How to Choose Valuable Tips and Insights from True Pros

If you're serious about acquiring the information, tools, and systems it takes to build a true real estate business that runs without you, I can help you. It’s never too late to move from a producer to an owner, all while adding some much needed balance to your life outside of work. Click here to schedule a FREE Strategy Session with me and we'll see if it makes sense for us to work together. 

It can often be difficult to sift through the abundance of information available from so-called experts in any field, whether it comes to the latest weight-loss ‘miracle’ or the plethora of money-making schemes that are pervasive on the Internet or through print media.

In order to assure that you’re not falling for a faulty concept, business model, or product, the key lies in verifying the credentials of the individual or company offering the information. Do your due diligence and research the people or organizations before taking to heart their claims or promises. Use logic when evaluating any insider tip or tricks touted, check the background and affiliations of the product or professional, and evaluate the information from a neutral standpoint. Set aside charisma, sales-speak, over-use of hyperbole and exclamation points.  These are telltale signs of sales pitches intended to mask facts and viability.

Determine who the true professionals or experts are in the field you’re investigating. Just because a Google search brings up 8,720 ‘hits’ for the best advice on direct marketing or depth-finders, bear in mind that many less-than-reputable outfits or experts can and do utilize SEO (Search Engine Optimization) techniques to drive clients to their myriad of sites and paint a glowing initial impression online. Stick to the known-experts in any given field or reputable neutral websites that provide well-documented research on the product or subject and use sound business principals in their reviews. This can help weed out the flash-in-the-pan sorts quickly, as their expertise can’t be verified.

Once you’ve filtered through the experts and advice sites pertinent to your needs, take notes. Compare the advice being offered to common, proven practices in your field. Get a sense of your level of trust in the information being offered… again, if it seems simply too fabulous and simple, it’s likely not valid. Use these tips and tricks from noted insiders and apply them to your business, bearing in mind that one size does not fit all. You will likely need to tailor the advice of experts to suit your particular market and goals.

Direct Response Benefits and Tips

If you're serious about acquiring the information, tools, and systems it takes to build a true real estate business that runs without you, I can help you. It’s never too late to move from a producer to an owner, all while adding some much needed balance to your life outside of work. Click here to schedule a FREE Strategy Session with me and we'll see if it makes sense for us to work together. 

While there may be benefits in all forms of marketing, when it comes to successful real estate marketing, many underestimate the benefit of direct response vehicles. Your direct response marketing needn’t be overly complicated or costly. It simply needs to be attractive to the market segment you have identified as most suitable for your business.

Placing listings on free online classified sites such as Craigslist is one such approach. To grab the eyes you need with online classified sites, make sure your headline is compelling, concise, and stands out. The headline is the ad for your ad, and this can’t be over-emphasized. The ad won’t be read by your prospective clients if the headline is vague, off-target, or dull. Hone in on your target and develop compelling headlines to really help sell your ad to the target audience. Don’t limit yourself to just one vehicle. Spread the love. Learn the ins and outs of posting on online classified sites. There are tips and tricks to prevent your ads from being flagged and removed. Consider outsourcing the posting of these ads as well. This will save you time, and there are some good resources available to you for very reasonable fees that can take the burden of the writing and/or posting of your ads to free up your own time at a cost savings.

By developing landing pages with benefit-rich URLS, you can increase your visibility. Consider URLs that are aimed at your market. If you’re looking to move properties in golf resort communities, for instance, consider securing a URL such as RichmondLuxuryGolfClubHomes rather than relying solely on your agency’s name and home URL. You can secure multiple benefit-rich URLs, all bringing clients right to your door. Keeping all of your landing pages attractive, easily navigated, and uncluttered will help serve up your message in a professional and effective manner.

The Nuances of Building a Productive and Successful Team

If you're serious about acquiring the information, tools, and systems it takes to build a true real estate business that runs without you, I can help you. It’s never too late to move from a producer to an owner, all while adding some much needed balance to your life outside of work. Click here to schedule a FREE Strategy Session with me and we'll see if it makes sense for us to work together. 

