Ok, maybe it's not a dead horse, but I'm sure some of you are sick of listening to me say this.... Yet somehow I continue to need to express my awe and inspiration behind the most powerful tool in my marketing arsenol - you know what it is..... I know you do....
NEWSLETTERS! I know, I know..... shut up about them already, right? Are you doing them? I want to share a little story with you from today - from the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors Plugged-in Tech show & Trade fair.
Throughout the day, over and over and over again agents would come to our booth, see our signs and say, 'Oh, First Impressions, I get your newsletters. They are GREAT!'
As I said in my earlier blog, Staging Workshop for Agents - A hot topic we were advised by multiple agents that they actually attended the workshop to hear us speak at our breakout session. Many of them learned about the breakout through our NEWSLETTERS.
In addition to this little perk, one agent actually came to our booth after the workshop to let us know how great the workshop was, how great our newsletter was, and to let her know how she appreciates the fact that we share so much - she said, "I feel like I know you."
Do you know how important that is? Did you know most people prefer to refer their friends, neighbors (and clients) to someone they know? Just another side benefit.... surely you've gotten the message now. You are doing them, right? If you aren't.... you'll start - TODAY! right?
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Melissa Marro, a published artist, now turned staging advocate and national speaker speaks her mind about real estate and the home staging industry. In her 'no holds barred' approach, audience members find real answers to the industries pitfalls and learn how to overcome them with tried and true information and guidance. With marketing as her passion, she turned a small home based business into one of the nation's largest home staging and training facilities. Selling her successful home staging company in January 2012, Marro is now a full time speaker and instructor for Staging And Resign and Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)'s trade events.
For more information on having Marro speak at one of your real estate functions, please contact her at 843.619.1593 or email at marro.melissa@gmail.com
Melissa,
You have talked me into it:).... Now where do I start?...LOL, WAIT, No really where do I start:( ???? D'oh!
Thanks for the post Melissa,
Brian,
Kathy & Sandra - Just remember, to some degree it is a numbers game. I have over 1500 agents on my contact list. That does help with getting new leads every single time I send out! Consistency is the other key! Keep working on them & getting them out. You just never know when you will get a phone call - often it is months later!
Marci - one of the great perks is that you and I seem to talk more frequently now! lol... gotta love that, cause you know you and I can talk!
Roberta - great to have you on board! Keep us posted with your realtor event! Having just had one ourselves here, I am sitting now entering a huge stack of email addresses into our constant contact account. We will be over 1700 agents by the time I'm done!
This is a great opportunity to get face to face with the agents and them get them on your newsletter!
Thanks Melissa,
Bookmarked!
Best,
BB
Brian - I hope it helps!
Renee - Yes, I actually just wrote a blog that was inspired by his presenation: The difference between 211 degrees and boiling. It was great to know that the things we've been doing for the last few years - newsletters, follow ups after sales, etc were on his list. Clearly it has been working for us, so we knew we were on the right path.
Marci - I look forward to hearing from you again! Talk to you soon!
Thanks Melissa, I hear you! I am going to start writing newsletters today. I had really never thought about advertising in this way before. And it's the kind of advertising we all like....FREE!
Cheers!
Kathy
Melissa- can I butt in?
Well I'm going to anyway!! I highly recommend using Melissa's First Impression's Newsletter service. I was trying to do ours at first- then we used Melissa's and the phone hasn't stopped ringing!
Ok- I'm done!!!
Marci - you are so sweet! Thank you for the promo!
Home Beautiful - Stagers who sign up for my 'associate membership' get their name and copmany infor added to the 'find a specialist page' linking directly to your website. They also receive a monthly newsletter tha highlights information or technology you can use in this industry. Then there are 2 articles that can be directly cut and pasted into your own local newsletter. (Occassionally we'll use stats or some other information specific to our company, you just switch them out for your specific information.) I give you target send dates for optimum results and a copy of my personal newsletter so you can see what mine looks like and how it flows, etc. Email me and I'll send you a sample copy, or you can go to www.RedesigningCharleston.com and look under News, Articles and links to view some of my past agent newsletters.
The next member newsletter comes out in just a few days.... I hope this is what you were looking for.
Melissa, you are right! Newsletters work. You just have produce them in a smart way. So, a printed one should probably be done in cooperation with a loan officer, title company, inspector, or a stager.
Thanks for being so passionate about this topic.