Let’s face it, it isn’t exactly 2002 and most real estate professionals are doing double the work for half the pay. Real estate marketing is changing, not just because of a healthy injection of technology but because of desperation in the market.
Yes, desperation. Every agent with a listing is hustling to get eyes on their product and doing their best to garner attention. Recently, an Australian brokerage gained international attention for hiring a producer to create a high quality video based on the theory that sex sells. Literally. It featured a woman undressing in the listing:
The idea that sex sells isn’t new and this isn’t the first “scandal” with real estate professionals getting creative with their advertising. High end condos frequently use sexy models in their print ads and brokerages use models in their ads as well.
What’s creative about that?! Oh you wait…
So the above ideas are nothing new. They’re shocking to some peoples’ senses, but sexy models are common in most industries besides real estate.
So desperate times call for creative measures, no? How about using humor in your marketing? We’re talking about a cross between sex sells and humor sells…
In South Texas, a young guy posted a dozen ads on Craigslist to sell his motorcycle and there was no luck. As a joke, he posted a provocative picture of him and his friend on the bike and within hours the bike was sold!
Guard your eyes, here is the picture from the ad:
Yeah, we’re dying of laughter too, but the bike sold. So maybe a sexy big guy being hosed down is the answer for one of your listings? Ha. No telling. We’re not daring anyone to try this on one of their listings, nor do we condone it, but if you do or see someone that tries it out, let us know!
Ken Brand
February 19, 2011 at 1:55 pm
Why don’t we give it whirl with something, like say, your profile picture. We can count the number of times people click on it? Oh well, just thinking out loud. Cheers.
stephanie crawford
February 21, 2011 at 1:09 am
There a local REO listing specialist here who sends out an annual calendar featuring photos of the worst rooms & ugliest houses of the year. Pretty funny stuff.