ESPN named Vince Lombardi "Coach of the Century." In 1959, Vince Lombardi took over as head coach of the hapless Green Bay Packers with a record of 1-10-1. Starting from day one, he transformed the Green Bay Packers from perennial losers to champions. In doing so, he was a great motivator and instilled in his players a sense of commitment and mental toughness. Over 9 seasons, he amassed 89 wins culminating in six divisional championships, five NFL championships and two Superbowl victories.
His Business Philosophy - The Second Effort
Vince Lombardi developed players who were committed to the "second effort." In football terms, the "second effort" was the additional effort expended after the initial hit. It required the player to surge ahead after initially being stopped. Vince Lombardi explained that "football is a game of inches." For Lombardi, it was important to take advantage of each opportunity. The Lombardi philosophy transcends football and can easily be applied to sales. In fact, in 1969, Vince Lombardi directed and produced an instructional sakes video entitled "The Second Effort" in which he applied his on-the-field philosophy to sales. Here is a clip from the movie: The Second Effort.
212 Movie - The Extra Degree
Adopting a similar principle, Sam Parker developed the concept of the "extra degree" and directed a movie entitled "212 - The Extra Degree." In the movie, Mr. Parker initially uses the physical properties of water to show how the "extra degree" makes a difference. At 211 degrees, water is simply hot. At 212 degrees, water boils and produces steam. The initial premise is that the "extra degree" is the difference between inert water and steam that can, for example, power a train. From this initial premise, Sam Parker uses examples from sports ranging from golf to auto racing to swimming and more to show that the difference between winning and losing. Mr. Parker quantifies the difference both in terms of the small difference between first place and second place using number strokes, car lengths, seconds, etc. and the difference in the payout between first place and second place. Here is a link to the 212 Movie on the Just212.com website: 212 Movie.
Keys to Success
Whether you are motivated by the words of Vince Lombardi or by images of the 212 movie, the underlying principles are the same. Success at sales starts with a winning attitude. Here are the keys to developing a winning sales philosophy:
Be Positive - Visualize Success - Winning is a Habit.
Decide on your Goals - Develop a Plan - Take Action Now.
Never Stop Improving and Learning - Make Adjustments - Learn from Mistakes
Be Persistent - Work Hard - Develop your Own Winning Style - Do More than Others.
Take Control - Be Responsible for your Actions.
If you are looking to elevate your sales performance, the 212 Movie or The Second Effort are both worth a look. Both videos are available for purchase for commercial use at sales meetings.
PREA Signature Realty is a full service brokerage located at 1709 Park Avenue in the Lafayette Square neighborhood of the City of St. Louis. PREA Signature proudly serves the following city neighborhoods: Lafayette Square, Soulard, Benton Park, Benton Park West, Downtown Loft District, Forest Park Southwest, Central West End, Tower Grove East, Tower Grove South, Compton Heights, Shaw, The Hill, Dogtown, Carondelet, Holly Hills, St. Louis Hills, Dutchtown, and the Other Historic Neighborhoods of the City of Saint Louis, Missouri.
The opinions expressed herein represent the opinions of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of PREA Signature Realty. All photos and written content were produced by PREA Signature Realty. All Rights Reserved - PREA Signature Realty (2009). This content may not be reproduced or reprinted, except for Active Rain re-blogging, without express written permission of PREA Signature Realty.
Yesterday, I posted an article to my ActiveRain blog entitled "Stop Annoying Your Facebook Connections - Use SeeMyListings.com to Place Your Listings on Your Profile Page." It was a pretty simple post. It described how you could use the www.SeeMyListings.com widget from the National Association of Realtors and Realtor.com to place your listings on your Facebook profile page and eliminate or at least reduce those "just listed" type status updates that can be annoying to friends, family and colleagues on social networking sites.
The response from AR members and subscribers to my AR and outside AR blogs was positive with most comments being something along the lines of "Thanks... I didn't know that about the listing widget." Given these comments, I posted the article as a link in a status update on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Again, I received positive comments so I also posted to several LinkedIn groups. Again, 99% of the responses were extremely positive. In the NAR LinkedIn group, it seemed to provoke a storm of protests from the self-proclaimed "social media police" and "social media gurus." It seemed odd for two separate reasons: first, the listing widget was created by Realtor.com for use by Realtors, and, second, it was intended to allow Realtors to show their listings without bombarding or annoying their "friends" on Facebook with listing information. Realtor.com has held tech seminars around the country this year and the listing widget has been offered in these seminars as a preferred method of presenting listings over repetitive status updates. Nevertheless, the discussion posted to the NAR LinkedIn group seemed to be controversial.
Here are a few of the comments that I wanted to share from the LinkedIn discussion:
It always bothers me when people continue to use social media to do sales. The reason social media has evolved is because people are tired of traditional sales and advertising practices. Consumers look to their inner circle for trusted influencers. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn are all places to network, be social and expand one's influence by providing value, not flashing your business card and homes for sale in everyone's face... Spamming these sites doesn't help the agent who has the listing. It harms them. I unfollow, block and basically turn a blind eye to their listing spam and them. It's an indication of a lack of understanding the simple basics of social networking.
OK go ahead and post your widget. Turn FB into a marketing site. My point is the origin of social networking is exactly NOT about what you are doing. It is repeating the same repulsive behavior that has been annoying us on TV, the radio and in print media. The consumer is sick of being SOLD. They want to connect with a trusted advisor they find personally or comes recommended to them. I can see your point about having the widget on the profile. Of course since FB is a walled garden, only your friends can see your widget. Tell me this, what is the point? If it doesn't get traffic why bother? I prefer not to risk being put in the same class as spammers and that is what it is to me when you put ads on a social networking site.
I agree with Xxxxxx, FB is not for listings. You can go ahead and post them there, but I will remove anyone from my "favorite" friends list and move them to the "other" list that I rarely if ever review. If you would like to post an interesting article, with a link to your listing, then that would be much better. For example, I posted regarding investment property. I posted it to FB and got quite a few visits back to my site. An alternative is to set up a business FB page, then let people that want those ads to become a fan. When Realtors complain about your postings, that is a good sign to back off on sending those. Use an email broadcast, much better.
I am glad that I will never see your advertising because I will never visit your profile. Facebook is for social-media and not for your listings, but I believe that has been mentioned to you on the above posts.
