Anne Marie Malfi, Real Estate Marketing Consultant/Virtual Asst, Bucks County,PA

Summer will soon be here and at least once during that time my family likes to go visit an amusement park. The kids (and my husband, the biggest kid of them all) love almost all the rides, liking some more than others whether it's a water ride, a fast ride or something that completely jolts them all over the place. I see them get off the rides with the immediate response "that was awesome, I want to do it again." I think to myself - why? It's clear to me that I am a very mentally tough person, I've been able to handle some pretty tough things in my life. So why is it that I can't seem to embrace and get over my fear of heights and roller coasters? Why have I become the designated water bottle holder as I wait and then watch my family enjoy these crazy rides? Why can't I just do it?

Intellectually speaking, I know nothing bad is going to happen to me and they all seem to really enjoy the experience of these rides. I find myself in the days leading up to our trip telling myself "I can do it and that it will be fun." But when we get there, something happens to me, my legs start shaking, my heart starts pounding and my head keeps replaying the same LOUD message "don't do it!" Having a complete breakdown while strapped into a roller coaster with no way off is not my idea of fun.

I liken this feeling of fear to the way I felt when I decided to venture out on my own to start my business and even more so when I first decided to start blogging. I faced those demon questions that many new bloggers (perhaps you) feel:

• Will people accept me and my ideas?
• Will I be criticized and how will I handle it?
• Will people think my ideas are stupid?

After thinking about those questions I soon remembered a valuable lesson I had learned as a child in school, no idea, answer or question is stupid. I thought why not put myself out there and learn new things it worked for me in school and it surely could work in my new business and with blogging. Guess what, I've discovered it has!

Sure starting a new venture or facing your fears (whatever they are) is quite scary and intimidating but what are the alternatives? While I'm not certain just yet that I will venture out on that roller coaster this summer, I am certain that I will keep facing my fears and uncertainties when it comes to becoming a better business owner and blogger. I will keep at my blog, finding ways to make it better (thanks for the ProBlogger challenge.) I will continue reading and commenting on the great posts out here to learn and create relationships that matter. I will engage on social media sites and know that it can and does make a difference to my business. I will keep perfecting my skills and my business by completely putting myself out there, facing my fears and taking chances.

I think once you take that leap into blogging you too will be saying "that was awesome, I want to do it again!" You'll also realize nothing bad is going to happen and that there is a place for youin the blogging world and it wasn't that scary afterall.

What are you afraid of in life or in regards to blogging?

How do you plan to test your limits and overcome your fears?

If you're a newbie blogger, I strongly encourage you to leave a comment on this post, or find a few by visiting the blog board today. That's right, jump in and get started on your blogging experience, you will be very happy that you did - I promise!

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Ready to take your Marketing to new levels? Anne Marie Malfi ~ Malfi Marketing Solutions.com ~ Copyright 2009

When it comes to marketing, a key component that must be there is - Knowledge. Knowledge is having expertise, skills, experience and education of our markets, competition, services we offer and of course most importantly our clients. It involves learning, communicating, perception and reasoning. Your clients and prospects are expecting you to lead them through what is most often an exciting and scary process of buying or selling a home and they are depending on your knowledge to reach their goal.

In addition to Knowledge, there are other important components of marketing that are essential for every real estate professional to show their clients so lets address them:

Perception:

Not everyone sees a situation, your services or even a home in quite the same way. One of the most important things to remember is that it doesn't matter what you think of your business and services- it matters what the client thinks and believes. Their perception is what truly matters. We can tell them all the great things we can do but it comes down to showing them which leads me to the next one Value.

We show Value by giving the client a good reason for choosing to work with us. There's lots of competition out there and it does not serve us well to cut them down but to simply show that we can provide value. Focus on the things YOU can do, offer and deliver. We must provide services that will have a positive impact on our clients.

