real estate marketing Articles https://quantumdigital.com/ en Top 3 Most Important Real Estate Farming Materials https://quantumdigital.com/real-estate-farming-materials-top-3-most-important <div data-history-node-id="532" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-node-title field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Title</div> <div class="field--item"><h1> Top 3 Most Important Real Estate Farming Materials </h1> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-preview-image field--type-image field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Preview Image</div> <div class="field--item"> <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/real-estate-farming-materials-top-3-most-important" hreflang="und"><img loading="eager" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/styles/header/public/real%20estate%20farming%20postcards_3.jpg?itok=h5ue-Ey0" width="1200" height="450" alt="stack of binders with information on the most important real estate farming materials" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-node-post-date field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Post date</div> <div class="field--item">May 24, 2021</div> </div> 4 <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category-new field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item">Real Estate</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>As a real estate agent, it’s likely that you use the start of a new year to plan your farming efforts. It’s assumed by now that you’re regularly utilizing one or more digital strategies such as social media, a great website, and email newsletters to connect with prospects. So what about tangible, brand-building materials?</p> <p>Physical materials are still a crucial part of your marketing strategy. And for real estate farming, in particular, they’re necessary for establishing yourself and building brand recognition over time. Whether you’re in the process of <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/selecting-farming-area-real-estate-marketing" title="Selecting the Right Farming Area">selecting your farming neighborhood</a> or have made your selections and are getting ready to dive in with marketing, fresh materials will ensure you’re connecting with prospects in an engaging way.</p> <p>Here are the top three marketing materials you need for solid real estate farming efforts this year:</p> <h2>Handouts</h2> <p>If you’re farming a new area and are going door to door introducing yourself, or simply running into a few prospects while you’re out and about, there’s nothing easier than whipping out a business card or small brochure to share a bit about yourself and give your prospect something to take home with them.</p> <p>In combination with an in-person meeting, a handout builds retention, even if all the prospect does is glance at it and throw it away -- the connection has been made and will aid in brand recall over time.  </p> <p>If you’re already using business cards, flyers, and brochures, consider revisiting them to assess if they’re as effective as they could be:</p> <ul><li>Have they been updated within the last several years with fresh designs and branding?</li> <li>Does your marketing collateral contain a clear <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/always-include-call-action" title="Postcard Marketing Call to Action">call to action</a>?</li> <li>Are there multiple methods of contact listed, including your website and social channels as well as your phone number and email address?</li> </ul><p>If necessary, re-work your collateral before each year’s farming season gets in full swing to be sure you’re fully prepared for a new year of farming.</p> <h2>Mailers</h2> <p>We’ve discussed <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/real-estate-direct-mail-marketing" title="Real Estate Direct Mail Marketing">direct mail’s continued effectiveness for real estate agents</a> -- and farming is an area where direct mail really shines. It’s an easy way to introduce yourself to a new neighborhood, or remind your neighborhood of your face and name if you’ve already been farming the area.</p> <p>Real estate farming postcards -- sent consistently over a period of time -- help to build brand recognition, making you the memorable agent in your target neighborhood. And because <a href="https://www.uspsoig.gov/sites/default/files/document-library-files/2019/RARC-WP-19-001.pdf" target="_blank" title="Advertising effectiveness and Age: Report number RARC-WP-19-001">direct mail garners the highest response rate of any medium</a>, all agents would do well to make it a key part of their farming strategy each year.</p> <p>But as you may already know, planning and executing a direct mail campaign takes time. And if you don’t already have your neighborhood’s mailing list, it can be daunting to get the names and addresses of everyone in your farming area.</p> <p>However, automated direct mail systems such as <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/automail">QuantumDigital’s AutoMail</a> make the whole process easier by allowing you to schedule real estate farming postcards for the entire year. Once you’ve scheduled your postcards, you don’t have to think about them again unless you’d like to edit your campaign.</p> <p>You can use your own designs or go with one of QuantumDigital’s pre-made postcard designs. AutoMail even provides targeted neighborhood mailing lists so you can reach your ideal prospects without needing to source addresses yourself.</p> <p>The best part is that AutoMail is fully trackable. Each card includes a unique link that, when clicked on, sends information to an online market report that gathers the prospect’s contact information and delivers it to you in real time. This allows you to follow up and start building relationships that convert to new clients.  </p> <h2>Branded Swag</h2> <p>Another smart farming idea is to attend neighborhood get-togethers, such as block parties or sports events, to get to know the community and establish your business. It’s never a bad idea to take useful branded materials such as pens, sticky pads, or calendars with you to pass around.</p> <p>As your farming efforts reap rewards and you earn new clients, be sure to give them some useful branded swag, too. This type of swag could include flashlights, keychains, coffee mugs, and other things they would continue to use long after the sale. These materials will be visible to friends, family, and coworkers and perhaps encourage them to call you the next time they need to list their property. It’s a fun, memorable way to build your brand.</p> <p> </p> <p>As you prepare your real estate farming strategies year after year, don’t discount the value of physical marketing materials -- especially since real estate is an in-person, relationship-based business. In combination with digital marketing strategies, they’ll help you become and remain the primary agent in your farming area.</p> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://quantumdigital.com/real-estate-farming-materials-top-3-most-important" data-a2a-title="Top 3 Most Important Real Estate Farming Materials"><span>Share to:</span><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><i class="fa fa-facebook icon-faceook"></i></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><i class="fa fa-linkedin"></i></a></span> </div> Mon, 24 May 2021 17:21:26 +0000 brianna_mckinney 532 at https://quantumdigital.com 10 Real Estate Postcard Marketing Ideas That Add Value https://quantumdigital.com/blog/10-real-estate-postcard-marketing-ideas-add-value <div data-history-node-id="569" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-node-title field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Title</div> <div class="field--item"><h1> 10 Real Estate Postcard Marketing Ideas That Add Value </h1> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-preview-image field--type-image field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Preview Image</div> <div class="field--item"> <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/10-real-estate-postcard-marketing-ideas-add-value" hreflang="en"><img loading="eager" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/styles/header/public/Tips%20and%20Tricks.jpg?itok=7Yefsfvp" width="1200" height="450" alt="real estate postcard marketing tips and tricks keys on keyboard" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-node-post-date field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Post date</div> <div class="field--item">Mar 13, 2020</div> </div> 5 <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category-new field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item">Marketing Ideas</div> <div class="field--item">Real Estate</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>As winter comes to a close, so does the <a href="https://moversdev.com/moving-trends-analysis/" style="text-decoration:none">lull in the residential real estate market</a>. Spring is the perfect time to invest energy into your postcard marketing strategy and add value to your direct mail campaigns as folks prepare to <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/3-tips-seizing-summertime-moving-season-opportunities" style="text-decoration:none">move during the summer</a>. There are plenty of ways to seize the opportunity to sell in your targeted neighborhoods through direct mail, and we’ve selected the 10 that add the most value to inspire your next campaign.</p> <h3>1. Use personalization to show you care</h3> <p><a href="https://us.epsilon.com/pressroom/new-epsilon-research-indicates-80-of-consumers-are-more-likely-to-make-a-purchase-when-brands-offer-personalized-experiences" style="text-decoration:none">Studies show</a> that nearly 80% of consumers are more likely to do business with a company that offers a personalized experience. Develop a personal connection with prospective sellers by sending them mail that targets their interests and attributes. You can do this by conducting thorough research into your target neighborhoods and including information that’s relevant to those areas, such as info on local schools, neighborhood events, and more, in your direct mail campaigns. You can also personalize direct mail based on the season. For example, if you know an address is home to school-aged children you can send a postcard with messaging specific to the season during the months leading up to summer, as studies show most families move between the months of<a href="https://moversdev.com/moving-trends-analysis/" style="text-decoration:none"> June, July and August</a>.</p> <p>QuantumDigital’s real estate direct mail marketing solution <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/automail" style="text-decoration:none">AutoMail</a> makes scheduling multiple, personalized direct mail postcards simple. It also includes the option for the recipient to view a free, personalized market report online as an incentive. Once the recipient goes online, they’re asked to fill out a lead form. This form gives you all the information you need as an agent to conduct timely follow-up. Providing a valuable offer is a win-win!</p> <h3>2. Inform about the local market’s behavior</h3> <p>Position yourself as the listing real estate agent authority in your targeted neighborhoods by informing prospective sellers about their local market’s behavior. Providing facts about the demand in an individual's local market not only positions you as the expert but also has the potential to peak an individual’s interest in selling if they had no prior knowledge regarding the worth of their home.</p> <h3>3. Make your postcard interactive</h3> <p>Capture a prospective seller’s attention by making your direct mail postcard interactive! Design a short quiz about the seller’s market on the front, and have them flip the postcard over to reveal the surprising answer. You always want your mailer to stand out, and engaging the reader is the easiest way to grab (and hold) their attention!</p> <h3>4. Ease your prospective seller’s stressors</h3> <p>When deciding to finally sell their home, prospective sellers are faced with a number of overwhelming responsibilities and concerns. Utilize your postcard to highlight all of the expert services you can provide to simplify the seller’s journey such as: market analysis, open house hosting, inspections, price negotiations, and home staging. Emphasizing ways you can bear the brunt of the selling burden may be the gentle push that prospective sellers need.