Now, I actually respect the commentator who made the first two comments. However, I fundamentally disagree with her position. Here are a few points to consider:
Opt-In Procedures: Unlike e-mail marketing suggested by one of the commentators above, most social networking sites (including Facebook and LinkedIn) are opt-in, permission based sites. That is, your connections or friends on these sites have to accept you before they receive any communications(status updates or other items) from you. If you overstep the bound or unwritten rules of the sites, people will simply opt-out.
Passive Nature of Profiles: Unlike status updates, posting listings using the listing widget on your Facebook profile or using Slideshare.net or Box.net on your LinkedIn profile doesn't post or send any announcement to your connections or friends. It is passive in nature and is accessed only by someone who is looking at or reading your profile.
Distinctions between Permission Based Advertising and Spam: Use of the listing widget isn't "spamming." By definition, "spam" is an unsolicited, commercial communication. In the case of the listing widget, it isn't unsolicited because the friend or connection has opt-ed into your network. In addition, it isn't even a communication. There is no e-mail, notification, etc. sent or posted. That said, the person must actually go to your profile to take a look at your listings.
Uses of Listing Widget: The listing widget is an important tool. The ability to show potential clients your current listings can bolster your expertise and credibility. If you sell a particular neighborhood or have a narrow field of expertise, the listing widget allows friends and connections who are potential clients to see the number of listings, price ranges, types of housing, etc. which can be effectively used to enhance your status as a neighborhood expert or specialist.
Some members of social networks want to preserve social networks as a pristine, commercial-free playground of thought and discussion. In reality, LinkedIn and Facebook are or at least can be powerful marketing tools when used right. The fact that businesses are actively promoting their presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter is a pretty good sign of the marketing potential held by these sites.
Oddly, I don't disagree with the underlying premise of the comments above - that is, ad and marketing machines on social networking sites aren't effective. However, I don't view a listing widget on your Facebook page as contaminating or fundamentally changing the social nature of sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook. When I look at most profiles on Facebook, I often see a link to one's website. The website is typically their company website or personal business website. My question is:Is using a listing widget on one's Facebook profile really any different than having a Facebook profile with a link to a person's business website?
PREA Signature Realty is a full service brokerage located at 1709 Park Avenue in the Lafayette Square neighborhood of the City of St. Louis. PREA Signature proudly serves the following city neighborhoods: Lafayette Square, Soulard, Benton Park, Benton Park West, Downtown Loft District, Forest Park Southwest, Central West End, Tower Grove East, Tower Grove South, Compton Heights, Shaw, The Hill, Dogtown, Carondelet, Holly Hills, St. Louis Hills, Dutchtown, and the Other Historic Neighborhoods of the City of Saint Louis, Missouri.
The opinions expressed herein represent the opinions of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of PREA Signature Realty. All photos and written content were produced by PREA Signature Realty. All Rights Reserved - PREA Signature Realty (2009). This content may not be reproduced or reprinted, except for Active Rain re-blogging, without express written permission of PREA Signature Realty.
The Marketing Machine - Annoying your Friends, Family and Other Members of Your Social Network
Social networking sites such as Facebook can be great tools for keeping in touch with members of your sphere of influence. Keeping your friends and family informed of your professional interests is an appropriate use of social networking sites. However, there is a fine line between sharing your professional insights and experiences on social networking sites and using social networking sites as an advertising and marketing machine. For those new to social networking sites, it is easy to take the wrong approach to social networking by blasting your listing information repeatedly to your connections.
Use SeeMyListings.com Widget to Place Your Listings on Your Facebook Profile
For Facebook users, there is now a simple solution. Use the listing widget provided by the National Association of Realtors and Realtor.com to place your listings on your Facebook profile. Here are the steps:
Step 5 - Click on "Add to Profile" or "Update Listings."
In a few simple steps, you are able to automate the addition of your listings to your Facebook profile. Given the number of Realtors who I am connected to on Facebook who aren't using this feature, I thought I would post this this short how-to post to get them motivated. Five easy steps to get your listings on Facebook without annoying your friends, family and even colleagues.
PREA Signature Realty is a full service brokerage located at 1709 Park Avenue in the Lafayette Square neighborhood of the City of St. Louis. PREA Signature proudly serves the following city neighborhoods: Lafayette Square, Soulard, Benton Park, Benton Park West, Downtown Loft District, Forest Park Southwest, Central West End, Tower Grove East, Tower Grove South, Compton Heights, Shaw, The Hill, Dogtown, Carondelet, Holly Hills, St. Louis Hills, Dutchtown, and the Other Historic Neighborhoods of the City of Saint Louis, Missouri.
The opinions expressed herein represent the opinions of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of PREA Signature Realty. All photos and written content were produced by PREA Signature Realty. All Rights Reserved - PREA Signature Realty (2009). This content may not be reproduced or reprinted, except for Active Rain re-blogging, without express written permission of PREA Signature Realty.
The National Drug Free Work Week starts October 19, 2009. The purpose of the National Drug Free Work Week is to highlight that being drug free is key to workplace safety and health and to encourage workers with alcohol and drug problems to seek help.
PURPOSE OF NATIONAL DRUG FREE WORK WEEK
The National Drug Free Work Week is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor in coordination with members of its Drug-Free Workplace Alliance. This cooperative program, which represents both employer/contractor associations and labor unions, aims to improve safety and health through drug-free workplace programs. It focuses on the construction industry because research indicates that it has higher than average rates of worker alcohol and drug abuse-a serious concern given that it also is among the industries with the highest rates of workplace accidents and injuries. But because drug-free workplace programs benefit all workplaces, employers and employees in all industries, not just construction, are encouraged to take part in Drug Free Work Week.
WHAT REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS CAN DO
Real estate professionals often face the same problems as other industries when it comes to substance abuse related issues. In other professions such as attorneys, there are often employee assistance type programs available from state and local associations or even individual firms. However, real estate agents often do not have access to employee assistance type programs.
Here are a few ideas from the Drug-Free Work Alliance:
* Implement a Drug-Free Workplace Program - Develop a Drug-Free Workplace Program at the association or brokerage levels. For more information on starting a Drug-Free Workplace Program, visit www.dol.gov/workingpartners. This website offers detailed guidance on how to develop a Drug-Free Workplace Program starting with a written policy.
* Promote your Drug-Free Workplace Program - If your association or brokerage already has a Drug-Free Workplace Program or employee assistance type program promote the programs by distributing a copy of your drug-free workplace policy to all real estate agents and brokerage employees.
