Real Estate Marketing Drips

Is Real Estate on your Client's Bucket List? You Bet It Is

I was thinking about this topic last week when I was finishing up my goal sheet for 2010.  I personally have two real estate purchases I am working toward that effect my immediate goals for 2010.  One is to purchase a single family residence in Lake Geneva within the next 3 years.  The second is to work toward purchasing my dream real estate property, a log cabin, within the next 10-15 years, close to the time that I plan to put my business up for sale.

Am I alone in creating real estate goals? Absolutely not.  Despite any current economical woes time marches on.  For any old dreams that may have died with the struggles of the economy new ones will arise.  It is a human desire to have a home.  I would call this desire an instinctual need that predates to humankind's first footsteps across the earth.  While shelter is a basic need, a home is what everyone desires. 

• A place where you can mark the kitchen wall with your children's height.
• A place where you can retire with ease and comfort.
• A place where you can put your first mark of adulthood after college pays off and you land that real job you've been working toward.
• A place where friends and family can come and hang.
• A place where you can lay our head after a busy workday.
• A place where you can grow and watch things grow.

It's true that everyone wants this place called home.

So as you toil through your market this year remember that regardless of where some of your clients are at today....it will not be the same tomorrow and tomorrow can change in a day or a year.

Keep in touch and keep your marketing steady and valuable.  Keep giving and offering help. Keep in mind that the desire to have a home will never change.

Regardless of any cycle we are in, real estate will be on your client's bucket list so make sure you are top of mind to help your clients when they plan to fulfill their dreams.  It could be sooner than you think.

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Scouring the Internet I have chosen 70 Forums and discussion groups that have had active participation within the past thirty days and have a real estate theme or topic of local information and are geared toward interactivity with consumer rather than real estate professionals only. 

• Get involved directly in discussions.
• Observe and gather topics of consumer interest to blog about.
• Find topics of consumer interest for guest blogger post topics.
• Use to build a successful marketing campaign (See the last item on this post for more information on how to).
• Combine with Question and Answer Websites for a powerful online internet real estate prospecting plan= Free Lead Generation.

Pick and choose forums and dicussions based on your niche, area(s) of expertise, and locality. 

1. Bigger Pockets-Canadian Real Estate Forums
2. Redfin- Bay Area
3. Redfin- Boston
4. Redfin- Chicago
5. Redfin- Inland Empire
6. Redfin- Los Angeles
7. Redfin- New York
8. Redfin- Orange County
9. Redfin- Sacramento
10. Redfin- San Diego
11. Redfin- Seattle
12. Redfin- Washington D.C. Baltimore
13. Wired New York- Questions and Answers About NYC
14. WiredNewYork-Moving to New York
15. WiredNewYork-New York City Guide for New Yorkers
16. WiredNewYork-Events, Groups, and Meetups
17. WiredNewYork-New YorK Metro
18. WiredNewYork-New York Real Estate
19. WiredNework-Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and SI Real Estate
20. Zillow.com Discussion- Local Topics

1. Bigger Pockets- Real Estate Deal Analysis and Advice
2. Bigger Pockets- Land and Farm Investing Forum
3. Bigger Pockets- Trailers and Mobile Home Investing
4. Bigger Pockets-HUD, VA's, and Tax Sales
5. Bigger Pockets- Short Sales
6. Bigger Pockets- Pre-Construction and New Home Construction
7. Bigger Pockets-Rehabbing and Flipping Forum
8. Bigger Pockets- Foreigners Buying in the USA
9. EscapeHomes.com- General Second Home Owner Forum
10. REI Club.com- Bird Dogs, Wholesaling, Flipping Properties Forum
11. REIClub.com- Sub2, Lease Options
12. REIClub.com- Rehabbing, Landlording

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Rebecca D. Levinson is a real estate marketing consultant with 17 years of experience serving real estate industry professionals.

If you need assistance with online marketing, offline marketing, social networking, or blogging contact Rebecca D. Levinson at #262-203-5231 or email rebecca@bloggingintherain.com.