</p> <h3>5. Provide tips for an open house</h3> <p>Hosting an open house can be a daunting task for a prospective seller. By providing tips on how to approach hosting an open house, you can showcase your home-selling expertise and highlight how having an agent can make the whole process easier.</p> <h3>6. Provide tips on photographing a home for market</h3> <p>For buyers who are looking to purchase a home from out of town, pictures are invaluable! Provide tips to prospective sellers to showcase your selling skills. The importance of camera positioning, natural light, contrast and angles may seem obvious to you as the expert, but could provide motivating advice to prospective sellers. Still learning yourself? Check out our blog here for <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/5-tips-taking-quality-real-estate-marketing-photos" style="text-decoration:none">beginner photography tips</a> for agents!</p> <h3>7. Provide tips for staging a home for sale</h3> <p>Staging a home is an overwhelming yet oftentimes necessary task to tackle for sellers. According to a <a href="https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/migration_files/reports/2017/2017-profile-of-home-staging-07-06-2017.pdf" style="text-decoration:none">National Association of Realtors study</a>, 77% of percent of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as their future home. By providing a few tips on a variety of subjects related to staging — from deciding which rooms are most important to stage to adding finishing indoor touches such as houseplants — you can share a few key home staging ingredients without giving away your secret sauce.</p> <h3>8. Spring cleaning for a cause</h3> <p>Offer advice on spring cleaning for prospective sellers. Highlight which items are worth packing, and which ones would be better off going in the donation pile. Use this opportunity to reach out to local organizations that accept gently used products. See if they will allow you to leave your business cards at the register in exchange for a shout-out on your postcard. Not only will you align yourself with the community and play a role in giving back, you’ll also market to folks who otherwise may not have heard of your services.</p> <h3>9. Join forces with a local business</h3> <p>Curb appeal is the level of attraction that a potential buyer has when viewing a home from the street, and many agents believe it makes a major difference when appealing to buyers. Individuals who are preparing to sell their homes are also likely to give their yards a makeover beforehand. Consider joining forces with a trusted, local landscaping service by offering to promote their business on your card in exchange for their promotion of your business in their flyers.</p> <h3>10. Provide guidance on the appropriate updates to secure a higher home appraisal</h3> <p>Nobody wants to break the bank preparing to sell their home. Motivate homeowners to sell by providing information on your card that can help them determine which home updates are necessary, and which ones aren’t worth the time or financial investment.</p> <p> </p> <p>We hope these tips inspired some fresh ideas on how to connect with your target audience while positioning yourself as the neighborhood real estate expert. Remain open to exploring personalization tactics, and don’t be afraid to get creative with your outreach. When you’re ready, we’ll be here to carry you through the direct mail logistics — happy selling!</p> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/10-real-estate-postcard-marketing-ideas-add-value" data-a2a-title="10 Real Estate Postcard Marketing Ideas That Add Value"><span>Share to:</span><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><i class="fa fa-facebook icon-faceook"></i></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><i class="fa fa-linkedin"></i></a></span> </div> Fri, 13 Mar 2020 17:23:29 +0000 brianna_mckinney 569 at https://quantumdigital.com Our Top 10 Posts of All Time https://quantumdigital.com/blog/our-top-10-posts-all-time-0 <div data-history-node-id="567" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-node-title field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Title</div> <div class="field--item"><h1> Our Top 10 Posts of All Time </h1> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-preview-image field--type-image field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Preview Image</div> <div class="field--item"> <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/our-top-10-posts-all-time-0" hreflang="en"><img loading="eager" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/styles/header/public/QD_1.jpg?itok=0huLtWNW" width="1200" height="450" alt="real estate agent working on marketing" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-node-post-date field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Post date</div> <div class="field--item">Feb 14, 2020</div> </div> 3 <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category-new field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item">Marketing Ideas</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p style="line-height:1.38"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Whether you’re just starting out as a real estate agent or you’ve been doing this for a while, it’s helpful to have a handful of go-to resources to refer to as you search for both fresh marketing ideas and tried-and-true ways to reach prospects and grow your business. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of our top 10 posts of all time. They cover the gamut, from owning your community, to making the most out of real estate marketing tactics, to conveying your value as an agent, and the best part is that they’re largely evergreen — just as relevant to today’s agent as when they were initially written. We hope they prove helpful to you as you continue in your agent career. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <ol><li style="list-style-type:decimal"><a href="https://quantumdigital.com/own-community-realtors-guide-real-estate-farming-neighborhood" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#1155cc"><span style="font-weight:700"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">A Realtor’s Guide to Real Estate Farming a Neighborhood: Own A Community</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></li> </ol><p style="line-height:1.38"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">As our most popular blog, this post covers everything that real estate agents need to own a neighborhood. From branding, to assessing the competition, to becoming the neighborhood expert, check out this comprehensive guide to become the go-to agent in the neighborhoods you care about. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <ol start="2"><li style="list-style-type:decimal"><a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/key-getting-seller-listings-just-listed-and-just-sold-real-estate-postcards" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#1155cc"><span style="font-weight:700"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">Just Sold Postcards & Just Sold Real Estate Postcards: The Key To Getting Listings</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></li> </ol><p><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">This blog details how to get the word out about open houses, new listings, and sold homes using postcards — offering advice on not only the design and message, but also the importance of staying consistent with mail frequency and of incorporating social media and email into your overarching strategy. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <ol start="3"><li style="list-style-type:decimal"><a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/usps-eddm-vs-targeted-direct-mail-who-wins" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#1155cc"><span style="font-weight:700"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">USPS EDDM vs. Targeted Direct Mail - Who Wins?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></li> </ol><p style="line-height:1.38"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Our agents love seeing who wins the battle between every door direct mail (EDDM) and targeted direct mail! In this blog, these two real estate marketing techniques take it to the ring, stacking up in terms of average response rates, the number of steps required to get started, and the benefits of each service. Who will be victorious?!</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="line-height:1.38"> </p> <ol start="4"><li style="list-style-type:decimal"><a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/3-best-ways-market-luxury-real-estate" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#1155cc"><span style="font-weight:700"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">3 Luxury & High End Real Estate Marketing Ideas</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></li> </ol><p style="line-height:1.38"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Selling luxury homes is a different ball game — in this blog, agents can learn the basics of marketing luxury listings: selling the property as an experience, explaining the value of the neighborhood as a selling point, and mentioning additional points of value beyond the ordinary. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="line-height:1.38"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <ol start="5"><li style="list-style-type:decimal"><a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/10-mistakes-real-estate-agents-make-when-creating-facebook-ads" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#1155cc"><span style="font-weight:700"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">10 Mistakes Real Estate Agents Make When Creating Facebook Ads</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></li> </ol><p style="line-height:1.38"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">This one-stop Facebook ad shop provides the info agents need to set up great ads, from planning all the way to execution and which metrics to track. Return to it often. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <ol start="6"><li style="list-style-type:decimal"><a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/marketing-your-value-real-estate-agent" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#1155cc"><span style="font-weight:700"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">Marketing Your Value As a Real Estate Agent</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></li> </ol><p style="line-height:1.38"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">The expertise, specialized knowledge, and connections that real estate agents have are valuable and shouldn’t ever be undersold. This blog teaches agents how to position themselves in an ever-growing real estate market. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <ol start="7"><li style="list-style-type:decimal"><a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/are-qr-codes-dead-or-are-they-still-thing" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#1155cc"><span style="font-weight:700"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">Are QR Codes Dead or Are They Still a Thing?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></li> </ol><p style="line-height:1.38"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">QR codes can be an excellent way to make it easy for prospects to go online, and this blog dives into it all. Want even more info about QR codes? Check out our more recent blog </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog-qr-codes-real-estate-postcards" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#1155cc"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">here</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <ol start="8"><li style="list-style-type:decimal"><a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/harness-power-variable-data-print" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#1155cc"><span style="font-weight:700"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">Use Variable Data Printing to Personalize Your Postcards</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></li> </ol><p style="line-height:1.38"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Variable data (such as including a recipient’s name on a postcard) is a great way to personalize your cards, but it can be expensive. This blog walks agents through the merits of variable data print and how to use it. