Search results matching tag 'Marketing'

Daddy's Girls

668781 — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:06:00 GMT

I randomly ran across an article the other day that provided documented research indicating that girls who have good childhood relationships with their fathers are attracted to men who look like said fathers.

As a self-professed "Daddy's Girl", I would have to agree. My Dad plays a huge role in my life in so many ways, and after reading the article, I concede that I'm usually attracted to guys who have similar characteristics.

Before this post sounds like a suggestion to find me a date (much to my Mother's chagrin!), here was my thought: this is interesting, especially when you have a potential buyer who is obviously a Daddy's Girl.

How do you identify us? We reference our fathers, we solicit their advice, we may comment on how we need to text or call and ask them something. Suggesting that the father join you in looking at the house or coming to appointments may be beneficial, especially if the woman is independently buying the house. As he is still the dominant male influence in her life, Dad's opinion will be important. Personally, I had my Dad look at my house before I bought it, not only because he is a carpenter, but because his opinion is valuable to me.

If the significant other is there, though, there could be a fine line. Significant others of Daddy's Girls usually are a tad cautious around the fathers because they know how strong that father-daughter bond can be. Just ask the guys who found themselves staring down the barrel of my Dad's shotgun when I was a teenager...

Before I show more of my redneck roots, have a great weekend! :)

Tanya

~ Tanya Spilchak, Education Coordinator

Where In The World Is {Your Name Here}?

668781 — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:49:00 GMT

On my way to work this morning, I drove by one of those recycling/garbage bins that provide advertising space. I noticed that there was a big sign for a local agent that contained his picture, name, job role, and phone number, mainly because I am conditioned to do so...kind of like being conditioned to notice sale signs, scrapbooking stores, and posters for movies with George Clooney.

But I digress.

Seeing the sign on a busy street on an item that everyone uses was really impressive. What was alarming, though, was the fact that the sign was missing the agent's website address.

Considering that studies indicate that over 90% of buyers start their real estate search online, providing only a phone number limits this agent to the 10% of the market that might pick up the phone or wander into a real estate office. Now, of that 10%, how many could potentially see that sign, remember that agent, and phone that number? While the agent had a great idea for a great advertising feature, the number of leads could drastically be reduced.

Even after being conditioned to see the sign and having been impressed with it, I don't remember the agent's name. I'll admit with a blush that I actually looked for a website address, as I like to go online and take a look at the houses listed in the local area. I'll be the first to admit that I'm a tad strange, but how many others will disregard the sign in the same manner?

Your website is a marketing asset, just like your name, just like your phone number, just like your business cards, and just like the listings themselves. When investing money on advertising, include it as part of the overall message. Being able to reach that 90% going online, being able to provide that online resource, and being able to show those listings will help you not only increase the number of leads you receive, but also the number of listings you sell.

When all else fails, put a picture of you with George Clooney. I'll be sure to notice it! :)

Tanya

~ Tanya Spilchak, Education Coordinator

Little Commitments Are Important

668781 — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:54:00 GMT

We all have them: people in our lives who make commitments to us, yet never deliver. Regardless of how small the commitment is, they can never seem to pull the trigger.

I have a friend who is always booking time to come and visit from a neighboring city, yet always cancels at the last minute. This weekend was another date to add to the list. To add insult to injury, she indicated in her message this morning that the real reason she was coming was for some other event she had planned. Ouch.

Is it just me, or is accountability and reliability falling by the wayside?

Just yesterday, I was discussing a recent customer service experience in a restaurant where the server made a mistake, then swore and had a fit, blaming the issue on everyone and everything else, when it was her who had made the error. Rather than calmly indicating that she messed up and would need to correct the error, she made a big deal out of something that I, as the consumer, wouldn't have even noticed if she hadn't pointed it out to me.

On a positive note, there are people who still hold their commitments as important and are reliable in following through with them. Their actions are like a breath of fresh air when they occur, and they really do stand out as beacons of hope and happiness, restoring one's faith in humanity (my thanks to you, Trent).

Is it just me? What commitment observations have you made lately?

