To be a successful real estate investor, you need to be constantly adding to your knowledge base - especially when it comes to:
Current national real estate sales and price trends
Local trends that influence where people want to live
Local employment, industrial, and job creation activities
Neighborhood dynamics (whether the population is growing or declining)
Resources for everything from loans to renovation
Knowledge comes from many sources and directions.
Make sure you get your information from someone who is active in the current market - not someone stuck in the pre-bubble days. That's why those working the Home Seller Assist program, createdby John Alexander and also known as We Provide The Cash are doing so well in this market.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Real Estate Marketing - Keeping Your Blog Updated For Success!
By Rebekah Jones
Beginning a blog can sometimes seem overwhelming when you realize that you must continuously update your Home Seller Assist blog in order for it to be effective. So where are you going to get all your information? How are you going to keep your content fresh and interesting? Here are three simple ways to maintain your blog.
Article Writing
Do you have articles that you have written? If so, you can break them into meaningful 100-120 word parts and use each part as a blog entry or "post". For instance, if you wrote an article that gave three tips for first time home buyers, you could use each tip as a separate blog post and have three posts all ready to go! If you haven't written articles, you can still use this concept. Take a moment and write down three key thoughts that you want your blog readers to know. Write just a few sentences for each thought and you have your next three blog posts. Add an introduction and conclusion and you have your first article too!
Finding RSS Feeds
Sometimes just coming up with what to say can be a challenge. Need an idea or something to motivate you? Try looking online for news feeds. Using RSS (Really Simple Syndication) you can access those news feeds through a feed reader such as Google Reader. Review the news sources that you find and see what resonates with you. Pick one you think your blog readers will like and write a short review of the article. Post the review along with a link to the actual article.
Building Relationships
In creating your blog posts, keep in mind the main reason you are actually working with a blog. You want to create relationships with people. A side benefit of that would be to actually work with those people as clients and customers. But first and foremost, you want to create connections. You do this through a blog by showing that you are a real person. Each item you post doesn't have to be solely business related. Share something that is interesting for you as well. Comment on local things happening in your area. Share links to websites that you have found useful. Brag on your kid or grand kid every once in a while. The key here is to come across to your blog readers as a real person, interested in the same things that they are.
You will find, as with anything, the more you post to your blog the easier it becomes. Make a habit of posting once or twice a week and see how quickly you are able to dash off posts here and there. Before you know it, you'll be helping others do the same thing! And now I would like to invite you to see a Real Estate blog in action at http://myrealtysuccess.com/. While there, if you are interested in Social Networking, claim your Free Instant Access to my e-course "Your First Social Network" to learn the beginning steps to Social Networking!
From Rebekah Jones, Real Estate Virtual Assistant and the MyRealtySuccess.com network.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebekah_Jones
Beginning a blog can sometimes seem overwhelming when you realize that you must continuously update your Home Seller Assist blog in order for it to be effective. So where are you going to get all your information? How are you going to keep your content fresh and interesting? Here are three simple ways to maintain your blog.
Article Writing
Do you have articles that you have written? If so, you can break them into meaningful 100-120 word parts and use each part as a blog entry or "post". For instance, if you wrote an article that gave three tips for first time home buyers, you could use each tip as a separate blog post and have three posts all ready to go! If you haven't written articles, you can still use this concept. Take a moment and write down three key thoughts that you want your blog readers to know. Write just a few sentences for each thought and you have your next three blog posts. Add an introduction and conclusion and you have your first article too!
Finding RSS Feeds
Sometimes just coming up with what to say can be a challenge. Need an idea or something to motivate you? Try looking online for news feeds. Using RSS (Really Simple Syndication) you can access those news feeds through a feed reader such as Google Reader. Review the news sources that you find and see what resonates with you. Pick one you think your blog readers will like and write a short review of the article. Post the review along with a link to the actual article.
