Posts Tagged ‘opinion’

5 Social Media Tips You Probably Aren’t Implementing (But Should)

Posted on: April 18th, 2017 by Tim Garcia

We’ve shown you recently how critically important social media is for your business (+ tips on how to gain more “likes” and followers). From marketing and repeat clients, to snagging new leads, social media can be one of the most impactful and cost-effective marketing strategies you’ll ever employ.

Today’s Tip of the Week is going to assume you know the basics of marketing on social media. That is to say, we’re going beyond just showing you how to advertise on Facebook or set up your X (aka Twitter) account. We’re going to show you a few out-of-the-social-box ideas that you either haven’t thought of before or just haven’t had the time to implement.

By using some or all of these ideas, you’ll discover additional ways to stay in close contact with your buyers and sellers.

Hootsuite

Some of us at PropertyMinder personally use Hootsuite – that’s how amazing we think it is.

The principle behind the platform is simple: It can be difficult to remember the specific days and times you want to post to social media to connect with the real estate industry and your clients. Hootsuite lets you schedule posts ahead of time to X (aka Twitter), Facebook, Google+ and more. It will even shrink URLs for you and show you how many characters you have remaining to type with for X (aka Twitter) compared to, say, Facebook. Then select the exact date and time you want the post to go live. Boom. Done.

80/20 Rule

80% of your social media posts should be engaging, entertaining, and helpful content for your potential homebuyers and sellers.

Save the other 20% for direct marketing of your services and/or to encourage clicks to specific pages on your website.

X (aka Twitter) Bots

This one sounds more intimidating than it actually is. No, you don’t have to be a computer engineer or know how to code to create a X (aka Twitter) bot for your business.

RealtyBizNews captures the essence of X (aka Twitter) bots better than we ever could, so we’ll let them take it away:

“X (aka Twitter) bots are basically just software programs that perform specific actions. It’s possible to program X (aka Twitter) bots to do more or less anything, from instantly responding to mentions, directly messaging users who follow you, or instantly follow someone that uses certain words and phrases. The good thing about X (aka Twitter) bots is they’re easy to write and maintain. You don’t need any special coding skills either – simply create a X (aka Twitter) account, go to apps.twitter.com and set up your own bot. Just program a specific search term and select an action the bot will perform when that search term happens.”

Where the millennials at?

Depending on your market, millennials may or may not be potential clients today, but they absolutely will be in the not-so-distant future.

What’s not as popular with this crowd: Facebook. What is popular? Platforms like Snapchat and Instagram.

Figure out where in the home buying funnel your millennials are, and then you can determine the best social media strategy to engage them.

The Power of Video

It doesn’t matter if all you have is an iPhone; you need to make videos – and the distribution of this content – an integral part of your social media plan.

Think how easy it is for people that follow you on social media to have your videos auto-begin in their Instagram or Facebook feeds. With absolute minimal effort, potential clients and revenue interacts with your content to thereby increase branding and awareness.

Social media is a highly effective way to market to your audience. When combined with emails, newsletters, and other methods that engage with the leads in your CRM, social media is yet another tool that sets you apart from the competition in your zip codes.

More marketing advice can be found on our featured
Tip Of The Week Archive & Current Tip Of The Week webpages.

Trends & Predictions For 2017 Real Estate Market

Posted on: January 10th, 2017 by Tim Garcia

 

Trends and Predictions for the 2017 Real Estate Market

With 2016 and the holidays now in the rear-view mirror, it’s time for you to begin establishing, focusing and achieving your goals for 2017.

Is this the year you close your first million-dollar listing? Is 2017 the year you finally launch a custom-designed website that’s user-friendly and packed full of awesome information for your clients whether they’re on mobile or desktop?

Whatever your goals might be over the next 12 months, they’re sure to be impacted in some capacity by trends and predictions for the coming year. Here are just a few of the prognostications for the 2017 real estate market by some of the best and brightest experts in the industry.

 

Chris Matthews –

“In December, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for only the second time since 2006, and a majority of the members of the Fed’s rate-setting board predict there will be three more increases coming in 2017. These decisions will cause mortgage rates to rise, potentially making it more difficult for prospective homebuyers to be able to afford the home of their dreams.”

Ilyce Glink – CBS News

“As the oldest of the millennials push into their mid-30s, many will start to settle down and buy houses. A number of factors are contributing to this generation’s decision to start buying homes. More jobs are being created for 25- to 34-year-olds than any other age group, and wages are rising. Millennials are also reaching an age at which they’re thinking about marriage and children.

Baby boomers, the oldest of whom are entering their late 60s, are also looking to move as they reach their retirement years. In the last several years, baby boomers’ participation in the housing market has dwindled. Many already own homes and may have been reluctant to sell until their properties recovered the value they lost in the housing bust.”

Beth Braverman – The Fiscal Times

“It’s easier to get a mortgage now than at any time in the past eight years. That reflects an increased availability of both jumbo loans and low down-payment loans. Banks may also be more willing to work with borrowers over the next few years as they look to make up for a decline in refinancing business when interest rates go up.”