Three Tools for Real Estate Agents To Use To Write A Competitive Analysis

Google Alerts

Take your keyword list that you have crafted after completing your keyword research.  Sign up for a Google Alerts account and add the keywords to your list so you will receive "...email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.)" for these keywords".  This will help you develop content around those keywords and also see what websites are ranking for those keywords and if there is any repetition.

These websites are your competition and you want to track them.

Perform initial searches on the search engines-Google, Yahoo, Bing- for the words on your keyword list.  Write down the companies and/or names of professionals who are ranking in the top positions on Page 1 of these search engines.  Add their names to your Google Alerts account. 

Don't Dismiss companies like Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, Redfin or the like show up in your results  Just because a company isn't a traditional brokerage doesn't mean you shouldn't add them to your competitive analysis.  If they are showing up high in search results for your keywords then they are doing things you may be to able to duplicate or even improve upon.

These companies and professionals are your competition.  You want to watch how they move online and you want to be in those places too.

SEOBOOK Toolbar

Download the SEO Toolbar for Firefox. The information from this tool is incredible for your competitive online analysis.  A few things this toolbar will give you:  PageRank of a website, SEM.com traffic rush valuable(indispensable information in my humble non SEO Expert Opinion), monthly unique visitors, keyword density(more invaluable information for your keyword research), directory links, page links, and links to the domain.

Use this wealth of information to your advantage when devising your linking and keyword strategy. 

You should also use this toolbar when deciding what sites to comment on as it will give you quick page rank and nofollow links information. 

Simple Checklist

Don't limit your analysis to your competition's keywords and SERP online marketing effectiveness.  There are other electronic AND offline marketing verticals that provide good business opportunities for real estate professionals and they shouldn't be automatically dismissed.  Put yourself in the shoes of your competition AND your customers, not all of who will be tech savvy.

Does your competition have a strong brand presence, are they holding open houses, are they a member of the Chamber of Commerce, do they have an internet radio show? 

Here's a simple spreadsheet to help you get started.

Take Action

Once you have completed your analysis you may develop some astounding conclusions. 

Perhaps you have found a niche market your competition has not yet captured.  Maybe your competition is finding themselves in more unusual places online than you had realized and now you know you need to be seen there too.

Competitive analysis is an ongoing process but it is a pillar to market domination.  Use these three tools to analyze your competitive real estate landscape and keep your business on top.

If you enjoyed this blog post on competitive analysis you will enjoy reading,

• Digging Deeper~Marketing Real Estate As A Business
• Observation and Reflection:  Preparing for The Role of Real Estate Agent in 2009
• Crush the Box.  Somebody's Gonna Do It and It Should Be You

Need help analyzing your landscape and creating a competitive analysis?  Contact Rebecca D. Levinson, dba Real Skillz, Real Estate Marketing Consultant- #262-203-5231 or email rebecca@realestateskillz.com.

Conversations on the Sidelines:  A Look at Google Sidewiki

Google has launched a new application that allows website visitors to comment about a webpage they are visiting and read other visitors comments.  These comments appear as a sidebar on the left-hand side of the page called Sidewiki.  Users are also able to rate the comments as useful, not useful, or report abuse. 

In true sharing fashion you can share the sidewiki comments on Twitter, Facebook or via Email.  Brings a different sort of meaning to the power of referrals.

You can install the Google toolbar with Sidewiki here.

I took a walk around the worldwide web this evening with Google Sidewiki and took a few snapshots

Mashable

Zillow

I just couldn't resist so I took a quick jog over here before heading home

I strolled by the top real estate franchises, but only found one, Re/Max, that had a sidewiki comment.  I suspect that will change.......real soon.

Sidewiki seems like the user friendly app. it was meant to be and I am sure there will be some tweaks and changes along the way.  Most importantly, in my view, it will enable the flow of conversation and empower users with feedback from hopefully many impartial parties- i.e. other consumers or business folk who do not all have a commercial interest in the webpage.

As to real estate brokerages, offices, and real estate professionals....just another reason to be active listeners and engage in two way conversations on the worldwide web.