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <ol start="9"><li style="list-style-type:decimal"><a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/top-3-trends-shaping-real-estate-2016" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#1155cc"><span style="font-weight:700"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">Top 3 Trends Shaping Real Estate in 2016</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></li> </ol><p><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">We enjoy diving into the top real estate trends to watch each year, and our agents really enjoy reading about them! Our analysis of 2016’s trends was one of our top-performing blogs. For 2020 trends, check out our blog </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/key-2020-real-estate-trends-agents" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#1155cc"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">Key 2020 Real Estate Trends for Agents</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <ol start="10"><li style="list-style-type:decimal"><a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/ultimate-real-estate-marketing-recipe" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#1155cc"><span style="font-weight:700"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">The Ultimate Real Estate Marketing Recipe</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></li> </ol><p style="line-height:1.38"><span style="font-size:11pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial"><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">It’s all about the marketing mix! This in-depth infographic dives into how to combine multiple communications channels to create the perfect marketing recipe that attracts prospects, retains current clients, and engages with past clients and the local community. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/our-top-10-posts-all-time-0" data-a2a-title="Our Top 10 Posts of All Time"><span>Share to:</span><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><i class="fa fa-facebook icon-faceook"></i></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><i class="fa fa-linkedin"></i></a></span> </div> Fri, 14 Feb 2020 22:26:44 +0000 brianna_mckinney 567 at https://quantumdigital.com How to Secure Online Reviews That Build Your Business https://quantumdigital.com/blog/how-secure-online-reviews-build-your-business <div data-history-node-id="557" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-node-title field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Title</div> <div class="field--item"><h1> How to Secure Online Reviews That Build Your Business </h1> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-preview-image field--type-image field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Preview Image</div> <div class="field--item"> <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/how-secure-online-reviews-build-your-business" hreflang="en"><img loading="eager" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/styles/header/public/GettyImages-1030250490_0.jpg?itok=tRoD-VHY" width="1200" height="450" alt="positive real estate agent reviews and testimonials" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-node-post-date field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Post date</div> <div class="field--item">Nov 15, 2019</div> </div> 4 <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category-new field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item">Marketing Ideas</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Testimonials, or client feedback on your performance as an agent, may be one of the most critical elements of your business. These testimonials can make or break your success. According to the </span></span></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://wp.zillowstatic.com/38/ZGReport2018_Download-a27213.pdf"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:#1155cc">Zillow Group 2018 Consumer Housing Trends Report</span></span></span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">, reviews are particularly important for younger buyers: <span style="background:white">57% of Gen Z buyers, 48% of millennials and 46% of Gen X buyers who use an agent rank online reviews as very or extremely important. This is key information to keep in your back pocket as the largest share of home buyers and sellers fall within these age groups just mentioned: the largest group of home buyers are Older Millennials and the largest group of home sellers are Gen Xers (National Association of REALTORS®’ </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/documents/2019-home-buyers-and-sellers-generational-trends-report-08-16-2019.pdf"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:#1155cc">2019 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report)</span></span></span></span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Without a doubt, gathering positive online reviews and testimonials is vital for you to thrive and continue to attract new leads as an agent. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">But how do you go about securing these reviews? You may have the occasional client who will leave a positive online review without your asking (shoutout to those people!), but for the most part you’ll have to prompt your clients to provide a testimonial in order to receive one. And, once you do have a steady influx of positive testimonials, how do you utilize them for maximum value to boost your reputation and get more business? Look no further than this cheat sheet! </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><img alt="real estate agent reviews and testimonials from clients" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8a948ce0-0a5b-4f69-9227-3c7db082eb98" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/GettyImages-867665328.jpg" width="1200" height="630" loading="lazy" /></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Gathering Testimonials </span></span></span></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">There are a few key ways to proactively gather testimonials from your real estate clients. Here are our recommendations: </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <ol><li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="color:black"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">First things first! Set up Facebook, Yelp and Google My Business pages specific to your agent brand, including your brokerage’s name and physical address where appropriate. Be sure to link your personal agent website, if you have one (we hope you do!)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="color:black"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Send an email after business has closed asking your clients to share their feedback, and make it easy to do so by including direct links to your Google, Yelp, and/or Facebook review pages. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="color:black"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Don’t be afraid to ask your for reviews from clients in person! During your last in-person interaction with a client that you’ve had a good relationship with, seize that moment to ask if they would share a review.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="color:black"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">You can also create an “end-of-business” business card that you hand out to clients at the end of a deal which prompts them to leave a review. Include the URLs of your Facebook, Yelp, and/or Google pages.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li> </ol><p><img alt="5 star real estate agent review" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4b0209df-320a-496f-9fc3-d90f88d27348" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/GettyImages-1072776350_1.jpg" width="1200" height="630" loading="lazy" /></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Promoting Testimonials </span></span></span></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">Once you have gathered a few great reviews, it’s time to use them! Of course, a batch of 5-star reviews look great on your Yelp, Google, and Facebook profiles all on their own, but you can also use these testimonials in other marketing materials to boost your reputation apart from those websites. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <ol><li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="color:black"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><strong>Create a “Testimonials” page on your agent website </strong>and list all of the positive testimonials you’ve received there. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="color:black"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><strong>Include testimonials in your suite of marketing materials</strong> that you hand out to prospects. If you receive a particularly awesome review and have the reviewer’s contact information, reach out to them and ask if you can have a photo of them for use in marketing collateral. Attaching a face to the review will provide visual interest and a human element. Use the testimonials in brochures that speak to your services, flyers, and other handouts. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><strong><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="color:black"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Feature the great testimonials you receive in your social media posts. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></strong></li> <li><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="color:black"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Us</span></span></span></strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:#222222"><strong>e the testimonials in a direct mail series </strong>to add social proof to your farming campaign. Response rates for direct mail are generally higher than for digital channels — </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:#222222">according to the </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.ana.net/miccontent/show/id/rr-2018-ana-dma-respose-rate"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="color:#1155cc">Data and Marketing Association’s 2018 Response Rate Report</span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:#222222">, direct mail had a 9% response rate for household lists and a 4.9% response rate for prospect lists, higher than all of the digital channels studied combined (which were email, social media, and paid search). </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:#222222">As such, direct mail postcards are a great way to farm for prospects. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:#222222">At </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://quantumdigital.com/"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="color:#1155cc">QuantumDigital</span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:#222222">, we offer an easy way to farm for prospects with direct mail postcards, called </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://quantumdigital.com/automail"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="color:#1155cc">AutoMail</span></span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:#222222">. You can set up a real estate postcards farming campaign targeted to your ideal audience, with multiple cards sent over the course of 12 months. With the option to upload your own designs for your AutoMail postcard campaign, you can send real estate postcards featuring testimonials to provide positive social proof to your prospects. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li> </ol><p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span style="color:#222222">Securing reviews often does take a little extra work, but the rewards are well worth it to build a positive reputation for your agent brand. