generate leads

A Fun Way to Generate Real Estate Leads!

Mar 10, 2023

“A recent poll revealed 66% of Americans aren’t friends with their neighbors,” according to Susan Meyer at thezebra.com. More than one-fourth of those surveyed, however, took part in neighborhood groups online.

While the internet has whittled away many Americans ‘real-life relationships, all it takes is one person to rally neighbors into turning a neighborhood into a community.

Your position in the community as a facilitator in home purchases and sales makes you the perfect person to get the ball rolling.

Did we also mention that it’s an amazing lead-generation strategy as well?

Getting to know the neighbors

There are plenty of ways to get to know your neighbors. If you like to walk, make it a point when folks are out and about, working in the yard or the garage. Stop and say hi, introduce yourself, and ensure that you remember their names.

If this tactic doesn’t expose you to enough neighbors, try door knocking, leaving postcards, or door hangers introducing yourself on the doors unanswered.

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

Become a one-person welcome wagon

Visiting new neighbors with a housewarming gift in hand not only makes them feel a sense of community but it’s something they won’t forget. You’ll be forever memorable.

The gift can be as simple as a list including contact information for:

Utility companies they’ll need to call
Pool service providers
Handyman/woman
Highly rated doctors, dentists, and veterinarians
Child care options
Any other mentions you think someone new to the neighborhood may appreciate

Create an event to bring everyone together

This idea can be used later in your relationship with neighbors or as a first step instead of visiting each one individually.

The type of event you create depends on how many neighbors you expect to show up and your budget.

It could be as simple as a barbecue at your home, a neighborhood cleanup event, or the ever-popular movie-in-the-park.

Whatever you choose to do, ensure you take lots of photos and then follow up with each attendee.

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

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

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

Generate More Real Estate Listings: Tweak Your Homepage

Apr 22, 2021

Effective real estate agent websites aren’t cheap. So many agents spend a small fortune on theirs only to have it go live with no clue that their sites truly aren’t finished and need some tweaking.

By “effective,” I mean engaging to prospects, able to help you convert prospects or even get visitors to stick around long enough for you to work your magical powers of persuasion.

If you hope to rank organically for local searches, customizing your homepage is something you absolutely must do.

Your homepage is your site’s curb appeal

You have only 10 to 20 seconds to communicate your value proposition to those who land on your homepage (Nielsen Norman Group).

What problem do you solve and how do you do it better than other agents?

While your homepage represents your site’s curb appeal, your value proposition is what entices them to want to know more about your services.

Let’s take a closer look at value propositions

Here’s an example of a site that gets the value proposition out front

PetPlate makes it clear that not only does it offer fresh, healthy dog food, it customizes the meals and delivers to your door.

So, ok, it’s not a real estate site.

Although you may cringe at the thought of an iBuyer, you have to admit that they do some crazy effective marketing.

Opendoor’s value proposition is front and center. They will give an instant offer to homeowners hoping to sell. The problems they solve?

“No showings. No Stress. No surprises.”

The whole homepage is, in fact, one long value proposition. As you scroll beneath the fold, you’re shown how Offerpad will make “… selling your home easy, fast, and stress-free.”

Back up your promise of value with proof

One of the best ways to communicate value, however, is through testimonials. There’s nothing more effective than someone who has used your service singing your praises.

Kelly Soule, Lake Tahoe, NV agent, has the right idea. Notice the testimonial under the photo of the lake.

Your testimonial doesn’t need to be this long. In fact, choose your best one and get your client’s permission to edit it to make it shorter and to use their name on your website.

Where are you?

If your site is like so many other agent sites, I could land on it and not have any idea where you list and sell real estate.

Imagine you’re interested in relocating overseas, or you’re from a neighboring country and you come across this website:

It’s a gorgeous photo and one that, no doubt, locals will recognize. But what about us?

There is absolutely nothing above the homepage fold that tells us which market this brokerage serves. It turns out to be west and central London, but you’d only learn that by clicking the “Enter” button.

You’ll also have to go there to learn their value proposition. They did have the right idea about putting testimonials on the home page but they’re beneath the fold. Scooting that green box up a smidge would make all the difference.

Simple changes to your website’s homepage can be worth their weight in gold. Go take a look at yours. Is it working as hard as it can to entice visitors to stick around and is it generating more real estate listings?

If not, put some of the ideas listed above into action now.

If you’re interested in creating a buyer pool, for the new listings you’re website is going to attract, consider pursuing renters.

Did you know Renter Scheduled Campaigns are currently on sale 10% OFF the first month? But ONLY for 3 MORE DAYS! (sale ends 4/24/21).