* Train Managers - As part of the Drug Free Work Week, associations or brokerages can provide training to team leaders and sales managers to identify and deal with real estate professionals who have performance problems that may be related to alcohol and drug use, including clearly identifying where real estate professionals should be referred to for assistance.
* Educate Real Estate Professionals - As a part of the Drug Free Work Week, associations or brokerage might consider holding seminars on time management, stress management, financial planning and substance abuse.
* Develop or Publicize Employee Assistance Progrmas - If your association or brokerage has an employee assistance type program, remind real estate professionals about these programs. Employee assistance programs often offer free or low cost services to assist employees to resolve personal and workplace problems, including alcohol and drug abuse. If your association or brokerage doesn't offer an employee assistance type program, consider developing such a program even if it only consists of educational programs, self-assessment materials, and lists of local treatment programs and other resources.
* Encourage the Use of Self-Assessement Programs - Encourage real estate professionals to perform private self-assessments such as confidential, self-administered online screening tools available at www.AlcoholScreening.org.
* Compile a List of Local Resources - Whether or not your association or brokerage has an employee assistance type programs, develop a list of local resources. To locate resources in your community, visit www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or phone 1-800-662-HELP. Also, self-help programs such as the 12-step programs of Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon are free and available nationwide.
* Review Health Insurance Plans - If your association or brokerage offers a group health plan or provides referrals to health insurance providers, suggest insurance companies and policies that provide coverage for substance abuse assessment and treatment.
PREA Signature Realty is a full service brokerage located at 1709 Park Avenue in the Lafayette Square neighborhood of the City of St. Louis. PREA Signature proudly serves the following city neighborhoods: Lafayette Square, Soulard, Benton Park, Benton Park West, Downtown Loft District, Forest Park Southwest, Central West End, Tower Grove East, Tower Grove South, Compton Heights, Shaw, The Hill, Dogtown, Carondelet, Holly Hills, St. Louis Hills, Dutchtown, and the Other Historic Neighborhoods of the City of Saint Louis, Missouri.
The opinions expressed herein represent the opinions of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of PREA Signature Realty. All photos and written content were produced by PREA Signature Realty. All Rights Reserved - PREA Signature Realty (2009). This content may not be reproduced or reprinted, except for Active Rain re-blogging, without express written permission of PREA Signature Realty.
For those readers and subscribers in need of a home loan, I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce Jim Quist and New Castle Home Loans as one of our preferred lenders. New Castle Home Loans was formed in 2003 and has experienced steady growth with offices in Chicago, Illinois, Lombard, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri. Over the years, New Castle Home Loans has established a strong niche in offering loan products for new construction and conversion project in Chicago, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri.
HOW WE SELECT OUR PREFERRED LENDERS
At PREA Signature Realty, we base our recommendations and make referrals to lenders and other service providers based solely on the service that they provide to our customers. We have a longstanding policy that prohibits our agents from receiving any direct or indirect compensation from our preferred service providers.
When we make a recommendation or referral to a lender, we are looking for three main things from our lenders:
Competitive Pricing with No Hidden Fees and No Junk Fees
Extensive Experience and Access to a Wide Array of Loan Products
Superior Customer Service and Communication
WHY CHOOSE NEW CASTLE HOME LOANS
Since 2005, we highly recommended New Castle Home Loansto our developer client in St. Louis. When we started PREA Signature Realty in 2008, we continued the relationship and designated New Castle Home Loans as one of our preferred lenders. Here are some of the reasons we designated New Castle Home Loans as one of our preferred lenders:
Competitive Pricing - Low Interest Rates, Standardized Fees, and No Junk Fees
Loan Officers with Extensive Experience and Product Knowledge
Access to Wide Array of Loan Products from over 50 National and Regional Lenders
Streamlined, Simplified Online Loan Application Process
Constant Communication - Providing Our Agents with Automated Notifications regarding Each Step in the Loan Process
Internal Underwriting of Loans
Identifying and Anticipating Issues based on Familiarity and Experience with New Construction, Conversion and Condominium Projects
Clear Explanation of Loan Options - Allowing for Informed Consumer Decisionmaking
Superior Customer Service
No Surprises - Rates/Fees Quoted are Rate/Fees Delivered
On-Time Closings with No Funding Delays
CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS
Here are a few testimonials from agents and customers who have used New Castle Home Loans:
Heather Gustafson, CMK Realty-Chicago: "NewCastle is one of the best that we have ever dealt with. Our buyers report that they have the lowest rates and best service. NewCastle is CMK's preferred lender and based on our experience, we recommend NewCastle Home Loans to any broker, agent or real estate developer."
Stuart Schwartz, @ Properties-Chicago: "Jim, Another great job! Every customer I refer to you closes on time and without problems-- Happy customers make my job easier."
Ryan Shaughnessy, PREA Signature Realty-St. Louis: "We want our buyers to use NewCastle, especially on our condominium conversion projects. They just make it easier--for the customer and us. NewCastle always closes on time and the money is always there--with no surprises."
Doug Bailey, Chicago: "Jim, You did such an outstanding job for me that I plan to let everyone know when they ask about a mortgage lender. Thank you for all of your help."
Liz Reger, Ideal Location-Chicago: "I've been a Realtor for over 10 years and I refer my buyers and anyone that has a question about a mortgage to Jim Quist at NewCastle Home Loans. I also finance my own primary and investment properties through Jim."
Frank Dixon, Oak Park: "Our real estate agent recommended NewCastle and she was right when she said they are great to work with. NewCastle made the whole process easy, gave us the lowest interest rate with no junk fees--and there were no surprises at the closing table. When someone I know is buying or refinancing, I tell them to call NewCastle."
On behalf of PREA Signature Realty, we wanted to say thank you to New Castle Home Loans for underpromising and overdelivering on their mortgage services.
Interested in Purchasing a Single Family Home, Townhome, Condominium or Loft in Lafayette Square? Contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381.
PREA Signature Realty is a full service brokerage located at 1709 Park Avenue in the Lafayette Square neighborhood of the City of St. Louis. PREA Signature proudly serves the following city neighborhoods: Lafayette Square, Soulard, Benton Park, Benton Park West, Downtown Loft District, Forest Park Southwest, Central West End, Tower Grove East, Tower Grove South, Compton Heights, Shaw, The Hill, Dogtown, Carondelet, Holly Hills, St. Louis Hills, Dutchtown, and the Other Historic Neighborhoods of the City of Saint Louis, Missouri.
