About 74% of us make New Year’s resolutions, according to statista.com, unfortunately, as they go on to state, only 8% of us actually achieve them.
Statistics show those that fail at keeping resolutions do so rather quickly, in fact, typically by February 1.
Resolving to do things differently in a new year has a 4,000 year-long history. Ancient Babylonians apparently started it, promising their gods that they will pay off their debts and “… return any objects they had borrowed,” according to Sarah, Pruitt, author of “Breaking History: Vanished!” writing at history.com.
So, why do we still make New Year’s resolutions? Especially when we have such a shoddy record of keeping them?
“One reason is the allure of starting from scratch …” and “… the idea of bettering ourselves is another motivator,” according to Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. associate editor at psychcentral.com.
The desire to make resolutions isn’t a bad thing. In fact, continuing to make them in the face of the very real possibility that we won’t stick to them shows that we have faith in ourselves, that we can change those aspects of ourselves or lives that we don’t like.
Did you join the 74% and set some new year’s resolutions this year? If so, it’s not too late to change those resolutions into a more achievable form.
This year, try something different
Instead of big, lofty real estate business or personal goals, consider creating “micro-goals” instead. “You’ll be more likely to achieve them and see plans through,” suggests Emily VanSchmus at bhg.com.
Let’s face it, vowing to make a thousand cold calls a day is nuts. You’ll grow so weary of even looking at a telephone that the slightest distraction will lure you away.
A smaller goal, perhaps an extra 10 real estate cold calls per session, gives you a better chance of achieving your goal.
Who cares if January 1 has come and gone? That date “… isn’t the hard and fast rule when it comes to making lifestyle changes …” or creating new real estate business goals, according to VanSchmus.
The Real Estate Marketing Planner, clickHERE to download now.
We roamed around the interweb in search of advice for agents on making the “best” New Year’s resolutions and came up with a ton of lofty stuff. Here’s just one:
“Focus on customer experience and customer service”
Unfortunately, the author offered up no examples of how one should focus on a customer experience.
What is customer experience in real estate? I like to think of it as the after-effect of working with an agent. It’s illustrated in the client who raves about her agent.
Customer service is something a bit different; it revolves around the services you offer your clients.
A free market analysis, suggestions on staging and a listing in the MLS aren’t services. They’re job duties.
Services are something they won’t get from other agents, such as free staging, a free, pre-market home inspection, becoming a market maker by bringing your own list of buyers, or a complimentary professional house cleaning before listing.
Only you know how you can improve your clients’ experiences. If you’re going for the goal of improving customer services, choose one and resolve to offer it. To learn more about how to bring your own list of buyers and become a “Market Maker” be sure to read this article.
If you are still trying to work out your 2021 annual business goals, don’t forget to use the Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan. It provides an easy breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closings, and so on are needed to reach your annual goals.
Interactive Real Estate Business Plan, click HEREto try Now
Need help targeting a specific niche of buyers or sellers? Use our prospect list tools 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 additional 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
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
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
There seems to be this weird dichotomy that rules many real estate agents: that the money they spend promoting their business cuts into the amount of money they’ll have for personal use.
In the short-term this may be true. But if you plan to be in the real estate business for the long-term, not promoting your real estate business, or not promoting it well, is crazy.
You’ll remain on that hamster wheel, spinning and spinning and spinning in your efforts to earn more.
“Too many business owners under-spend on marketing, thinking that not spending is the same as saving,” claims Heidi Sloss, author of “Fortune is in the Follow-Up: Five POWER Strategies to Grow Your Business.”
While it’s an old and somewhat tired adage, it really does “take money to make money.”
SOI Campaign
What comes first, the spending or the making?
Almost a decade ago, the folks at ActiveRain.com published the results of a survey of 2,000 agents in the form of an infographic, “How Much do REALTORS® Work, Earn & Spend.”
The “average” agent (those earning, on average, $35,000 a year) spend only $1,070 a year on marketing. That’s $89 a month. They spend more on their car than on promoting their businesses.
Agents who earn, on average, $100,000 a year spend five to ten times more on marketing than those that make $35,000 per year.
It’s easy to assume that “Well, yeah, they have the money to spend.” It could be, however, that they understand the value of promotion and aren’t afraid to spend the money.
Let’s face it, there are a number of money pits in the average real estate practice, from keeping up with the latest technology to what we drive and what we wear.