In order to assure success in the real estate field, a solid team vision is essential. Everyone on your team needs to be on the same page, adhering to the same processes, and utilizing the same productivity tools and methods in order to achieve your company’s goals.  When hiring anyone to become involved in your business, you need to be certain that not only are they qualified and knowledgeable in the field, but that they are also open to concepts and processes in use in your particular office setting. Look for candidates who meet your expectations, but who also show a willingness to incorporate your goals and personal business beliefs into their mindset without reservation.

A brief explanation of the particular productivity tools, company goals, and overall vision of your company should help give a clear indication of the candidate’s ‘fit’ within your organization. Watch for resistance to your presentation and its contents. Ideally, look for the candidate’s attentiveness and interest during your brief presentation.

Motivated candidates should quickly grasp your vision, be enthusiastic, and eager to learn more. They should also have solid familiarity with the technology used in your organization, and preferably be proficient in such technological tools such as Google Apps for Business and effective Direct Response website usage.

While resumes and applications go far in detailing a prospective team member’s education and employment strengths, they inevitably fall short when it comes to the critical elements of team fit.  A face-to-face interaction is always preferable, allowing you, as the business owner, to get a better feel for the individual’s personality, demeanor, and creative intelligence. Determining how this individual can help grow your business, while mutually gaining financial rewards as a member of your team, is an integral component of your real estate business.

Be Cautious When it Comes to Relying on Social Media

If you're serious about acquiring the information, tools, and systems it takes to build a true real estate business that runs without you, I can help you. It’s never too late to move from a producer to an owner, all while adding some much needed balance to your life outside of work. Click here to schedule a FREE Strategy Session with me and we'll see if it makes sense for us to work together. 

While Facebook and Twitter are increasing in mainstream popularity for everything from news, celebrity gossip, to a tool for retail sales, one needs to be cautious when considering these resources as a replacement for direct response marketing in the real estate arena. While it’s certainly possible to create a ‘buzz’ about your agency, agents, and properties utilizing social media, there is a downside to these services when it comes to developing a profitable and enduring client base.

Posting or Tweeting cannot yet replace the benefits inherent in direct response marketing.The brevity required by both platforms is not ideally suited to establishing the type of relationship required in the high-trust, high-dollar real estate market. Social media is reliant upon brief, rather impersonal interactions which rarely get your complete message across to the potential client.  Tweets are short, truncated teasers that are hit-and-miss in terms of response success rates. Facebook posts can be more in-depth in their content, but knowing just when and where to place such posts can be a daunting and frustrating undertaking.  Are you posting in the right groups? Do you have time to delve into the demographics and interest level of that particular Facebook group to assure it meets your objectives? Or are you flailing about trying to narrow a suitable client pool? Not to mention the fact that social media can be a real time-suck when it comes to remaining active in a Facebook group or groups, or tagging the right prospective customers through Twitter. This same time is often better spent through other marketing channels and network efforts.

While technology continues to provide alternative sources for marketing, sometimes the tried-and-true principles involving direct marketing response are a better option for a higher return on investment for your business and more productive use of your time. Through direct marketing you are able to readily provide potential buyers and sellers with details about the services you offer, including demonstrating your proven track record, offering customized solutions to specific situations, and establishing a more personal level of rapport. You have a more flexible and intimate ability to sell your advantages through direct marketing than through brief Tweets or Facebook blasts. Success is all about establishing a comfort level based upon personalized service offerings.

So while supplementing your marketing efforts with social media may initially appeal to you, be careful not to get caught up in the trend without closely monitoring the return value. It is very easy to fall into the trap of quick posts or Tweets, while ignoring the long-term vision of your business and the invaluable return on your time investment. Following the four core building blocks can help up your sales, expand your business, and free you from tasks with a low return on investment.  New and trendy isn’t always better when it comes to maximizing your business’s potential. 

Let Me Sell You Some CHEAP Land in FL, Trust Me on This!

If you're serious about acquiring the information, tools, and systems it takes to build a true real estate business that runs without you, I can help you. It’s never too late to move from a producer to an owner, all while adding some much needed balance to your life outside of work. Click here to schedule a FREE Strategy Session with me and we'll see if it makes sense for us to work together. 