The opinions expressed herein represent the opinions of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of PREA Signature Realty. All photos and written content were produced by PREA Signature Realty. All Rights Reserved - PREA Signature Realty (2009). This content may not be reproduced or reprinted, except for Active Rain re-blogging, without express written permission of PREA Signature Realty.
Recently, a first-time home buyer asked "Is now the time to buy my first home?" Well, there is no simple answer to this complex question. Real estate professionals aren't necessarily the best equipped to predict future economic conditions. However, real estate professionals do monitor current trends as well as historical trends in local, regional, and national real estate markets.
NATIONAL TRENDS INDICATE THAT THE TIME TO BUY IS NOW
Presently, there are three key national trends which provide support for the position that now is the time to buy:
Housing Affordability Index: The National Association of Home Builders recently released its Housing Opportunity Index which showed that 72.3% of all new and existing homes homes sold in the second quarter of 2009 were affordable to families earning the national median income of $64,000 using standard underwriting criteria. Compared to 2008, this represents a strong positive change from 55% in the second quarter of 2008 to 72.3% in the second quarter of 2008.
Interest Rates: The average interest rate for a fixed 30 year loandipped below 5% in 2009 and is now at historic lows. Since 2000, interest rates have declined from over 8% to below 5%. In practical terms, this means that purchasers can afford more home for the same monthly payment. For example, a purchaser today who borrows $200,000 at a fixed 30 year interest rate of 5% would pay a monthly payment of $1073. In contrast, a purchaser who borrowed $200,0000 in 2000 at a fixed 30 year interest rate of 8% would have paid a monthly payment of $1467. Or stated differently, today's purchaser can obtain a $200,000 loan at the same monthly cost as what a purchaser in 2000 would have paid for $165,000 loan.
National Median Prices: Since 2006, the national median priceshave declined. In 2009, national median prices appear to have stabilized with a slight increase in the second quarter of 2009. Now, there is no guarantee that prices will rise in 2010 and beyond. However, it does appear that prices have stabilized and may show a modest increase in 2010.
THE $8,000 FEDERAL FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT
The $8,000 federal tax credit for the purchase of new homes by first-time home buyer represents a unique opportunity. It is especially attractive for young professionals and recent graduates. Depending on the loan amount, the tax credit could be used to pay between 7 to 20 monthly loan payments for the typical first-time home buyer. Here are some examples:
With favorable pricing, historically low interest rates, and the federal tax credit, I can only conclude that NOW is the time to buy for the average first-time home buyer.
INTERESTED IN PURCHASING YOUR FIRST HOME? Contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381 or send an e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com to discover how easy it can be to purchase your first home.
PREA Signature Realty is a full service brokerage located at 1709 Park Avenue in the Lafayette Square neighborhood of the City of St. Louis. PREA Signature proudly serves the following city neighborhoods: Lafayette Square, Soulard, Benton Park, Benton Park West, Downtown Loft District, Forest Park Southwest, Central West End, Tower Grove East, Tower Grove South, Compton Heights, Shaw, The Hill, Dogtown, Carondelet, Holly Hills, St. Louis Hills, Dutchtown, and the Other Historic Neighborhoods of the City of Saint Louis, Missouri.
The opinions expressed herein represent the opinions of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of PREA Signature Realty. All photos and written content were produced by PREA Signature Realty. All Rights Reserved - PREA Signature Realty (2009). This content may not be reproduced or reprinted, except for Active Rain re-blogging, without express written permission of PREA Signature Realty.
When it comes to building an internet marketing presence, real estate agents should have a multi-prong strategy that includes a brokerage website, an agent website, a blog, listing feeds to search portal sites, participation in forums, and social networking sites. Despite the growing popularity of blogging as a marketing tool by businesses generally, real estate agents still appear to be reluctant to embrace blogging as a marketing strategy to build their internet presence. In the 2009 NAR Technology Survey, 8% of Realtors viewed "blogging" as "important" for generating leads whereas 20% of Realtors viewed "blogging" as "unimportant".
WHY BLOGGING DOESN'T GENERATE LEADS (FOR SOME)?
So, why are Realtors so reluctant to embrace blogging as an internet marketing strategy? In speaking at sales meetings at brokerages in the St. Louis area, I often receive two common responses to this question:
Category 1: I often get comments that seem to indicate that real estate agents are intimidated by blogging. The comments range from "I don't write well..." to "I don't have any great insights to offer" to "I don't have time to write articles" to "I don't know where to start" to "My broker doesn't provide us with a blogging platform."
Category 2: I often get comments that bluntly claim that "blogging" simply doesn't work. Often, these comments start with "I tried it for a month..." and end with "it didn't generate any leads or income."
There is often a common thread to these discussions. In both cases, the failure to start blogging and the failure to continue blogging often is directly related to the failure to develop a blogging strategy, the failure to identify your target audience, and the failure to write dynamic posts. Add into the mix the use of an inferior blog platform, the failure to understand keywords and the basics of search engine optimization, the failure to integrate your blog into your other marketing plans, lack of commitment, and poor execution - and you have a pretty good recipe for a disastrous, time wasting experience with blogging.
WHAT BLOG POSTS GENERATE LEADS?
Now, after my first 12 months of blogging, I decided to look back upon my 400 blog posts in an attempt to determine what topics seemed to generate views and comments, what topics seemed to elicit a comment or inquiry, and what topics seemed to generate traffic to my website, active leads and even commission income. In conducting this unscientific review, there seemed to be certain categories that generated more interest. However, interest in the form of comments and business generated from the post often were not mutually exclusive or even related. Some of my posts that received few or even no comments often were the posts that generated substantial or meaningful traffic to my website, active leads and even commission.
So, after reviewing my posts, I found that almost all of my posts could be placed in one or more of the following categories:
#1 - HyperLocal Neighborhood Posts: These posts focus on a single city, neighborhood or even street and ranged from market reports and available properties to neighborhood news and events. Often, these posts received the fewest number of comments. However, these posts generated the most inquiries, leads and income.
#2 - Market Reports - These posts focus on market statistics ranging from single year reports to ten year summaries on existing home sales, housing starts, and more. These posts generated the least number of comments but delivered the most traffic to our website.
#3 - Legislative/Regulatory Update Posts: These posts focus on regulatory and legislative issues on national, state and local levels and ranged from annual legislative updates to commentary on pending legislative proposals to summaries of current regulatory changes - particularly related to FannieMae and FHA lending guidelines. Often, these posts had the largest number of comments which developed into a healthy debate on the issues at hand. Although these posts didn't seem to interest consumers in general, the posts did generate interest from other real estate professionals - particularly on LinkedIn Groups.