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

TO LAUNCH A RENTER CAMPAIGN:

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

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

Launch a Renter Scheduled Campaign now, CLICK HERE!

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

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

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

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

3. Become a Neighborhood Brand

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

4. The Free Real Estate Mailing List Guide

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

5. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

6. The Free Online ROI Calculator

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

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

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

New Agents: How to Get That First Client

Sep 7, 2020

Congrats on passing your exam and finding a broker to hang that license with.

We know what you’re thinking: “Now what?”

We’re willing to wager that the first day in your new office you sat around and stared at a blank computer screen while listening to the conversations around you about client deals and commission checks.

Made you feel like a fish out of water, didn’t it?

The good news is that, like any new thing, you’ll get used to it, learn and hopefully become more successful than you’d ever imagined.

But, it starts with a deal. Just one deal.

And, for that, you’ll need a client. It’s a good thing you’re visiting ProspectsPLUS! because we’re about to walk you through some brilliant ways to connect with that one person who will get you started down what we hope is a long and prosperous career.

A business card is just the beginning

Carry as many business cards as you can and hand them out to everyone. The guy who makes your coffee in the morning, the dry cleaner, your kids’ teachers, and everyone you interact with at the gym.

But handing out business cards is just a baby step. You need to get found and one of the best ways to do that is with a website.

NAR tells us that 51 percent of their 1,334,668 members have had a website for at least five years. It’s a surprisingly low number when you consider how much business you can get from your site.

Even more surprising is that only 9 percent of agents have a blog – one of the best traffic generators if done right.

The typical home buyer searches for homes online before doing anything else, including seeing if they can even qualify for a mortgage.

If you don’t have a website, there is no way you’ll be found. So, while you’re sitting in your cubby at your broker’s office, work on getting a website (with IDX, a blog and a system to capture leads) up and running.

Who do you know?

It’s time to fill up that CRM and announce yourself to the world with a card from our Photo Introduction Series. Any veteran agent worth his or her salt will counsel you to rely on your Sphere of Influence for that first transaction. To determine who is in your sphere of influence, make a list of the following:

The family who live in the area you want to serve
Friends
Neighbors (an especially good source of leads)
Former colleagues
Connections on social media
Casual acquaintances, such as your hairstylist, dentist, doctor and even your pet’s veterinarian (check out the awesome doctor loan products for medical professionals)

This list comprises your network so you’ll need to further refine it to narrow it down to only those people over whom you have some influence. This is your sphere of influence.

“Think about it as the people who would see a movie, read a book, or try a new restaurant because you recommended it,” suggests the pros at Contactually, a CRM provider.

Don’t toss the original list because many in your network will eventually be added to your sphere. Right now, you just want to reach out to people you have been in contact with over the past year.

What to mail, or email

As stated above, introducing yourself with a postcard is a great way to announce your status as a real estate agent.

Later in your career, you’ll want to avoid overt, heavy-handed, and frequent self-promotion, right now, it’s a must.

In fact, you may need to beat people over the head (metaphorically, please) with the fact that you now help people buy and sell homes.

A Free Offer postcard is an ideal medium to use to create interest as the second mailing after your introduction. Send one to each person in your sphere. Then, never mention again that you are a new agent. All future contact with them should offer something of value, with no reminders that you’re fresh out of real estate school.

What would be considered valuable? A Direct Response Report like, “How to Chop 4 Years and $24,000 Off Your Mortgage“, the offer of a Free List of Home Resources, a Comfort Food Recipe, or the Content Series Card, “Cleaning Green” are some ideas.

With a monthly Community Newsletter, you can work in all of these topics and more.

We understand that, right now, it seems as if finding that first client may be an elusive dream. But, take the steps to market yourself effectively and that client will appear.

Send out The Mac and Cheese postcard from the Comfort Food Series to your Sphere of Influence.

Need help targeting a specific niche of buyers or sellers? Use our Demographic Search Tool to create the ideal list (it’s easy). Or call our support team for assistance at 866.405.3638!

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

1. Become a Neighborhood Brand

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

2. The Free Real Estate Mailing List Guide

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

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4. The Free One-Page Real Estate Business Plan

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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

5. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

6. The Free Online ROI Calculator

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

Go fishing on Facebook for real estate leads

May 13, 2019

“Successful marlin fishing involves having the right gear, knowing the right fishing tactics and techniques, and being in the right place at the right time,” according to FishermansOutfitter.com.

The same can be said about anything one is trying to capture, from a mouse or a crook to the perfect photograph and, yes, real estate leads.

The challenge for many real estate agents attempting to capture leads is that, while they may understand tactics and techniques, they lack the proper gear.

