to-the-minute traffic updates by other users, great time-saving while on the road.
Open Home Pro – bring your tablet and get digital sign-ins at your next open house. Then follow-up with automated emails and text messages.
Videolicious – Make and edit high-quality videos in seconds, including watermarks and logos.
CRM’S have come a long way
From day one of your real estate career, you’ll be hitting the ground, drumming up business. Unless you plan on going through piles of scraps of paper to keep track of all the contacts you’ll make, you need a customer relationship management system.
The CRMs of today are used for a number of tasks – from automating some of your marketing to keeping track of your sphere, your prospects, clients (past and present) and syncing data between multiple platforms. A CRM system has become invaluable.
These systems are offered by a number of companies but look for one with at least the basics — property blasts, email templates and the ability to monitor client activity on your website.
If you’re on an extremely tight budget you might want to start with what the NAR calls “no-frills electronic address books,” such as Outlook and Apple Address book. You won’t get the integrated solutions that you will with the higher-end systems, but at the very least, you’ll get your contacts organized. Three CRMs worth investigating further, Contractually, ZOHO, and Apptivo.
Website & blog solutions made easy
“My websites are critical to my success,” claims Minnesota’s Kris Lindahl, named one of REAL Trends’ and Trulia’s “America’s Best Real Estate Agents.”
“While they’re not the only marketing tool we use, they’re certainly the easiest. There’s a lot to be said for effective inbound marketing. It’s painless.”
Sure, your broker may offer you a page on his or her company website, but you need your own, with your branding.
You can spend a ton of money on a website, or you can do what many smart agents are doing and use a ready-made solution. One example is setting up a WordPress site, using an attractive, agent-friendly WordPress theme, such as “Curb Appeal Evolved”. This theme runs under $50.00 and offers IDX plugins, which is the most important tool on any real estate site. Or, check the selection of templates available at Theme Forest.
Additional ready-made, agent-friendly website and blog solutions worth investigating include Placester, Websitebox, Squarespace, Wix, and Weebly.
Top tech tools growing in 2018
360 Degree Cameras – These cameras create a feeling of actually being inside the property and are able to capture every angle allowing for deeper exploration. A recent study by Magnifyre showed 25% of video watchers preferred 360 videos over traditional cropped format.
3D Cameras – places you inside the property as well allowing you the freedom to look around. There is said to be a greater feeling of depth with a 3D camera. However, you are not able to capture every angle with a 3D camera as you will with a 360 camera.
Chatbots – allow you to streamline communication on your website by answering routine questions before you talk to a client. Provides the client another option for information other than picking up the phone. A few Chatbots to investigate further include, Automabots, Structurely, Botplan.
Make the most of your CRM, send a Community Newsletter from our Newsletter Series to your Sphere of Influence. Be sure to notate when the postcards went out in your CRM for tracking purposes.
PLUS: Whenever you have a moment…here are 3 things to check out that will help you CRUSH IT in 2018!
1. The Free 2018 Real Estate Business Plan
Treat your business like a business it is vital to long-term success in this industry. Some agents may put together elaborate business plans, yet there’s something powerful about keeping it simple. Check out our one page Online Real Estate Business Plan – Click Here
2. The Online ROI Calculator
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
3. The 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, Listing Inventory, Geographic Farming, and Sphere of Influence – Click Here
Top agents know that the key to longevity in this business is to build a better book of business. Referrals are their stock and trade, but to keep them coming IN– they know they need to constantly be reaching OUT. Let’s take a look at some powerful and productive ways to do that WITHOUT a lot of stress or hassle.
Strategy #1 Commit to The List
Whatever database system you’re using, inputting your customer information is step one. Even if you don’t have EVERYTHING you need , or all the information you want, start somewhere. I’ve talked to agents who never get around to marketing at all because they feel like they have to do everything at once. If it seems overwhelming – start SOMEWHERE.
