Staking Your Claim In Five Easy Steps
When you launch your new real estate career, you may find the playing field a bit crowded. The best way to get a little “elbow room” is to stake your claim at the beginning.
1. First Press Release
Don’t be shy, announce your new venture! A launch press release is one of the best, most inexpensive media coverage opportunities — and it comes JUST when you need it most — at the beginning. Face it, you are news! This may be the first press release on you in your new position, but it will not the last…
If you want some pointers on how to write an excellent press release, check out our Press Releases 101 blog coming next week. (Sign up for email notification or our RSS feed to have it delivered to your favorite reader!)
2. Professional Photos
Start your new career with a great, professional photo. You are going to need it for your first press release, future public relations blurbs and most of your upcoming marketing pieces — so get a series done while you are at it.
Your portrait will be on your printed marketing materials, your website, media submissions and public announcements, so make sure you get three or four poses you really like.
Need some tips on how to achieve the perfect look? Check out our upcoming Professional Portrait Primer for Real Estate Agents.
3. The Perfect Business Card
The best, most economical, marketing tool you will ever have (aside from your sparkling personality and real estate knowledge of course), is your business card.
Its not a mini-billboard, the idea is not to cram as much information as possible on the diminutive canvas. The goal is to make it easy for someone who needs your services to reach you. Minimize the options, keep it simple. Think eye-catching and classic. Avoid boring or too-trendy.
The people you seek to serve are about to trust you with their financial future and the biggest single purchase (or sale) they have ever made. They need to see you as someone they can trust with this responsibility. Your business card should help garner that trust.
Need a little help creating your own business card? Become our Fan on Facebook to read our exclusive Business Card Design Tips.
4. Professional Stationery
Never miss an opportunity to get your name out and always appear professional. Formal letterhead will add your contact information and tagline to any business communication and can be used as a cover sheet for any listing or contract information you send potential buyers or sellers. Personalized note cards make it easy to market yourself while adding the personal touch of a quick, handwritten note.
5. Develop a Contact List
Begin by selecting a contact management system that works for you. If you prefer to use one of the real estate specific tools, do so. If you want to keep it on your personal computer in Outlook or another software, do that. Even a simple spreadsheet will work. If you prefer old paper means, use paper (but realize that it will take quite a bit of time transcribing this from paper each time you need to do a mailing.) The most important thing is to select a system that works and USE it. Keep it updated with every new connection or potential network opportunity. Don’t pick a flashy version of software that forces you to spend more time learning the system than using it. Keep it simple. Select a system that will serve you, not one that will enslave you.
Once you have the system, begin populating it with your personal contacts. Those who know you best will be your best advocates. Word of mouth marketing begins at home.
6. Make First Contact
Use your newly developed contact list to announce your new venture personally. Nothing beats an old-fashioned hand-written note for the personal touch. While your contact list is small, you can probably afford the time to let everyone know about your new business with a hand written personalized note card.
Have a bigger list? Why not create announcement postcards and let everyone know your latest news, the latest listing you have landed or a house you have recently sold? An announcement direct mail can be done quickly and easily with BestPrintBuy.com’s direct mail service. You design your mailing online in minutes and we mail it out to your contact list. Just getting started in your business? Consider purchasing a list online from BestPrintBuy.com. We can give you a marketing boost!
Be sure to ask your family, friends and contacts to pass along your business card to anyone you could help. And tuck in 4 or 5 of your new real estate business cards into each card. Request help from those you know — It’s the best first step to building (and strengthening) your network!
At BestPrintBuy.com, we are dedicated to helping you succeed! We will post more tips in the near future. If you would like to receive notification of our blog updates, sign up for email notification or grab our RSS feed. Feel free to share the knowledge with others. If you have any questions, call us at 866-763-8720. We want to help you make your new business better.