Every week, as a Realtor, I get in my car and drive around the cities in my market area and preview all the latest and newest property listings. I'm out doing my research and looking for the best deals and values for present clients and future clients. On average, I will see between 20 to 40 new properties a week!
And, when I am out looking, I am taking along 600 people with me! That's right 600 people!
This again is part of the Mobile Mindset! I want anyone that has contact with me to see the best deals as I see them and in real time or as close to real time as possible. Again, the tool is my Iphone. Using the tool isn't that innovative or hasn't already been tried, but the key is in the how to apply the tool in a way that maximizes it's usefulness! How do I apply it in a way that best benefits the folks I work with? How do I use a Mobile Mindset?
OK, an example of what I will do at a property that I feel is an exceptional deal and is a standout value. Keep in mind, I am not looking for the best deal or value for any one day. I am looking for a good deal or value in general. I might go a week or two without highlighting a property. I'm selective! It has to be good!
Anyway, here is a typical scenario. If I like a certain property I immediately take a few photos with my Iphone. Right away, before I go to the next property, I work on getting the word out!
One, I tweet a "Hot Property Alert" to my Twitter followers. Always a #hotpropertyalert hash tag.
Two, I send a specific text message to any clients who have expressed an interest in this type of property. They get a text message as I see the property. They know it is real time!
Three, I send an email to the same client or clients
Four, I send an email blast to my group email list which consists of past clients, friends and colleagues. They are always interested in value and in what is happening in the local Real Estate market.
Five, and I will do this if I have a little more time. With the photos I create a very quick video montage with Animoto. I like Animoto because I like the way they edit the images and I like the music and vibe. It has energy that I like. I can tweet this or email or both.
Six, I check in with Foursquare at the location. This way a map is included and I am immediately the Mayor! Just for fun.
Seven, when I tweet the Hot Property Alert, I include #in so that my connections on Linkedin are included.
Eight, my Facebook friends are notified because of the Facebook/Twitter connect.
Nine, if I have one client who must see this property because they are a very active buyer, they get the ultimate reach out. They get a phone call from me while I am at the property. Old school yes, but my clients know that when I call it is a property they must see!
Ten, and this is after I get back to the office, I will post a little more information about the properties on my website page "Comments and Gem's of Wisdom". This page has built up a following as a resource or brief summation of the Hot Property Alerts.
With this strategy I presently cover over 600 people and growing. And, there is very little overlap because of the diversity of the sources. Not all my Facebook friends are on my email group list. Twitter covers a broader base. My Linkedin connections are another entirely different group. Visitors to my website can come from anywhere. And the most important, the focus on one individual client who's needs fit the property.
That is how I fit 600 people in my car when I go preview the latest property listings!
I am working on true video next although it takes a little more time. I'm sure I am behind the curve on that one.
With an open Mobile Mindset, this strategy could change!
Kevin Nolan
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
"What in the World is This?"
This is my first foray into using QR codes of any kind. This is in keeping with my Mobile Mindset that I discussed in a previous post.
This ad is a full page in our local community tab newspaper. I put the ad in the real estate section which has about 80 pages of property ad listings, all the standard with photos, description, price, etc.
I wanted a lot of white space around the QR code for effect and it has worked. The QR code is a link to a property website. The ad itself has no description of the property, the price or any photos. It isn't even clear that it is for a property until you read the bubble quote above my head.
This ad went out in our local newspaper this morning and I am extremely pleased with the response! I checked in on my Google Analytics for the site and traffic is up dramatically. Also, I have had a number of calls from other agents commenting on the ad. All positive.
The beauty of course, is that it is new, unique to our market and it positions me as a leader locally in technology and mobile marketing for real estate. It will create a buzz.
My plan is to use QR codes for not only property listings, but also for my blog page, or my home page, or Twitter. The fun is in being creative! Each ad will have a headline that has zero to do with real estate and hopefully will contain some humor. Think the VW Beetle ads from years ago.
The full impact is yet to be measured........but I'm already working on next weeks ad!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Discovering Mobile Real Estate
Like many of us, shortly after buying my Iphone, my mind was constantly abuzz about the possibility's it presented. What the potential and functionally of the phone really provided was a reason and a resource to completely reevaluate and change my way of doing business.
As a Realtor, in this current market, believe me it was very easy to look at fresh and new ideas in my business approach. I started thinking of every aspect of the traditional real estate business in a purely mobile mindset. Then something very interesting happened, "traditional" no longer existed in any way, shape or form!
Now, much of this transition involves Social Media, which is of course a huge factor and another blog topic. For this post I will focus just on a few of the Mobile aspects that I have implemented.
Branded Mobile Property Search App
It started with a Personally Branded mobile app for local Real Estate searches. I use Smarter Agent as the service provider that uses IDX connect to my regional MLS and all searches are branded with my information and a direct contact link. The contact link is critical, for I have found that clients who use this smart phone app, prefer to easily contact me directly regarding any property listing they view. The reason is, they don't want to be bothered with fending off every new agent they come across. They do the search from their phone, pull up the listings of interest, and if they want further details they can simply touch the "contact' icon and it dials my cell phone directly! Immediate contact with their agent!