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/how-secure-online-reviews-build-your-business" data-a2a-title="How to Secure Online Reviews That Build Your Business"><span>Share to:</span><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><i class="fa fa-facebook icon-faceook"></i></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><i class="fa fa-linkedin"></i></a></span> </div> Fri, 15 Nov 2019 22:23:17 +0000 brianna_mckinney 557 at https://quantumdigital.com Five Holiday Real Estate Marketing Ideas for Agents https://quantumdigital.com/blog/five-holiday-real-estate-marketing-ideas-agents <div data-history-node-id="556" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-node-title field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Title</div> <div class="field--item"><h1> Five Holiday Real Estate Marketing Ideas for Agents </h1> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-preview-image field--type-image field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Preview Image</div> <div class="field--item"> <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/five-holiday-real-estate-marketing-ideas-agents" hreflang="en"><img loading="eager" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/styles/header/public/GettyImages-873829890.jpg?itok=rEMgZ-S3" width="1200" height="450" alt="Five Holiday Real Estate Marketing Ideas for Agents" title="Five Holiday Real Estate Marketing Ideas for Agents" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-node-post-date field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Post date</div> <div class="field--item">Oct 18, 2019</div> </div> 3 <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category-new field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item">Marketing Ideas</div> <div class="field--item">Real Estate</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>The holiday season is upon us, and planning starts now. As a real estate agent, you can build relationships with prospects in the neighborhood, as well as current and future clients, by tapping into the season while it's top-of-mind. And the sooner you get started with real estate marketing planning in anticipation of the holidays, the better. Here are our ideas for agents who want to reach prospects during the season. </p> <p><img alt="QuantumDigital holiday postcard" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6839948e-f82f-4d32-95f0-abad854f5fbb" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Pages%20from%2012%20Holly-2.png" width="1200" height="789" loading="lazy" /></p> <p><em>From QuantumDigital "Seasonal Beauties" Postcard Series</em></p> <p><strong>Idea 1: Direct Mail</strong></p> <p>Send direct mail postcards that speak to the season. Direct mail marketing has proven to be successful for all types of businesses and organizations. <a href="http://www.millwardbrown.com/docs/default-source/insight-documents/case-studies/MillwardBrown_CaseStudy_Neuroscience.pdf">Research strongly suggests</a> that there is greater emotional processing with physical marketing materials as opposed to online materials. Use this fact to your advantage this November and December, sending direct mail postcards centered around thankfulness or the holiday season, tied with a call-to-action to contact an agent if a possible relocation is in your prospect’s future. Our direct mail real estate marketing system, <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/automail">AutoMail</a>, offers seasonal direct mail postcards that you can pre-schedule to be sent with holiday timing. It’s all automated, and even better, each postcard includes a free market report that the recipient goes online to view. When they go online, you get a notification to your inbox so you can follow up quickly. </p> <p>Aside from the card above, here are a few more examples of AutoMail postcards that are specifically tied to the holidays/colder months: </p> <p><i>More from "Seasonal Beauties" series</i></p> <p><img alt="QuantumDigital postcards" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a0cc4ca3-f82b-4178-b139-d62bf21a7b41" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/02%20Winterberry.png" width="1200" height="789" loading="lazy" /></p> <p><img alt="QuantumDigital Postcards" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="105729b5-7137-4438-bad0-8da6a0715782" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Pages%20from%2002%20Winterberry.png" width="1200" height="789" loading="lazy" /></p> <p><em>From "Seasonal Impressions" Series</em></p> <p><img alt="QuantumDigital Holiday Postcard" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="eac0da6f-80b2-4676-a4c2-0e7dec09a628" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Pages%20from%2011%20Cornucopia-2_0.png" width="1200" height="789" loading="lazy" /></p> <p><img alt="QuantumDigital Holiday Postcard" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f5f2047b-4d08-4605-b938-1df07dd2412b" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Pages%20from%2011%20Cornucopia.png" width="1200" height="789" loading="lazy" /></p> <p>View even more beautiful holiday-themed postcards over at our <a href="https://automailplus.com/automail-series-gallery/">gallery</a>. </p> <p><img alt="content marketing" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7681965e-29cb-4baf-80f8-583b2af5b832" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/GettyImages-1136732930.jpg" width="1184" height="789" loading="lazy" /></p> <p><strong>Idea 2: Holiday Content</strong></p> <p>Incorporate holiday content into your email or blog to stay top-of-mind with your audience. Content could include a roundup of impressive light or outdoors displays in your target neighborhoods, tips for indoor holiday decorating or even your favorite holiday recipes that can be easily replicated. Share the content on social media, as well.  </p> <p><strong><img alt="social events" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e641e203-1c1d-4575-959c-f7d743d3f5bd" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/GettyImages-961970622.jpg" width="1200" height="789" loading="lazy" /></strong></p> <p><strong>Idea 3: Keep Your Audience Informed of Local Social Events</strong></p> <p>Inform your prospects of holiday happenings via social media. To build your reputation as a neighborhood expert, send updates on fun events, such as corporate networking holiday parties in the area, that latest winter-themed pop-up bar, or the newly-opened family-friendly ice skating rink. This will build trust with your audience and position you as the go-to, knowledgeable source for all things related to the neighborhood. </p> <p><img alt="Christmas party" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7fc0d0b3-5c7a-43cb-a9f6-ea9548b48608" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/GettyImages-469187520_0.jpg" width="1200" height="789" loading="lazy" /></p> <p><strong>Idea 4: Host Your Own Party</strong></p> <p>On that note, why not host your own family-friendly get-together? Facilitate a neighborhood potluck for prospects or current clients, and encourage attendees to bring winter-appropriate items such as cookies or hot chocolate. You could also rent a projector and host a holiday movie screening in a central place in the neighborhood. </p> <p><img alt="holiday gift basket" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3cc959be-b223-4f2c-b6a2-73eb449689fc" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/GettyImages-875450656.jpg" width="1200" height="789" loading="lazy" /></p> <p><strong>Idea 5: Show Gratitude </strong></p> <p>Send a holiday gift basket with seasonal goodies to each of your past and present clients, or show your appreciation by giving them a phone call. The holidays are the season of thankfulness, after all. Giving each of your past clients a gift or short phone call to wish them a good holiday season and a happy new year and let them know you appreciate their business and show them you care.</p> <p>We hope these tips have given you a few ideas for connecting with your audience during the busy holiday season through real estate marketing. The holidays can feel overwhelming, but taking the time to provide relevant, useful content and events for your prospects and past and current clients will make the most of this time of year.</p> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/five-holiday-real-estate-marketing-ideas-agents" data-a2a-title="Five Holiday Real Estate Marketing Ideas for Agents"><span>Share to:</span><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><i class="fa fa-facebook icon-faceook"></i></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><i class="fa fa-linkedin"></i></a></span> </div> Fri, 18 Oct 2019 17:53:50 +0000 brianna_mckinney 556 at https://quantumdigital.com How to Win at Real Estate Follow-Up https://quantumdigital.com/blog/how-win-real-estate-follow <div data-history-node-id="551" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-node-title field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Title</div> <div class="field--item"><h1> How to Win at Real Estate Follow-Up </h1> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-preview-image field--type-image field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Preview Image</div> <div class="field--item"> <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/how-win-real-estate-follow" hreflang="en"><img loading="eager" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/styles/header/public/GettyImages-953210754.jpg?itok=zE8EyGBh" width="1200" height="450" alt="real estate agent conducting follow-up online" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-node-post-date field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Post date</div> <div class="field--item">Aug 15, 2019</div> </div> 4 <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category-new field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item">Real Estate</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>What’s the name of the game in sales? Follow-up, follow-up, follow-up! The truth is that 99% of people are not going to make the leap to conversion at first mention of your services. It takes persistence and a smart strategy to walk that delicate balance between over-selling and providing just enough nudges to seal the deal. </p> <p>Follow-up is an especially important tactic in real estate, which is often a long game that may take several years to cultivate leads before they eventually come to fruition — both buying and selling a home are major, life-changing decisions in many cases, after all! Utilize these tips to perfect your follow-up strategy.</p> <p><img alt="get organized to win with real estate follow up" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/organize.jpg" /></p> <p><strong>Organize your contacts. </strong></p> <p>Is your lead hoping to sell right now, interested but not ready to make the leap, or looking to sell a few months (or years) out? Organize leads by the stage they are at in the sales funnel (from top to bottom, those stages are awareness, discovery, evaluation, intent, purchase and loyalty. Learn more about the sales funnel <a href="https://fitsmallbusiness.com/sales-funnel/">here</a>.) Leave room to record how many times you have followed up with them, and through what vehicle (phone call, email, etc). This will help you keep track of your leads and your communication with them, so you can personalize and follow-up at just the right time. </p> <p><img alt="personalize your real estate follow up" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/personalize.jpg" /></p> <p><strong>Personalize based on their unique needs. </strong></p> <p>Now, it’s time to use all that organization to personalize your lead communications. <a href="https://www.quantumpostcards.com/blog/personalization-direct-mail-postcard-service">Personalization</a> means more than inputting a person’s name at the top of a marketing call-out — it means actually creating marketing materials that are based on how that individual has engaged with you in the past — for example, what stage are they in their customer journey or in the sales funnel? Your communication is going to look different for someone who is ready to sell now vs. someone who wants to sell several years down the road. It’s also going to look different depending on the location of the prospect. Keep all of this in mind as you create communications, and learn more about how to execute a personalized, customer-centric marketing campaign <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/how-execute-customer-centric-real-estate-marketing-strategy">here</a>. </p> <p><img alt="automate your real estate follow pu" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/automation.jpg" /></p> <p><strong>Automate.