If you liked this post about the Google Sidewiki you may be interested in reading,

• Why Digging Delicious Is Easy To Do
• Oogling Google~New Goods for Those Who Love Freebies
  
• The Four Letter Word That's Making A Difference In My Life

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How can you manage the barage of information, conversations, and shiny new tools that is Web 2.0?  Call Rebecca Levinson, dba Real Skillz, Real Estate Marketing Consultant-#262-203-5231 and let's talk about creating a social media marketing strategy that makes sense for your business or Email rebecca@realestateskillz.com.

Don't Believe the Hype.  Manipulation Creates Missed Sales Opportunities

In every sales situation there are trigger points that once hit on they allow people to purchase goods and services.  When I sold internet marketing products to real estate professionals I was trained to find and hone in on these trigger points. 

Old School Sales Skills

1.  I Will Give It To You Today And Take It Away From You Tomorrow- You can have this product for this price today, but tomorrow it will be a different price.

2.  Flattery Will Get You To Buy- I can see you hold such and such designation and you have been in the business for so many years, so certainly you will do well advertising on our website.  Why wouldn't clients choose you over the other agents who are advertising?

3.  All The Top Real Estate Agents Are Doing It- I have been speaking with Bobby Smith in your area and will be speaking with him again tomorrow.  He is very interested in this product.  Do you know Bobby Smith, the top producing agent in your area?  Yes, well he was impressed with the quality of this product (Shouldn't YOU be?)

4.  Exclusivity Is Key-  There are only x number of real estate agents we can take in this area. Let me show you where you would appear, it is prime internet property and again, I only have x number of slots (dim lights, open red curtain, hit spotlight button NOW).

5.  Your Membership is Paid.  Can I Squeeze You for An Upgrade?- Dear valued member, I know your membership has been paid for the year, but don't you think you need this newfangled widget that will make you even more money by producing more leads for you.  C'mon, you know you want it....will that be Visa, American Express, or Mastercard....oh wait, I think I have your old card on file.

Guess what?  These five simple triggers sold the sale more times than not.  Some salespeople were better than others at push marketing goods.  Some of the sales talk could have played ball with the best playas out there. Some of the claims were so outlandish that I couldn't even believe the words could escape the mouths of the salespeople...I couldn't believe their mouths allowed them to utter the words.

But they did....and man did they cast and reel.

Can I claim that I did not use any of the five tactics taught to me?  No dear readers, I cannot.  What I can tell you is that despite the popular saying, sometimes people can change.  What I can claim is that I changed my sales tune and though my numbers weren't as high when I did, I still fed my family.

It was like switching to chicken soup for the sales soul.

Sales Training

I learned something very simple.  I had a pretty cut and dry product.  There were some real estate agents who could benefit from my product.  There were a number of real estate agents who didn't NEED my product. 

There were other real estate agents who wouldn't take the time to use the tools and so my product would essentially be shelved next to the power point presentation software, sales books and cd's that were collecting dust in their offices.

• I had to find my target market- The agents who would benefit from my product.
• I had to present my product- The elevator pitch and it had to be quick.
• I had to shut up and listen- This involved questions and answers.  I had to ask the questions and let them answer.  No interrupting, no puffery, no posturing.  Just shut up and listen.

At the end of the day and possibly 100 calls dialed I would have many, many no's....a few maybes....and 1 or 2 yes's.  BUT the yes's were solid.  They could use my product, they would benefit from my product and yes they made the decision to buy my product. 

These closed transactions were the sweetest high imaginable....they just felt good 'cause they were right on the money.

ROI

Today with my own business it is even sweeter.  How do I find my target market?  I research.  I network.  I blog.  I write transparently about myself and my real estate marketing principles.  I use keywords and I try to make each topic timely, sometimes timeless, but always USEFUL. 

I don't want professionals to be tethered to my concepts, but to develop the concepts to work for THEIR marketing needs.  I don't suspect I will ever have many long term clients.  Hopefully they will be able to fly free on their own.

That's my goal.

And when people do call me I go back to square one....albeit with a twist.

When Prospects call many tell me they found me online.  Many of them have read my real estate marketing blog.  They tell me what connected with them, why they resonated with my words, and what made them pick up the phone to call me.

Prospects ask me questions about my services- Do I do xyz? Should they start xyz? How would they do xyz? What do I charge for xyz?