Pick 50 or 100 people to add and knock it out in a couple hours – even if you’re simply using excel to add name, address, phone, email. Then pick another day and do the same thing so you can get your list to the 200 mark. (Virtual assistants these days are very affordable as well – so that may be an option for some of you. College students are always looking for some extra money too – so ask around!
Strategy #2 Opt-Ins & Social
We’ve got some powerful tools in our resource section. Terrific free reports that are a perfect addition to your website as an opt-in piece. Here’s a creative multi-use way to use these tools to help you build your list, feed your social media stream and entice your customers and prospects to continually return to your site for more resources!
You’ll become the go-to agent for information! Simply click here to go to our resource section and download the free reports that will work best for you and your market. Go ahead and download as many as you like and bookmark this page because we add new ones all the time.
These are going to now become part of the campaign you’re about to kick off! Now, take one per week or one per month and break the contents down into bite sized pieces to share on your social media and on the backs of your postcards.
I’ll give you an example: Take the How to Save for a Down Payment free report. It has seven tips for saving for a down payment. A fun strategy would be to kick off your Facebook posts on a Monday with a post something along these lines:
As a professional Realtor, it’s a privilege to help people invest in their future and find the home of their dreams. Often times, it is the down payment that can be a sticking point. This week I’ll share with you seven powerful ways you can save!
Tip #1: 1. Get in the know. Like any good budget or savings plan, the first place to start is to determine where you are NOW in relation to your credit score, your monthly bills and assets. Contact me or a trusted mortgage professional to see how much home you qualify for and how much you’ll need to save to purchase your home. We can help you take a look at things like credit scores, loan requirements and interest rates now so you can be simultaneously doing ALL the things right during this savings period to ensure the most favorable rate and terms.
Say you made this your “Free report for August” in your business plan. When setting up your postcard campaign on Prospectsplus.com – choose the alternate back and add a little verbiage to that fact. Here is an example:
As a professional Realtor who specializes in helping people find the home of their dreams, I’m always eager to share resources that can help consumers just like you make the best financial decisions for their family! Please visit my site today at www.yoursitehere.com and download a copy of my new free report: How to Save for a Down Payment. No cost or obligation and please share with friends! Call me if you have questions at xxx-xxx-xxxx!
Then do the same for month two and three of your campaign. This way your social media and your postcard marketing are all working in tandem. Keep copies of each report on hand so you can mail or email them out easily. (I would make a file on your desktop specifically to house all these reports to make finding them easier!)
Strategy #3 Commit To a Campaign
Even if you’re not sure which campaign is right for you – choose one to use for at least three months. Breaking projects down into bite-size pieces makes the process less stressful and more manageable for most people. I love the idea of a three month campaign because you can add your list, choose your card campaign and let that run for three months.
Then make whatever revisions are necessary to your list once a quarter such change an address, add a new customer or referral, change an email, etc. This makes your database management less time-consuming as well. By breaking your campaigns down into quarterly increments – you also have the flexibility to try a new campaign on for size.
Some sphere of influence favorites are:
Listing Inventory Series
Holiday Series
Recipe Series
Call to Action Series
Neighborhood Update Series
Customer Appreciation Series
Strategy #4 Add a niche
One of the fastest ways to grow your sphere is to take what you’re passionate about, the people you like working with the MOST and create a niche for yourself. I’ve always said it’s tough to be #1 in a geographic market – but not in a smaller niche that you are excited about.
From traditional (first time home buyers, fsbo’s, expireds) to out of the box (Health and wellness seekers, boaters, fishermen) – find something you love, then get out there and meet THOSE people and start putting them into your list.
The secret ingredient in a sphere of influence is INFLUENCE. Taking people from being “on a list” to knowing, trusting and liking you enough to want to do business with you. That process happens fastest when you’re working with a group of people that you like and know about in return! Not sure where to start? Take a look at our Lifestyle Interest Series which helps agent match their messages to their favorite marketing segments such as boaters and golfers.
Now you’re ready to get STARTED!
