Branding Yourself To Increased Profitability

Successful Realtors know the importance of branding their identities into the consciousness of the communities in which they live, like the big boys; Pepsi, McDonald's, Burger King, and other companies we know and have come to trust.

Why is branding important? Think about it! When you want a soda do you buy an unknown off-brand just because it's cheap?

Or, do you reach for a Coke? I'm a Pepsi guy myself, but you get my drift!

And why do you do that? Because there's comfort in familiarity and you know what you're getting when you buy it.

We spend mega bucks on name brand products just because we've been inundated with their marketing campaign messages.

Don't believe me? Try this! Quick, who said "Have It Your Way"; "Soup and Sandwich, Soup and Sandwich"; "Oh, I wish I was an ____ ____ ____, that is what I truly want to Be?". Point made!

People support businesses and products that they are comfortably familiar with, even when the familiarity is solely based on marketing campaigns, while avoiding the unknowns.

The same is true for homeowners wanting to list properties for sale with real estate agents. Unless there's a compelling reason to do so they're not going to list their property with a rookie agent, or worst yet somebody who's been in the business for years, but who hasn't really been in the business. Know what I mean?

Now, we may not like it but we do understand it. Still, it's difficult for newly licensed and even some veteran real estate agents to make a living selling real estate because of it.

So how does this impact you? It doesn't if you have thousands of dollars and can afford a couple of years to get beyond it.

But if you're relatively new to the profession and have limited resources you just might have a problem.

Established agents have already put in time and money cultivating their images, and when people in their respective communities want to buy or sell real estate they think of them ? not you.

So, what can you do about it? Lots actually, but for now I'll focus on one thing; farming prospects.

Why? Because when done right you can easily put hundreds of business cards, letters and other marketing materials in the hands of known sellers and potential buyers every month.

Simply stated, the more people you contact the sooner you brand yourself as an agent worthy of consideration. Anything short of this is whistling in the wind.

Take a moment and honestly assess your situation. How many contacts are you presently averaging - daily, weekly, monthly?

Are they random contacts (shotgun approach) of people who might be interested in your services, or with real prospects known to need services right now (laser beam approach)?

A good real estate listing system can help put you on a fast track to gaining name recognition within your community in months, instead of years. And it won't cost you thousands of dollars to implement.

Let me suggest, though, that you avoid systems that appear complicated, or that are hundreds of pages long. If it takes days to read and weeks to comprehend whose really going to read it and follow through to boring completion, anyway? Not me!

Also, consider the following before committing to a particular listing system.

1. Does it come with a satisfaction money back guarantee?

2. If you're buying on line is a contact name and phone number readily available on the website?

3. Can you reach anybody or get a response to a message when you call before buying?

If the answers to any of the above are a resounding "no" then I suggest that you put your credit card back in your pocket and continue looking.

Proceed with caution, but do proceed, as you need a system that'll give you a competitive advantage.

Summarily, a good real estate listing system can help you brand yourself relatively quickly. So, get one as soon as you can and start claiming your share of the market!

Lanard Perry is the author of "Farming Expired Listings", a real estate listing system that shows Realtors how to secure 1-2 real estate listings a week. Get a FREE Sample Chapter at http://www.farmingexpiredlistings.com


AddThis Social Bookmark Button

____________________

Advertisement: Honest Riches - Click Here!

Advertisement: Lost AdWords - Click Here!

Advertisement: Get $1 Million A Month In Google Pay-Per-Click Ads Free! - Click Here!

Advertisement: Who Loves Money? - Click Here!

Advertisement: SEO Elite, the GrandDaddy of SEO Software - Click Here!

In The News:


Enhancing Marketing ROI with Master Branding
MarketWatch - 13 hours ago
This single consumer decision shows the power of a master brand in boosting marketing return on investment (ROI), according to Roy Levitt, a Principal with ...

Branding Briefs: Nina Sky, Beyonce, American Express
Billboard Business News, NY - 7 hours ago
By Kamau High, NY - Twin sister duo Nina Sky will star in a print, TV and online ad campaign for their line of shoes for Fila. ...

THE AUTO INDUSTRY BAILOUT
Automotive News - 2 hours ago
GM put its Hummer brand on the market in June. Henderson says GM will downsize Pontiac to offer specialty products such as sports cars to complement Buick. ...
If GM Has a Brand, It's General Misery AdAge.com (subscription)
all 2 news articles

Vertical Branding, Inc. Announces License Agreement With Global ...
MarketWatch - Dec 1, 2008
"We are very excited that Genius has selected Vertical Branding to market these products in the United States," said Vertical Branding CEO Nancy Duitch. ...

WINGATE UNIVERSITY SELECTS RELLA:COWAN FOR BRANDING
dBusinessNews Charlotte (press release), NC - 8 hours ago
WINGATE, NC – Wingate University has hired Rella:Cowan, a strategic marketing and advertising firm, to help the university hone its brand and market itself ...

Killington 'branding' meeting tonight
Rutland Herald, VT - 20 hours ago
... and a town/mountain partnership. There will also be a discussion of what branding means, community expectations and a timeline for initiating events.

Joint Venture Pays Dividends For Steel Advertising & Interactive ...
Business Wire (press release), CA - 15 hours ago
We felt, however, that IT and branding are much more closely aligned than most people realize. The IT infrastructure, corporate website, and look and feel ...