#4 - Business Profile Posts: These posts focus on restaurant reviews, profiles of neighborhood businesses and an occasional interview with a neighborhood leader. These posts provided some of greatest exposure for our brokerage. More importantly, these posts developed relationships resulting in some joint marketing and referral business and enhanced our reputation as neighborhood specialists. Also, these posts served as good content for customers who were relocating to the neighborhoods that we serve.
#5 - "How to" Instructional Posts: These posts focus on sales training, technology, and social networking sites. Often, these were multi-part series. These posts were the most highly read by my own agents, assisted in the recruitment of new agents, and resulted in a number of speaking engagements with professional associations, civic groups, and other real estate brokerages, title companies, and other real estate professionals. These posts served as great introductions to other real estate professionals in the area.
#6 - Research Posts: These posts were based on real estate related research studies conducted on a range of issues. Often, these posts were related to current events or trends and included commentary that often generated widely divergent opinions on the validity of the studies, missing data, etc. These posts generated interviews and inquiries from journalists.
#7 - Either/Or Posts: These posts were generally designed to compare and contrast particular services, loan programs, etc. These posts didn't seem generate too many inquires but were well received by existing customers and clients.
#8 - Reblog or Link Posts: These posts were often used because of time constraints, involved a specialized field, or were just so well-written that they needed to be disseminated to my readers in their original form.
#9 - Lists/Best Of Posts: These posts focus on top or best of lists prepared by national news magazines, foundations, etc. It is difficult to determine the impact of these posts had - except that they promoted the areas that we serve.
#10 - Best Practice Posts: These posts generally started as "rants" and were often toned down after further reflection. Occasionally, these were direct or indirect responses to other posts read on a specific issue. Although these posts weren't intended to generate direct business, these posts were extremely effective in explaining our business philosophy and practices.
#11 - Motivational Posts: These posts were often focused on staying motivated in a down market. Again, they didn't seem to generate much business. However, often they were the most enjoyable to write and were often used in connection with sales meetings.
#12 - Satire Posts: These posts were intended to highlight specific positions and to tell a story using a combination of humor and sarcasm.
#13 - Informational Posts: These posts generated a good deal of non-real estate related business and often suffered from being too technical or too long. However, these posts used hypothetical situations to describe how such situations and issues could or should be addressed. The posts often explained our approach and problem solving skills.
#14 - Video/Photo Posts: These posts generated occasional requests for re-use of the photos. If we were grading these posts, we would probably give it an incomplete. Too few posts to truly get a good read on the impact that they could have.
#15 - Listings Posts: These posts were difficult to track when using Html from other sources. When the posts were based on direct content as opposed to html code, the posts improved our placement for select keywords on Google search results.
#16 - Public Service Announcements: These posts were intended solely to show support for a particular issue. Often, they were only tangentially related to real estate. However, they were intended and received as "we care about you" statements.
So, before you say blogging doesn't work, first answer this question: Did you post original content for a clearly defined audience with a good value proposition and a concise call to action that offered a personal insight, a tangible benefit for the reader, or an interesting, unusual or controversial slant on a current event or issue? If you can't answer "yes", then the blogging experiment may have failed because of poor execution or planning and not because blogging is "unimportant" as a marketing tool.
If you are a real estate professional and are new to blogging, the time is now to sign-up for an ActiveRain blog. There is no better real estate community or more supportive blog platform to learn the basics of blogging and discover some great tips on how to make blogging work for you and your business.
Need a speaker to discuss the blogging and lead generation for real estate professionals? Contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381 or send an e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.
PREA Signature Realty is a full service brokerage located at 1709 Park Avenue in the Lafayette Square neighborhood of the City of St. Louis. PREA Signature proudly serves the following city neighborhoods: Lafayette Square, Soulard, Benton Park, Benton Park West, Downtown Loft District, Forest Park Southwest, Central West End, Tower Grove East, Tower Grove South, Compton Heights, Shaw, The Hill, Dogtown, Carondelet, Holly Hills, St. Louis Hills, Dutchtown, and the Other Historic Neighborhoods of the City of Saint Louis, Missouri.
The opinions expressed herein represent the opinions of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of PREA Signature Realty. All photos and written content were produced by PREA Signature Realty. All Rights Reserved - PREA Signature Realty (2009). This content may not be reproduced or reprinted, except for Active Rain re-blogging, without express written permission of PREA Signature Realty.
INTERESTED IN TOWNHOMES FOR SALE IN LAFAYETTE SQUARE?
The elegant new townhomes at Mississippi Place are now for sale in the heart of Lafayette Square at the corner of Mississippi Avenue and Lafayette Avenue across from Lafayette Park.
WELCOME TO MISSISSIPPI PLACE - OLD WORLD CHARM WITH CONTEMPORARY FINISHES
Nothing in Lafayette Square compares with the details and luxury offered by the new townhomes at Mississippi Place. The classic, stately exterior designs created by Gilded Age in conjunction with The Lawrence Group are based on the turn of the century mansions originally located on the site and blend seamlessly into the surrounding Victorian homes of the Lafayette Square Historic District. Developed by Gilded Age for a premier location at the corner of Mississippi and Lafayette Avenues across from Lafayette Park, these units offer authentic, historic exterior facades and contemporary interiors with the finest in amenities and high-end luxury finishes. Customization of the townhome interiors at Mississippi Place is available for a limited time. Why buy an existing home - when you can build your dream home?
EXPERIENCE LAFAYETTE LIVING TODAY!
Why just buy a new home when you can experience a new lifestyle? These new residences are located in Lafayette Squareacross from Lafayette Park. Just outside your door, you have tree-lined streets, the beautiful 30-acre Victorian Lafayette Park, and the shops, restaurants and outdoor cafes of Lafayette Square. Whether you work in Clayton or Downtown St. Louis, this convenient location with immediate access to Highways 44, 64, 70 and 55, offers an easy commutes to and from work.
This new home community in Lafayette Square offers all of the little things that you want in a home and neighborhood and more!
MISSISSIPPI PLACE - CURRENT PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
For Mississippi Place, there is one townhome and one carriage house available for immediate delivery. The townhomes marked "8 weeks: have been constructed and are simply awaiting selections such as cabinets, countertops and appliances. The townhomes marked "24 weeks" are townhomes and the carriage house that have not been constructed or have only had foundations poured.