Getting excited about next week's webinar on time management and personal productivity.  I wanted to share an email I received from an absolute legend in real estate coaching, he runs one of the most reputable real estate coaching organizations in the country, just an awesome guy, with a servant's heart.  Even though he takes a few jabs at me in his email, I take it as a compliment.  My approach to real estate is very different than anything this industry has seen so I don't expect everyone to agree with it...but to call it stupid, well, not sure I would have used those words but maybe he will come on the webinar to find out for himself what I'm doing differently than everyone else.

SIGN UP FOR MY FREE WEBINAR HERE!

Here is some of what he said in his email (oh yeah, by the way, the webinar is FREE, all educational, just awesome content!). 

This is direct from his email...

"I received an email from somebody trying to sell me a ticket to their seminar (these are always interesting for me to receive). I want to read you the headline of the email, because I thought it was interesting and, honestly, quite hard to believe ... if not, simply stupid. The seminar leader says, "You will learn personal productivity secrets from someone who sold over 300 homes last year without meeting with a single client, working only 1 day per week. The sad part about that particular seminar ... it will probably sell out in a matter of minutes. I'm not saying that agents aren't very smart, because we know that you are, and I'm not saying that agents aren't the brightest bulbs in the pack, because I know you are smart people ... however, does anybody actually believe that you can sell 300 homes a year and never actually meet with a prospect, and do it working one day per week??? If you believe that, I have some land down in Florida near Alligator Alley that I'd love to sell you, and I can give you a good price."

Wow, I thought to myself, harsh words from a guy that knows nothing about my business.  But then I thought...well I guess it is pretty hard to believe, sometimes I can't believe it myself.  So come find out what upset this coaching legend so much.  I would never disrespect anyone so that's not what my email is about (and like I said, I take the stupid comment as a compliment).  Especially this particular coach because he is absolutely awesome at what he teaches and has helped tens of thousands of agents under his tutelage.  

SIGN UP FOR MY FREE WEBINAR HERE!

But I decided to take a different path...to build a business that is sustainable and not dependent on my personal efforts.  Yes, it's true, I don't have any clients personally and I only go in on Tue for a team meeting...and I have a very profitable business.  I don't prospect everyday for 4-5 hours or door knock...and I don't get caught up in the drama of my clients' lives like most agents (because I have a team of specialists that do that for me).  And I am able to spend time whenever I want with my family....or helping all of you (which I love!).  So instead of calling my approach stupid or hard to believe, I'd rather have all of you come on and find out for yourself.  

In the webinar, I will give you a quick overview of my business, where I've been, where I am today, what worked, what didn't work and how I managed my time along the way to ultimately build a self managed team that runs without much input from me.  This approach isn't for everyone but if you want a better life for yourself and your family and you want to stop working nights and weekends, going from deal to deal, then you don't want to miss this webinar...or future webinars as well.

Before you go buy any property in FL, come join me on this webinar and find out for yourself if I am legit or not....

SIGN UP FOR MY FREE WEBINAR HERE!

20 Things To Say More Often...Too Good Not To Share

If you're serious about acquiring the information, tools, and systems it takes to build a true real estate business that runs without you, I can help you. It’s never too late to move from a producer to an owner, all while adding some much needed balance to your life outside of work. Click here to schedule a FREE Strategy Session with me and we'll see if it makes sense for us to work together. 

I just had to share this, made me laugh and just warmed my heart.  Take the time to watch the entire video, it will be worth your time.  What is your favorite?  #5 is mine....share your thoughts below.

The Myth of Multi-Tasking

If you're serious about acquiring the information, tools, and systems it takes to build a true real estate business that runs without you, I can help you. It’s never too late to move from a producer to an owner, all while adding some much needed balance to your life outside of work. Click here to schedule a FREE Strategy Session with me and we'll see if it makes sense for us to work together. 

I struggle with this as much as anyone....thinking that you can get more done if you master the art of "multi-tasking"  The ability to focus on a single task and to complete it can make a huge difference in your business and personal life.  

