As an independent estate agent, you have no time to market yourself, but not enough valuations in the diary. It’s a vicious cycle.
So you give your junior admin your Facebook page to run, but get nothing back. You’re not even sure they’re doing it right.
So you get 20k leaflets printed and delivered, and if you’re lucky, get a lead or two. But it’s not enough to keep the diary busy.
So you sign up to Google Adwords. And agree to a page in the paper.
Then you wait by the phone.
But nothing happens.
I know you tell yourself, “I just need to work harder…hustle more… do more…”
But it’s not true.
After years of watching independent agency owners pushing themselves to the brink of exhaustion, I’ve worked out what actually gets the best results. And it’s simple.
Note I didn’t say easy…
The most effective marketing is simple.
But it’s not easy.
At AshdownJones, we’re currently spending around £300 a month on our marketing.
Our instructed fees are standing at £700k after less than 18 months
We’ve sold £5,750,000 of property in the last 4 weeks
We started from my dining room, with just “a computer and a lot of confidence”. (So says one of our disgruntled competitors…)
So can you generate new vendor enquiries from just a digital campaign?
Yes. And no.
Here’s the nitty gritty.
Digital is great. It’s (mostly) free, easy to automate and can reach 99% of people.
The tools and software available now are very user friendly, so you don’t have to be too techy to use them.
But I speak to agents all the time who have an online valuation tool on their website, but they aren’t getting leads. Or they’re posting blogs that no one is reading. Or they’ve invested in a social media management contract, but they haven’t had a single instruction through it.
The truth is, to make digital marketing work for you, you need to back it up with offline marketing.
It’s not enough on its own: it’s like trying to drive a car with flat tyres. It’ll get there eventually, but it’ll be a long slow and bumpy journey.
To get air into your digital tyres, you need to support and leverage them through smart offline campaigns.
Here are some ways in which I do this for AshdownJones:
Facebook competition – arrange with a local business owner for them to donate a prize, in return for you boosting it on your Facebook page. This combines networking (elevated to a strategic alliance) with social marketing.
Direct mail – a letter sending the recipient to a url where they can get something of value in return for an email address. Eg a letter explaining how we value a unique home, with a ValPal link.
Speaking – at a local event for women business owners in the area, and asking them all to like our Facebook page.
Ready to take you and your agency to the next level?
Then read on for a radical approach to changing your destiny – for the better.
If you want awesome results…. get an awesome coach
The right coach will keep you motivated, because sticking to your plan will become enjoyable. Seeing small improvements every week will keep you enthusiastic, and on track.
Every time your phone rings with a new market appraisal, generated by your plan, you’ll want to punch the air in triumph!
Here’s how one of my clients described my services recently:
“I cannot explain how much I highly recommend working with Sam. It will 100%, without a shadow of a doubt, change your business and your life, forever. Sam’s friendly and supportive guidance will take you and your business to the next level and beyond. After the programme you will look back, like I did, and wonder why you didn’t do it years ago.”
And another:
“Think of a library full of thousands of books with amazing new ideas for estate agents. That is basically Sam, and you come away with everything you need to blow your competitors out of the water. It’s a no brainer.”
HOWEVER…
Sadly I can’t work with everyone….
You MUST be great at what you do.
You MUST be committed to growing your business FAST! You might not know how, but that’s okay, as that’s where I come in.
Take a look at my Coaching and Consulting page here http://www.samashdown.co.uk/coaching-and-consulting and when you’re ready for a chat, get in touch on the page. If I think I might be able to help, we can arrange an initial call and take it from there.
Really looking forward to hearing from you.
What to read next: What makes a GREAT estate agent?
What to do next: Do you get my Supertips? They’re jam-packed full of great tips and marketing strategies just like this one, and best still – they’re free! Get yours here -> www.samashdown.co.uk/samsupertips
Speak to Sam: If you’d like to know how I think you could improve your marketing, just answer a few short questions here and I’ll tell you if and how you could be more effective.
