I am thinking of a couple of ideas to market to my SOI. Something that I can do each month to keep my face and name fresh in their minds when they or someone they know would like to buy or sell a house or property. Can you all tell me what kind of ideas you have used in the past to market to you SOI.

I don't have an SOI (I really don't..)

But, strangers love market updates about recent sales in their neighborhood with lots of market stats, av DOM, etc.

go visit Jennifer Allan's Sell With Soul blog. She is SOI focused.

http://activerain.com/blogs/sellwithsoul

i dont use soi business. those who do use it, love it.

you can find success using either tool for prospecting.

try out several different methods of finding business to find out what one you like the most and then go full force.

i actually like prospecting:-)

Thanks Perky - Jan Marie - if you need some specific links, let me know. I have tons and tons of stuff on generating business from an SOI, but I never, ever use the word "marketing" when I talk about it. Your SOI does not want to be marketed to and if that's your approach, your efforts will fail.

Oh, and contrary to popular wisdom, never ask for referrals. Ever.

Still with me?

Oh my...Never ask for Referrals??? Little strong. You have to know who you can ask referrals from and who you cannot. It's all in personalities. Years and years ago I got some advice from a agent who averages 1 closing per day in a town full of agents. He said my secret is, When ever he shakes someones hand, he asks them "Who do you know that needs to buy or sell a house?" He does that and he sends thank you notes to everybody he comes in contact with through out the day. ex. Bank teller, gas station attendant, barber etc. If he didn't ask, he would never average 30 sales per month. Ever.

I am sending out announcements this week to all the people I know, to let them know I am with Century 21. Most of these people know I am new to the real estate world as my darling daughter announced it at church one day that I had passed my test. Her intentions were good. LOL I am working on my SOI but have not asked a single soul for a referral.

I am just getting started so have been putting feelers out there. I start the Century 21 training next week, which is virtual online training for six weeks. Everyone I have spoken too said this is excellent training.

Jennifer, I have been reading your stuff as well. Very good information, and suits me well. I am not up for the whole cold calling thing. Although, we have been told to ask for the referrals, not to be shy and ask away. But I am still trying to find my niche.

Thanks so much for all the info everyone!

Jan with your inepxerience you need to play the company as a whole trick.

In other words "Mr. Seller it's true I am newly liscensed but my company has one of the top market shares in the market,every contract I do or question I have is ran through my broke rwho has 20 years experience so you are well protected. They will even come along with me or talk to you if that makes you comfortable. Mr.Seller I know I don't have many or any listings but that is to your advantage. Since I am not overwhelmed with business I can spend extra time and energy on your property and giv eit the personal attention it deserves so you can sell hassle free,in the shortest time,for the most amount of money!

Does that sound good,great! SIGN HERE,PRESS HARD

You get the point any objection you encounter there is a flip side to it the seller has not that of and when competing for a listing it will be who conveyes there message the clearest and makes the most sense.

You need to practice with your broker so you can get a little comfortable with doing a presentation for a listing.

I can guarantee you one thing if you don't work on objections and do not have a good answer or are silent you will definitely lose the listing as the sellers doubts and no confidence in you have been confirmed.

Jan Marie...there is a good chance I will go with Century21

I interviewed with them tues.....how does your office do fees and commision split...I know each office can be different just curious...I have second interview with them this tues to get the financial stuff.....

Like Perky I recommend jennifers book good nuts and bolts reading...

I with you but different people have different approach. How you will get something without asking, no way:-)

Several responses here seem to address seller wants and needs in an agent. Here's the results from a survey by NAR of what buyer's expect of an agent in order of importance.

1. Honesty and integrity
2. Knowledge of the purchase process
3. Responsiveness
4. Knowledge of market
5. Communication skills
6. Negotiation skills
7. People skills
8. Technology skills

You should determine the best way to communicate to prospective buyers that you have these characteristics. Examples of your broker's previous performance is always good. I'd also caution you to keep your newness to yourself unless it is somehow exposed.