So, let’s start with that and then get into how to use that “gear” to lure real estate leads on Facebook.

Mackerel or marlins?

Real estate agents can learn a lot about lead generation and capture from the fishing world. And, the first step is to determine who it is you’re trying to lure. Gone are the days of agents marketing to “anyone who is breathing.” It’s inefficient and ineffective.

Who do you want to work with, buyers or sellers? First-time buyers or repeat buyers? Luxury homeowners or condo owners?

Figuring out what you’re fishing for and then who these people are is key to any marketing strategy, most especially when you’re marketing on Facebook.

Before you do any further planning, head over to Facebook’s Policies to ensure that your promotion follows the rules.

Choose your lure

Watching a video of man- or woman- against marlin, it’s easy to assume that the most challenging part of catching one is the fight. The angler, strapped into a boat’s fighting chair, pumping and reeling, while the huge fish leaps and spins, makes for compelling footage.

But, “big blue” didn’t just stop by and ask for the fight – he (or she) responded to a lure.

And, not just any lure. Depending on species and sea conditions, the boat’s captain will choose from an array of lures he or she feels will be most attractive to the fish.

Premium content might hook them

Premium content is one way to lure Facebook leads. This type of content is different than what you offer by means of blog posts. It’s “a type of digital content that may be accessed for a fee, and is usually of higher quality or more desirable than free” content, say the folks at Techopedia.com.

You won’t, however, be charging a fee for your content. You will, on the other hand, ask for information in return.

And, now that you know who you are “fishing” for, determining the type of content to offer is a whole lot easier.

Remember, it’s called “premium” content for a reason. It’s higher quality than regular content, longer in length and, as the Techopedia folks say, it’s “exceptionally informative.”

An ideal type of premium content is a Free Report. Offer Free Reports in person, through direct mail, email and add to your website as a free download in exchange for an email.

There are a variety of long-form content types from which to choose:

A list and in-depth description of down payment assistance programs
Infographic
Tutorial
Ebook
In-depth guides, such as city guides, neighborhood guides, buying and selling guides, relocation guides.
Reports (basically just 3,000-word articles)
Checklist (staging, moving, loan application, etc.)
Long articles (at least 3,000 words)

Get more tips on creating and marketing with premium content at LinkedIn.com.

Facebook giveaways to lure real estate leads

A prize giveaway is another way to lure Facebook leads.

And, make no mistake, what you’re giving away is key to the promotion’s success. “I mean, who’s really going to take the time of day to like, comment on, and share a post when all they stand to gain is a $15 gift card for coffee?” asks Pat Hiban at ActiveRain.com.

“Almost no one,” he claims. Take the time to carefully consider an item that you’re contemplating giving away. Hiban lists several that worked well for other agents:

Family passes to a popular local attraction, such as a waterpark or amusement park.
Tickets to a sporting event. Hiban suggests “tickets to a local team’s upcoming game or even tickets to college games often work.”
The latest smartphone

Or, make the prize appropriate to an upcoming holiday. In 2017, Chattanooga attorneys Warren & Griffin gave away a stainless-steel barbecue grill and threw in a $50 Walmart gift card that the winner could use to purchase the goodies to cook on the new grill.

Use your favorite graphics program to create compelling Facebook posts to promote the giveaway and ensure that everything steers them to a dedicated squeeze page where you’ll capture their information.

Facebook’s rules state that users can’t force participants to share, like or follow to be entered for the prize. So, don’t force them. Hiban offers a brilliant alternative:

“Know someone who needs” a new grill? “Share this giveaway so that they have a chance to win!”

Get more Facebook giveaway ideas and tips at Wishpond.com and Hootsuite.com.

Show them you know what’s on their mind (available in the postcard section under Get More Listing Series)

Another way to generate leads is to send at least 100 Should You Stay or Go postcards from the Get More Listings Series to an area where you want more leads.

You might also like:

Agent Facebook Success: Rules of Engagement

A Refresher Course in Attracting New Clients

Need help targeting the perfect niche of buyers or sellers? Use our mailing list tool to create the ideal list (it’s easy) or call our support team for assistance at 866.405.3638!

PLUS: When you have time…here are Free killer tools to help your success this year!

1. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook

2. “Get More Listings” Free Online Webinar

“Get MORE Listings & Begin to Dominate Your Market!” Free online webinar. Learn the 3-7-27 strategy for explosive growth, why 95% of agents have less than 20% market share, and how to become the agent everyone competes against. – Click Here

3. The 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

4. The Free One-Page Real Estate Business Plan

5. The Free Online ROI Calculator