</strong></p> <p>You’re probably thinking: All that personalization and organization sounds great, but how do I put this into practice? It’s not as complicated as it may sound. With today’s technology, it’s possible to follow up with segmented leads through multiple channels without expending an extraneous amount of time or effort. Use a mail platform like MailChimp to segment your leads by stage in the sales funnel, location, and more, and schedule automated campaigns. For direct mail, use QuantumDigital’s AutoMail, which allows you to send real estate postcards to your unique mail list(s) over a series of 12-months, with a frequency you set. List maintenance does take some time, but the effort is well worth it.</p> <p><strong>Build time into your calendar for periodic follow-up. </strong></p> <p>Block a few hours on your calendar a couple of times a week for follow-up so that you have dedicated time and don’t get pulled away to other tasks. Whether it’s making actual phone calls, creating a new email campaign, or sending texts or Facebook direct messages, setting aside dedicated time for follow-up will ensure you stay focused and don’t get distracted by other tasks. </p> <p><img alt="set aside time to do your real estate follow up" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/GettyImages-1029427934.jpg" /></p> <p><strong>Offer something valuable. </strong></p> <p>Don’t be a perpetrator of the dreaded “just checking in” marketing tactic. Send something of value to your leads! Keep in mind the personalization we talked about above and consider where they are at in the sales funnel, as well as the location they are looking to sell in. Offer up timely, easy-to-digest market information that is relevant to them. We make this easy at QuantumDigital. The real estate postcards sent via <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/automail">AutoMail</a> comes with a unique market report that is accessible through a personal URL. It provides valuable, relevant information to your lead, and best of all, you’re notified when the lead visits the page so you can follow-up while they’re thinking about selling.</p> <p><img alt="take a coffee break to do your real estate follow up" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/adult-books-coffee-374016.png.jpg" /></p> <p><strong>Be persistent, but know when to stop outreach, too. </strong></p> <p>You may have to follow-up with a lead five or six times before they respond. If they still don’t reply to you after several check-ins, it may be time to let go and move on to another lead. Send a “close the loop” email letting them know that you won’t be contacting them further, but that you are available if they need something in the future. They may very well reach out to you in the future when they have a need for your services, so courtesy is key.</p> <p>At the end of the day, communication and continuity are key to gaining credibility and trust. And appropriate, intelligent follow-up is what takes a good real estate agent to a great one. Using a guiding framework for follow-up will help you build a pipeline of long- and short-term leads that ultimately drive your success as a real estate agent.</p> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/how-win-real-estate-follow" data-a2a-title="How to Win at Real Estate Follow-Up "><span>Share to:</span><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><i class="fa fa-facebook icon-faceook"></i></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><i class="fa fa-linkedin"></i></a></span> </div> Fri, 16 Aug 2019 01:22:00 +0000 brianna_mckinney 551 at https://quantumdigital.com 6 Tips for Building a Great Real Estate Instagram Profile https://quantumdigital.com/blog/6-tips-building-great-real-estate-instagram-profile <div data-history-node-id="548" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-node-title field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Title</div> <div class="field--item"><h1> 6 Tips for Building a Great Real Estate Instagram Profile </h1> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-preview-image field--type-image field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Preview Image</div> <div class="field--item"> <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/6-tips-building-great-real-estate-instagram-profile" hreflang="en"><img loading="eager" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/styles/header/public/GettyImages-1021062406_0.jpg?itok=-hLkcbBX" width="1200" height="450" alt="Building a Great Real Estate Instagram Profile" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-node-post-date field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Post date</div> <div class="field--item">Jul 11, 2019</div> </div> 4 <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category-new field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item">Marketing Ideas</div> <div class="field--item">Real Estate</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Recent reports show that Instagram has <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/20/instagram-1-billion-users/">1 billion active users</a>. And according to Facebook (who owns Instagram, in case you didn’t know), <a href="https://www.oberlo.com/blog/instagram-stats-every-marketer-should-know">83%</a> of those users say they discover new products and services on Instagram. That’s a lot of people! </p> <p>These numbers are no joke. All agents should consider using Instagram as part of their real estate marketing strategy. Here are our six tips for building an engaging Instagram profile to grow your business.</p> <p><strong>Use paid advertising to reach your target audience. </strong></p> <p>With Instagram ads, you can get your posts in front of the exact audience that you want. Is your target audience in the 35-50 age bracket? In what location are you listing? Target your posts based on these factors. You can even create ads that are shown only to those that visit your website.</p> <p><strong>Share high-quality photos. </strong></p> <p>Low-quality photos have no place on Instagram, an inherently visual platform. It’s worth the investment to purchase a nice camera and use that to take the photos you want to share. If you want more tips for taking quality real estate photos, check out <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/5-tips-taking-quality-real-estate-marketing-photos">our blog</a>.</p> <p><strong>Hashtag with confidence. </strong></p> <p>In a nutshell, hashtags get more eyes on your post. When a user types in a hashtag, Instagram offers up all of the posts that are using that hashtag, which increases the post’s reach and allows the user to search for images and videos by subject. Just be sure to use your hashtags strategically so you don’t look “spammy.” You can place hashtags in the actual caption of your post or in the post’s comments; it has the same effect. Check out this list of the <a href="https://fitsmallbusiness.com/real-estate-hashtags/">top 25 best hashtags for real estate agents</a> and take your pick. After a few posts, check Instagram’s analytics platform, Instagram Insights, to see which hashtags are working and which aren’t.</p> <p><strong>Use Instagram stories to show your more candid side. </strong></p> <p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/30/instagram-stories-500-million/">500 million Instagram accounts</a> use Instagram stories every day. Additionally,<a href="https://embedsocial.com/blog/instagram-stories-analytics/"> ⅓ of the most viewed Instagram stories</a> are from businesses. Instagram stories give you the perfect opportunity to show a more candid, behind-the-scenes side of your personality and your real estate business. Shoot videos at open houses or home tours, or go beyond that by posting inspirational quotes or anything else that motivates you. People appreciate when you authentically share a slice of your life, and Instagram stories present the perfect place to do this.</p> <p><strong>Share the right content. </strong></p> <p>Ensure that you’re posting content that is interesting and relevant to your users. This definitely includes photos of homes for sale (both the interior and the exterior), but can also include:</p> <ul><li>Personal photos of your family or friends — as long as that kind of content works with your brand. Some agents would never dream of sharing personal photos on a professional Instagram page, but there are many who do this and it works for their brand and their audience. </li> <li>Videos of yourself answering common questions that you receive about your business.</li> <li>Videos of yourself sharing tips for other agents and the lessons you’ve learned, if you’re established.</li> <li>Photos of beautiful homes that inspire you, but that you <em>aren’t</em> listing. Hank Bailey of RE/MAX Legends does this really well. He posts photos of homes from other photographers simply because he admires their architecture and design. This invites his followers to see a more personable side of himself and shows that he is passionate about beautiful homes and architecture. He’s got a great following of people who also appreciate the same home design that he loves — so that if he were to ever periodically insert his own listing into the mix, he would have a built-in list of interested leads at the ready. Score! </li> </ul><p><strong>Listen and join the conversation. </strong></p> <p>Think of Instagram as a space for network-building. While you can (and should) use Instagram as a platform to grow your business by posting photos of properties for sale, you can also use the platform to make connections with mortgage brokers, for example, or people who aren’t interested in buying a new home now but may be in a few years. And the only way to build a genuine network is by engaging with those who visit your profile. Ask questions in the captions of your photos and respond to people’s answers. When you do live videos, check the comments and interact with those who are watching you. </p> <p>We hope that this post has been helpful as you’re considering creating an Instagram account for your real estate business. As you’re growing your account, don’t forget to think about the other ways that you can engage with prospects while you’re offline. Direct mail is one great option for keeping your brand top-of-mind in the neighborhoods you care about. In fact, the Data and Marketing Association’s 2018 Response Rate Report showed that direct mail has a 9% response rate for household lists and a 4.9% response rate for prospect lists. </p> <p>Our AutoMail solution was built for agents who want to implement quality direct mail marketing but desire the ease and efficiency of an automated system. With AutoMail, agents can schedule and send multiple automated marketing postcards over the course of 12 months, building relationships with prospects that lead to new clients. Interested? <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/automail">Get started</a> today to elevate your real estate marketing strategy.</p> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/6-tips-building-great-real-estate-instagram-profile" data-a2a-title=" 6 Tips for Building a Great Real Estate Instagram Profile"><span>Share to:</span><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><i class="fa fa-facebook icon-faceook"></i></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><i class="fa fa-linkedin"></i></a></span> </div> Thu, 11 Jul 2019 21:16:00 +0000 brianna_mckinney 548 at https://quantumdigital.com 3 Tips for Seizing Summertime Moving Season Opportunities https://quantumdigital.com/blog/3-tips-seizing-summertime-moving-season-opportunities <div data-history-node-id="545" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-node-title field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Title</div> <div class="field--item"><h1> 3 Tips for Seizing Summertime Moving Season Opportunities </h1> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-preview-image field--type-image field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Preview Image</div> <div class="field--item"> <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/3-tips-seizing-summertime-moving-season-opportunities" hreflang="und"><img loading="eager" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/styles/header/public/pool-with-float_0.png?itok=ab754RKc" width="1200" height="450" alt="pool during the Summertime Moving Season" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-node-post-date field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Post date</div> <div class="field--item">Jun 14, 2019</div> </div> 3 <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category-new field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item">Marketing Ideas</div> <div class="field--item">Real Estate</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Ah, summertime. Warmer days, longer nights…and for many, <a href="http://help.movinglabor.com/start/peak-moving-season">peak moving season</a>! With the slower summer months comes the most popular time of year for many homeowners or renters to relocate. And as a real estate agent, you should see this time of year as a major opportunity!