The Victorian Parlor Model Offers the Following standards and options:
Exterior Facade: Brick / Dryvit EFIS with exterior drain system (where noted on plans).
Front Entry: Solid wood entry door with mail slot, deadbolt lock and transom. Architectural columns and/or ceramic tile in foyer (where noted on plans).
Parlor: Hardwood floors. Fireplace and wood mantle. Above-mantle wiring for cable/satellite television. Built-in bookcases (upgrade). Crown molding. Coat closet.
First Floor Powder Room: First floor laundry with exterior vent. Half-bath powder room. Ceramic tile floor.
First Floor Stairs: Hardwood stairs with painted risers.
Kitchen: Ceramic tile floor (Upgrade-hardwood floor). 3 cabinet options. Cabinet layouts will vary based on unit, location of windows and cabinets selected (Upgrade-wine rack). Black Maytag dishwasher, gas stove and microwave with hood vent (Upgrade-stainless steel JennAir). Granite countertops (Base-Grade A, Upgrade-Grade B). Stainless double bowl sink with disposal. Pendant lighting and under cabinet lighting (Upgrade-over cabinet lighting).
Living Room/Dining Room: Hardwood floors. Fireplace and wood mantle. Above-mantle wiring for cable/satellite television. Crown molding.
Master Suite and Bathroom Areas: Premium carpet and pad (master bedroom). Ceiling fan. Walk-in closet. Juliette balcony. Ceramic tile (bathroom). Jacuzzi soaking tub (Upgrade-whirlpool jets) and separate shower with glass enclosure and ceramic tile surround. 3 ceramic tile surround options (Base-12x12 tiles, Upgrade 1-brick style, Upgrade 2-x8 tile). Granite countertops (Base-Grade A, Upgrade-Grade B). Under mount sinks. Crown molding (upgrade).
Second Floor Stairs: Carpeted stairs.
Third Floor Bath: Jack-n-Jill bathroom with entry from hall. Granite countertops with under mounted sink. Tub with ceramic tile surround. Ceramic tile floor.
Third Floor Guest Room: Premium carpet and pad. Walk-in closet.
Energy Efficiency: Double-pane thermal wood windows with easy to clean removable sashes. R-30 ceiling insulation. R-13 wall insulation. Energy efficient gas furnace, gas water heater and central air.
Lighting: $1,000 lighting allowance from Metro Lighting.
Other: Oversized 2-car garage; deck (upgrade); and poured concrete basement.
FEATURES - LAFAYETTE MANOR FLOOR PLAN
The Lafayette Manor House Model offers the following standards and options:
Exterior Facade: Brick / Dryvit EFIS with exterior drain system (where noted on plans).
Front Entry: Solid wood entry door with mail slot, deadbolt lock and transom. Ceramic tile in foyer (where noted on plans).
First Floor Powder Room: Granite countertops. Ceramic tile floor.
Kitchen: Ceramic tile floor (Upgrade-hardwood floor). 3 cabinet options. Cabinet layouts will vary based on unit, location of windows and cabinets selected (Upgrade-wine rack). Butler's pantry. Kitchen pantry. Black Maytag dishwasher, gas stove and microwave with hood vent (Upgrade-stainless steel JennAir). Granite countertops (Base-Grade A, Upgrade-Grade B). Stainless double bowl sink with disposal. Under cabinet lighting (Upgrade-over cabinet lighting).
Living Room and Separate Dining Room: Premium carpet and pad (Upgrade-hardwood floors). Fireplace and wood mantle. Above mantle wiring for cable television. Crown molding.
First Floor Stairs: Hardwood stairs with painted risers.
Master Suite and Bathroom Areas: Premium carpet and pad (master bedroom). Ceiling fan. Walk-in closet. Ceramic tile (bathroom). Jacuzzi soaking tub (Upgrade-whirlpool jets) and separate shower with glass enclosure and ceramic tile surround. 3 ceramic tile surround options (Base-12x12 tiles, Upgrade 1-brick style, Upgrade 2-4x8 tile). Granite countertops (Base-Grade A, Upgrade-Grade B). Under mount sinks. Crown molding (optional).
Second Floor Stairs: Carpeted stairs.
Laundry: Second floor laundry with exterior vent.
Second Floor Bath: Bathroom off second floor hallway. Granite countertops with under mounted sink. Tub with ceramic tile surround. Ceramic tile floor.
Third Floor Room: Premium carpet and pad. (Special Request: 3rd Bedroom).
Energy Efficiency: Double-pane thermal wood windows with easy to clean removable sashes. R-30 ceiling insulation. R-13 wall insulation. Energy efficient gas furnace, gas water heater and central air.
Lighting: $1,200 lighting allowance from Metro Lighting.
Other: Oversized 2-car garage; deck (upgrade); and poured concrete basement.
FEATURES - CARRIAGE HOUSE FLOOR PLANS
The Carriage House Models offer the following standards and options:
Exterior Facade: Brick.
Front Entry: Solid wood entry door with mail slot, deadbolt lock and transom. Ceramic tile in foyer (where noted on plans). Carriage House 1: 2-story open loft area (Carriage House 1 only). Carriage House 2: Elevator lobby.
First Floor Powder Room (Carriage House 1 only): Granite countertops. Ceramic tile floor. (Carriage House 1 only).
Kitchen: Ceramic tile floor (Upgrade-hardwood floor). 3 cabinet options. Cabinet layouts will vary based on unit, location of windows and cabinets selected (Upgrade-wine rack). Kitchen island. Black Maytag dishwasher, gas stove and microwave with hood vent (Upgrade-stainless steel JennAir). Granite countertops (Base-Grade A, Upgrade-Grade B). Stainless double bowl sink with disposal. Under cabinet lighting (Upgrade-over cabinet lighting).
Living Room/Dining Room: Premium carpet and pad (Upgrade-hardwood floors).
First Floor Stairs: Hardwood stairs with painted risers.
Master Suite and Bathroom Areas: Premium carpet and pad (master bedroom). Ceiling fan. Walk-in closet(s). Ceramic tile (bathroom). Shower/tub combination with ceramic tile surround. 3 ceramic tile surround options (Base-12x12 tiles, Upgrade 1-brick style, Upgrade 2-4x8 tile). Granite countertops (Base-Grade A, Upgrade-Grade B). Under mount sinks. Crown molding (upgrade).
Laundry: Second floor laundry with exterior vent.