The truly important stuff, however – most of what’s in your business plan – is where to focus if you’re looking for ways to gain more clients and grow your business.
So, while it’s important to invest money in continuing education, professional development and ensuring you have the office systems in place to make your job easier, none of it means a thing without clients.
Overcome your fear
In a commission-based business, parting with money is frightening. Who knows when you’ll close another escrow? What if you make the wrong marketing decision?
It’s only natural then that you might question whether any particular investment is really the right thing to do. Marketing dollars are especially hard to spend. What if the campaign doesn’t work? What if I lose this money? These are perfectly valid questions as you tenaciously hold on to your dollar.
One of the best ways to overcome the fear of spending is by paying close attention to the annual budget every year when you revisit your business plan. Then, once the money is budgeted, consider it spent.
And, make careful, informed decisions about where to spend the money when it comes time to do so.
The bottom line is that if you really want to succeed in your real estate business, you’re going to have to spend some money on it – whether it’s on marketing, staff or technology.
So, overcome the fear and lose the death grip on the pocketbook.
Start your strategic plan to “Make More Money” today by scheduling an SOI Campaign with the Content Card Series.
And, remember, with Scheduled Campaigns YOU DON’T PAY until each month’s mailing goes out (you can change or cancel up until the night before mailing).
Don’t put off until tomorrow what can get done today, because what GETS SCHEDULED, GETS DONE!
TO GET STARTED:
STEP 1: Choose the SOI Campaign, Content Card Series. STEP 2: Then, choose your “Start Date” (See image illustration below), which postcards to send & for how long. It’s that easy!
Need help targeting a specific niche of buyers or sellers? Use our prospect list tools 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. The Free 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan
The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do when. Four key market segments are included, Niche Marketing, Get More Listings, Geographic Farming, and Sphere of Influence. –Click Here
2. The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan
The Free Interactive Real Estate Business Plan allows you to enter your business goals for this year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closing, and so on are needed to reach your goals. – Click Here
3. Become a Neighborhood Brand
Become branded in a specific neighborhood with a 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. 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
Heading into the new year with visions of grandeur floating in your head?
How this year is going to be the year that’s…
BIGGER, BETTER and BRIGHTER than ever.
If only you could figure out the answer that nagging question swirling around in your head, “I spent time and money on a bit of marketing last year and it went nowhere, how will this year be any different?”
Well, here’s what statistics tell us —
If you’ve sent out a few marketing pieces throughout the year in the past, it’s going to take much more than that, to get the results you are after.
But how much more?
A strategic ongoing focus
A strategic focus that includes mailings, phone calls, emails, door knocking and community involvement — to be specific.
Don’t forget the 3-7-27 marketing rule of success discussed in the last blog (3 contacts for name recognition, 7 to associate your name with your business, and 27 to be known and trusted enough to do business).
The bottom line,
Don’t be tempted to stop your marketing efforts after a few sporadic tries. Understand the science and psychology behind marketing.
Historically most transactions or calls happen after five to seven contacts or more.
An effective month by month plan
A successful marketing plan includes a combination of the following:
Ongoing monthly direct mail with periodic direct response offers, interspersed with email marketing, phone calls, and neighborhood visits.
Follow this strategy and you are well on your way to putting yourself on the map.
These are great direct response pieces to send that highlight compelling free offers such as, free market analysis, list of homes and list of resources. These offers encourage interest and low-risk hand raising.
These powerful, content-rich cards have timely topics with consumer-friendly information that sets you up as the expert resource in your market.
When to scale back?
How about never?
During the holidays many agents slow down their marketing as social obligations gear up and the industry appears to take a breather.
Be the agent who takes the opposite approach.
Stay top of mind without any lag in exposure so you can hit the ground running in January while other agents are just getting back in the game.
This coming year CAN be your BIGGEST and BRIGHTEST ever!
By expanding your ongoing marketing actions and touch points throughout the year, to ensure your business continues to thrive and grow.
Start making a great impression today, then do it again next week, next month, and so on.
Your business and your bottom line will thank you for it.
Interested in a strategic one year marketing plan that has already been done-for-you? Take a look at our Master Marketing Schedule. Need our assistance? Our team at ProspectsPLUS! is available at 866.405.3638 and excited to answer your questions.
