Online Marketing Strategies
Well I'm back from Panama City! Fun in the sun is over. Now its time to get busy on some work.
When managing a real estate agency it is important to retain customers while, at the same time, bring in new ones. Repeat customers and referrals are most likely the most profitable source of business. It is extremely important to keep customers who know you, trust you, and appreciate all your work.
The Realty Times offers "Seven Proven Strategies to Build Referrals and Gain Repeat Business".
1. In this article Dan Richard encourages to communicate regularly with your past clients. You should use all available online and offline methods to show continued interest.
Richard also suggests to always ask for a referral, and to never hesistate.
"For example, for each referral sent to you, send a "Thank You" to your client, preferably by e-mail, such as an electronic coupon (printable PDF) for a home-oriented gift, or peel-and-stick new address labels." He also suggests having a drawing from your clients to win free landscaping, spring cleaning, or even hiring an artist to render a painting of their family's home.
2. After closing a deal with a client, create a virtual tour of the new home so it can be accessible to your clients' friends and family. Richard suggests posting it on your website or in an email attachment. Definately be sure to include your contact information. Vitual tour software will make this sort of marketing possible for you.
3. Display your professional service with online newsletters. Richard suggests here to offer services that your clients are looking for. It doesn't matter whether you create your own newsletter or take advantage of already prepared e-newsletters. The important thing is to figure out what past clients want. They don't want the same services like before (obviously if they just moved they won't again). So Richard suggests to offer new services, services I have not thought about like redecorating, gardening, and seasonal and year-round home maintenance.
4. It is important to use links throughout your website to all your e-newsletters. Yet another plus to online newsletters is that you can use links to specific home management articles, as instant answers.
5. Richard's fifth step that he suggests is to create a personalized stream of birthday and anniversary tips for past seller and buyer clients. There are websites on the Internet that provides amusing and interesting pieces of information about specific dates such as birthdays, purchase dates, and wedding anniversaries. "For example, http://re-date.com will calculate how long you have been married to the nearest second and provide other fun-to-know facts such as how old you would be if you lived on Mars or Pluto."
6. Again Richard urges that it is utterly important to build referrals. He stresses not to be shy but outgoing.
7. The final suggestion that Richard gives is simple but very important. Get feedback! Figure out what you must improve on in your business. Figure out any questions that were left unanswered and answer them on them on your website. A "Q & A" section in your website might be the most effective technique.
"Seven Surefire Strategies For Online Customer Relationship Marketing"
(This is the correct link you just have to go into "news and advice", then "advice for agents", then "marketing" in order to find the article)
It is not possible to run a busines without customers. These are well-proven strategies from a successful businessman that work.
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Trackback URL for this entry is: http://blog.case.edu/rpa6/mt-tb.cgi/679 introducing the Real Estate Management blog: Ryan ArliaExcerpt: Would you please take a look at Ryan Arlia's class project for MGMT 251? Ryan has chosen to focus on real estate management issues, and would like to get feedback on the posts he made in February and in March. His post about online marketing strategies...
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Comments
Ryan,
this was an excellent post.
Have you checked out http://www.progressiveurban.com?
I went to see the neighborhood that is developing north of the VA hospital last Sunday... there are some large old homes that will be completely renovated, plus plans are available on that website for the Heritage townhomes, which will break ground this spring I think.
Would you invest in those properties? Why or why not? How would you manage yourself if you were a real estate agent who wanted to get those townhomes sold before the buildings are completed?
Wow, I didn't even know all these renovations were going on. Some of those homes seem like they're really nice. Those Heritage Lane Historic Homes are a bit too pricey for me, but the condominiums seem to be a good deal thats not as expensive.
If I had enough saved I would definately look into the condominiums as an investment. They are looking to do full interior and exterior renovations, so they should come out looking sharp. The real nice thing about them is that they are right outside University Circle, and University Circle is a beautiful place in relation to every other part of Cleveland. With a primetime location this, these condominiums are already a big step ahead if your looking at property values that are likely to go up in the future.
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