Building Relationships
In creating your blog posts, keep in mind the main reason you are actually working with a blog. You want to create relationships with people. A side benefit of that would be to actually work with those people as clients and customers. But first and foremost, you want to create connections. You do this through a blog by showing that you are a real person. Each item you post doesn't have to be solely business related. Share something that is interesting for you as well. Comment on local things happening in your area. Share links to websites that you have found useful. Brag on your kid or grand kid every once in a while. The key here is to come across to your blog readers as a real person, interested in the same things that they are.
You will find, as with anything, the more you post to your blog the easier it becomes. Make a habit of posting once or twice a week and see how quickly you are able to dash off posts here and there. Before you know it, you'll be helping others do the same thing! And now I would like to invite you to see a Real Estate blog in action at http://myrealtysuccess.com/. While there, if you are interested in Social Networking, claim your Free Instant Access to my e-course "Your First Social Network" to learn the beginning steps to Social Networking!
From Rebekah Jones, Real Estate Virtual Assistant and the MyRealtySuccess.com network.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebekah_Jones
Thursday, February 19, 2009
How long should my sales copy be to convince people to buy?
This is a very common question, and there's a very easy answer...
You copy should be as long as it needs to be, and no longer.
That's all there is to it.
Now, most of the time, longer copy gives you more space to make a solid case for your product. That can be particularly important for a product with a high price point (you have to overcome more potential price resistance).
But don't assume that longer copy will sell better. Sometimes shorter copy does a superior job, because you're not making people read a lot before they decide.
This is a place where testing is a must. Write copy that seems long enough to make your case, then test it to see if making it longer or shorter sells better.
That's the only way to know for sure.
You copy should be as long as it needs to be, and no longer.
That's all there is to it.
Now, most of the time, longer copy gives you more space to make a solid case for your product. That can be particularly important for a product with a high price point (you have to overcome more potential price resistance).
But don't assume that longer copy will sell better. Sometimes shorter copy does a superior job, because you're not making people read a lot before they decide.
This is a place where testing is a must. Write copy that seems long enough to make your case, then test it to see if making it longer or shorter sells better.
That's the only way to know for sure.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Getting Out of the Box
By Zig Ziglar
Many people set low ceilings on their expectations and capabilities. In the process, they place themselves in a "box." Alexander Whortley took that a step further and literally lived in a box. It was a mini-trailer, three feet wide, four feet long, and five feet high. He lived there until he died at the age of eighty. His box was made of wood, had a metal roof, and it housed him and all his meager belongings. Regardless of where he worked, Whortley chose to spend his life in that cramped space, even though larger, more comfortable quarters were always available.
Few of us live in a "box." However, too many of us have a tendency to "box" ourselves in and continue to do things one way because we've "always done it this way." In many cases, time and experience have proven that "this way" is the best way. However, I challenge you to periodically take a long walk or quietly sit and think about the way you do things. Ask yourself if there might not be a better way. Could your procedures be simplified? Are they necessary at all? Could they be done more cheaply or efficiently? Could your product be longer? Shorter? A different shape? Another fabric? Another color? Sometimes you can come up with simple ideas that make a big difference. Incidentally, one advantage of a continual personal-growth-and-education way of life is that the broader and deeper your knowledge base, the more creative your problem-solving approach to life.
(That's what we do at Home Seller Assist )
Simple example: For years men's coats had an inside pocket only on the right where pens and other items were kept. One day somebody had a thought: Since most men are right-handed, why not put a pocket on the inside left so that they could reach in, extract the pen with their right hand, and begin writing? Not monumental, but it saves a second or two and it's sold lots of suits. Think about it and I'll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!
Zig Ziglar is a motivator and teacher. He is the author of 27 books and loved by millions of people world wide for his practical wisdom and his gift of hope.
Many people set low ceilings on their expectations and capabilities. In the process, they place themselves in a "box." Alexander Whortley took that a step further and literally lived in a box. It was a mini-trailer, three feet wide, four feet long, and five feet high. He lived there until he died at the age of eighty. His box was made of wood, had a metal roof, and it housed him and all his meager belongings. Regardless of where he worked, Whortley chose to spend his life in that cramped space, even though larger, more comfortable quarters were always available.