Customer Service:

Customer Service is delivering on the commitment and promises we are making from the very beginning of the relationship. It starts from the first phone call and presentation we make and should continue beyond the closing table or end of our first interaction. Providing great customer service is what will show your clients you're there for them, they can depend on you and trust you and that simply leads to referrals. Customer service has great impact on a client in choosing to reach out to you when they have needs and their ability and desire to continue promoting you to their sphere of influence.

Consistency:

One of the downfalls in any business is not having consistency. We do a task for awhile and then other things happen that take our focus and move it to other things. We may be very committed in the beginning to sending out our marketing pieces, or calling our clients regularly and then it goes away. Clients notice this. You've heard me say it before, it's important to have a plan, break it down into manageable parts and do it - every day and consistently. This is an area of your business that requires your focus and commitment and will provide you with great results in the form of clients relying on you beyond their first transaction and because they will have great influence on their sphere in sharing with them that you are capable of handling their needs. Remember the word perception?

Organized:

Being organized pulls everything you're doing together. Things are constantly changing in the real estate world and being organized shows your clients that you are capable and worthy of their investment. Ever notice when you are truly organized how things just seem to work and you feel more productive? Being organized saves us time and money. Is your office space cluttered? Do you spend lots of time trying to find paperwork? I strongly advise you to take a few hours to get organized - in the long run it will save you time which will allow you more money making opportunities.

Communication:

Why would a client want to do business with you? Communication - our marketing efforts, how we educate our clients, showing our expertise, using technology to reach and connect with clients are all ways in which we communicate why they should choose to work with us. Are we providing them with a consistent message for them to make that decision? Are we letting them know they are important to us? You have ideas, knowledge and solutions and you have all the tools to get your message out there - blogging, websites, social media and tools that help you promote and share your expertise and services - use them and use them often.

Persistence:

We all have days when it just feels we can't do it. Whether it's exercise or a work task we sometimes feel we want to give up - things aren't happening and we're frustrated. Persistence is sticking with it even when we want or think we want to give up. Marketing is challenging. Often times we don't see immediate results and we think it's not working. Be persistent when it comes to your business. Allow for setbacks and disappointments and know you have the power to tackle them - it's all in how you look and approach them that will make the difference.

Relationships:

Real estate is a relationship business. It's not just a transaction but a true commitment to connecting with people. Everyone on this network has the desire to connect with one another and extend our reach out into our communities. The key to building a great and lasting relationship is to provide great information as well as great listening from the very beginning. This ensures that a client will have the confidence in you to come back and refer people to you when they have real estate needs. As great as the internet is for extending our reach to potential clients, please don't forget the importance of a simple phone call and a handwritten note. People will remember all the ways you communicate with them and there's just something so personal about a phone call or note that truly lets them know they're important to you.

Frequency:

Saying something just once is not the way to go about building your business. Look at commercials for example. More often than not we get the same message, not once but several times in a short amount of time. Repeat your message often and in many different ways. I spoke with a staging client of mine last week and she shared with me that her colleagues and competitors were telling her "we see you everywhere - on the blogging sites and in her community." She's ensuring that in everything she does she is putting herself out there in front of her clients, otherwise they will forget about her. The word my friends is frequency and repeating your message is what will remind your prospects and clients that you are there, you're committed and they can find you when they need you most.

When it comes to our clients, do you know what the number one thing is that's important to them?

Everything on this list.

It's about doing the big and small things, dotting the i's and crossing the t's, managing their complete experience with us from beginning to end. By focusing on these key aspects of business and marketing, you are ensuring that your clients made the right choice when they chose you.

What word stuck out most for you and why?

Are you able to say that you focus on all these areas or at least a few? Which ones will you focus on changing?

Spring is here and summer is just around the corner, and I don't know about you, but right now I'm dreading seeing my body in a bathing suit. Yes, the effects of the winter and not closely paying attention to my diet and exercise routine are clearly evident to me.

So why am I sharing that with you? I strongly believe that marketing and exercise can be very closely related and will show how when you think of your commitment to exercise and all the benefits it provides you, you will realize the same thinking can be applied to your marketing. Who knows, perhaps I'll even inspire you to focus on exercising too?

