original image courtesy of dramaqueeennora
Are you a Superhero?
We have a lot of questions to wrestle with on this issue. We all wear many hats, and I want to talk about all of them! I want to demonstrate my broad range of talent and knowledge, and I certainly want to be as inclusive as I possibly can be- I want to be a Superhero to everyone! Right?
Not Always
If you’re doing a local blog, and your business is local, then be local. People are not searching for a person in particular in most searches- they’re searching for information, so why not give it to them?
They Really Don’t Care About You
So it’s up to you to make them care. Every time you’re with a client, are you listening to them? I mean really listening to them…
Ask them questions:
- How did you find me?
- What did you mostly search for when online?
- What did you think of the places you found?
- Did you find the information to be absolutely solid?
- How long did you search?
- What took you so long to decide to buy?
- What was your obstacle?
- What search sites did you use?
- Was there information you could not find specifically?
- What could have helped you make a decision to buy or sell?
- Have you seen my blog?
- What did you think?
- What information could I put there to help other buyers and sellers?
Buyers & Sellers are Your Fountain of Youth
A converted buyer or seller is the most valuable audience you have. Forget about other Realtors in your market, forget about the real estate blogging community and what they may think- just do your damn homework.
How?
Ask to buy your clients dinner the very first day you meet, and take a list much like the one I’ve already described.
What Good is All of This?
Simple- this is your audience, and you have them right in front of you, and if you are like most, you’re looking for material. Once your clients have closed a home in the neighborhood with you, you now have participants who are intimately involved in your blog- how awesome is that? You also have tons of material and plenty to focus on.
Why This is Better Than Pulling From Forums
Because, you haven’t converted the asker into a buyer or seller from the forum, so technically, they’ve not gone far enough in the process to really lend valuable feedback. You need to know what finally converted your buyer or seller, right? You want to repeat or replicate their input to bring exactly that buyer or seller over and over again.
The Key to Open Doors
Each time you sell in a different price point (you know your market) repeat the above. Learn what differences there are between your various sets of buyer and sellers. Evaluate what marketing is most valuable to them, and what pulled them into the market, and find a middle in your blog.
Invite Them in
No matter what you do, invite them in! Ask them if they wouldn’t mind participating in your blog in the future to help other buyers? Would they mind writing about their experience? Would they mind helping you in your new neighborhood? Offer them a nice rate reduction on their future sale for their participation in neighborhood cheerleading! How?
In your meetings ask and invite!
- Are you on Twitter?
- Are you on Facebook?
- Are you on Myspace?
Ask and Promote!
- Do you blog?
- Do you have a small business?
Socialize Your Consumer
If this is a neighborhood you frequent, invite all of your clients out to dinner on you! Socialize them, introduce them, and solidify relationships. I’ve found it is most useful to have a sit down rather than a BBQ. This allows you to use your knowledge of each client specifically to make connections rather than folks standing in an awkward corner. This is a networking dinner, this is where we talk about our social networks, small businesses, and your goals in building a stronger neighborhood in promoting their interests, not about asking for referrals.
Stay tuned, more to come…