</p> <p>Follow these tips to successfully convert prospects and build your business during the advantageous summer moving season.</p> <p><strong>Don’t forget renters.</strong></p> <p>Rent growth tends to be higher in the late spring and summer months, and due to market seasonalities, leases are often up in the summer -- meaning renters are considering whether to leave or stay in their current residence during this time. And rent growth is currently strong: According to the <a href="https://www.apartmentlist.com/rentonomics/national-rent-data/">Apartment List National Rent Report</a>, rents increased by 0.9% in April and May 2019, a pace of growth not seen since July 2017. While the rent growth rate has slowed down overall – from 2014 to 2017, numbers ranged from 2.7 to 3.5 percent – this current growth possibly signifies an upward trend.</p> <p>Summer gives agents a prime opportunity to target renters with marketing efforts. Send timely real estate postcards to prospects at apartments or homes in the area, or even use good old-fashioned door-to-door marketing and slide flyers underneath the doors of apartment complexes. Strike while the renter iron is hot!</p> <p><strong>Use warm-weather activities to your advantage.</strong></p> <p>Now is the perfect time of year to engage in the community with summertime activities that bring people together. Show up at neighborhood barbeques or recreational sporting events, for example… or even host your own block party or neighborhood outdoor movie night! Your perfect prospect could be in the neighborhood, itching to move this summer but needing an agent’s help. And, even if there aren’t any immediate leads from your efforts, engaging with target neighborhood communities now will pay dividends later (more on that in our next point).</p> <p><strong>Build relationships now.</strong></p> <p>Be prepared to play the long game. Don’t count out those who have moved or are about to move this summer as a potential prospect in the years to come. As most Americans move multiple times in their lifetime, snagging these prospects just as they’ve relocated is a smart business strategy.</p> <p>Follow up and build relationships with them over the span of several years by using a consistent (but not too frequent) stream of real estate postcards or a series of emails. By periodically reminding your prospects of your services, you’ll set yourself up to be top-of-mind when their next move comes. If you’re looking for an easy way to do this, <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/">QuantumDigital</a> offers <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/automail">AutoMail</a>, an automated real estate postcards service that lets you set up a series of postcards, targeted to your ideal prospects, over a span of several months so you stay top-of-mind over the long-term. If you want to learn more or have questions about AutoMail, don’t hesitate to <a href="https://support.quantumdigital.com/hc/en-us/requests/new">contact us</a>.</p> <p>Don’t let summertime moving season pass you by. Seize the opportunities that this time of year brings, and build a steady stream of prospects that will deliver future returns!</p> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/3-tips-seizing-summertime-moving-season-opportunities" data-a2a-title="3 Tips for Seizing Summertime Moving Season Opportunities"><span>Share to:</span><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><i class="fa fa-facebook icon-faceook"></i></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><i class="fa fa-linkedin"></i></a></span> </div> Fri, 14 Jun 2019 23:59:28 +0000 brianna_mckinney 545 at https://quantumdigital.com The Real Estate Dish: 20 Minutes with Georgia Perez of MoxiWorks https://quantumdigital.com/blog/real-estate-dish-20-minutes-georgia-perez-moxiworks <div data-history-node-id="544" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-node-title field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Title</div> <div class="field--item"><h1> The Real Estate Dish: 20 Minutes with Georgia Perez of MoxiWorks </h1> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-preview-image field--type-image field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Preview Image</div> <div class="field--item"> <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/real-estate-dish-20-minutes-georgia-perez-moxiworks" hreflang="und"><img loading="eager" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/styles/header/public/images/real-estate-dish-20-minutes-georgia-perez.png?itok=EzlwuAK8" width="1200" height="450" alt="banner image The Real Estate Dish: 20 Minutes with Georgia Perez of MoxiWorks" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-node-post-date field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Post date</div> <div class="field--item">May 21, 2019</div> </div> 18 <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category-new field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item">Podcast</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Join QuantumDigital’s Eric Cosway as he spends 20 minutes getting the latest dish on real estate technology with Georgia Perez of MoxiWorks.</p> <p><iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/622290117&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe></p> <p><span style="color:#007d85;"><strong>Eric: </strong></span> Georgia, welcome to the podcast.</p> <p><span style="color:#b41f23;"><strong>Georgia:</strong></span> Thank you so much. I’m sitting here with my coffee cup for The Real Estate Dish, so I guess it’s “The Real Estate Cup” this morning for me.</p> <p><span style="color:#007d85;"><strong>Eric: </strong></span> It is. We’re really glad you could join us this morning. Can you tell the audience, or give us a brief overview of your background and current role with MoxiWorks?</p> <p><span style="color:#b41f23;"><strong>Georgia:</strong></span> Sure. Many, many years ago, I decided it was time to make a little bit of a change in my hectic technology life, and I became a real estate agent and managing broker for Windermere Real Estate, who’s the third largest independent real estate company in the nation. And many years into that career, that I was enjoying very much, they happened to launch a technology company. And so it was a very strange, unusual fit for my combination of very deep and personal experience as a realtor and broker, and then 25 years in technology. So, I very happily came on board to help take the company public, so to speak, and bring our first products out to the greater broker population.</p> <p><span style="color:#007d85;"><strong>Eric: </strong></span> So, as you’ve done that, in your current leadership role, what are some of the bigger lessons learned, or formative moments that have helped shape your career?</p> <p><span style="color:#b41f23;"><strong>Georgia:</strong></span> I think, obviously, for my current role, just even those last 11 years in the real estate industry could not have been more helpful. Real estate is a very unusual industry. It doesn’t work quite like other businesses out there—up to and including the fact that many agents are 1099 independent contractors, yet working for a brand, and that’s not the same as if you’re a company, American Express, and have employees to manage. So, it was really helpful in understanding the structure of the industry. But also, just because I’ve had to make my living as a real estate agent before, where you’re really a blank piece of paper, you’re not paid except for when you close business—you’re commission only, what does that look like? And understanding that and how we could then take that and translate it into ways to make agents and brokers more successful, and understand the stresses and the concerns of building a sustainable business for the customers we serve.</p> <p><span style="color:#007d85;"><strong>Eric: </strong></span> So, knowing you a little bit, if we walk before real estate, at one time, you were a professional singer, and then you went off to Starbucks. Could you give us a little bit of background of that experience?</p> <p><span style="color:#b41f23;"><strong>Georgia:</strong></span> Yeah, sure. When I first was in California, which is where I’m originally from, I worked in technology where some of my earliest jobs, up to and including even working at Seagate technology, and they were a manufacturer of hard drives. So, my tech career was early. But I was singing my entire life and, for a variety of reasons, I moved around the country. And when I wound up on the East Coast, decided to go from being a casual singer most of my life, to actually starting to sing professionally. And so I did, and very successfully sang seven nights a week, and worked at a recording studio, and got to sing at the Grand Ole Opry, and a lot of really exciting things as a singer… but, kind of I guess, like a real estate agent, when you don’t have somebody providing you vacation pay and health insurance and other stuff, I was just looking for a little side hustle where I could supplement my singing career with some of the basic necessities people have, like health insurance and vacation pay. So, a family member suggested I go work for this very innovative new company at the time—because Starbucks was very new when it comes to actually having storefronts. I don’t know if a lot of people know that the original Starbucks here in Seattle didn’t sell coffee beverages at all. They actually were coffee beans and tea leaves, and you would just go buy your stuff to go home and make coffee. But when Howard Schultz came on board and took over Starbucks, he then created that coffee house experience. And so it was really in their early days when I started working for them back East.</p> <p><span style="color:#007d85;"><strong>Eric: </strong></span> Georgia, what years were those, when you moved from professional singing into Starbucks?</p> <p><span style="color:#b41f23;"><strong>Georgia:</strong></span> 1992. And at the time, I still sang. So, I was singing seven nights a week and working as a barista in Starbucks during the day. And, this is not super uncommon for me, when I get really passionate about something that I’m doing, I kind of go all in. I had done a couple of things in the stores for Starbucks that got picked up nationally. They came and actually turned some of what I was doing in my actual store into a national program that got rolled out for everybody—up to and including things like pre-bagging coffee, so in the morning rush hour, people didn’t have to interrupt the service of busy commuters to get coffee beans. So, we started pre-bagging. This was long before you could go into a store and just quickly buy that was already in a vacuum-sealed bag. So, I got recognized nationally and, next thing you know, I got promoted to a team that was responsible for going in and opening new markets for Starbucks, called, “The Star Team.” And that was really a critically formative part of my career life as an adult.</p> <p><span style="color:#007d85;"><strong>Eric: </strong></span> So, as you look back at The Star Team, are there one or two memorable experiences or “a-ha” moments that helped shape where you are today?</p> <p><span style="color:#b41f23;"><strong>Georgia:</strong></span> Well, I think my whole Starbucks experience actually shaped a lot of where I am today. And I’ll tell you this, and maybe this is something any person that manages people could take away. Prior to that time in my life, I would honestly say, I didn’t have any mentors. I didn’t have people who were telling me that something about the way I worked or did anything was special. At Starbucks, it was really one of the first places where I started getting a lot of recognition—again, something like that bean program, where it got picked up nationally—and, just that small amount of someone saying, “Wow! What you did there is unusual.” Or, “There’s something you bring to the table that has value.” It was really a critical time in my life, where just having a boss at the time who recognized some of what I was doing and moved me forward, made me realize I had something to offer, and gave me confidence I’d never had as a young woman in business before. And I never lost that lesson, and it really propelled me to where I am today.