Real Estate Internet Marketing

If you were unable to attend Virtual Real Estate BarCamp on Tuesday, you missed out on many amazing presentations and tons of great real estate marketing advice. 

One presentation in particular that you didn’t want to miss was Steve Rosenbaum’s “The Best Free (and Nearly Free) Online Tools for Your Business.”  The good news is that he’s made his presentation available online.  In case you missed it the first time, or want to see it again, you will definitely want to watch and learn where to find the best web sites and programs.

Steve had hundreds of follow up requests for access to his $1,000,000 Rolodex of his favorite online real estate marketing tools and free software sites.  So, he’s made it available to all of you.  Just click on the link.

When you’re all done, make sure to download access to his list of the best real estate marketing resources.

To boosting your business,

Kathy Goughenour

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You’ve probably heard of Tim Ferris and his #1 New York Times Bestselling book The 4-Hour Work Week.  In that book, Tim shares ideas on how to build businesses using a minimum amount of of your personal time.

I like what Tim has to say for the most part, so today I’m giving you a link to watch his video for free on How to Build a High-Traffic Blog Without Killing Yourself.  This is a long video, but it has some good information on how to increase the traffic to your real estate blog.  Parts of the video are a bit too technical for me, and if they’re too technical for you too, just ignore them.

You’ll note that Tim uses Wordpress as his blog software.  That’s the blog software I highly recommend you use for your real estate blog.  If you want a reasonably priced Wordpress real estate blog created for you, go to www.sizzlingblogs.com.  Sizzling Blogs creates the best real estate blogs that look great and bring in a lot of leads.

One more thing I want to mention.  In my last post on real estate blogging, I told you about Matt Cutts, Google’s SEO guru and one of the most influential people on the internet.  You’ll notice that Tim talks about “Matt” in the beginning of this video.  He’s referring to Matt Cutts.  Oh, and by the way, Matt agrees with Tim that Wordpress is the best blog software to use. 

If you have any questions about the information Tim shares in the video, or anything else about blogging, just post a comment here, and I’ll answer fast.

To boosting traffic to your real estate blog.

Kathy Goughenour

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Have you noticed how many people claim to be experts these days when it comes to how to get your website to rank well on Google?  It makes it hard to know what to do with real estate internet marketing.

So, here’s the definitive answer on who the expert is on ranking well on Google.  His name is Matt Cutts.

Who is Matt Cutts? 
Matt Cutts is the head of the webspam department at Google.  I know that department name sounds odd, so let me make it easier.  He’s THE Google expert on search engine optimization. 

Cutts is Google’s direct line of communication to the public and he tells us exactly what Google want us to do – and how they want us to do it.  Sometimes his suggestions can be a bit vague, but usually he speaks in plain English that we average web users can understand.

Here’s a link to an article with Search Engine Optimization Tips for Bloggers from Matt Cutts.

Have questions about how to get your real estate blog or website to bring in more leads?  Ask them in the comments.  I promise I’ll answer you personally.

To boosting your real estate internet marketing leads,

Kathy Goughenour

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I have a suggestion for you today on how to create real estate marketing materials that will bring you extraordinary success.  But, you’re going to have to keep an open mind about this idea because it’s an unusual suggestion that many agents will immediately respond to by thinking, “I can’t do it.”

This is a marketing idea that I’m personally putting into action this year to generate leads for my own business.  So here’s the idea:  Self-publish a non-fiction book.

Did I lose you?  Give me one more minute to tell you how this will skyrocket your business.  It will:

1. Generate an amazing number of leads. Imagine having a book you’ve written on one of the most visited websites – Amazon.com.  Yes, when you self-publish a book using the method I’m going to recommend, your book will be on Amazon.com.
2. Educate people about real estate. I’m sure you’ll agree that a client who understands real estate and who knows what you do as a real estate agent is the very best kind of client to have.  What better way to educate them than through a book you’ve authored.
3. Provide proof that you are a real estate expert. Statistics show that of all the information products a book has the greatest potential to brand you as an expert and open doors that will boost your business into the stratosphere.
4. Become the very best gift ever to give to potential clients. Can you imagine pulling out a book that you’ve authored during your listing presentation and handing it to your potential clients?  It’s sure to impress.
5. Set you apart from other real estate agents. How many real estate agents do you know who have published a book?  I can’t think of a better way to differentiate you from your competition.
6. Supply you with another stream of income. When you self-publish, you get all the profits from the book, not just a royalty.  Who couldn’t use another stream of income?

I could go on and on but I think I’ll stop here.  If you’re interested in discovering more ways self-publishing a non-fiction book helps generate business, listen to this free interview Why Becoming a Book Author Can Change Your Life.

If you’re still with me, I’d like to recommend two ways you can learn how to write and self-publish a book:

• Least expensive figure-it-out-yourself method:  Purchase the book Publishize.
• More expensive, but more effective, coaching method:  Sign up for the 90-day Book Challenge.

If you want to start right away, sign up for the 90-day Book Challenge that starts on January 26.  You’ll be in the training with me because I’m already signed up.

If you need more time to think about it, check back in a month or so to find out when the next 90-day Book Challenge starts.

I’ll keep you posted on the progress of my book.  Please do the same for me with your book.  In fact, when your book is published, I’d love to promote it on this blog and do an interview with you about it.  So, let me know!