Do you think that site like BestHouseSwap.com might be good for real estate agents? In my understanding, using our site agent can get two deals at the same time. We started the site just a few weeks ago, and there are already a lot of ads from people trying to trade properties.

As real estate agents, what information would you like to find on such kind of site? Probably, defined search options, like certain price range, kind of property offered (house, land, condo, etc.)?

I will appreciate to get any comment or suggestion.

Thank you in advance!!!

Anna

Sine returning to the US from living in London for 2 years, I have been keenly interested in marketing myself. I have managed to keep busy with buyers and with homeowners considering selling ( I have 3 homes that should get listed later this year, but kids have to be off to college first), but nothing has closed escrow yet (Which officially makes this the longest time it has taken me to get a closed escrow ... EVER ... even including when I first got licensed in 1988). Here is what I am up to for personal marketing:

- Weekly Podcast
- Monthly direct mail with local market info - very targeted ( 1300+ homes)
- Monthly articles on market conditions for various areas.
- YouTube presentations showing market conditions
- Web Site (shows all my other material and allows for map based MLS access)
- Open Houses
- Contact expired and canceled listings daily
- About to get advertising vinyls put on my car
- Just ordered more polo shirts with my business branding on them

I find myself "busy", but not in escrow. Since getting back to work in full force in January ( I officially started back in Sept, but did not really get down to it till Jan) I have been on 4 listing appointments. All of them are currently in limbo. They all say they want to list with me, but are not ready to start yet. I have about 5 buyers I would describe as serious, but concerned that we have not seen the bottom of the market yet.

R

RebelBroker, those tips are good for almost any kind of business (though I would not order shirts if I am a funeral home owner)!!! I am going to do it right now!

Thank you and good luck!

P.S. I hate London (nothing personal )

I tend to lean towards Jennifer Allens way as well. I never ask for a referral, I only plant seeds. It works for me.

I would also reccomend her ebook of letters (Debunked Letters). I bought them, and they are good. Tweak them to fit your personality, not much needs changed though. Sorry if I sound like a Jennifer Allen infomercial!

I wear a logoed shirt when I go out. It starts conversations.

On the opening day of the Red's Baseball I had "extra" Schedule magnats I dropped off at a sports bar. They were cheap to purchased them, the crowd ate them up. Hopefully somebody calls me, but 3 people bought me beers, and I actually sat and talked RE and watched a baseball as well (I know nothing about Baseball).

I look for cheap things that last, that I can brand. Notepads, sporting schedules, kid booksfrom the dollar store, crayons, what ever. I slap a sticker on or a card on, take them to my regular hangouts, and put a free stuff sign on it. They know that they get my leftover marketing material, and they love it.

I am now sponcering a benifit bowl-a-thon for a kid w/ cancer with my VFW Post. I made a 50 dollar donation to the cause and asked if I could donate give away stuff (note pads, books, etc). I would have made the donation regardless. So now my wife is creating flyers that I will post (at my cost), my sign will be subtially posted, and the family really appreciates what I'm doing to help them in a time of need. I've become a hero!

Sounds like a great idea. Just out of curiosity, what types of places are your regular hangouts? All I could imagine was hanging out at a bar when you said that. I don't know if coloring books would work well in a bar...

Private clubs (Moose, VFW, American Legion) and a couple neighborhood. Many of the Private clubs are very kid friendly and sponcer events for the kids with no alcohol sold. The kids love the contibutions I make. I get pics that the kids color all the time and asking for refills. Somehow I'm going to incorperate a coloring contest soon.

I printed off an MLS sheet for a multi-million dollar house and gave it to one boy and sent him off to tell daddy to buy it. I know are considering selling, but I don't want to be pushy nor want to make anybody feel uncomfortable when I come in, so the patrons approach me. Dad thought it was funny, offered 100K for it, we laughed, we talked, I will likely list his house in a couple weeks.

I'm a big fan of getting other people to pay for my promotional materials.

Here's one idea I did last year.