Tanya

~ Tanya Spilchak, Education Coodinator

Perseus Ponderings

668781 — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:32:00 GMT

My viewing of movies with British men continues! Last night I saw "Clash of the Titans" in 3D. I love epic films, and the grittier they are, the more I seem to like them. If you haven't seen it yet on the big screen, go check it out. Despite some negative reviews, I really enjoyed it.

What I think made it so enjoyable was the "you-have-an-inner-gift-that-you-need-to-share-with-the-world" plot that revolved around Perseus. Being a demi-god, he possessed the skills, knowledge, and qualities that would aid in his defeat of the Kraken (and by extension, defeat Hades for the moment), while simultaneously understanding the plight and saving the lives of his fellow man. He was special and could offer something that nobody else could.

You don't have to be the offspring of Zeus to have something special about you. We all possess qualities and skills that, while not apparent or appreciated by some, will change the lives of others. What are your special skills? What knowledge do you possess that potential buyers and sellers can only access through you? Sometimes you'd be surprised at how much you have to offer. Take a moment to reflect on this, then go take the world by storm!

Tanya

~ Tanya Spilchak, Education Coordinator

Turn any Home into a Show Home

668781 — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:57:00 GMT

Beyond all the new furniture and flooring, ever wonder why show homes look so good? Or, even more importantly, how you can turn your home or your client's home into a show home?

It's your lucky day! Here are 5 tips.

Enjoy, and have a great weekend!

Tanya

~ Tanya Spilchak, Education Coordinator

A Rose By Any Other Name...

668781 — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 22:04:00 GMT

Having a website is one part of an overall online marketing plan. Here is where you are going to provide information regarding listings, open houses, your local market, neighborhoods, and your special talents as a real estate professional.

How will people find this website and remember it?

Two words: domain name. The domain name is the address for your website. It is how people will be able to find you again. Take, for instance, the Education Team's website's domain name: www.Point2AgentEducation.com. If you type that into the address line or into a search engine, you'll find us. So, what do you need to consider when choosing a domain name?

Keep it Short
Although we have large brains, humans tend to have short attention spans for remembering things. The shorter the domain name, the easier it is to remember. TanyaSellsHomes.com would be easier to remember than TanyaSellsHomesAndCondosInSaskatoon.com. Short and sweet is the best.

Keep it Simple
Using common, everyday words that online Buyers would use is also helpful. SuperlativeResidences.com, for instance, is not easy to remember, as "superlative" is not a term used in our everyday vernacular (which is also another word that has fallen to the wayside!). MagnificentHomes.com says the same thing, but in words that people will be able to remember. Not only for remembering, but also spelling. The easier it is to spell, the quicker those online visitors will find your domain and website.

Keep it General
People will more often remember everyday words or terms rather than names. TanyaSpilchak.com is not easy to remember (or spell) because both names are unusual and aren't spelled the way that most people pronounce them. SaskatoonHouses.com would be a better option because it encapsulates the general search that online visitors would be doing.

Keep your domain name short, simple, and generic, and not only will those online visitors be able to remember it, but it will also be easier for search engine crawlers to find. And the easier you are to find, the better the chances you will be found and your website read.

Good luck with your domain name! :)

Tanya

~ Tanya Spilchak, Education Coordinator

Looking to Increase Website Traffic?

668781 — Tue, 25 May 2010 21:18:00 GMT

Have a website, but not getting the number of visitors you'd like? Check out these 5 ways you can increase the traffic going to your website.

Enjoy!

Tanya

I wasn't born with it...it's Maybelline.

668781 — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:51:00 GMT

Ever have one of those days? You wake up feeling and looking like yesterday's leftovers. Taking a shower doesn't help. No amount of puffing and teasing your hair makes you feel good. But then, you use that magical wand on your eyelashes and the world glows a bright white, the choir sings, and you transform into a goddess.

Okay, maybe not a goddess, but you sure feel like one. And that magical wand? Mascara. It lengthens and volumizes and curls and darkens and helps you gain new levels of confidence you didn't think possible only ten seconds prior to using it. You radiate. You glow. You smile. People notice.

Have a house that isn't moving? Is it sitting there looking like yesterday's leftovers? Maybe a fresh coat of paint on the outside or the inside would help. Encourage your sellers to consider their colour choices and how people perceive those colours. Red can come across as very agressive, whereas blue is inviting and trustworthy. Sometimes making a colour alteration can shift the mood of prospective buyers.