Energy Efficiency: Double pane thermal wood windows with easy to clean removable sashes. R-30 ceiling insulation. R-13 wall insulation. Energy efficient gas furnace, gas water heater and central air.
Lighting: $800 lighting allowance from Metro Lighting.
Other: Oversized 1-car garage; sprinkler system; deck (upgrade); and elevator (Carriage House 2 only).
HOA INFORMATION - ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF SINGLE FAMILY OWNERSHIP WITH THE CAREFREE LIFESTYLE PROVIDED BY ASSOCIATION LIVINGLegal Status: Mississippi Place is a planned unit development consisting of 14 fee simple townhomes and 4 condominium units.
HOA Associations: At Mississippi Place, there are two separate associations. There is a subdivision association in which all unit owners are members. There is also a condominium association in which the owners of units K2, K3, L4 and L6 are members. The condominium units include the Carriage House units as well as the garages for two of the Lafayette Manor House units.
HOA Association Fees: The current subdivision fee is $45 per unit per month. The current condominium fees are $175 per unit per month (includes the subdivision fee). The difference in the fees is based primarily on the fact that condominium fee includes joint building maintenance and property insurance.
HOA Services: The subdivision association fee includes the following services: Sewer, water, lawn mowing (front lawns only), landscaping, snow removal, in-ground sprinkler system, maintenance of common areas (i.e., entry monuments, interior streets or driveways, sidewalks and sprinkler system). The condominium fee includes the following additional services: Property insurance and exterior building maintenance.
Restrictions: Ownership of the units is conveyed subject to the subdivision restrictions, including facade restrictions. All exterior modifications (including paint color selection) must be approved by the subdivision association.
THE DETAILS - CONTRACT, SELECTIONS, WARRANTY & COMMISSION PROGRAMS
Sales Contract: Purchase offers on completed units and units with selections only may be submitted on SLAR residential sales contract. Purchase offer on custom homes or on homes to be built must be on Gilded Age pre-construction sales contract.
Display: The display located at 1618 Mississippi includes base grade and upgrade materials as well as special request options. For example, kitchen cabinet layout is upgraded cabinet plan. Before submitting sales contract, contact your Sales Associate to discuss interior finishes on non-display units.
Pricing: Select units may have upgrade or optional items already installed. Whether designated as a base, upgrade or optional item, costs of items already installed are included in the stated sales price. Refrigerators, washers and dryers are for "display purposes only" and are not included in the sale.
Floor Plans: Floor plans and the dimensions located thereon are representative of the base floor plan for the model unit. Actual dimensions, window locations, entry door location and related items vary based on lot/unit selected.
Custom Interiors: Customization of interiors and combination of unconstructed units into one single unit are available options for limited time only. Gilded Age is pleased to price custom products and to discuss changes in floor plans upon execution of sale contract contingent upon customer review of conceptual floor plans and preliminary pricing.
Selections: Gilded Age offers 2 hours of interior designer time for selection of interior finishes.
Commission: Gilded Age offers a 2.8% commission as well as other incentive programs to cooperating real estate agents. Real estate agents must register customers at or prior to time of first showing.
Warranty: Mississippi Place offers 1 year homeowner's warranty and 10-year warranty on EFIS. drainage system warranty.
MISSISSIPPI PLACE - SHOWING INFORMATION
Display: The display for Mississippi Place is located at 1618 Mississippi Avenue and is open 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekdays and 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. on weekends. On weekdays, duty agent covers multiple properties. Appointments are suggested to avoid conflicts with scheduled showings.
Showing Appointments: To schedule a showing, contact the sales office at 314.771.7171 or Michelle S. Silies, Managing Broker of PREA Signature Realty, at 314.397.3182. Agents may schedule appointments with 1 hours notice using MLS Showing Assist with automatic appointment confirmations from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Directions: From North: Highway 70 to Highway 44. Exit at Jefferson Avenue. North/right to first light and then right on Lafayette. Left on Mississippi. From South: Highway 55 to Truman Parkway exit. West/left on Lafayette. Right on Mississippi. From Southwest: Highway 44 to Jefferson Avenue exit. Left on Jefferson. Right on Lafayette. Left on Mississippi. From West: Highway 64 to 14th Street. Right on 14th Street. Right on Lafayette. Right on Mississippi. From East: Highway 64 across Poplar Street Bridge. South on Highway 55. West on Highway 44. Exit Jefferson Avenue. Left on Jefferson. Right on Lafayette. Left on Mississippi.
Other New Communities in Lafayette Square: Visit Gilded Age's other developments in Lafayette Square including The Georgian-1515 Lafayette, The Union Club-2340 Lafayette, and Eden Lofts-1720 Chouteau.
CONTACT LISTING AGENT
Interested in purchasing a single family home, townhome, condominium or loft in Lafayette Square?
Interested in receiving new and existing listing information, notice of price reductions, etc. for single family homes, townhomes, condominiums or lofts in Lafayette Square?
Don't miss out on the great opportunities to purchase a home in Lafayette Square. Simply fill-out the housing survey below and you will receive listing information (including new listings and price reductions) via e-mail or via a private MLS portal. The search includes all MLS listings and is updated hourly with expired, cancelled and sold listings automatically removed so you never have to worry about whether or not the listing is still available. This service is provided by PREA Signature Realty as a courtesy at no cost to you. We will never contact you via telephone. When you are ready to start searching for your new home in Lafayette Square, simple call or e-mail us and we will be ready to assist you with your home search.
PREA Signature Realty is a full service brokerage located at 1709 Park Avenue in the Lafayette Square neighborhood of the City of St. Louis. PREA Signature proudly serves the following city neighborhoods: Lafayette Square, Soulard, Benton Park, Benton Park West, Downtown Loft District, Forest Park Southwest, Central West End, Tower Grove East, Tower Grove South, Compton Heights, Shaw, The Hill, Dogtown, Carondelet, Holly Hills, St. Louis Hills, Dutchtown, and the Other Historic Neighborhoods of the City of Saint Louis, Missouri.
The opinions expressed herein represent the opinions of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of PREA Signature Realty. All photos and written content were produced by PREA Signature Realty. All Rights Reserved - PREA Signature Realty (2009). This content may not be reproduced or reprinted, except for Active Rain re-blogging, without express written permission of PREA Signature Realty.
Congratulation to Barbara Keathley on her election as the 2010 President of the Missouri Women's Council of Realtors. The 2010 WCR Officer Installation Dinner is scheduled for September 29, 2009, at the Tan Tara Resort at the Lake of the Ozarks. For more information, click on WCR Reception/Inaugral Dinner.
