Many real estate agents are attracted to “magic formulas” for generating leads because they promise quick, almost magically easy results. The writers of these systems promise: “Use our system and you’ll be awash in leads.” In many cases, they’re actually right. They’ve packaged proven lead-generation methods, making it easy for you to learn and implement them, and if you work the system, you’ll get great results. “Magic” prospecting systems can indeed work like magic.

Two Parts to the Magic

However, a good prospecting system actually consists of two parts: 1) the lead-generation part, and 2) a client conversion part. Many of these prospecting systems are great on part one, but thin on part two. So we get agents who are excellent at generating leads, but who consistently fumble the conversion. Their files are loaded with “hot” prospects that they’ve never done anything with, other than to call and check in or send things to. (more…)

Have you wondered why the blog, website or mailings you’ve set up for your real estate business haven’t flourished? Were you hoping to generate more leads that eventually had prospective buyers chasing after you? And lastly, are you ready to see all of these hopes materialized? If so, then I invite you to discover the marketing techniques designed to have prospects chasing you. No matter the approach, the goal is the same, get leads that turn into sales.

Though there are a number of ways to accomplish this goal, I submit to you that there are proven effective strategies, sure to deliver the results you desire. Use a website or blog and turn it instantly into a lead generation machine where you will trigger leads of highly motivated, willing, and qualified buyers who need your help right away. (more…)

Every successful professional has at some point gone through training to help them reach their maximum potential, and real estate agents are no different. Training your agents, however necessary, can seem like an impossible task that sucks away all of your time and energy. If outsourcing, most run into the same problems, finding exciting topics to discuss, getting an accomplished and experienced trainer who has actually done what he is offering to you, and finding the trainer that won’t break your bank.

Some of the many pitfalls experienced by agents have to do with the recycling of ineffective tactics that produce no results. Though potential is present, unsuccessful methodology leads to stagnation and ultimately effects the prestige of your business. I offer that the proper training will eliminate the use of ineffective strategies and replace them with proven techniques sure to dominate the market. (more…)

Are you using a “Drip campaign” to stay in touch with prospects who have visited your website? If you aren’t sending them what they asked for, that campaign could backfire.

On a real estate website people generally opt in to hear from you via one of four methods:

• They say yes to a special report
• They do a search for a home
• They use the automated “what’s my home worth” form
• They send an e-mail through your contact me form

When they do this, they give you important information about themselves, and unless you use this information to be choosy about what you send them, your drip campaign can serve to annoy rather than impress.As a real estate copywriter I have occasion to visit a large number of real estate websites. As a form of market research, I occasionally I leave my name, just to see what people are sending. (more…)

I remember just getting started in the internet marketing and one day I had a call from an SEO US based Company describing to me how they can increase my exposure and guarantee my web site a number one exposure on the search engines. Man, I was hooked, $5,000 latter, with nothing to show for it.

How do you measure your web and social media sites? Do they deliver Your best ROI? (more…)

Many real estate agents are turning to technology to enhance their business. They use it to help them stay organized, mobile and efficient as well as generate leads. One such technology is real estate call capture. While many people have heard of it, fewer of them can say what it really is.

Similar to an advanced “Caller ID,” basic call capture technology incorporates the same principles, registering name and phone number, and recording personal information about individuals who call toll free phone numbers. Call capture is a simple name for a hardware/software telephone interface. Higher levels or grades of capture technology operate with the same underlying core technology like 911 emergency services. This higher grade of technology operates with the same basic principles as any residential Caller ID, while being impervious to calls blocked by using the *67 prefix. While different technology drives these capture systems, automatic number identification (ANI) is one form of predominate technology, which permits the caller’s telephone number, name and address to be captured. The technology is sanctioned by the Federal Communication Commission, which allows the party paying for the phone call to know who is calling them. (more…)

1. Stop wasting time

It’s unbelievable how much time is wasted each day on non-revenue generating activities. Every week I speak with at least a small handful of loan officers and Realtors (Even in California) who are still managing to close 8 – 10 deals or more per month. When I brag about these laon officers on my conference calls, it never fails to inspire at least 1 or 2 loan officers to speak up and object, claiming it’s impossible to accomplish in this market.

My answer to this? Take a look at how much time was wasted in the middle of the boom time… Compare that to what you are wasting in today’s market… About the same right? Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to do things the same, even when we shouldn’t!