Get Your Free 2018 Real Estate Business Plan
Treat your business like a business it is vital to long-term success in this industry. Some agents may put together elaborate business plans, yet there’s something powerful about keeping it simple. Check out our one page Online Real Estate Business Plan – Click Here
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, Listing Inventory, Geographic Farming, and Sphere of Influence – Click Here
Annual spending on newspaper circulars, coupons, direct mail, and catalogs hit $76 billion in 2017!
Need I say more?
By the way, this was up 85% from 2012, according to a Wallstreet Journal article recently written by Sarah Nassauer.
“Paper ads that arrive in homes spur more buying than emails or texts”, said Jackson Jeyanayagam, chief marketing officer of Boxed.com.
“Email is starting to become a sandbox because you get so much”. Boxed spent 80% more on print advertising in 2017 than 2016.
Emily Frankel, senior director of digital marketing at Jet.com, a Walmart owned company, states, “Jet sent 35 million paper coupons and direct mailers last year”.
She continued, that the mailers have been effective in reaching new, more urban and affluent customers.
So, why is direct mail so effective?
A study commissioned by the Interactive Advertising Bureau discovered that direct mail marketing—leaves a ‘deeper more emotional footprint’ on the brain than digital.
That difference can be pinpointed on MRI brain scans.
It produces brain responses that get stored in your memory. The printed piece itself becomes part of the subliminal messaging.
The following are more reasons for direct mail’s success.
It’s targeted
Most advertising is expensive and casts a wide, but not specific net.
With direct mail, you can match your marketing pieces specifically to your market or niche dramatically increasing your response rates.
Direct mail is your canvas. You can address your customer by name, share specific offers and communicate information that’s specific to your area.
And begin to create a top-of-mind awareness and trust.
By offering calls to action such as Free Reports, lists of homes, a Free Home Market Analysis and more – you create an opportunity for engagement with your audience.
Others mix and match their marketing messages – preferring to keep consumers alert and eager to see what they’ll send next.
It’s tangible
The truth is, as human beings we are tactile people.
So, engaging different senses is just smart business. If I get a message from a professional via email or digital ad, it registers in the moment – but not necessarily long term.
When I get a message that’s directed to me and offers something of importance to me and my family – that’s compelling.
Specifically, when I can feel it, touch it, put it on the refrigerator or tack it to my bulletin board, etc. – that message has a much longer shelf life.
And a better chance of getting a response – not just once but again and again.
It’s measurable
Use a unique URL or make a specific offer on a direct response piece and keep tabs on how many people click or call on that offer. Similiar to our Free Offer Series postcards.
Then adjust future mailings based on that response rate. It’s always advised to make a direct response offer on every piece of direct mail.
As opposed to just a generic, ‘here I am’ mailing.
Give people valuable reasons to reach out to you and they will!
Call our marketing team at 866.405.3638 for assistance. We are here for you!
PLUS: Whenever you have a moment…here are 3 things to check out that will help you CRUSH IT in 2018!
1. The Free 2018 Real Estate Business Plan
Treat your business like a business it is vital to long-term success in this industry. Some agents may put together elaborate business plans, yet there’s something powerful about keeping it simple. Check out our one page Online Real Estate Business Plan – Click Here
2. The Online Sphere of Influence Calculator
Top real estate professionals state 66% of their business comes from their sphere of influence. So how many people do you need in your SOI? Check out our Sphere of Influence Calculator (from your desktop) to find out the answer – Click Here
3. The 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, Listing Inventory, Geographic Farming, and Sphere of Influence – Click Here
You’ll become the go-to agent for information! Simply 
As a professional Realtor who specializes in helping people find the home of their dreams, I’m always eager to share resources that can help consumers just like you make the best financial decisions for their family! Please visit my site today at www.yoursitehere.com and download a copy of my new free report: How to Save for a Down Payment. No cost or obligation and please share with friends! Call me if you have questions at xxx-xxx-xxxx!
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