As entrepreneurs, we tend to get distracted by "shiny objects" and lose focus on the basics.  By the grace of God, I have been able to break this awful habit (for the most part) and I've streamlined my business into 5 simple marketing pillars and 4 critical technologies.

I thought this was a good article on the topic, check it out: http://www.npr.org/2013/05/10/182861382/the-myth-of-multitasking

The Dangers of Branded Advertising

   

One of the things I learned early on in my career was that less-branded direct response advertising was critical to be able to afford lead generation.  Building your personal brand is very expensive and takes time.  Start with direct response marketing, check out this video!

What Are The 3 Critical Technologies That Every Agent Must Have?

There are many things that I attribute my success to but by far, it's been sticking with a few core technologies.  Check out the video below to learn the technologies I could not live without!

One of the most viewed TED Talks, worth the time to watch it!

Daniel H. Pink is the author of five provocative books– including the long-running New York Times bestsellers, A Whole New Mind and Drive. His latest book, To Sell is Human, is a #1 New York Times business bestseller, a #1 Wall Street Journal business bestseller, and a #1 Washington Post nonfiction bestseller. Dan’s books have been translated into 34 languages. He lives in Washington, DC, with his wife and their three children.

From my most influential mentor Tony Robbins...

From the most influential mentor I've ever had, Tony Robbins. If you haven't watched his TED Talk, you must. Here it is. Share it!

How to Write Ads That Generate Leads

If there’s one thing that is of primary concern for a real estate agent, it’s how to generate better quality leads and lots more of them. The key to doing this is to learn how to step up your real estate marketing strategies in a way that focuses on the targeted prospect, not you. Learn how to write the very best ads and headlines and make it practically impossible for your target prospect to resist  wanting more info and reaching out to you directly.

Make your prospect an offer they can’t refuse.

Any expert when it comes to real estate marketing strategies will tell you that in order to successfully generate interest from a prospect, you must make what your offering appealing to the market you’re looking to reach. A standard ad that simply lists the square footage and number of bedrooms isn’t going to have the desired effect. However, an ad that advertises, say “Luxury Homes in Distress” will do just that. At the very least, you’re going to get curious people clicking on that ad to find out more and each click is a potential lead.

Write headlines that will get noticed.

The attention span of your average web surfer in this day and age is only a few seconds, so it’s important that you grab their attention and make them take notice right away. This means writing headlines that help your ad stand out in a sea of other ads. Create curiosity and tell your prospect what they have to gain by clicking on your ad. If you’re looking to target first time buyers, or luxury buyers looking to live by the lake, or an opportunity to own a one-of-a-kind bank owned property, write that explicitly in your headline. Generating curiosity inspires customers to take action and take the next step.

Make it easy for your prospect to take action.

Just as people online don’t have much patience for reading through long, boring property descriptions that drag on and on, they also aren’t willing to go to a lot of trouble to act on the offer you’re presenting. The easier you can make it for them to get the information you offered, the more likely your target is going to be to actually do that. Always use strong calls to action that encourage the prospect to take action but do it  in a non-threatening way.

Practice makes perfect.

It’s true what they say. Practice really does make perfect, so take the time to sit down and write some sample ads that cover all of the above real estate internet marketing criteria. Really ask yourself how you can appeal to target market you’re looking to reach. Tell the customer right up front what’s in it for them if they take action. At the end of the day, real estate marketing strategies that work are all about targeting your message so well that it draws in prospects by the dozens. Good luck with these real estate marketing tips.....go take action today!

How to Leverage Google Apps to Grow Your Real Estate Busines

We’re living in a day and age when technology is definitely king. This is especially the case when it comes to the Internet. Business owners in particular have much to gain by embracing all that today’s Web technology has to offer, as it can save them a fortune in time, money, and effort. This is also in regards to real estate internet marketing strategies.

Google Apps is without a doubt one of the most useful of these technologies. It’s an integrated platform that is absolutely packed with flexible tools that make staying in touch with your team and managing your business an absolute snap. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key features it brings to the table.