Sometimes we close.  Sometimes we wait.  It depends on the situation.  Sometimes, honestly, they don't really need me.  Sometimes they do.  Sometimes they have to back up a few steps and start with square one and I refer the business out in the right direction.

I owe my sweet sales to blogging.  Blogging has given me the perfect medium to broadcast my value and I am truly grateful.  Blogging gives life to my business and Google archives my messages so they are never thrown away like a scroll in the dead sea.  Professionals type in words in Google search and come across my blog, my services, and get a window into me.

All Manipulation Free.

Don't Believe the Hype.  Manipulation Creates Misses Sales Opportunities

Let's have some fun and break this open.  Please share the most recent sales lines used on you...you know, the kind that some playas salspeople use.

If you enjoyed this blog post about sales, you'll want to read:

• Are you Chasing Your Tail? Stop Running In Circles, Pick up the Phone and Call
• How Often Does You Say No To Prospects? When Does It Make Cents to Do So?
  
• Can Your Brand Stand the Three Repeat Challenge?
  

How Often Do You Say No To Prospects? When Does It Make Cents To Do So?

How often do you say no to prospective clients? 

I mean it...a prospect emails or calls you and is looking to do, say, a short sale.  Now maybe you have shunned away from short sales in the past, but today, in reflection of your bills and lack of immediate future business in the pipeline you decide maybe you can just do a few short sales, just to tide you over.

AND in this scenario you would have absolutely NO experience in short sales, no knowlege whatsoever.  Would you take the deal to pay your bills and learn how to do a short sale on the fly?

OR Scenario Two

An army family is relocating to your area for 1-2 years tops before moving again and are considering purchasing.  Average dom on market in your area, currently, is 9 plus months, and there hasn't been any significant appreciation for over 1 1/2 years. 

Will you weigh their options carefully or will you pass GO and start collecting houses of interest for them?

Why do I ask?

Often, frankly, I am disappointed in the very system with which we work to make life "meaningful" and better for consumers.  Being truly independent and not tied like a ship with an anchor to any vessel for the first time in seventeen years of working to serve real estate industry professionals I am enjoying a lighter load.

I have said no at least 7 times that I can rememberoffhand to prospective customers since last November and I am wearing that "no" as a badge on my sometimes tattered suit of business.  That "no" doesn't pay my bills, that "no" doesn't buy my kids Ambercrombie and Fitch, that "no" makes me far from wealthy or rich.

But if I can't do this MY way than I have to chose another highway.

See the thing is, just like the real estate industry, vendors, coaches, specialists, go through the same trials and tribulations as real estate professionals to some extent.  Albeit we don't have a "code of ethics" set by a National Association that we have to subscribe to, I like to think  that all salespeople have a code that they chose to wear or not and that code is integrity.

• If you offer services you should be able to deliver.
• If you extol expertise you should have it. 
• If your customer doesn't need what you offer don't sell it.
• If your customer isn't ready for what you offer point your customer in the right direction.
• If your customer needs a true expert to help them and you are not refer your customer to an expert.

But, human nature and ego being what it is, most people tend to sell the sale on a wing and prayer.  "Buyer beware" is how that's justified.  Paperwork- disclosures, agreements, contracts- all CYA. 

Let's talk about integrity all day long with more "complex" issues, albeit important ones, like MLS data, copyright infringement, code of ethics.

As marketers, as sales people, as professionals- what about the more "simplistic" issue of helping buyer A get what they need/want...not what we need/want?

• What about our own gut check code of ethics?
• What if we could just say "No"?
• When is the last time that you said no?

Too many times in the past I was looking for the "yes".  Now it's pretty black and white for me.  I don't need to read between any lines.  It's either Yes or No.

It's pretty damn simple.

How often do you say no to prospects? When does it make cents to do so?

If you enjoyed this post, you'll want to read:

• Relationships Are The Core of A Successful Real Estate Business
• Do You Practice Guiding Principles In Your Business?
• Integrity Is Not A Bargaining Chip.  A Not So Gentle Reminder

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Want To Be A Good Listener? Start With A Note to Yourself

Prelude to Listening Skills

This past Sunday I watched a story on 60 Minutes about a man, Robert Cotton, who was accused of rape and was in prison for some 12 odd years for a crime he didn't commit.  He looked very similar to the actual rapist and was in the line-up which is where the rape victim, Jennifer Thompson, identified him from.