To start, let's talk about what exercise means:

It's when a person pushes themself, increases their stamina, builds muscle, establishes a solid regular routine in order to reach new limits to obtain their maximum health and fitness goals.

So how can you exercise and flex your marketing muscles?

Plan of Action

I think anyone who has decided to make a commitment to exercise knows you need to have a plan and fully commit to it. You typically would establish what kind of exercises you're going to do, how often you will work out, perhaps you'll track it in a journal and tell people or even ask someone to work out with you to help you keep accountable. You also understand that you're not going to see actual results by just having a plan but actually following and committing to that plan.

The same goes for a marketing plan. You need to establish one, you need to commit to it, not just create it, but doing it every day. You can exercise your marketing skills by creating a master plan and breaking it down into small manageable pieces. This way it's not too overwhelming and you will actually be able to not only feel like you're accomplishing your goals but actually seeing the results. I invite you to read a previous post in which I describe simple things you do can each day to improve your marketing efforts.

Additionally, have a daily routine of sharing and acquiring knowledge (blogging, social networking, marketing in all forms) and practice those techniques. Whether you have 20 minutes or an hour for your exercise and marketing routine - do it - it will put you that much closer to your goals and the end results you are looking for.

Repetition

Once you make the commitment to your exercise action plan, you know you must pay attention to it on a regular basis, repetition is a good thing! You can't expect to see results by just looking at your workout clothes, your equipment and stuffing another morsel of food into your mouth without doing some sort of physical activity. Ever notice when you skip a few workouts that it's often hard to get back on track? You often feel like you're starting all over again.

Yes, the same goes for your marketing efforts. Skipping days and putting our marketing off to the side will have the same sad results. Ever hear the phrase "when you don't promote yourself a funny things happens...nothing!"

Now that you have a solid action plan in place, look at it and do something from your list daily. Are the areas you've identified leading you closer to your goals? Continue to reevaluate those goals and make the necessary changes - if it's not working why keep doing it?

One of the most important things to remember when it comes to our exercise and marketing routines - don't give up. Sure the results may be slow or sometimes feel as they are non existent but keep these words at the front of your thinking - stay focused, do something daily, success will come.

The Results

If you've committed yourself to exercise before you will know that hard work, commitment and seeing it through provided great results. It didn't happen overnight and without significant effort and commitment. Even on those days that you didn't feel like working out, you pushed yourself and look where it got you.

When you first commit to marketing you may feel overwhelmed, you can't do and you will especially feel that way if you're not seeing results. Maybe you feel that you've tried everything and it's still not happening. True success does not just come with hard work but with time. Create marketing solutions, commit to them, track them, change them after you've given them some time to truly evaluate their worth and don't give up.

By making a daily, strong and lasting commitment to your marketing, you are toning your skills, increasing your knowledge, becoming a skillful marketer and you will get the results that both you and your clients need. In the end, you will realize it was so worth the commitment you made - hard work, effort and time does truly payoff whether it's in exercising or marketing.

Have you committed to your marketing efforts the same way you have your exercise routine?

Perhaps this post inspired you to make a stronger commitment to both?

Where do you find your motivation to commit to exercise and marketing?

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Ready to take your Marketing to new levels? Anne Marie Malfi ~ Malfi Marketing Solutions.com ~ Copyright 2009

Let's face it, we have lots of things on our plates and we're wearing many hats these days to grow and increase our businesses. I see many newbies to ActiveRain setting up their profiles, perhaps putting out a blog and then feeling frustrated that nothing is happening. Some, sadly, give up completely and stop blogging. Sure it can be intimidating to get started but I assure you if you stick with it, give it some time, provide relevant content, explore this site - read and comment on other blogs - your readership will grow and you'll gain more confidence in your blogging - I have seen it happen.

Lately I have been very focused on reading and observing blogs and have noticed some of my subscribers who have visited my blog that don't have a blog of their own. How come?

Just as we have plans our marketing and personal goals, so should we for our blogging. Do you have a Blog Action Plan?