Integrated E-Mail and Messaging

Staying in easy touch with the members of your team is an absolute must, and Google makes it incredibly simple. Access your e-mail, video chat, instant message interface, and more from one user-friendly screen to make communication simple. Keep useful records of business conversations, too!

Integrated Calendars

Whether you’re just getting your feet wet in the real estate business or already have a booming operation on your hands, an organized calendar system is a must-have. Google Calendar lets you easily share and view multiple schedules so that everyone stays on the same page at all times. Keep and integrate separate ones for buyer closings, meetings, real estate training sessions, and more.

Collaborative Documents 

Google Drive lets you share and co-edit various types of documents with your entire team in a flash. Plus, like the rest of your Google Apps platform, it’s easily accessed from just about any screen within the Google system. 

YouTube

It goes without saying that video is hot when it comes to the Internet these days. In fact, a huge percentage of media consumption online today is via video. That said, if you’re not leveraging the power of video to grow your business from a real estate internet marketing standpoint, it’s high time you did. YouTube is more than just the number one Web community for sharing and hosting videos these days. It’s also owned by Google, so it’s part of your integrated app platform. Use it to host and share just about everything from company marketing videos, to real estate coaching material, to individual listings.

Blogger

Every business these days needs a social networking presence, and that includes a blog that is regularly updated with company news, interesting information, resources that will appeal to your target audience, and more. Blogger is Google’s option for blogging, and as such it remains one of the most highly recommended options. Not only is the user interface incredibly easy to get the hang of, as well as highly customizable, but because Google loves Blogger blogs, they’re set up to be SEO-friendly from the get-go.

Every real estate business with a place in the future needs to embrace change if it’s going to give the competition a run for its money. That means implementing an integrated system as part of your business plan as soon as possible… and if you don’t already have one, it doesn’t get much better than Google’s.

How to Stop Spending Time on Mind-Numbing Details

If there’s one thing just about every busy real estate agent wishes they had more of, it’s time. Being successful in this industry can take up a staggering amount of yours – especially once you get to a certain point. However, if you’re going to continue to grow, it’s imperative that you figure out how to spend less valuable time on mind-numbing details and time-consuming busywork. At the end of the day, leverage is the answer when it comes to business strategy, your real estate marketing plan, and more.

Streamline your marketing technique.

Naturally, marketing is everything when it comes to generating high-quality leads and plenty of them. However, it’s important to streamline your real estate marketing strategies in a way that helps you make the most of your valuable time. The key to success lies in developing and implementing a lead-generation system that can deliver brand-new leads each and every day without you having to babysit things personally.

Once you have your system in place, you can hire low-cost help to assist you in keeping it going. You can certainly use in-house employees for this, but outsourcing the work to virtual assistants is also an excellent idea. You should also focus on targeting your real estate Internet marketing messages to help attract exactly the type of customer you ultimately want to be working with so that each lead is of the best possible quality.

Make the most of technology.

One of the biggest mistakes today’s real estate agents make is failing to truly leverage modern technology for their own benefit. Instead, they keep relying on the same old paper files and tired routines that agents used in yesteryear. Instead, try giving yourself an edge by embracing the tools that are out there for your use to help expand your reach, optimize the function of your business, and more. Many of them are even free, so this is an excellent way to save money as well.

Research such effective options as Top Producer and the incredible suite of integrated apps offered for free by Google. Also – if you haven’t done so already – build and optimize a website that can help you generate leads, keep your clientele abreast of developments in your business, and much more.

Manage people and systems effectively.

Every business needs people in order to run smoothly, and it goes without saying that people cost money. However, there are a number of ways to help make hiring enough staff affordable. Today’s best real estate training and real estate coaching options teach agents to get their clientele to foot the bill by charging transaction fees on each and every sale. Another great way to save on manpower is by hiring employees on a part-time basis to handle files, records management, and so forth. Delegate

what you can to other people so that you can focus on the meat of your business with your own time.

At the end of the day, it’s important to make sure that you’re building yourself a business, as opposed to just another job. Streamlining the way it runs with the tips listed above is an excellent way to start!