</p> <p><span style="color:#007d85;"><strong>Eric: </strong></span> You often talk about your parents instilling hard work values. It sounds like you’re from a pretty traditional family, and your parents just espoused the notion of “hard work will get you the results you need.”</p> <p><span style="color:#b41f23;"><strong>Georgia:</strong></span> Yeah, we were definitely a family of “nose to the grindstone.” And it’s funny because I admire my family very much. I’m very close to my siblings and I have some very successful people in my family. My brother, Bill, has been a very well-known and respected CFO in Silicon Valley for years, and has taken many known brands to the public. I mean, he worked for Apple and a lot of other companies. But none of us go home bragging about ourselves. We’re always looking for what we could be doing better. We’re not always very complimentary about ourselves, because we see all our flaws, or that one thing we could have done a little better. I just think that comes a little from that background, too, where you’re just always taking the rules that you’re committing to very seriously. Even here at MoxiWorks, I go home every day thinking, “How am I helping the almost one hundred people here stay employed? What am I doing to help our brokers be successful.” I take it just really seriously, and I think that comes from that work ethic that was instilled as well.</p> <p><span style="color:#007d85;"><strong>Eric: </strong></span> Yeah, I would describe you as humble. I would describe you as a straight shooter, real humble. And genuinely empathetic.</p> <p><span style="color:#b41f23;"><strong>Georgia:</strong></span> Thank you. I would say the same about you.</p> <p><span style="color:#007d85;"><strong>Eric: </strong></span> You’re parents did a really great job raising you. Let’s bounce a little bit. You spent some time with Windermere, which is an awesome organization, and I think you were the group chairman for the Windermere Foundation for about six years. Is that correct? Can you talk about that experience?</p> <p><span style="color:#b41f23;"><strong>Georgia:</strong></span> Sure. Windermere, first of all, has a wonderful foundation that’s given millions and millions of dollars to charities that support children and family in our area. As realtors, we sort of feel it’s really incumbent on us to support the communities and the families that, ultimately, also may have the home ownership dream that we can help them with as well. One of the things that’s a little unique about Windermere is of course they have their whole corporate entity of The Windermere Foundation, and their CEO, etc., but what they do uniquely there is they allow the different… in our case, I was part of a five office franchise, and each of us got to have our own foundation group, because every agent in Windermere contributes a certain amount of every transaction to the Windermere fund and, on top of that, many agents give more “in kind” donations. So, for example, for me, every transaction that I had, in addition to one deduction that was made automatically for the foundation, I could give any amount of money in my client’s name. And it was really lovely. My client would get a letter that would say, “Georgia made a donation from your transaction to The Windermere Foundation.” But we, as a group, then got to manage those funds. So, it wasn’t just the corporate parent organization but, in my case, I was the group chairman for those five offices, and the money that each of the agents that worked for that franchise of five offices contributed, we got to decide what local charities we wanted to be able to support. And so, we worked very closely with our own local groups, put on other fundraisers as well to drive more money into the foundation, but every agent that we represented for having given generously to the fund, we got to help make sure that where we distributed those funds represented our local community that we serviced.</p> <p><span style="color:#007d85;"><strong>Eric: </strong></span> Oh, very good. So, let’s talk about the combination. You’ve been an agent, you’ve been a broker, and now you’re in technology. What would be… because this is—sometimes we all talk about getting agents to adopt new technology, and get them to use it—what would be the one or two points you could articulate to help agents understand there is value in learning and adopting new technology today?</p> <p><span style="color:#b41f23;"><strong>Georgia:</strong></span> That’s a great question. You know, it’s really funny. I was interviewed recently for a national publication, and they had presented to me a common list of words in their research that were often used about agents. Before anybody gets offended by what I’m about to say, I’ll tell you what my response was to the words, too. But, they started reading off a list of some common words that had come up every time they’d asked, especially like technology vendors, or even managing brokers, ”How would you describe, in a few words, agents?” And “lazy,” believe it or not, was one of the words used. And, having been an agent myself, I’ve never worked so hard in my entire life. It was a 24/7 job. My clients pinged me at three in the morning, when they were stressing about whether their furniture was going to fit in their new place. I’ve helped pack and move people. But, what I think a better view of what happens for agents so often is they’re overwhelmed. Like, if you have to work paycheck to paycheck, and there’s so many balls to keep in the air, it’s very overwhelming. And, when it comes to technology, as soon as something you’re trying to adopt—you may be very excited about using it—but, as soon as it becomes a net new period of time you need to commit to learn it, when you’re already overwhelmed, it’s just often the easiest thing to just say no. Like, I just don’t have time to learn something new. So, if it’s just not practically automatic, I just can’t do it. And so, I think oftentimes brokerages, and even technology vendors, misunderstand why an agent is resistant to figure out how to incorporate technology into their day-to-day. So, first of all we, as an industry, have to be better at helping them find ways to dip their toe in the water. You don’t have to dive into the deep end all at once, just dip your toe in and we’ll help you ease yourself in, and find your swim lane, and apply the things that are going to work best for you. You don’t have to adopt it all, right? So, I think we have to adapt our way of helping train and present information for very, very busy people so that they can take the little bite-size chunks on as able.</p> <p><span style="color:#007d85;"><strong>Eric: </strong></span> You know, it’s interesting. Last time you and I spoke, you had mentioned one of your friends is a realtor, who wasn’t using your platform, and I think with some coaching, you got her to put her toes in—dabble with it—and, lo and behold, her productivity and her year was well and above what she had done the previous year.</p> <p><span style="color:#b41f23;"><strong>Georgia:</strong></span> Yeah, so she’s a friend that actually had transacted and done a lot of business with me when I was a realtor. And she decided to retire from her job, previously, and became a real estate agent. And she made it really clear to me, when she started, that she did not want me to tell her about how to do real estate. She’s a very self-made person, and she really does not ever like to feel like someone knows more than she does, and that’s unique to her. She’s a lovely person, by the way. But, so I just sort of backed off and said nothing. And, after her first year, just checked in and how it had gone, and she’d done about four transactions which, for most people, if you’re making your entire living on real estate, unless they were $30 million transactions, that you’re not going to survive on four transactions.</p> <p><span style="color:#007d85;"><strong>Eric: </strong></span> Yeah, that is tough.</p> <p><span style="color:#b41f23;"><strong>Georgia:</strong></span> So, I asked her if she was using our product, and she said, “No, not really.” And I asked why, and she just said well it, “didn’t feel,” like her. And I’m like, “Well, two things—I can help you make it feel more like you, because our product is very configurable and customizable, so that an agent can build upon what the brokers also included for them, and make the task flows, and the reminders, and all the things really fit their personal business.” But, my question to her was, “If what you did was for transactions, then maybe what feels like you is not getting you where you need to go.” And so, she was willing to let me help a little, so I helped her get the system to feel a little bit more her, encouraged her to start doing a few of the things that were a little out of her comfort zone, but which were proven strategies that we know work in real estate. And so, she started taking on the whole coaching methodology that’s included in our system. And she did 21 transactions in her second year. So, I think that would be something I would want every agent to hear. It’s that it’s great to do business the way that you feel comfortable. You know, if I might say for a second, prior to becoming a realtor, I had been a CEO of my own company, right? So, I knew how to write a business plan. I knew how to run a business. But, when I got into real estate, I did not assume I knew how to run a real estate business. Because they’re just different. So, I signed up for ninja training. I flew myself to Ft. Collins, Colorado, and paid to learn at the feet of the master, Larry Kendall. And I formed a mastermind group in my office when I got back, so I could collaborate with other agents and share great ideas. Because, no matter what, your experience before real estate is different, and helping get encouragement, and ideas, and just trying a variety of things can help you find the right path for yourself. If you only do the things you already know, you can never have results past what you’ve been able to accomplish before. Does that make sense?</p> <p><span style="color:#007d85;"><strong>Eric: </strong></span> That’s very good coaching. You mentioned something, and I think I knew that… is that when you were consulting? You were CEO of Slakey & Associates?</p> <p><span style="color:#b41f23;"><strong>Georgia:</strong></span> Slakey & Associates, yes. So, it was a management consultancy. We consulted with lots and lots of tech companies in particular. Most of my career in technology was spent helping companies either develop their market share and go to market, so helped them develop their strategy to take a product public. Or, they were a company that was struggling, either losing market share or maybe needed to pivot and go into some new direction, and would hire me to come in and help them assess and then execute on that. That was my entire career, regardless of whether it was Slakey & Associates, or other companies I’ve worked for.</p> <p><span style="color:#007d85;"><strong>Eric: </strong></span> I’ve got to tell you, I worked for KPMG years ago and I loved management consulting. I still look back on that experience and think highly of it. I really enjoyed working with different businesses, and having a start and end date, and being able to provide a deliverable, and then move on.</p> <p><span style="color:#b41f23;"><strong>Georgia:</strong></span> Yeah, there’s definitely some benefits to that, both to move on but also it’s really exciting to get to touch different kinds of businesses. And, I’m sure it’s helped you, especially in your role, I mean I would love to ask you that… do you feel like it’s really helped you—because you had a variety of different businesses—to know what to do where you are now?</p> <p><span style="color:#007d85;"><strong>Eric: </strong></span> Yeah, you know, even small things like shaping a proposal, crafting an understanding of needs, being able to use some of the frameworks and models we use to articulate a solution, to articulate an issue. Those little tools and techniques, I think, are very valuable and I still use them today. They really teach you to try and be a clearer communicator, write well, and be able to explain things that are client-centric and can easily be absorbed by clients. So, that experience continues to serve me well. As we come to a close here, a couple more questions: So, personal passion, it sounds like you’re still singing, what else do you do when you’re not at MoxiWorks?