Kelsey Ramirez – HousingWire

The hottest real estate markets for 2017 will include Phoenix, Los Angeles, Boston, Sacramento and Riverside.

Tawd Frensley – PropertyMinder

“As it becomes more difficult for buyers to purchase homes due to higher interest rates, I believe every agent should turn their attention to the homeowners they know. If you were to refer back to what Glink and Braverman stated about Baby Boomers, refinancing will not be much of an option in 2017. The only real way to free up cash for retirement will be to sell. Reach out to every 55-plus-year-old homeowner you know and make yourself top-of-mind when they make the decision to sell. You can’t make someone sell, but you can make them remember you first when they make that decision.”

PropertyMinder is here to help

Want to learn how PropertyMindrr can help you stay one step ahead of the curve in 2017? Check out our video below to learn a bit more and then take AccelerAgent for a test drive for free today. It’s our impact product that will help you adapt to the constant fluctuations of the industry.

We’ll get you on the fast track to capturing and closing leads in no time.

 

 

January Holiday Roundup (+ Email Marketing Greeting)

Posted on: December 30th, 2016 by Tim Garcia

 

Below are featured (and sometimes overlooked) holidays in January, providing you with specific reasons to reach out, engage with your leads and clients, and be THAT (memorable) agent folks turn to when they’re ready to buy, sell, and refer.
January 1st: New Year’s Day – check your CRM for a greeting to send to leads and clients.

Friday, January 6th: Cuddle Up Day – deliver info that your buyers and sellers can cuddle up with today, to peruse and/or read (i.e. – exciting property photos/details, and home values & home care resources, respectively).

Friday, January 13th: Friday the 13th  / International Skeptics Day / Make Your Dream Come True Day: –  banish any superstitious bad luck, prove to skeptical folks you’re the neighborhood expert, and make clients (and your) dreams come true.

Monday, January 16th: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday – share a quote with folks, today.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.
I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?
The time is always right to do what is right.
We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.

Tuesday, January 24th: Compliment Day – whether it’s a literal compliment (i.e. – “You’re a generous individual and I appreciate your time.” / “You have a beautiful home/familiy, etc.”) or a listing alert for a buyer that complements what they’re looking for, or home care resources that will complement the home life of your homeowners (your sellers) – pay a compliment, a complement or two.

Wednesday, January 25th: Opposite Day – do the opposite of what the competition does – put in the time to reach out to folks over the phone. We’ve provided seller scripts and open house follow-up scripts to help guide those important conversations.

Food-Oriented Holidays – see accompanying email greeting, below – simply fill-in-the-blank, press send, and spark a conversation (and possible meet and greet):

Wednesday, January 4th: National Spaghetti Day
Thursday, January 19th: National Popcorn Day
Friday, January 20th: National Buttercrunch Day / National Cheese Lover Day
Sunday, January 22nd: National Blonde Brownie Day
Monday, January 23rd: National Pie Day
Friday, January 27th: Chocolate Cake Day


Hi there,

____, here. You’ve been so generous with your time this year. I’d like to express my gratitude.


*DATE is *HOLIDAY and I’d really like to celebrate it with you.
This way we can catch up over a delightful snack (on me) instead of just texting and emailing. My schedule is pretty flexible – let me know what works best for you and I’ll schedule something in a jiffy.


[Insert SELLERS or BUYERS target segment here].


SELLERS:
[While I’m at it, I’ll bring along some printed home values and 
home care resources as extra food for thought (no pun intended). I like to consider myself your one-stop shop for all things real estate. I hope you will, too].


BUYERS:
[While I’m at it, I’ll bring printed details about homes and properties that might be up your alley. I’ve been doing some extra research for you and would love your feedback to confirm whether or not I’m on the right track].

Looking forward to it!
_______________

 

The Only Part Of The Market You Should Blame, Is Your Market-ing

Posted on: June 9th, 2016 by Tim Garcia

Let’s not play the blame game. 

It’s not how many people you have in your database.
It’s how well you know the people in your database.

If this wasn’t the case, then you could consider the phone book your CRM. (if agents actually called, that is)

Just because the Internet exists, doesn’t mean you don’t need to build relationships.
Just because email exists, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t call your clients.

If your business is not where you want it to be, point some blame.
However, just try not to blame the market.

The only part of the market you should blame, is your market-ing.

Relationships are the building blocks of any business.
Look to the past, how many multi-million dollar deals were done over a handshake, a cocktail, and signed on a napkin?

A website can be exited.
An email can be deleted.
A postcard can be tossed.
But…….
Our words can last a lifetime.
If you are their “Real Estate Agent For Life” then do yourself a favor, find out what is happening in “Their Life”.

That’s all, for now.

By Tawd Frensley

PropertyMinder’s VP of Marketing & Sales

Try our 30 Day Test Drive today! 

Questions? Email or call me directly. 

Warmly,

Anna
PropertyMinder’s Community Manager
408.213.4658
anna@propertyminder.com 

 More marketing advice can be found on our featured
Tip Of The Week Archive & Current Tip Of The Week webpages.