What was amazing to me was that often if the perpetrator isn't in the line up the witnesses will "tend to pick someone from the line-up who looks most like the perpetrator."  As Lesly Stouts recanted after speaking with some experts on the subject of memory, "Memory is "mailable, full of holes... easily suggestible."

The line up system has two problems, Stouts explains,

1.  It's often unreliable

2.  It's highly persuasive to Jurors.

Gary Wells, the expert interviewed during the 60 minutes segment, discussed memory with Stouts and explained that recognition memory is quite quick.  It normally takes about 10-15 seconds for recognition memory.  In other words, if it takes longer than 10-15 minutes for someone to remember something then that person is most likely using something other than recognition memory.

Another problem with memory is that a reinforcement strongly alters memory, "dramatically".  Take a minute to watch this video,

Fight or flight also causes flaws in memory.  Stress has a deep effect on memory.  A person won't forget the event happened but the details are unreliable when the person is faced with a stressful situation,

Pausing to Listen and Write Is A Good Business Move

Now think about this when it comes to real estate and business.  Think about REO's, foreclosures, divorced sellers, first time home buyers, short sales sellers and your communication with them.  Do they take notes when you are educating them on the real estate process? If they aren't I would encourage them to do so. 

In your client's anxiety and excitement how can their memory possibly digest and remember in sum total and with absolute certainty all of the advice and information you will be giving them?

Do you always take notes when you are interviewing clients or meeting with them either on the phone or in person? In your excitement to assist your clients and in your expertise having dealt with similar situations before (the ho hum syndrome) how can you be sure you will remember all the details exactly as they told them to you?  How can you be sure that during your busy workdays you didn't overlook a detail a client told you or hear something differently than what a client said?

How can you be sure you can remember it all?

Sometimes the Old Fashioned Way Is the Best Way To Listen and Remember

I take notes on every client call and on conversations with business associates.  I highlight and scribble notes in the margins of books and periodicals I read.  If I have a thought about something I read online, I will take a moment to scribble it down, even if I make a note on a document in my computer.

At a conference I attended last year the speaker teased those of us who chose to write our notes instead of type or solely use a hashtag and tweet them.  She said it was cute.  Oh I had my Smartphone with me and my laptop to boot.  I knew though, that if I wrote my notes with a pen on "old fashioned paper" I would not only remember what the speaker said but I would remember where on my piece of paper I wrote the words.

Learning is fundamental, but listening and remembering can be tricky.  I take my business seriously.  I will now start asking my clients to please make sure to take notes for their own best records, regardless of my handouts, because I take their business seriously.

I will continue to hone my listening skills. My cute listening and memory basics have taken me to the bank many times over my competitors because my prospects were blown away that I remembered and was able to touch on the things they said to me.  My clients can't believe how much I really listen.

I will always put pen to paper and write notes to myself.

Want to be a good listener? Start with a note to yourself.

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In my post, "Are you Cutting off your Niche to Spite your Marketplace?" I wrote about why real estate professionals should choose a niche. In listening to the readership community of this blog I heard a need for clarification of the infamous 3 W's and H.  My marketing mind is ready to serve so here we go.

Breaking Down Niche Economics:  How, What, Where, and When

HOW?

Get back to basics.  Study and research your market area. You need to understand what your marketplace is doing- What is selling? What's not? Who makes up your marketplace?

I recommend that you read and print this post by Myrtle Beach Real Estate agent Mirela Monte, "How Well Do You Know Your Market". It is a timeless post that captures the essence of what homework you should be doing everyday in order to understand your market.

Mirela wrote this post in October 2008 so you can adjust the time frames accordingly and put it to use, daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly.
 

Once you understand your market you will be able to analyze its trends and find your niche.

WHAT?