To creating your own extraordinarily successful real estate marketing materials,

Kathy Goughenour

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This morning I read an article from Susan Daffron, expert business writer, editor, trainer and marketer.  In her article Follow Your Own Path, she suggests that just because a marketing guru tells you that you “have to” do something because everyone else is doing it doesn’t mean it’s the right way you should be marketing your real estate business.   She goes on to say,

“You are an individual with your own strengths and weaknesses. If you’re a great speaker, you may consider doing teleseminars or in-person events to market. If you are a shy hermit who wants to stay behind a keyboard, those options may not align with your personality. For you, sending out newsletters or writing articles may be better marketing options. Don’t try and be someone you’re not.”

I’d like to add one suggestion to Susan’s idea.  If marketing your real estate business is important to you, and there’s a method you’d like to try that isn’t easy for you to do, consider outsourcing it.

For example, I know that adding video to my website and blog is a great idea.  But I don’t know how to do that and don’t want to invest the hours and hours it would take me to learn how.  Instead, I’m outsourcing the video creation process to a Virtual Assistant who is an expert at creating video.

Here’s another example.  Do you want to market your real estate business by blogging but don’t know how?  You can learn how for free by downloading my guide Blogging 101:  A Real Estate Agent’s Guide to Building Business and Generating Tons of Leads Online.  Just fill out the simple form on that page (the form is on the right-hand side about halfway down the page).

If you already have a blog but are struggling to write the blog content, consider becoming a member of my Lead Booster Club.  As a member, you receive 20 pre-written, easy-to-customize blog posts each month for only $29.95.

To marketing your real estate business your way,

Kathy Goughenour

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If you’re like me, you had a full plate during the holidays.  And now that you’re back to work, you’ve spent most of your time trying to plow through your email and inbox.  You’re finally ready to start thinking about your 2009 real estate internet marketing.

Well, I’m giving you the very first task to add your real estate internet marketing to-do list.  Change your dates.

Anything on your website or real estate blog with a 2008 date will make your site appear old and outdated.  That’s why you’ll want to make sure dates appearing on your sites are current.

For example, if you display copyright dates on your web pages (which you should), make sure they read 2009.

Same is true with content containing dates.  For example, the phrase ‘New for 2008′ already sounds outdated – while ‘New for 2009′ sounds fresh.

Change these date references in your postcards, flyers, email drip campaigns, brochures, listing presentations – in fact, everywhere.

These small changes can freshen the look of your entire website – and keep your site from becoming stale.

To success with your 2009 real estate internet marketing,

Kathy Goughenour

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I just read a brilliant idea for extremely effective real estate marketing materials.  Seth Godin wrote about this idea in his blog post Time to Start a Newspaper.

Unless you’re a very rare real estate agent, you have more time than money on your hands these days.  So, it’s time to start thinking about how you can best use your time to generate business, not only for this year, but for the years to come.

Read and implement Seth’s idea of starting your own local newspaper.  It’s extremely inexpensive (practically free) and will build your brand in leaps and bounds.

If you want to add real estate tips and articles to your newspaper (which is a great way to add value to your newspaper), consider joining my Lead Booster Club.  For only $29.95 a month, you get 20 pre-written real estate articles every month on hot real estate topics.  That’ll make the job of filling up your newspaper with great information easy and inexpensive.

If you have any questions on how to implement Seth Godin’s idea, post your question in the comment section.  I promise to answer!  And when you start your newspaper, be sure to let me know.  I want to blog about it here.

Seth Godin’s idea is only one of many real estate marketing ideas I’ll be sharing with you during 2009.  If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to this blog by simply filling in your email address in the top left-hand corner of this page and clicking submit.  You’ll automatically receive my tips in your email inbox… and it’s free.  So, take 30 seconds and sign up now.

To creating successful real estate marketing materials,

Kathy Goughenour

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As real estate agents scramble for listings and struggle to sell houses in today’s tough economy, they need to stand out to home sellers and buyers as savvy, resourceful, and in touch.  According to real estate marketing expert Kathy Goughenour, the easiest way to accomplish this is by highlighting pertinent, in-depth real estate content in blogs, newsletters, direct mail or tips.  Goughenour’s marketing service for real estate agents makes that method even easier by providing 20 customizable content pieces a month for just $29.95 (www.leadboosterclub.com).

“Whether they choose to distribute these content nuggets as articles, blog posts, postcards, part of a newsletter or ‘drip campaign’ tips, they’re easy to customize with the agent’s personality and local references,” says Goughenour, whose Lead Booster Club provides 20 content pieces a month as a benefit of membership in the program.  “With this timely, well-researched material on everything from saving money on home maintenance to pricing strategies for an economic downturn, an agent comes across as caring and knowledgeable – without having to spend time coming up with facts and ideas.”  (more…)

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A special book promotion that will help you build your real estate agent personal branding is happening today only – Thursday, December 11, 2008! The book is called Publishize: How to Quickly and Affordably Self-Publish a Book that Promotes Your Expertise. It is written by Susan Daffron, who is a brilliant writer and marketer.

Publishize is Susan’s ninth book. In it, you’ll find all her best self-publishing secrets that made it possible for her to self-publish 8 books in less than 18 months.  I’ve now purchased 2 of her 8 books and know first-hand how well-written and informative they are.  And, I know getting a book published on any real estate topic will help you build your real estate agent personal branding in a multitude of powerful ways.

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Do you understand how tags help your real estate internet marketing?  Perhaps you’d like to know their purpose, how they relate to keywords, and whether or not they should be used the same way as keywords.

Betty Byrnes, a Kokomo real estate agent who is a member of my Lead Booster Club, recently asked me these questions about real estate internet marketing.

I researched Betty’s questions, and found that several experts had already answered them.  Here’s what I found.

The bottom line is that keywords and tags are different names for the exact same thing.  I’ll let the experts give you the details: (more…)

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