Few of us live in a "box." However, too many of us have a tendency to "box" ourselves in and continue to do things one way because we've "always done it this way." In many cases, time and experience have proven that "this way" is the best way. However, I challenge you to periodically take a long walk or quietly sit and think about the way you do things. Ask yourself if there might not be a better way. Could your procedures be simplified? Are they necessary at all? Could they be done more cheaply or efficiently? Could your product be longer? Shorter? A different shape? Another fabric? Another color? Sometimes you can come up with simple ideas that make a big difference. Incidentally, one advantage of a continual personal-growth-and-education way of life is that the broader and deeper your knowledge base, the more creative your problem-solving approach to life.
(That's what we do at Home Seller Assist )
Simple example: For years men's coats had an inside pocket only on the right where pens and other items were kept. One day somebody had a thought: Since most men are right-handed, why not put a pocket on the inside left so that they could reach in, extract the pen with their right hand, and begin writing? Not monumental, but it saves a second or two and it's sold lots of suits. Think about it and I'll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!
Zig Ziglar is a motivator and teacher. He is the author of 27 books and loved by millions of people world wide for his practical wisdom and his gift of hope.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Don't be cheap about your education
Success in the Home Seller Assist program isn't for those of extreme luck or talent, it's for those that prepare to be successes by learning what works and doing it.
They bought and learned everything they could about their industry and about the topic of marketing. They defined a plan for achievement that fit them and they started testing. Then they let their results dictate what worked and what didn't.
Don't be cheap about your education. If it has to do with you're industry, Buy it, Read it, Think about how you can apply it to your Home Seller Assist business, Test it, And if works keep on doing it!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Goodbye Mediocrity
You, I, WE…we weren’t born to be average.
We weren’t born to strive for mediocrity in life.
We weren’t born to spend our lives at jobs we can’t stand.
You were born for GREATNESS.
You were born to accomplish.
You were born to have fun, be happy, serve others, and be
fulfilled.
You weren’t born to struggle unnecessarily.
Yes, I’m all for improving yourself and going to seminars.
I’ve been working on myself for years.
What I'm trying to get across to you is this.
Make your move. Now.
Start letting go of the pains from your past that still hurt
you.
Start becoming your own cheerleader.
Start a part time business. Stay focused on it.
Start becoming more valuable to others. This precedes massive
success.
Start becoming an example to your kids of what’s possible in
life.
Start moving outside of your ‘comfortable’ circle of
influence and stretch yourself.
Start reducing the time you spend with negative people.
Start making other people feel more important and
appreciated.
Amigo, you and I both know this.
YOU have so much more you can offer, share, and accomplish.
Am I right, yes or yes?
Good. Get going.
Wave goodbye to the days of aiming for perfection.
You don’t have to get it right, YOU just have to get it
going.
Get going.
The world desperately needs you. It does.
The fastest way to change your own life is to help someone
else change theirs. First.
My friend, YOUR best days are ahead of you and they’re
excited to see you too.
Separate yourself from 97% of the world. “How?”
Simple.
Start. Get going. Stay focused.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
"Don'ts" for Difficult Times
1. Don't panic. You can't sit still, but you also don't want to swerve like a drunk on ice skates. Cycles happen. Sometimes they happen hard, but we'll come back around eventually.
2. Cut fat, not muscle. And marketing is muscle. A slowdown is the ideal time to snatch up market share.
3. Don't water down your sales message to "go wide." When you're desperate for customers, it's easy to try to widen your market appeal. Stick to your focus. Just get better at it.
4. Watch out for "discount training." If you keep offering "special deals," eventually the deals are no longer special. And all you're doing is training your customers to learn to wait for the next deal instead of buying right now.
5. Don't ignore the facts, just have a plan. You can't wish away the economic crisis by ignoring it. Mention it to your employees, but do so in the context of showing leadership on how to get past it.
2. Cut fat, not muscle. And marketing is muscle. A slowdown is the ideal time to snatch up market share.
3. Don't water down your sales message to "go wide." When you're desperate for customers, it's easy to try to widen your market appeal. Stick to your focus. Just get better at it.
