There have been a lot of questions posted on AR lately concerning how to market a listing, how to market your services, direct mail, yellow pages ads, etc.
Over the past 10 years, I have tried many things, but the old school approaches seem to still work the best. We do substitute email for some direct mail, but use both.
On personal promotion, I have found the key to be blanketing the farm, niche, or whatever. We do email, direct mail, print media and press releases. Daily I hear "I recently saw your (insert here)" Last week I ran into an acquaintance whom I have not seen in a few months. She told me that she saw my picture on an ad in the local business paper. I have not run a picture ad in a long time. I guess it made an impact that was reinforced by additional media.
The outreach is all pretty basic, but constant and not that expensive:
450 Postcards every two weeks: $360/mo.
Email Blast every two weeks (alternate) from ContantContact.com: $40/mo
Local business paper ads every 2 weeks: $170/mo
Press releases a couple times a month
Logowear everywhere - The guys at Home Depot think we have a huge construction division. I have 1 guy, part time.
That's about it. Not all that complicated at all. It does take time though. I have not found the magic marketing pill that provides instant success, but I am still looking.
Do you have questions about distressed assets, receivership or bankruptcy sales, auctions? Email me at rfk@gryphonusa.com and I'll try to answer it in an upcoming post.
Richard F. Kruse is the President of Columbus, Ohio based Gryphon USA, Ltd. (www.gryphonusa.com). The Gryphon Organization includes Gryphon Asset Management providing receivership and consulting services in the distressed marketplace, United Country Gryphon Realty & Auction Group (www.ucohiorealty.com & www.ucohioauctions.com) providing real estate brokerage and auction services throughout Ohio and OnlineAuctionUSA.com (www.onlineauctionusa.com) providing commercial asset liquidations from the Midwest to East Coast.
United Country Gryphon Realty & Auction Career Opportunities Available. Call 614-885-0020 x 17
"Rich"
Constant...Steady...Forever...As in always.
On going old school given time and patience will in fact get your name and your services where they need to be. That $500 or so is a very small investments once you look at the bigger picture. I hope people read this post and understand they can not focus on the $500.
Excellent posts which to me reiterates the need to pursue old school with new school!
And...You don't even need new school clothes to do it. LOL. See :>
TLW "The Lovely Wife"...Kum La Ka Lakka...ROAR!
Rich,
Referrals, Referrals, Referrals. I don't care how much we market ourselves, and we do need to get our name out there everywhere, the bottom line is referrals.
My hairdresser just got voted #1 in Rhode Island. (which now makes it tough to get an appointment). I asked him his secret, other that being real good.
He says he has NEVER advertised anywhere other than to put an ad in a local paper when a new hairdresser arrives.
All his busines is on referrals and being voted #1 was from all his customers!
What is better than that? So I am not saying do not market yourself, he was actually one of the lucky ones. And I know you have some serious marketing slogans:) But to make yourself indispensible in some way to customers.
"Hey Guys"
Referrals are an excellent foundation.
To get them you need to get your name out there.
Collectively these techniques lead to success.
My two cents will give you a $1...Hey, Hey not a bad investment.
TLW "The Lovely Wife"...Kum La Ka Lakka...ROAR!
Steve - I am not the expert on this, but Melissa (my LW) is. Here is a link to some advice on the subject.
http://www.asmarketingcenter.com/
As far as what to send a PR on? New agent in the office, charity participation, closed deal (must be significant), etc.
One of the marketing guru's suggests send one for anything you do. I think that is a little overkill, but he gets paid to write them.
You need to look for the angle to make the release interesting. For example, I have an auction coming up for an office building. After a little digging I found out the land was a hippy commune up until the late 80's and that the structure won an award in 1992.
Tag line for the release is Former Hippy Commune and Award Winning Structure Goes to Auction or something like that. Melissa is still working on it. The body of the release tells the story, but the header is the hook.
This is the link I sent him: http://www.internetbasedmoms.com/press-releases/
It's a tutorial on writing press releases.
Readers Beware the following has nothng to do with this Post!
It is also a copy/paste job from a web site. I am Blonde I can't possibly be expected to know which one. DUH...
"Delicate Rich"
I Have A Little Something For You:
A blonde goes into a nearby store and asks a clerk if she can buy the TV in the corner.
The clerk looks at her and says that he doesn't serve blondes, so she goes back home and dyes her hair black.
The next day she returns to the store and asks the same thing, and again, the clerk said he doesn't serve blondes.
Frustrated, the blonde goes home and dyes her hair yet again, to a shade of red.
Sure that a clerk would sell her the TV this time, she returns and asks a different clerk this time.
To her astonishment, this clerk also says that she doesn't serve blondes.
The blonde asks the clerk, "How in the world do you know I am a blonde?"
The clerk looks at her disgustedly and says,"That's not a TV -- it's a microwave!"
Time to see that grin. :> You Look very handsome when you smile! Now don't go telling BB I said that! If you do I'll just go DUH...What comment...I didn't see the comment...Did you say Comet...It is under the kitchen sink. DUH...
TLW "The Lovely Wife"...Kum La Ka Lakka...ROAR!
Right. This has nothing to do with the post at all, but cool - Finally someone as twisted as me.
Delicate Rich
"Delicate Rich"
Part 2
Twisted did someone say twisted...You're getting me all confused now. I thought we were talking about comments...No wait...Maybe that was comet...No that's no right...Twisted Oh yeah that's right. Twisted Sister. Twisting the night away...Why am I twisting. Do I have a point or maybe a motive. Yeah that's it I have a twisted motive on a comment. Boy am I glad we got that all straightened out!
TLW "The Lovely Wife"...Kum La Ka Lakka...ROAR!