You've done your homework and research but are unsure if what you've determined could qualify as a niche.  You might just be surprised at what a niche can be---take a look at these niche markets,

1. Fixer uppers
2. Lakeside property
3. Pet owners
4. Green living/Ecobroker
5. Neighborhood expert
6. School District expert
   
7. Vacant land/acreage
8. First time home buyers
9. Seasonal visitors
10. Equestrian property
11. Resort/vacation homes
12. Seniors
13. Luxury Homes
14. Condo buyers/sellers
15. FSBO's
16. Expireds
17. Short Sales- which can be subdivided into families, divorcees, young singles, investors, move-up families, home finding services and road to recovery services for short sale homeowners
    
18. REO's
19. New Construction
20. Relocation....which can be subdivided into International, Domestic, Young Urban Professionals
21. Families.....which can be subdivided into families with young children, families with teenagers, families with college children, families with elderly parents living with them, single parents
    
22. Empty Nesters
23. Investors...which can be subdivided into condos, single family homes, commercial,
    
24. Nudists
25. Military Families....which can be subdivided into army, navy, coast guard....which can also be subdivided into rentals, temporary housing, homebuying/selling, property management
26. Minorities- Asians, African Americans, Hispanics
27. Car Enthusiasts
28. Gay and Lesbian Community
29. Universities/alumnists
30. Houseboats
31. Oceanfront
32. Rental Assistance
33. Farms/Acreage
34. Timeshares
35. Mobile Homes
36. Historical Properties
37. Bed and Breakfasts
38. Property Management
39. Business Opportunities
40. Celebrities
41. Actors
42. Musicians
43. Sports Professionals
44. Service professionals- i.e. doctors/lawyers
    

How can you tell if the niche you have chosen is truly the golden nugget of your local real estate market?  Ask yourself a few questions once you have decided on your metallic endeavor,

1. DEMAND-Is there a need for this niche?
2. PASSION- Do you have a desire to serve this niche?
3. FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY- Can you make enough money from serving this niche?
4. SUPPLY (over/under)- Is this market currently flooded with service providers or are you an early adopter?
5. EXPENSE- Can you cost effectively market and sell to this niche?

Bingo...You hit the jackpot:  If you answered yes to all 5 it's time to do some planning. 

Answer Key

• If you answered yes to all but #1 you need to go back to your market research and studies because you missed something in your initial analysis if you answered no to this question.
• If you answered yes to all but #2 go back to the drawing board because if you don't like what you are doing you won't be attaining the quality of life you desire.
• If you answered yes to all but #3, maybe you need to supplement your income by adding another niche. 
• If your answer to #4 is that your market is flooded you will need to differentiate in your service offering to have any chance of being effective.
• If you answered yes to all but #5 you will need to supplement your business with another source of income, either a part-time job or another niche, while you are building your first niche out.

WHERE?

Back to the basics again. You need to devise a strategic marketing plan. If you don't get help in constructing this then I'll give you a few DIY pointers:

1. Where does your niche go offline?
2. Where does your niche go online?
3. What businesses does your niche buy products and services from...where are they...how do you get in front of them?

Make a list, make a plan, and follow through.

WHEN?

If you are committed to running a business the time is now.  If you enjoy throwing spaghetti against the wall to see if anything will stick, the time is never.  Investing in a niche today is investing in money today, tomorrow and building for an exit strategy in the future.  If you decide today to make that investment I say to you....

I initially published this post on May 30, 2008.  Given the new move by Point2Agent to charge for their free websites and Active Rain now charging for outside blogs and some upgraded features, along with the fact that Internet companies are still trying to monetize their offerings, I felt this post would be worth a second view.

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The Internet, Welfare, and the Age of Entitlement

Driving home tonight these lyrics from a local pop station pumped through my car's speakers:

"I know you and you know me cash rules everything around me. Say dolla dolla bill y'all, dolla dolla bill y'all."

I'm not down with thug songs but these words ring true. Dolla bills don't rule my world, but they give me the freedom to create my own corner of the world. The freedom to live in a house I choose, in a neighborhood I choose, in a city I choose. The ability to have those frivolities like gas, electricity, a car, health insurance, food, clothes.

They give me the freedom to take a break once in a while by vacationing Oceanside.

The Internet has become a land of free lunches.   Blog, get socially connected, use a new tool or widget, watch a video, or attend a webinar.  It's Free. I can't think of many things I pay for now on the Internet, much of what I use doesn't come with a big price tag, and if there is one, it's negligible.

