by orlando on August 5, 2008
Here are some ideas to get your brains going for today (or the week).
1. Give Tips on Negotiating a Real Estate Agents Commission/fee.
2. Write about whether you think interest rates will head…up or down? Then explain why and relate it to how it will affect them.
3. If I were a buyer and I asked you “hey agent, should I buy a home now or later?” How would you reply? Write about how you would answer that question.
4. Blog about the home in your area that has been on the market for very long and why that is the case.
5. Write about an experience you had in real estate that taught you something very important about how to work with a buyer/seller.
Well there you have it. Now give your fingers some exercise and get those keyboards clinking!
by orlando on August 5, 2008
I’ve talked to several agents who told me that they do not completely follow-up with their internet leads! Most say it is too much work (which can be true unless you have some type of automatic system).
AGENTS REMEMBER…
There are two ways to stay in contact with your leads. Take advantage of both, simultaneously. Below are THE two important ways to do so.
2 Ways Follow-up On Internet Leads
1. Automatic Email Updates - Your IDX should have this feature with optimal branding of yourself in the appropriate places.
2. Drip Email Follow-up - This I’d say is the most important of all because internet home buyers take an average of 6 months to actually convert. You must have a system in place where you can stay in front of their eyes without being intrusive.
Drip email systems can be found anywhere. We recommend Top Producer (because that is what we’re familiar with) but last I heard, Microsoft Outlook Express had a drip campaign feature, though I’m not 100% sure about that.
It is important to understand that if you have somebody sign up to your site there is interest. They liked what they saw and want more information, in the form of homes that match their criteria.
Agents do not rely on only one avenue of follow-up. Use the drip email for extra leverage.
Have a great day!
by orlando on July 29, 2008
Hey all, here are some topics you can write about in your blog. Enjoy!
- House prices - Will they be going down? Up? Write about whether you think they may want to wait or why they should buy now.
- Banking System - If you want to help people understand why these economic cycles occur you can write about how the banking system functions (i.e. fractional lending and all that good stuff).
- Media Reports - Write an opinion piece about the media. Are they fanning flames? Are they under reporting? Should they?
- Write about selling a home in today’s market. What needs to be done, tips/advice, a top ten list of do’s and don’ts.
- The weeding out of agents in this market. Good or bad for the consumer? Did more agents mean commissions could be negotiated lower for the consumer? You can write about how only quality remains or will continue to remain.
You can also write about something you read in the news and then show why the article was important to the reader. And there you go…now get to blogging.
Have a good one.
by orlando on July 21, 2008
Many agents ask us how long their blog posts need to be and are usually surprised to hear that it can be as short as one sentence to as long as a 3 page report.
OK that was too general so for somebody just starting out, your blog post should be about 3 paragraphs long depending on your subject matter.
There are times when you can post only a sentence, such as a question or an invitation to an open house. Here is an example, “hey everyone I’m holding an open house at hello-ville, come by, free food blah blah…”
The main thing is that you post everyday OR every other day…something…anything…everything that comes to your mind regarding real estate.
Here are a couple of blogging tips:
1. Strive for 3 paragraphs (that’s about 5 sentences per each).
2. Pretend you’re writing an email to a friend or you’re speaking directly to a client face to face.
3. If your post is about a news article, explain how it relates or affects them personally.
Have good one.
by orlando on July 18, 2008
Homebuyers today need translators to make sense of what is going on in the industry. For example INDY Mac went down what does that mean to a buyer/seller?
NOW is the best time to begin blogging. Not only will it pay off for you in the long term, which I’m sure many of you foresighted agents are eying, but you can also help some very weary homebuyers.
Reading the news, and stumbling, I noticed that there are many articles about home prices, the economy, foreclosures, and __(insert here)__. You know what’s missing (hint: first sentence of this article)? You know how buyers and sellers are feeling they are worried they can’t get a home or that they will not be able to sell their home; the list goes on.
If you’ve ever had the thought of blogging but have pushed it off now is the time to start. Especially since many agents are not posting. You have specialized knowledge in your brain that can help people with making a proper decision when it comes to their home needs…now go blog!