The World Wide Web is a staggering accumulation of mankind’s creativeness and imagination that seems to continually grow beyond measure. If one could access the powers of the internet to generate income, well, that would be more than an appealing prospect, wouldn’t it? Plus, there’s the fact that many people still need extra income sources because of today’s financial challenges. These factors make many people turn to the possibility of making money online.

Undoubtedly the largest industry in the cyber realm today is internet marketing, so unavoidably a lot of people look into this industry first when scouting out options for online income. Initially, the concept of internet marketing revolved around niche marketing through the Web, where a market niche that can be exploited through the net was hunted, settled down upon by a merchant, and supplied. Today, there are still a ludicrous number of online merchants selling niche products and services, but the focus has seemingly shifted from niche marketing to affiliate marketing. Marketing through affiliates in the Web is pretty much the same as using salespersons in real life. The affiliates partner up with merchants and sell or market the merchant’s goods and services. Well, that’s the gist of it. But that’s not even remotely close to being the end of it. (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…)

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

The proper use of the term Realtor seems to be a confusing subject for many real estate professionals, as well as the public. Is a real estate agent a Realtor or is a Realtor a real estate agent. The terms seem to be used interchangeably by everyone. However, these terms are not interchangeable and do not have the same meaning.

Simply put, the term Realtor is to be used solely to indicate that the person using the term is a membe, in good standing of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and who strictly adheres to its Standards and Code of Ethics. The term real estate agent or broker refers to the profession itself.

When is it proper to use REALTOR®, REALTORS® or REALTOR-ASSOCIATE® on your website, business cards or other marketing materials?

• To indicate that the real estate professional is a Member or Member-affiliate of the National Association of Realtors(R) in good standing
• To convey to the public that the real estate professional is a Member in good standing of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
• To convey to the public that as a Member, he/she adheres to the highest professional standards and a strict Code of Ethics (more…)

It is time for a wake-up call!  According to a 2009 NAR report 60% of agents have a website that is 5 years old or more. According to Vinton Cerf, one of the founding fathers of the internet, the internet changes and grows in “dog years” not human years. That means that most agents’ websites are over 35 years old. How old is your site?

Think of your top three closest competitors. Take a close look at their websites. Are they up to date or obsolete as well?  Does yours stand out? Or, do all of your sites look similar?

When you acquire a new listing, you take a fresh look at the home from the buyer’s perspective, and advise your clients about maximizing its appeal. This may involve re-arranging the furniture and staging to reduce clutter. Sometimes the best advice is a new paint job and making some minor repairs.  Statistics back the fact that a home’s superior curb appeal can translate into thousands of dollars of added value at the close of escrow. (more…)