Carnac has an answer to pose to you today.
That would be the "Great Carnac" to you Ed McMahon.
Friend, neighbor, former agent, relative, and referral?
Envelope please Ed.
That would be the question:
Where do most buyers find their agents?
Point is, don't put all your eggs in that Internet basket. Sure, home search is big on "everyone's" web site. But face it - Real Estate is a "contact" sport. Look at the old chart which varies very little from year to year.
Does it surprise you? SEO is overrated maybe.
In case anyone needed a reminder these are the beings that buy, sell, and invest in real estate.
They are called
PEOPLE.
They don't bite. They may be trying or cantankerous at times, but they really are lovely inside.
Touch them often with your magic ways.
Watch your business grow. Get out from behind the computer.
Just a reminder that when you get back to the basics of customer care and service and constant contact, good things happen.
Would The Great Carnac ever lead you astray?
Ed McMahon: Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha.
BTW, in this little fantasy story, these are your appreciative clients that you have made such a boatload of money with them you are taking them all on a charter flight to Fiji. Hey, one can dream!! : )
Something to work toward in 2009. I'll save a drink with the little umbrella in it and meet you on the beach.
GARY, I have always worked at not putting my eggs all in one basket. I like for my business to come from a variety of sources. That way should something happen to one source at least I have a back up.
Hi Gary. I certainly think spreading out the marketing efforts is smart.
I too am worried some spend all their time behind the laptop!
Thanks for writing,
Ken
Gary, you have a message of high importance here. In this market, I have found myself funneling marketing dollars where they "seem to be" most effective. It is so hard to measure advertising. In fact, it's impossible. Referrals are the most measurable, and in my opinion, the most important. Your Buyers and Sellers better be happy with your services.
I do a great deal of advertising on the Internet, but the majority of my business comes straight from dealing face to face with people and receiving leads and referrals from them.
Gary, how true. Real Estate is truly a contact sport. The more you are in contact, the better your results will be. Thanks for the reminder!
Gary,
Thanks for trotting out Carnac the Great. Very creative approach to your message. :)
Steve
Thank you Gary, I could not agree with you anymore. It is a contact sport! I actually have a Halloween Prop right now in front of my house and talk more real estate with the people that stop by than my advertising on the paper.
Antonio
Gary- There, I knew it! No matter what we do, we end up back at the beach. ;-)
I put more time, than money, into my internet presence ( I know - time is money.) My only website dollar expense, is for hosting. I got to page 1 of Google through organic SEO. My website does produce occasional leads.
The time I spend on AR (an awful lot, but not during "normal" working hours) is as much for the education, enlightenment and enjoyment, as it is for marketing. In other words, it hasn't produced any leads, but it's still worth the effort.
You're absolutely correct. Real estate is a people business and that's best done person to person.
Gary,
It's obvious that sometimes we get carried away with the newest "gadget"....when old fashioned palm pressing and relationship building is where it will ALWAYS be.
Thanks for the reminder!
Great advice. Though, using the internet is a very cost efficient and time efficient way to spend time marketing yourself when you dont have listing appointments or buyers in your car
Gary-Although I think the internet is great, I get most of my clients from past clients who refer them to me. I am thankful that they would send someone to me. It just tells me that I did a good job for them. I try for all the different avenues in getting clients and that includes walk-ins, phone-ins, bank referrals, friend referrals, family referrals and naturally the internet. Good Blog.
Gary - I like that plane to Fiji thing. LOL And I am making a public promise right now ... If I close 30 deals in 2009 I will furnish ALL Active Rainers with ...........
A picture of folks going on a all expense paid vacation.
:P LOL
hey Gary,
how are you? I smiled when I read this just now......i love it. It really is a 'people business' afterall....
((-:
Jo
Gary - I would like you to fly this plane that appears to be full of buyers to all my listings! You did preapprove them, right?
Gary - I would like you to fly this plane that appears to be full of buyers to all my listings! You did preapprove them, right?
Nice reminder to someone who DOES spend to much time on the internet. I was telling myself over the weekend, you need to get out more...
Sometimes it's easy to forget our overall goal! This is a great reminder to have an overall approach to marketing, not just a onesided approach!
Here's Johhny!
Susan- Right idea, but I think this calls for the updated version...Heeeeere's Gary!