"Delicate Rich"
You do Baby...You do!
Why? Because underneath that DUH...I really am twisted!
Gotta go. Time to repel from an orange tree. Twisted Baby....Twisted.
TLW "The Lovely Wife"...Kum La Ka Lakka...ROAR!
TLW - So you made me smile too. Not easy to do. And you might even be as twisted as Rich. Have to say, that could be scary.
mmk aka tolw
Who's this george guy? Be safe and have fun.
Delicate Rcih
"Hey You Two"
Sorry about that. I am watching Survivor and typing at the same time!
Who the hell is George...Who the hell is George? DUH.
Melissa...Well then I am proud to have made you smile.
Twisted Baby...Twisted...Are you a Blonde?
Can never have too many TLW's messing around in a post!
Although I do acknowledge I have gone beyond messing around and crossed the line to mouthing off a few comments ago. Oops.
TLW "The Lovely Wife"...Kum La Ka Lakka...ROAR!
"The Lovely Melissa"
Man you two are going to be fun. Melissa I am also a professional shopper!
If you are anything like me he would run up some debt!
Thanks for letting me mouth off to your hubby....
He really is twisted...As you married him...That kind of makes you twisted too. LOL See :>
Like I said, you guys are going to be fun!
TLW "The Lovely Wife"...Kum La Ka Lakka...ROAR!
Two words for the two of you....
One starts with Oh...the other rhymes with "it".
I bought into some trouble here. Professional shopper? Florida? Twisted blondes? MMK is a brunette and I am still scared.
BTW - After reflection, I am not twisted. It is the rest of them I tell you, the rest of them. HAHAHAHA!!!!
"Delicate Rich"
I probably will not beat MMK to it...
But, I have two words for you...
One starts will Bull the other rhymes with "it"
Way to late for you to deny the twist!
If you were not afraid of MMK the two of you would not be married.
That my friend is what makes for a twisted marriage!
I am not really Blonde. Really Really....HAHAHAHAH!!!!!!
TLW "The Lovely Wife"...Kum La Ka Lakka...ROAR!
Well she did scare me into the wedding. Showed up with a shotgun. Mine I think, and demanded the ring. I thought to myself, hey self..this mafia broad might not be any worse than the bullet, so I married her.
What does this have to do with real estate? uh? I forget.
Delicate George - aka my hubby- you were in trouble way before now. I am expensive, you know it. And you're twisted as well. Might as well admit it. If you weren't we probably wouldn't still be married. Twisted does equal interesting, gotta have interesting.
TLW - first of all, feel free to always mouth off to the hubby. It's good for him. I'm big on shopping. It's probably good that we didn't meet you prior to our Florida trip. Could have made an expensive trip even more so. Mickey doesn't have anything on two professional shoppers.
tolw
You had to bring up the Mouse. Heady and big Steve are still upset about not getting him on the payroll. How you can take a guy for over a G with a smile and no pistol, I will never understand. What a pro.
As for what it has to do with real estate, can you say dower rights???
Well, if I ever meet that Dower guy I am going to give him a little talking to. Him and the guy that invented cell phones. I have a problem with both of 'em.
Delicate R.
Okay Guys...
This is going to be fun. Hmmm?
Shotguns...Bullets...Mafia Board...Mickey Corleone
Now on to Professional...Florida...I wish we had the chance!
Man it could get really twisted....
TOLW+TLW=Never buy anything on sale! I like that.
Twisted Baby...Twisted...Twist it again...Oh yes. Funny. Oh yes.
TLW "The Lovely Wife"...Kum La Ka Lakka...ROAR!
I love it...She is packing...My kind of broad!
TLW
Please, I am a liquidator. Paying retail is worse than murder. Murder is accpetable in certain situations. Retail is a sin. And what's wrong with pack'n? Nuttin!
Now that I have totally blown any opportunity to be viewed as a professional on this blg site, I should probably just start calling it like I see it. It's gonna take forever to go back to all those old blogs and re-state my real position.
Delicate R., hubby to TOLW aka Shotgun Suzie
"Delicate Rich"
I love it Shot Gun Suzie...My kind of woman...
Nothing wrong with packing...Everyone I know packs.
It's the bad bad people...If you aren't packing how do you keep up!
Don't go backwards...That is too Twisted...
Just write a new Post Buddy....
I promise to behave...No mouthing off...Promise.
Hey don't feel bad...Look what you and Karen did to my Darkside of Real Estate.
Delicat R...We both put toilets in that post! Got Paper.
Credibility...Or Real Person...I am Me and I prefer Me...
Twited as that may be...It is me...Stay you I like you and your lovely wife is a Hot...You know what!
TLW "The Lovely Wife",,,Kum La Ka Lakka...ROAR!
I am working on a new post. Tomorrow = merger lawyers + buying crackhouses & selling my own hoodyriffic property. Bound to be something interesting here.
Delicate R.
"Delicate R."
Can't wait...I have something really twisted for you and TOLW.
Contact me when you finish your new post.
I think we should leave our twistedness on this post.
Credibility=New post=I will not mouth off! ROAR.
Hoodyfiffic=Hysterical!
TLW "The Lovely Wife"...Kum La Ka Lakka...ROAR!
"Delicate R"=I have a gift for TOLW:
For The Queen! This might be too big...May I suggest a stool...
TLW "The Lovely Wife"...Kum La Ka Lakka...ROAR!
"TOLW"
You don't have to say anything...Just grab the crown and dance around the house...
Pump a few rounds into the stove and make Delicate take you out for dinner...You are the Queen you know!
TLW "The Lovely Wife"...Kum La Ka Lakka...ROAR!