4. Watch out for "discount training." If you keep offering "special deals," eventually the deals are no longer special. And all you're doing is training your customers to learn to wait for the next deal instead of buying right now.
5. Don't ignore the facts, just have a plan. You can't wish away the economic crisis by ignoring it. Mention it to your employees, but do so in the context of showing leadership on how to get past it.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Perfectionism
Striving to be perfect was always my biggest challenge. My business associates and partners loved giving me projects because I would pull out all the stops and become completely devoted to getting it done... and done right.
It didn't matter to me how much time or energy I had to spend - my pride demanded perfection.
What I finally learned was:
My perception of perfection was usually more than what was expected.
The last 10 percent of a project - the time it takes to get things "perfect" - takes just as long to complete as the first 90 percent.
Project goals change all the time. So it's better to come within 90 percent of my idea of perfection and save a little time for the inevitable changes.
Bottom line: Stay in motion. Aim for good, push through the modifications that arise, and then... aim for better and repeat the process until the desired results are achieved.
It didn't matter to me how much time or energy I had to spend - my pride demanded perfection.
What I finally learned was:
My perception of perfection was usually more than what was expected.
The last 10 percent of a project - the time it takes to get things "perfect" - takes just as long to complete as the first 90 percent.
Project goals change all the time. So it's better to come within 90 percent of my idea of perfection and save a little time for the inevitable changes.
Bottom line: Stay in motion. Aim for good, push through the modifications that arise, and then... aim for better and repeat the process until the desired results are achieved.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Cure Yourself of This Success-Thwarting "Bug"
By Suzanne Richardson
The most common cause of failure, says Michael Masterson, is procrastination. The thief of dreams.
You're a procrastinator if you have ever said something like...
"I'm definitely going to lose weight this year. I'll start exercising on Monday."
Or, "I'm going to reorganize my files just as soon as I catch up on all this paperwork."
Or, "Once our busy season ends, I'm going to start that Home Seller Assist side business."
If you've caught the procrastination "bug," you don't have to resign yourself to a lifetime of unfinished projects and unfulfilled dreams. Michael has a simple cure: Institute a 24-hour rule for getting started on a goal.
"Whenever I come to the conclusion that I 'have to' do something, I give myself 24 hours to take at least the first step toward getting it done," says Michael.
"I write it down on my daily task list. It's highlighted in yellow. If it isn't crossed out by the end of the day as 'done,' I cancel all appointments for the following day and commit to doing nothing else. I don't take phone calls. I don't read e-mail. I don't allow people to come into my office for emergency visits. I come in early - extra early - and do nothing else but work on it."
The 24-hour rule will put an end to your procrastination. And when that happens, imagine all the accomplishments you'll chalk up, the goals you'll achieve, the dreams you'll finally see become reality.
The most common cause of failure, says Michael Masterson, is procrastination. The thief of dreams.
You're a procrastinator if you have ever said something like...
"I'm definitely going to lose weight this year. I'll start exercising on Monday."
Or, "I'm going to reorganize my files just as soon as I catch up on all this paperwork."
Or, "Once our busy season ends, I'm going to start that Home Seller Assist side business."
If you've caught the procrastination "bug," you don't have to resign yourself to a lifetime of unfinished projects and unfulfilled dreams. Michael has a simple cure: Institute a 24-hour rule for getting started on a goal.
"Whenever I come to the conclusion that I 'have to' do something, I give myself 24 hours to take at least the first step toward getting it done," says Michael.
"I write it down on my daily task list. It's highlighted in yellow. If it isn't crossed out by the end of the day as 'done,' I cancel all appointments for the following day and commit to doing nothing else. I don't take phone calls. I don't read e-mail. I don't allow people to come into my office for emergency visits. I come in early - extra early - and do nothing else but work on it."
The 24-hour rule will put an end to your procrastination. And when that happens, imagine all the accomplishments you'll chalk up, the goals you'll achieve, the dreams you'll finally see become reality.
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