I market this service with business cards, yard signs, my email signature, email campaigns, newspaper ads, mailers, Twitter, Facebook and of course word of mouth. My clients download the free app by simply texting kev to 87778 from their phones.
Of course, a huge benefit is that I am the first, and presently the only, in my local market area to offer this to their clients.
Text Alerts
After doing three escrows in a row earlier in the year where at least 70% of my communication with my clients was purely texting, I went mobile/texting mindset again! What if initial contact with new potential buyer clients was solely by texting? Would a home buyer just text their housing requirements to an agent and ask the agent to help in their property search? Well, early results are, yes they will! I place ads in the local paper explaining that as a buyer they can have an agent looking for a home that fits their needs by simply sending me a text. When I find a home that looks as if it will fit their needs, they receive a "Hot Property Alert" text from me asking for an appointment to show them the property. After just a few months of this promotion, I am currently working with three buyers that are committed to me as their agent!
It is streamlined, efficient, non "salesy" and productive. The key is that the buyer receive these alerts in real-time as I see this listings during previews or before they come on the market.
QR Codes
Okay, this one I am implementing just this week! I am running a full page ad that consists of a QR code in the middle of the page. The ad heading-"What in The World is This?" Actually it is an ad for one of my property listings. The QR code connects to the property website. Now, the only way to view the property info is to have a mobile phone with a QR reader app so that the person can scan the code. Frankly, with the mobile mindset, those are the clients I want! This ad, which has no property photos, no price and no description will be surrounded by pages of the traditional Realtor property ads which all blend together. With Google analytics I will be able to tract results immediately.
I am looking forward to the general public response but also the response from agents using traditional methods! A few calls will be coming in.
First in Market
By using these tools, methods, techniques, I have become first in my market for innovation and insight into some of the new ways to do business as a Realtor. I am sure there are other Realtors doing much the same or have more creative ideas elsewhere, but it is nice to be seen as an innovator within your own market area.
The fun part of all this is that it is constantly evolving and it really benefits our clients in a very big way.
For now, I'm keeping a mobile mindset!
Kevin Nolan
As a Realtor, in this current market, believe me it was very easy to look at fresh and new ideas in my business approach. I started thinking of every aspect of the traditional real estate business in a purely mobile mindset. Then something very interesting happened, "traditional" no longer existed in any way, shape or form!
Now, much of this transition involves Social Media, which is of course a huge factor and another blog topic. For this post I will focus just on a few of the Mobile aspects that I have implemented.
Branded Mobile Property Search App
It started with a Personally Branded mobile app for local Real Estate searches. I use Smarter Agent as the service provider that uses IDX connect to my regional MLS and all searches are branded with my information and a direct contact link. The contact link is critical, for I have found that clients who use this smart phone app, prefer to easily contact me directly regarding any property listing they view. The reason is, they don't want to be bothered with fending off every new agent they come across. They do the search from their phone, pull up the listings of interest, and if they want further details they can simply touch the "contact' icon and it dials my cell phone directly! Immediate contact with their agent!
I market this service with business cards, yard signs, my email signature, email campaigns, newspaper ads, mailers, Twitter, Facebook and of course word of mouth. My clients download the free app by simply texting kev to 87778 from their phones.
Of course, a huge benefit is that I am the first, and presently the only, in my local market area to offer this to their clients.
Text Alerts
After doing three escrows in a row earlier in the year where at least 70% of my communication with my clients was purely texting, I went mobile/texting mindset again! What if initial contact with new potential buyer clients was solely by texting? Would a home buyer just text their housing requirements to an agent and ask the agent to help in their property search? Well, early results are, yes they will! I place ads in the local paper explaining that as a buyer they can have an agent looking for a home that fits their needs by simply sending me a text. When I find a home that looks as if it will fit their needs, they receive a "Hot Property Alert" text from me asking for an appointment to show them the property. After just a few months of this promotion, I am currently working with three buyers that are committed to me as their agent!
It is streamlined, efficient, non "salesy" and productive. The key is that the buyer receive these alerts in real-time as I see this listings during previews or before they come on the market.
QR Codes
Okay, this one I am implementing just this week! I am running a full page ad that consists of a QR code in the middle of the page. The ad heading-"What in The World is This?" Actually it is an ad for one of my property listings. The QR code connects to the property website. Now, the only way to view the property info is to have a mobile phone with a QR reader app so that the person can scan the code. Frankly, with the mobile mindset, those are the clients I want! This ad, which has no property photos, no price and no description will be surrounded by pages of the traditional Realtor property ads which all blend together. With Google analytics I will be able to tract results immediately.
I am looking forward to the general public response but also the response from agents using traditional methods! A few calls will be coming in.
First in Market
By using these tools, methods, techniques, I have become first in my market for innovation and insight into some of the new ways to do business as a Realtor. I am sure there are other Realtors doing much the same or have more creative ideas elsewhere, but it is nice to be seen as an innovator within your own market area.
The fun part of all this is that it is constantly evolving and it really benefits our clients in a very big way.
For now, I'm keeping a mobile mindset!
Kevin Nolan
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