Marketing with Videos

Do you use videos in your marketing? You should and it’s very easy.

This is one I’ve added to our Triad Residential Solutions web site to show one of the homes we have for lease.

Simply purchase a video camera (you won’t need to spend more than about $150), record whatever you want, go to YouTube and set up an account where you can download your videos and use them as you like! Share them with your friends, use them for marketing, or simply use this as a way to save your favorite memories.

If you want your marketing to be noticed, videos bring more traffic and keep people engaged with your ad longer than text or photos.  If you have a property to sell, you need to be using videos.

Facebook?

Facebook

Are you on Facebook? Should you be?

I have been working with SEO (search engine optimization) and on-line marketing to learn how to get our advertising found by people searching for what we offer. I have been told by many “gurus” that I need to be on Facebook as this is the interactive wave of the future as well as the present.

I have put it off but, I finally set up my own Facebook account this past Sunday night and all I can say is, “HELP!!!”, I can’t get off! What is this thing? It has a life of its own. People are chatting on there constantly, even talking about when they woke up and what they’re wearing to work. Really? People have this much free time?

So, I’m learning. But I’m wondering: Do you use it? How do you use it? What is your experience? What are your “helpful tips”?

Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated and I promise I’m going to get off Facebook and get back to blogging!

Thanks!

Marketing – How Effective is Yours?

Advertising

Need customers? Whether you’re trying to buy a home or sell your house, the answer is a resounding “yes”. If you don’t understand that, it could be the reason you’re not finding what you need.

Do buyers know your house is for sale? Is there a sign in the yard? With a phone number that someone answers and a web site that is monitored regularly? Is your property listed on the MLS, with fabulous photos and an outstanding description of the most desirable features? Is it in the newspaper in an ad that stands out from the others? Is it on all the free on-line listing sites (and there are a TON of them)? Have you put out flyers, talked to your neighbors and co-workers about it? Offered a finder’s gift if someone refers the person who buys your home? What have you done above and beyond the usual that makes your property get attention? Why would someone find you in the haystack of for sale homes?

Read more…

Marketing for Sellers

Newspaper Machines photo by evelynyll

What’s the best way to find people wanting to sell their homes? We started years ago by driving neighborhoods that we liked, looking for For Sale By Owner signs and calling. We also walked neighborhoods putting out flyers on mailboxes (which we now know is illegal) and talking to neighbors.

These methods are very effective and certainly inexpensive. A good way to get started or find your personal residence. But, they’re time consuming and not the best use of your time if you want to buy properties as a business.

The best way we’ve found is direct mail marketing. We target neighborhoods or zip codes we like and drill down to specific properties that we are interested in owning. For example, we mail to single family homes, owner occupied, the specific price point we want to own, 10 years old or newer, etc. That way, when someone calls about selling a home, we know its a house we’re interested in.

Read more…

Hanging Advertising on Mailboxes

Mailboxes
Photo by ellie

Many people use the flag of the mailbox to hang advertising. Haven’t you gotten restaurant flyers, especially pizza flyers, hanging on the flag of your mailbox? Did you know that’s illegal? If you plan to advertise this way, beware!

According to the USPS, “No part of a mail receptacle may be used to deliver any matter not bearing postage, including items or matter placed upon, supported by, attached to, hung from, or inserted into a mail receptacle.”

The article goes on to say that, “anyone knowingly and willfully depositing any mailable matter (in this way) is subject to a fine of no more than $300 for each offense.”

You can read the entire regulation in the Domestic Mail Manual 508 3.1.3 Use for Mail.

It’s not only illegal, it’s federal illegal. It’s considered tampering with a mailbox. If someone catches you anywhere near their mailbox for whatever reason you may find yourself in a federal investigation. Tampering with mail can be a three year sentence and a $50,000.00 fine!