If you aren't currently a member of the Missouri Women's Council of Realtors, the video below gives just a few of the many reasons to join the Missouri Women's Council of Realtors.
PREA Signature Realty is a full service brokerage located at 1709 Park Avenue in the Lafayette Square neighborhood of the City of St. Louis. PREA Signature proudly serves the following city neighborhoods: Lafayette Square, Soulard, Benton Park, Benton Park West, Downtown Loft District, Forest Park Southwest, Central West End, Tower Grove East, Tower Grove South, Compton Heights, Shaw, The Hill, Dogtown, Carondelet, Holly Hills, St. Louis Hills, Dutchtown, and the Other Historic Neighborhoods of the City of Saint Louis, Missouri.
The opinions expressed herein represent the opinions of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of PREA Signature Realty. All photos and written content were produced by PREA Signature Realty. All Rights Reserved - PREA Signature Realty (2009). This content may not be reproduced or reprinted, except for Active Rain re-blogging, without express written permission of PREA Signature Realty.
Looking to sell a condominium or townhome for sale in the Gaslight Square neighborhood of the Central West End?
PREA Signature Realty just LISTED and SOLD this townhome at 4127 Westminster Place in the Gaslight Square neighborhood of the Central West End in 72 hours for 99% of the list price. So, how did it sell so fast? It was a combination of an aggressive pricing strategy, use of video and social networks to market the property, and use of our database to get the word out.
PRICING STRATEGY: To start the process, we searched the MLS for active listings, pending sales, closed sales and expired listings. We used the closed sales as a guide to the price range. We then used the other active listings to position our sale in the range. Contrary to poplular practice, we didn't simply let the seller set an optimistic price on the hope and belief that someone would fall in love with the property and make an offer. We positioned the price of the listing $4,000 and $13,000 respectively under other properties listed for sale in the same development. Here are some of the facts and figures:
COMPARISON
AVG. SQ. FT.
DOM
AVG. SALE PRICE
AVG. PRICE / SQ.FT.
CONDO SALES-12 MOS. HISTORY-1/4 Mile Radius
1241
159
$179,382
$144
WESTMINSTER TOWNHOMES - 12 MOS. HISTORY
1472
363
$178,000
$121
WESTMINSTER TOWNHOMES - AVAILABLE
1254
52
$189,000
$151
4127 Westminster
1216
3
$179,000
$148
Now, there are two important things to notice here. Pricing the property results in a quick sale - this property sold after 3 days on market. Similarly, it garnered immediate interest from multiple parties based on the value proposition created by pricing the property below the other 2 active listings in the neighborhood. The interest garnered resulted in a substantially shorter number of days on market and a sales price that was above average both in terms of the neighborhood and the specific development.
HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL NETWORKS: Now, others may disagree. However, we have found that the internet, social networks and e-Blasts get the word out quickly about properties we have listed for sale. So, in this case, we moved quickly to get information about the listing out to the public, prior customers, prospects and members of our sphere of influence. Here is the timeline:
Listing Agreement was signed on September 21, 2009 at 6 p.m.
Video presentation was prepared and uploaded to YouTube.com on September 21, 2009 at 10 p.m. and sent out via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and 40 other social networks.
Blog post was uploaded to ActiveRain.com on September 22, 2009, at 12:30 a.m. and sent out via Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
E-mail was sent to database of 1700 prospects on September 22, 2009, at 1:00 a.m.
Property was entered into MLS on September 22, 2009, at 2 a.m.
Tweetlister posted property on Twitter.com on September 22, 2009 at 4 a.m.
In less than 12 hours, we already had 4 showings scheduled for the property. However, it is interesting where the listing was actually viewed.
MLS: 8 Public Views / 39 Agent Views
Point2Agent: 87 Public Views
Company Website: 25 Views
Craigslist: Unknown Views
Backpage: Unknown Views
YouTube: 49 Views
ActiveRain: 85 Views
Twitter: 42 Views
Tweetlister: 25 Views
Facebook: 11 Views
LinkedIn: 42 Views
E-Blast: 62 Views
Hot Sheet E-Blast: 43 Views
Putting it in another perspective, here is a source of views by type of medium:
Websites - 159 Views
Social Networks - 127 Views
E-Mails - 105 Views
So, in this case, I can't say the blogging and social networks are the best tools for selling homes. However, I can say that this listing had good and immediate exposure to the public based on the use of our blogs and social networks. 3 of the first 4 showings were generated through Twitter, ActiveRain, and our YouTube channel. Only 1 of the 4 showings was from the MLS. Interestingly, the purchasers first viewed the property on ActiveRain and YouTube before it even appeared in their private MLS portal search.
MESSAGE TO THOSE AGENTS SKEPTICAL OF BLOGGING AND SOCIAL NETWORKS
Now, I am not going to say that blogs and social networks sell homes. Without a good marketing plan, an aggressive pricing strategy and a bit of hardwork, I doubt that a home will sell quickly or at a premium price with or without the use of blogs and social networks. However, I can say that social networking, blogging, YouTube videos and e-blasts each contributed to this sale and are additional tools to be used in marketing a home for sale. In the past year, this is the fourth sale that was driven by or at least received an assist from a post to ActiveRain that was then disseminated via Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and other social networking sites.
Interested in selling your townhome or condominium in St. Louis with a brokerage commited to harnessing the power of the internet and social networks to maximize the sales price for your home and minimize the days on market? Contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381.
PREA Signature Realty is a full service brokerage located at 1709 Park Avenue in the Lafayette Square neighborhood of the City of St. Louis. PREA Signature proudly serves the following city neighborhoods: Lafayette Square, Soulard, Benton Park, Benton Park West, Downtown Loft District, Forest Park Southwest, Central West End, Tower Grove East, Tower Grove South, Compton Heights, Shaw, The Hill, Dogtown, Carondelet, Holly Hills, St. Louis Hills, Dutchtown, and the Other Historic Neighborhoods of the City of Saint Louis, Missouri.
The opinions expressed herein represent the opinions of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of PREA Signature Realty. All photos and written content were produced by PREA Signature Realty. All Rights Reserved - PREA Signature Realty (2009). This content may not be reproduced or reprinted, except for Active Rain re-blogging, without express written permission of PREA Signature Realty.
START OF NATIONAL DRUG FREE WORK WEEK
Looking to sell a condominium or townhome for sale in the Gaslight Square neighborhood of the Central West End?