Capitalising on emotional responses in brand-building strategies
Economic Times, India - 4 hours ago
Currently, branding risks failing for two reasons , both of which can be addressed by taking into account what brain science tells us about the importance ...

Chain Leader

A New Brand Vocabulary at Culver's
Chain Leader, IL - 3 hours ago
By Margaret Littman, Contributing Editor -- Chain Leader, 12/1/2008 Culverisms are at the root of Culver’s new branding campaign. ...

Utah businesses in the news
Salt Lake Tribune, United States - 3 hours ago
The new book Branding USA 3, the Best Branding Firms in the US., will feature work from Apogee Design Inc., a Dallas-based design and marketing firm with ...
branding - Google News
Your Ad Here

Games at Buy.com

Holiday Home Store at Buy.com

Differentiate and Dominate

Quite often small business owners will ask me to reveal the most powerful marketing strategy I have seen. I can say without hesitation that the most powerful... Read More

Internet Branding

Having been in the franchising business all my life and understanding how hard it is to build a brand, I have probably read every other popular book... Read More

Branded Email: Email Branding is the Next Generation of Email

All You Need is Branded Email Or Always Branded Email There to Remind MeFor the past 75 years, almost every form of popular communication has transformed from... Read More

Branding: What Not to Do

Here's a little story about what not to do as you carve out a name for yourself in the world of internet business.Don't use a miscellaneous email... Read More

How Brand as an Intellectual Property has Led to Corporate Globalisation?

IntroductionGlobalisation is referred to as a set of profound material changes that have an impact on relations between societies in the past few decades. The identifiable features... Read More

Is Your Logo Helping or Hurting Your Business?

The quality of your logo can mean the difference between success or failure. It can be that simple!Trademarks and Logos make up the most international language in... Read More

How Will Your Visitors Remember You And Your Business? Brand Yourself From The Crowd...

Big and Yellow 'M' reminds you McDonalds... 'DELL' with oblique E reminds you famous 'Dell' computers...No matter somebody is a beginner or a well established business person,... Read More

Setting the Right Price

One of the ways people get to know you is by the identity you project. Your company name, the way you present yourself, your business card and... Read More

Your Identity Speaks Loudly...What Are You Saying?

Your corporate identity is a graphic expression of who you are as an organization. It plays a major role in what sells your company and its products.... Read More

I Hate My Logo! What You Should Get For Your Money and Why

This is not a how-to design a logo. This is a guide to educate you on how an experienced designer can help you through a project whose... Read More

Power Your Word for Profit

Discovering and owning a powerful word that reflects you and your business is the true key of successful branding.Some organisations invest fortunes in this endeavour but there's... Read More

Branding Is Not Selling Out: ITS SELLING IN

Ever see an amazing band perform and wonder why you've never heard of them before? Ever see an astonishing artist on the street and wonder why isn't... Read More

Acquire, Then Rebrand

Acquiring another corporation usually means that the acquiring company's name will be the name of the newly merged entity. There is one factor that can change that... Read More

Brand Image ? Brand Identity Guru

Having a brand image is not a "have or have not" proposition. Everyone has one. The problem is that you might have more than one brand image,... Read More

Could Ray Kroc have founded McDonalds in the Era of Sarbaines Oxley?

Over regulation of our free markets is stifling our growth in America and killing the next superstar Entrepreneurs. Let's discuss just how bad it really is. Let's... Read More

Optimize Your Mailing List For Better Results

A list of customers who have previously bought from you is your most important asset. These are the customers who will provide you with return business, which... Read More

Branding Junk Removal - He Did It, Can You?

What does it mean to be remarkable?Brian Scudamore, CEO and Founder of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, who in 1996 was operating the million dollar plus company at the age of... Read More

Strategy and Tips for a Successful Logo Design

Visual processing is the most important way for gathering information for all human beings. A good design or graphics work is remembered for ages and that is... Read More

Trade Journals in Franchising

As many people know Industry Trade Journals in America have gone through a tough time in recent years due to slowing of advertising dollars. In franchising there... Read More

What About Me? What You Need To Know About Me-Marketing

What about me? Are you asking yourself this question? If not you should be. Don't wait until you are in crisis mode when you are losing your... Read More

Hiring the Right Graphic Designer for Your Small Business

Every small business needs it, but not many have it. I am not talking about cash flow, clients or even your product or services to sell. Yes,... Read More

Blonds Have More Fun!

In the book, The Blond Knight of Germany, American authors Toliver and Constable detail the life of the greatest fighter pilot to ever fly, Germany's Erich Hartmann.... Read More

The Keys to a Great Logo

Logo, graphic, icon, logotype, typogram, logoform, image?call it what you will, a logo by any other name is the group of letters and/or symbols used in a... Read More

Its Time For Some Steak

Recently, I was reviewing our website statistics. One of the sites that had a link to mine caught me by surprise. Since this is a family publication,... Read More

Are You Brand Worthy? Are You Brand Worthy?

Branding is a one hot topic, although it is wildly misunderstood. To make things even more confusing, branding is often tossed in the same basket as marketing... Read More

A good logo vs. a FABULOUS logo

If you had a choice, which one would you choose, a good logo or a fabulous logo? Think about it for a second here, although I know... Read More