RealTown's RealTalk

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Thank you both for the input. I am new to this site but already getting hooked. My next post may be asking for advice to break my new addiction to RealTalk. ;0)

I have been trying to figure out the best search criteria using the mls to show which subdivisions have the highest turnover rate. Any tips on this? Thanks! 

From what I've read and heard, I seems a mistake a lot of agents make is advertising a little hear and a little there and never really focus on certain neighborhoods. Mailing more to specific neighborhoods continuously rather than sporadically makes a lot of sense to me. I read somewhere that the average homeowner/buyer only remembers the name of one or two real estate agents so we have to make ourselves the one or two they remember when the time comes to buy or sell.

Chad Huett
Birmingham, Alabama
Realtor, ABR, E-Pro
Weichert Realtors
www.HuettHomes.com
chad@huetthomes.com
(205) 919-9486

"...From what I've read and heard, I seems a mistake a lot of agents make is advertising a little here and a little there and never really focus on certain neighborhoods. Mailing more to specific neighborhoods continuously rather than sporadically makes a lot of sense to me. I read somewhere that the average homeowner/buyer only remembers the name of one or two real estate agents so we have to make ourselves the one or two they remember when the time comes to buy or sell..."

You are absolutely correct.  You MUST "touch" people multiple times before they start to remember you...or your product.  As a good rule of thumb you need to touch people 6 to 7 times before they start to recognize your name when they hear it again.  And even then you probably have only gotten to the point where they remember hearing "something" about you...not necessarily what you do or what you sell. 

And remember...that just because you send something to them it does not necessarily mean they actually read it.  A touch only counts if you can get them to at least look at what you send.  That is why post cards are so effective.  Even while the person is sorting their mail above the trash can...they at least see something about you as they drop the postcard into the trash.  But it is waaaaaaaaay better if you can create postcards that at least cause them to pause as they drop it in the trash.  The longer they remain focused on the postcard...the deeper their memory of you will be...and the more you reinforce that memory with additional touches...the quicker your name will pop up in their brain when they think about buying or selling a house...And of course once you have established a basic level of recognition you need to keep on generating touches to maintain your identity in their memory. 

Basic marketing 101...the hard part is following thru and not giving up. 

Steve Ervin
President
Owner & Buyer Connection, Inc.
"Connecting Realtors with Owners and Buyers"
ASK ABOUT OUR 100% FREE and 100% TURNKEY LEAD GENERATING SYSTEM
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"If I may ask a question about post cards-I have used them, but I don't know how to design my own-any suggestions ?"

The only site I've used to design postcards is Quantummail.com . However, our company has some type of deal set up with them so I can choose designs already made for our company or make my own from their templates. I believe their site has a tool where you can do a test run to try out their templates. You can also have them mail to farm areas for you. This for me has been the easiest and takes the least amount of time.

Any other postcards I've done, I designed on my own with photoshop. Luckily my wife had the software and showed me the ropes. I think the software costs around $600.00 and you can buy monsterous manuals on how to use it. This would probably be one of the hardest options.

This is just the experiences I've had with postcards. I'm sure there are many other options out there.

Please let me know if you find some better options.

Chad Huett
Realtor, ABR, E-Pro
Birmingham, AL
Weichert Realtors
www.HuettHomes.com
Chad@HuettHomes.com
(205) 919-9486

The marketing plan you are asking about is called drip marketing. It is well understood that it takes at least seven impressions before you and/or your product is recognized. Plan your drip marketing campaign with 8-12 mailings to go beyond being recognized and move in to being 'top-of-mind' in your profession. 

 A key component in any marketing effort is to use a compelling headline, qualify that with supporting information that will be of value or benefit the reader, and finish with a call to action that creates urgency. (Not "Call Now". Try "The first 5 callers will receive tickets to...".  If you put this information on the over-sized, high gloss postcard with an eye catching graphic people will look at it. The different texture of the gloss paper gets people's attention as they sort through their mail, also.

Think of drip marketing as your way to nurture your current and potential customers. This campaign will keep them aware of your service and is an effective way to create a steady amount of business coming in the door. If the recipient does not need your service they may know someone who does.

Toni Grundstrom, Marketing Manager
Stay in touch with your customers, court your prospects, and entice new clients with direct mail marketing.

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