Selling expired listings may not be for everyone, but Realty Times' Dirk Zeller offers some great advice on how to prospect expired listings, saying it can be the core of any real estate professional's business.

Everyday, there are new expired listings, a streaming source of leads that are easy to find. While some of the sellers of these listings may be tired from trying to sell, they still ultimately want to sell, and a great majority of these are looking for or need an agent--you!

The key to sealing the deal on expired listings is the CAP method: consistency, attitude, and most critically, persistence. By focusing on the CAP system daily, you can follow up effectively to prospect these leads.

Read more at Realty Times.

Posted in Traditional Marketing, Real Estate Industry, Lead Generation

HomeGain has released the results of their survey regarding the marketing preferences and plans for real estate professionals, the complete results of which are listed below.

The leading effective marketing strategy, referrals, is also the one in which most are devoting their time and plans for 2010. While social media is becoming more popular and used, traditional mailers and email campaigns are holding more weight.

The results are based on two surveys, conducted in December 2009 and February 2010, with responses from about 1,300 real estate agents and brokers. Respondents also indicated that they will be less likely to invest their marketing dollars and time on Twitter (3.4), outdoor advertising (2.7), banner ads (2.5), pay-per-click advertising (2.5) and MySpace (2.5).

Top 10 Effective Marketing Strategies for Realtors
(Cumulative Average Scores, 1 = Least Effective / 10 = Most Effective)

• Referrals (8.7)
• Featured Listings (4.8)
• Email Campaigns (4.7)
• Postcards/Mailers (4.6)
• Blogging (4.1)
• Online Lead Generation Services (4.0)
• Facebook (4.0) * LinkedIn (3.6)
• Outdoor Ads (3.6)
• Print Ads (3.6)

Top 10 Marketing Objectives for Realtors in 2010
(Cumulative Average Scores, 1 = Least Likely to Use / 10 = Most Likely to Use)

• Referrals (8.9)
• Email Campaigns (5.7)
• Postcards/Mailers (5.4)
• Featured Listings (5.2)
• Facebook (4.9)
• Print Ads (4.3)
• Blogging (4.2)
• LinkedIn (4.1)
• Online Lead Generation Services (4.0)
• YouTube (3.5)

Read more on the HomeGain Blog and Inman News.

Posted in Internet Marketing, Traditional Marketing, Blogging, Real Estate Industry, Real Estate Industry Trends, Lead Generation, Web 2.0 Marketing, National News

In this video from WRTV-ABC's Channel 6 broadcast news, learn some handy tips that won't break your budget to sell a home. Curbside appeal is #1 in attracting the customer, while upgrades and renovations in the kitchen and bathrooms will help seal the deal once a buyer's inside.

View the original clip on Clip Syndicate.

Posted in Traditional Marketing, Real Estate Industry, Home Selling Services

What is strategy and how can one strategize to compete in the real estate industry?

Real estate can be a fierce business and determining a sustainable competitive advantage for some can be difficult.

Inman News columnist Robert Hahn offers some piercing insight that shifts perspective about strategizing competitively. He first dissects the general strategies of competition and competition in real estate, offering concrete examples and thoughtful analysis.

"I struggled with this issue for years, until I shifted my thinking a wee bit. I've been looking at things from the consumer's point of view and from the Realtor's point of view. Turns out, the proper point of view is that of the brokerage," he writes. In looking at the entire brokerage, the competitve advantage lies within the entire system of the brokerage.

Read Hahn's column here.

Posted in Traditional Marketing, Real Estate Industry

Business coach Dr. Maya Bailey offers seven tips to enable entrepreuners to motivate their sphere of influence to refer to them easily and effortlessly in this post on RISMedia.

1. Script yourself: Have something to offer when you call.
2. Be a giver: Before you approach someone, ask yourself, "What can I give to them?"
3. Send a monthly gift: Think outside the "newsletter box." Remind them of you and make them think of you.
4. Don't be afraid to call them often: Trust your gut instinct about how often, but try to make it consistent and with good reason.
5. Assume the positive: You have something to offer and people want to hear from you.
6. Be excited: Excitement sells!
7. Use the Law of Attraction: Train yourself to focus on empowered beliefs to attract what you truly want.

Read more about these tips here. Dr. Bailey also offers a free report, 7 Simple Strategies for More Clients in 90 Days, available here.

Posted in Traditional Marketing, Real Estate Industry, Lead Generation