Somehow, I don't think that the Internet as it's grown from its infancy was meant to evolve this way. I have a hard time wrapping my head around entrepreneurs yearning to remain philanthropic Internet evangelists.  Internet fans have learned to become staunch advocates of the free wares at the Internet fair.

The eyes of Internet fans have been trained to ignore the advertisements mixed among the transparency.

A blatant decree of valuable goods for sale does nothing but get the backs up of otherwise loyal fans with a war cry of "Hell no, we won't pay, we can leave here any day".

And so now even MySpace searches to find a revenue model that will grow.

Is the Internet stuck in a vicious cycle?

Are we creating junkies by getting them hooked on "Free" without providing them with a viable rehab? The junkies will pass down their habits to their friends, their loved ones, and their future offspring. The addiction of free will continue unless a widespread intervention occurs.

Who can afford to live for free?

At some point it's inevitable that service will be sacrificed in the pursuit of rampant freedom on the Internet. Businesses will pull out their cyber aging hair in frustration when they are unable to convert their evangelists to paying customers. The love lust of Internet lover's souls will start to twang like the ballad of a broken hearted country singer.

The Internet will become a vehicle of disenchantment.

There's a lesson to be learned by listening to the woes of Internet entrepreneurs.  Be careful of what methods you choose to attract clients. As a marketer, a salesperson, and a real estate consultant be smart with your solicitation efforts.

• Seek clients who value your advice and feel it's worth the price tag you command.
• Work daily on attributes that focus on your self-worth.
• Know that money is the beginning, middle and end game for your business.

This is the way you need to roll.

In every generation, you will find clients who value high touch service above all and will pay for the freedom it affords them.

There are prospects you will encounter who will want the drive-thru fast food prices expecting to get the 5 star meal. They will threaten to go down the street to your competition if you don't give them what they want.

Let them.

Don't go the way of the dodo bird by falling into tainted love with the age of entitlement.

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Since I wrote this post I have abandoned some of my Internet junkie habits and paid for some Internet goods.  Here are a few things I am paying for willingly,

• Localism
• Snag-It
• Xmind
• Bluehost.com
• ReadNotify

What do you pay for or are you a full fledged freebie Internet junkie?  Please share by commenting below.

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Navigating through the internet of paid and free tools is a Real Skillz specialty.  Call #262-203-5231 or email rebecca@realestateskillz.com for a no nonsense real estate marketing consultation that will help you become a lean mean marketing guru.

If you don't have time to blog, vlog, podcast, socially network, face your consumers belly to belly, email or call your prospects and current and past clients, list houses, show houses, write contracts or close on houses it's because you are draining your solopreuner resources on tasks that aren't revenue producing.

Even if you have a business plan you can become TRAPPED in the unproductive money sucking tasks that don't bring you in any money. Free yourself from the cycle now by delegating or outsourcing,

• Listing Coordination- Setting appointments, providing detailed reporting feedback to the sellers, Creating open house flyers and packages
• Marketing Collateral Design- Creating flyers, brochures, postcards, email newsletters
• Lead Management- Managing a database of prospects, sending e-newsletters, delegating leads to team partners, following up on referrals
• Website Design-Creating a website and managing a website, SEO, PPC Campaigns
• Marketing- Creating and executing a marketing strategy, keeping up with marketing trends, analyzing marketing.

If you will not delegate or outsource any of these activities don't be surprised that you don't have time for the activites that make the money like,

• Vlog
• Blog
• Podcast
• Socially Network
• Belly to Belly meetings
• Personal Emails
• Call Clients and Prospects
• List and show houses
• Write Contracts
• Close on Houses

It's not about spending money to make money.  It's about using your resources wisely and concentrating on the money making activities.  Ask yourself one question....Where do you want to be?  What activities will bring you closer to where you want to be. 

Connection to Close doesn't come from remaining passive on the backend.

Step out of the venus fly trap and concentrate on the money work.  You will be glad you did.

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Real Skillz loves it when real estate professionals devotes their time to the money work.  Want to learn more about outsourcing some real estate marketing tasks while maintaining control of your brand and your business?  Call #262-203-5231 or email rebecca@realestateskillz.com