In a down market, you need to spend at least 40 – 50% of your day in front of people! I’ll say it again: in a down market you need to spend at least 40 – 50% of your day in front of people! What people? Prospects, realtors, FSBO’s, affinity partners etc… Hold teleseminars to save cash, but leverage your time. Network with realtors, host mastermind round table discussions…

It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you structure your day properly. You know all that time you’re spending responding to low priority emails, and checking each and every voicemail right away? Yep, that time could be spent making you money…

2. Stop taking bad advice

It drives me nuts when I see loan officers and Agents spinning their wheels because they are so desperate for answers, they’ll listen to anyone. Yes, I am talking about the dreaded “message board education.” I understand the need for socialization, and getting some advice and friendly conversation all at the same time can be great!

But there’s a crowd of loan officers and Realtors who do nothing more than ask question after question after question on message boards, and build their marketing plans based on what they are told… Funny thing is, spend enough time on these boards, and you’ll find the very same people giving you advice on how to make money, or on how to successfully market yourself complaining about how broke they are!

Anyone else see the disconnect here? Just because something sounds good on paper doesn’t mean it’s worth your time. You’re busy, and you need to spend your time on high payoff activities, not the whim of another well meaning, but ultimately dead broke loan officer! How would you feel showing up at an aerobics class if the instructor was in far worse shape than anyone in the class chomping on a donut while barking out orders? (Don’t misunderstand me. Good advice can come from anywhere… But don’t place the ultimate success or failure of your career on the line so blatantly. Be picky)

Learn from professionals, and take the time to understand the fundamentals of marketing so that you can differentiate from good advice, and bad. (Plenty of “pros” out there giving bad advice as well!)

3. Do what’s uncomfortable

What would be the most uncomfortable thing you do right now? Pick up the phone and cold call the top 10 agents in your city? Give an office presentation at the most successful realty office in town? Record a video and plaster your face all over YouTube?

DO IT! The reason so many loan officers and Realtors are failing and dropping like flies these days is because they choose to be so darn ordinary! Always worried about how uncomfortable they’ll be if they speak to a group of realtors and lose their train of thought… Worried that they might be asked a question and not know the answer… Worried that recording a video is too hard, and advertising online makes them nervous…

See any true physical roadblocks there? None! It’s all mental! You have a choice to do what most are unwilling to do (Which is where the money is at by the way) and most of us choose to make our days ordinary instead of extraordinary…

Personally, I’d rather be uncomfortable for 45 minutes giving a presentation, than be uncomfortable all month worrying about whether my bills will be paid or not. Think about it! Better yet, DO something about it!

The Loan Officer Marketing Lab is an amazing place to get the latest on success in the mortgage business: http://www.loanofficermarketinglab.com/chrish

Real estate is the most expensive and yet important for everyone to have. How to market apartments is not that difficult. Usually, it is the responsibility of a real estate broker. But if you really want to sell your apartment or want it to be rented immediately, you can use newspaper’s classified ads or buy and sell magazines and sometimes thru the word of mouth from your friends. The best and most convenient tool you can use is the internet.

There are some sites you can use to advertise the sale of your apartment. For example, by advertising it to Apartment finders, you can have good inquirers. But note that there are certain fees that you have to pay. You can also make your own website for the advertisement of your apartment. In advertising, you should include the location (maps and directions), property description, price, contact person and numbers and the features and amenities that your apartment offers. It is also best to put a video slide of the unit so that they can view the property and inside and out virtually. (more…)

The challenge of marketing businesses during tough times is increasing and is a major concern by companies. Some companies would decide to cut on their marketing and advertising budget knowing that the market is not responsive to the advertisements. The others would take advantage of the crisis to increase the budget and aim for a better share of the pie compared to the competitors. Some will just maintain the budget. However, in the area of real estate business, there is still a need to market even during tough economic times.

If you own apartments or an apartment, you should exert an effort to still market your apartment. You should not accept the fact that the economy is gloomy and you will wait when people are ready to buy. For all you know, there are people who want to take advantage of the situation and will be interested to buy an apartment during these times because they know that the costs are lower. These people know that the crisis is a good opportunity to buy properties at lower prices compared to when businesses are booming. (more…)

You have researched your ideal target niche market and the variations on keywords they use to search for you online. You have picked out the search engine keywords that will bring the most free “organic” search engine traffic to your homepage.

Now what do you do?

Marketing for Realtors depends on optimizing your website. This is Realtor SEO and this will get free leads generated automatically for your real estate business. (more…)