Do you remember when Starbucks stopped offering FREE WIFI? I do. I do because it was the last time that I met clients at Starbucks. I am a title rep for a national title insurance company in Phoenix AZ. I help my clients (REALTORS) get found on the internet. It’s because of this that I need my laptop to show my clients how to use Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Yelp, WordPress and most importantly, how to use them together. Something that is not fun on a wireless card. So, when Starbucks stopped offering FREE WIFI, I went to one of their competitors, where the WIFI is plentiful. It was probably an expensive decision for Starbucks to make. I know it cost them business. How much? Well… Lets assume that there are 10 other people throughout the whole country that felt the way that I did and took their $6 to a competitor. Those 10 people, (getting coffee everyday) represent $2,190 per year. Not much right? Unless of course there were a 1000 people that took their $6 somewhere else, once again an underestimate I am sure. Those 1000 people represent $2,190,000 in lost revenue. What’s my point? Don’t be stingy? Not really, Give to receive. I would have kept going to Starbucks every day, if they hadn’t made my job harder.
How does this carry over into your real estate business? Give to receive! This concept may be contrary to many of the “Old Timers” in the business. By old timers I mean 2000 and before. No, I’m joking. But not really. Anyway. Give to receive. Many of you in the business remember being on floor time, (yes I said it-floor time) and getting a call from a potential customer inquiring about a listing of your brokerage. Most remember the mentality of not giving any information away until and unless the person either provided contact info or agreed to set an appointment to see the listing. Remember these little gems?
Consumer: “yes, I would like some information on 1234 E main street”
Agent: Well what are you looking for?
Consumer: Well, how many bedrooms are there?
Agent: Well how many would you like?
and around and around and around and etc..
OK. now if you are still doing that (floor time), no I mean that kind of dialogue with potential customers-STOP!
Why? Well I sincerely doubt that you are still doing Floor Time and if you are, please call me….. I can help. (Really)
OK, STOP. This is the information age, The age of SHARING! So SHARE! Some agents don’t give away anything, not even information until a potential customer makes the 1st move, (buyer-broker agreement) registration on a website or maybe a verbal commitment. This could be a mistake.
You have a wealth of information from your vast experience as a Realtor. Most of you have “seen it all” well, until something absolutely crazy happens and then you have seen it all again. Anyway, You have a wealth of information that many of you are reluctant to share. Why?
Catch this: You are more likely to get a customer drawn to you because of your willingness to share than not. Yep, I said it. I mean, the internet is your friend. (Unless you are a kid in which case stay away.) Wink
Ok, so, if you follow me in any capacity you know that I often recite statistics on the number of your customers that go to the internet when looking for information, real estate, etc.. If you know what you are doing (and I can help you if you don’t) you can share your expertise in a blog or a video or a tweet. And help your customers find you. Its called Inbound Marketing. What kind of information?
What’s a short sale?
How does a short sale work?
Whats an REO?
Whats a Trustee Sale?
After Foreclosure How Long Do I have?
Process of buying an REO/shortsale
Do you qualify for a short sale?
Strategic Default
Short Sale and 1099
Pretty much anything that a customer asks you is of value to more than just that person.
This is the kind of information that your customers type into Google. This is the kind of value added information they want. So give it to them! If I want information about whether or not short sale is right for me, and I type into GOOGLE “Is short sale right for me” and I come up with your blog or video blog or tweet etc… that answered my question, am I more or less likely to call you? (If you said less-click the red dot on the top left on your MAC or the red X on the right side of your PC and sign off because you are not listening.)
Marketing has changed. You can bring your clients to you, you don’t need to spend all of your time looking for them. If you are fortunate enough to have a buyer come across your website and you require a registration to “search the MLS”, they are most likely going to do what I and countless others at Starbucks did, back out and move on to a competitor. Provide the information they want and need but make sure your value proposition is clear. Why should someone work with you? Are you going to save me time and/or money? Want to be successful at Real estate marketing? Be the answer to my question when I type whatever it is in Google. Remember, 87% of all searches happen in Google.
Great News! Starbucks has reversed course and now provides FREE WIFI again, so I will be heading back over there to meet with my clients. Anyone want to join me? I hope to see you there.
How do you give to receive?
If you are a Realtor in Arizona that would like help with your real estate marketing, specifically “getting found”, call, email, DM, Tweet, Smoke Signal, Bat Signal me. (By the way, I don’t know if it is really called a Bat signal but Ryan Johnson with Keller Williams East Valley in Tempe AZ said it was, blame him if its wrong, not me.)

