</p> <p><span style="color:#b41f23;"><strong>Georgia:</strong></span> I don’t sing, actually, very much anymore, which is kind of sad. Because, over the years, even after I left professional singing, I used to sing sometimes with the Seattle symphony, and I did sing with a really fantastic choir here in Seattle for 11 years. But, my job right now requires too much travel, so I’m not able to commit to the types of rehearsals and other stuff required to sing. My schedule is just too unpredictable. I hope, in the coming years, things could slow down enough that I could go back to singing a little on the side. But other stuff that I’m passionate about… I’m a very avid runner, which people, if they saw me, would not believe. But, I really am. And I run a lot of races. So, probably in the last three years, I’ve run probably 100 5Ks in three years. Some 10Ks and a handful of half-marathons. I have a set of races I’m training for right now that are in October, where I’ll run a 5K Friday, a 10K Saturday, and a half-marathon on Sunday. That’s how I try to stay sane, and at least take off some of that weight that traveling salespeople often put on.</p> <p><span style="color:#007d85;"><strong>Eric: </strong></span>When you travel, do you bring your shoes along and try and run wherever you go?</p> <p><span style="color:#b41f23;"><strong>Georgia:</strong></span> I do, actually. That’s one of the things that got me started running, is that it’s very portable. And it’s funny, I have severe rheumatoid arthritis, and so my doctors are like, “What the heck are you doing? You should not be running!” But, it’s just super portable, and you can do it anywhere, and it’s a lot of fun. I recently got my husband to join me on some races. He had a heart attack last year, so he really needed to start doing some exercise. So, he’s now run several 5Ks, and it’s really wonderful that we can share that and stay healthy, because we’re not young. So, that’s one thing. And we’re also both very, very passionate about our church here in Seattle, St. Joe’s Parish. So, those are the things we sort of dial into when we’re not working.</p> <p><span style="color:#007d85;"><strong>Eric: </strong></span>Very good. In conclusion, one last question is, I always like to challenge our listeners to get 1% better every single day. Is there something you can challenge them to do better?</p> <p><span style="color:#b41f23;"><strong>Georgia:</strong></span> That’s a great question and I think it kind of comes back to what I was mentioning a minute ago. I think every day, you should take a look at some success things that are happening for others around you. You know, take a peek, and see if there’s anything maybe that’s outside your comfort zone, that’s helping others succeed in your industry, that you’re willing to give a try. Like every day, take on a challenge to do something new that might help propel you in a net new direction.</p> <p><span style="color:#007d85;"><strong>Eric: </strong></span> Oh, very good. The goal of this was to get to know you better. And I feel I do. I know you a lot better. Georgia, I really appreciate the time you’ve given our podcast today. And it was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed doing it, and hope you did as well.</p> <p><span style="color:#b41f23;"><strong>Georgia:</strong></span> I did very much, and I feel so very grateful for even being asked. So, thank you so much, Eric. It was really a delight.</p> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/real-estate-dish-20-minutes-georgia-perez-moxiworks" data-a2a-title="The Real Estate Dish: 20 Minutes with Georgia Perez of MoxiWorks"><span>Share to:</span><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><i class="fa fa-facebook icon-faceook"></i></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><i class="fa fa-linkedin"></i></a></span> </div> Tue, 21 May 2019 22:03:59 +0000 brianna_mckinney 544 at https://quantumdigital.com 3 Tips for Staying in Touch with Buyers & Sellers After Business Has Closed https://quantumdigital.com/3-tips-for-staying-in-touch-with-buyers-sellers-after-business-has-closed-real-estate-marketing <div data-history-node-id="543" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-node-title field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Title</div> <div class="field--item"><h1> 3 Tips for Staying in Touch with Buyers & Sellers After Business Has Closed </h1> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-preview-image field--type-image field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Preview Image</div> <div class="field--item"> <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/3-tips-for-staying-in-touch-with-buyers-sellers-after-business-has-closed-real-estate-marketing" hreflang="und"><img loading="eager" src="https://quantumdigital.com/sites/default/files/styles/header/public/staying%20in%20touch%20after%20business%20has%20closed%20in%20real%20estate%20marketing.jpg?itok=O-Sr0tDE" width="1200" height="450" alt="A real estate agent Staying in Touch with Buyers & Sellers After Business Has Closed" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-node-post-date field--type-ds field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Post date</div> <div class="field--item">May 15, 2019</div> </div> 4 <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category-new field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item">Marketing Ideas</div> <div class="field--item">Real Estate</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>In real estate, it’s often all about farming for new business from those buyers and sellers you’ve never worked with before. And for good reason - <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/unique-real-estate-farming-strategies">farming</a> for brand-new prospects is a key component of real estate marketing, particularly when you’re <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/how-grow-your-business-unknown-or-new-neighborhood-real-estate-marketing">introducing yourself to a new area or just new to real estate in general.</a></p> <p>But did you know that <a href="https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/quick-real-estate-statistics">74% of buyers and 69% of sellers</a> would use their agent again or recommend their agent to others? Additionally, according to the National Association of REALTORS®' 2018 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 39% of sellers who used a real estate agent found their agents through a referral by friends or family, and 24% used the agent they previously worked with to buy or sell a home. These statistics present a BIG opportunity to cultivate meaningful, genuine relationships with those you’ve already worked with. Authentic relationship-building is definitely a long game, but it’s one that will pay dividends.</p> <p>Need convincing? The Office of Inspector General with the USPS has you covered. In a <a href="https://www.uspsoig.gov/sites/default/files/document-library-files/2018/RARC-WP-19-003.pdf">just-released April 2019 report</a>, their data revealed that “advertising mail sent by a business that has a past business relationship with the recipient is more than twice as likely to be read and generate a positive reaction, and is six times as likely to get a response than mail sent by businesses with no past relationship.”</p> <p>Now, you may be thinking, “YES! Let’s get started! … How do I do it?”</p> <p>One key way to consistently foster relationships with those you’ve worked with in the past is with real estate direct mail marketing. It’s no secret that at QuantumDigital, we’re all about real estate postcards. We know that in 2019, direct mail is an arguably necessary player in getting responses from your audience -- particularly among <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/blog/marketing-millennial-first-time-home-buyers">millennials</a>, who, despite generalizations that the generation is only glued to their smartphones, have high rates of engagement with direct mail.</p> <p>But don’t take our word for it. Other marketers agree that direct mail is a smart move for modern-day business and organizations. In fact, the Data and Marketing Association’s recently released <a href="https://www.iwco.com/blog/2019/01/16/direct-mail-response-rates-dominate-other-channels/">2018 Response Rate Report</a> showed that direct mail has a <strong>whopping 9% response rate</strong> for household lists and a 4.9% response rate for prospect lists, higher than all of the digital channels studied. In comparison, email, social media, and paid search averaged 1%, while online display averaged only .03%.</p> <p>Direct mail is certainly a proven way to maintain relationships with past clients - and if you’re looking for a consistent way to stay in touch throughout the calendar year, we’ve got <a href="https://quantumdigital.com/automail">AutoMail</a>, an automated solution that allows you to engage with your audience without spending precious time or energy. But direct mail is not (and shouldn’t be) the only way that you connect with past clients to encourage more business and referrals. You should also consider:</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>1. Direct Follow-Up.</strong></p> <p>If you’re a real estate agent, it’s likely you aren’t afraid of a good old-fashioned phone call. Use your communications skills and call up old clients once a year to personally check in on how they’re doing, catch up, and offer a helping hand if they’re looking to buy or sell. You should also use the opportunity to politely ask for updated contact information -- both physical and email addresses in particular -- so you can make sure you’re reaching the right contact throughout the year.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>2. Email Marketing.</strong></p> <p>Email is a smart, fast, and cost-efficient way to stay in touch with those you’ve worked with in the past. The key is to segment your list based on your audience -- have you closed business with them within the last six months, or was it two years ago or more? What part of town or neighborhood do they live in? (This is where your check-in phone calls come in.) Such unique audiences will require different messages. The trick is to only reach out to past clients via email when you’ve got something useful to share. Send market information relevant to the neighborhood they live in or promote open houses in their area you think they’d love. Include their name in your email communications (which is easy with platforms like MailChimp). <a href="https://us.epsilon.com/pressroom/new-epsilon-research-indicates-80-of-consumers-are-more-likely-to-make-a-purchase-when-brands-offer-personalized-experiences">Thoughtful, personalized content = bigger rewards</a>.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>3. Social Media.</strong></p> <p>Social media’s not your thing, you say. It takes up too much time, and it’s difficult to see the results. We hear you. Not one to create an editorial calendar, post regularly, and monitor social for engagements on an everyday basis? An easy way to keep in touch with past clients is to create a Facebook group, and add all past clients (who have opted-in) to the group. Think of it as a forum where your audience can ask questions and quickly get in touch with you. Again, only post when you have something valuable to share -- there’s nothing worse than a real estate agent flooding timelines with multiple MLS listings a day -- but groups like this make it so that you stress less about constant engagement but maintain contact with your past clients.</p> <p>We wish you the best of luck in all your past client follow-up endeavors!</p> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://quantumdigital.com/3-tips-for-staying-in-touch-with-buyers-sellers-after-business-has-closed-real-estate-marketing" data-a2a-title="3 Tips for Staying in Touch with Buyers & Sellers After Business Has Closed"><span>Share to:</span><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><i class="fa fa-facebook icon-faceook"></i></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><i class="fa fa-linkedin"></i></a></span> </div> Thu, 16 May 2019 00:12:11 +0000 brianna_mckinney 543 at https://quantumdigital.com