Usually, people are encouraged to use neutral colors, as they make rooms seem more expansive and have more potential. Any color looks good with white because white is so flexible. This provides potential buyers the chance to envision their furniture in that space, the possibilities for decorating, and also refracts the light to make it seem warm, cheery, and large, no matter how small the room or house is.

Maybe the house didn't need to be born with it. Maybe it just needs ~~Maybelline~~ some fresh paint.

Hey, it worked for me this morning! :)

Tanya

~ Tanya Spilchak, Education Coordinator

Social Perception

754761 — Fri, 07 May 2010 16:14:00 GMT

So you’ve decided to advertise yourself by ‘pimping your ride’. You drive a lot as a Real Estate Professional, so it makes sense to put your name or company on your car along with your website or phone number. It’s a great idea, it’s cheap advertising and it goes wherever you go.

Now is the time to decide if that was, in fact, the smartest decision. If you’re going to put your name or company on your car or truck, be prepared to drive perfectly. Think about it: if you cut someone off, they now know who you are. If you drive too slow in the left lane on the freeway, they know who you are. If you take up two parking stalls in a parking lot, they know who you are.

Some people will brush it off, others will hold grudges and be sure to tell all their friends about this “real estate guy/girl who cut them off." Social perception is key and if you offend someone, whether you know it or not, word will spread. And I’m not just talking about the three friends they saw that day. Chances are they ranted to their 300 Facebook friends and their 200 Twitter followers.

With great advertising comes great responsibility. So the next time you’re in traffic, keep this in mind and don’t forget that signal light!

Ryan

~ Ryan Martens, Education Specialist

Changing a Prospective Buyer's Mood

668781 — Thu, 06 May 2010 14:13:00 GMT

Saskatchewan, Canada, where Point2 is located, is known for its fluctuating weather. Lately, we've been alternating between torrential downpours, snow, and near-hurricane winds (which was actually a record day, as we've never had them before!). I love rain and find it inspiring, although after weeks and weeks of scattered sunshine, all of us Saskatchewanians are starting to feel a tad irritated.

As much as we try to not let it determine our mood, humans are affected by the weather. Rain, snow, sleet, wind...it all changes how we perceive the world around us and how we react to the decisions and situations that face us each day.

This is especially harmful when showing houses, since the prospective buyer's mood greatly determines how they will perceive the house you are showing them.

With a few quick and inexpensive, adjustments, though, you can alter their mood:

Let the sunshine in - open the curtains to let in as much natural light as possible. To supplement this natural light and create your own 'sunshine', turn on lights and especially lamps. There is something inviting, warm, and homey about a lamp.
Feel the heat - turning the heat up just a tad can also increase the welcoming feeling for people first walking into the house. After being in a cooler environment, the warmth is comforting. If this isn't possible, have a candle burning (and see the next point). The flickering flames are inviting and unconsciously make people feel warmer than they really are, which is why we love fires when camping!
It makes scents - moods are also greatly affected by the scents around us. Nothing says "home" like the scent of home baking. Since that isn't possible a lot of the time, take some cinnamon sticks or burn a candle with cinnamon scent. It reminds people of home, the holiday season, and fresh cinnamon buns. As a side note, I have a candle burning in my office and I often get people stopping by to comment on how much they love the scent of cinnamon...even the guys!
Bring it to life - when it is dreary and miserable outside and the natural vegetation isn't looking so bright and wonderful, having some live plants or cut flowers in the home will make it seem like an oasis in the desert. Plus, the plants help with oxygen levels in the house and the flowers give off a lovely scent.
Keep it clean - after facing a muddy, slushy, or wet world, walking into a home with spotless floors, uncluttered living spaces, and inviting scents and light always cheers people up considerably. Escaping the mess that is the outside world, the home will seem inviting, cheery, and low maintenance...which will make the prospective buyers feel that it will always be so.

A few quick adjustments to a house can really make it feel like home, especially on those dreary days when everyone is feeling affected by the world around us.

Here in Saskatchewan, the forecast shows no signs of getting sunny in the next few days. Looks like I'll be burning a lot of candles!

Tanya

Tanya Spilchak, Education Coordinator