I invite you to step back and take a look at your blog and see how it measures up to the list I created below of what I feel are key items to have on your blog. I have gone through this exercise myself, because you know I wouldn't suggest something to you, if I wasn't willing to practice it myself.

So let's see how your blog measures up and if it doesn't you'll have an Action Plan in place to get you moving in the right direction.

1. Blog Strategy

• Do you understand the purpose and benefits of blogging or are you doing it because someone told you should?
• What do you hope to accomplish from blogging?
• What types of blogs should you post? Here's a basic list to get you started. More ideas: Even more ideas:

I also highly suggest mapping out some time to read the great posts here on Activerain. More often than not, you will discover that you'll find your next blog topic in either a comment you read on your post or someone else's.

2. Blogging Schedule Establish a blogging schedule that you feel comfortable with and that is realistic for you to maintain. If 2 posts a week work for you and your schedule than do it and do it consistently. There's no rule on how often you should blog - blog when you have something to share - but the most important rule of blogging is to share solid and relevant content.

3. Commenting Will you have a comment policy? Some bloggers choose not to comment back and that's their choice but I just think it's a great practice to follow especially when you're just getting started (I know many of my subscribers check back to see my response back to them and they will read some of the other comments left) Again, another opportunity to find your next blog topic. I also think it's key to visit other blogs, read it and read the comments left before you and leave a comment (no one will think it's ridiculous) and it helps you to establish who you are and invites people to check out your blog.

4.Your Profile

Blogging = connecting with your readers and fellow associates. It's an opportunity to share your expertise, your ideas and points of view on so many topics. It's also an opportunity to create relationships with the community/market you service as well as form partnerships with like minded professionals in the real estate community.

• Have you completed all the sections of your profile?
• Do you explain all the areas of your expertise? E.g. First time homebuyers, luxury market, and towns you service?
• Is your contact information easily accessible?
• Have you shared testimonials from your previous clients?

5. Links

There are numerous opportunities here to increase your visits to your website and social networking sites as well as your non company sites that you feel are relevant to your readers.

• Does your blog have links to your website(s)?
• Your social networking sites (many provide badges that can be easily placed on your profile)
• Have an associate you work with regularly for staging or mortgage services - add their link and perhaps they will reciprocate.
• When you put out a new post be sure to have links to previous posts and to posts of other bloggers that you are referencing. Share the link love.

Another great thing to do is add a link that puts many of your blogs on the same topics together in one spot on the side of your blog to be easily found by your readers.

6. RSS Subscriber

Key word - Feedburner! Make it easy for your readers to subscribe to your blog. Need to know how to do this? Visit this link.

Another good idea is to setup your blog to feed to your social networking sites - Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.

7. Visual Appeal

To me and many readers, it can be frustrating to go to a blog and just see a "sea of words." Break it up with some photos. It also helps readers relate to your blog and further illustrates your point.

Other things to consider using:

Videos - so many great programs out there allow you to embed your videos whether it's about your listing, your services or something about your community. Explore all your options and have fun. RealEstateShows is one of my favorites because it allows you to know only share pictures but it has music and text to truly build an emotional connection with the viewer.

Charts - Instead of just sharing numbers and statistics why not show them. Many readers are visual readers and learners and will help them connect with you and the information you're providing.

Here's a link to some great photo sites and video sites provided by Castellum Realty.

There are many options when it comes to creating your personal blog header. Customize it with pictures or text but make it uniquely you. Here's an example of one that Ryan Shaughnessey recently shared.

Lastly, make sure you choose your keywords wisely in your profile and blog, it will make all the difference in how the search engines place you.

So how did you measure up?

Have any other areas you feel can be added to your Blog Action Plan?

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Ready to take your Marketing to new levels? Anne Marie Malfi ~ Malfi Marketing Solutions.com ~ Copyright 2009

Do you ever wonder what your customers think when they interact with you or your office? What we don't know about our clients perceptions about our service, the quality of service and the level of services we are offering can hurt us.

I invite you to put yourself or a trusted colleague in charge of this task and ask you to put yourself in your customers shoes and truly see what they see.

In my old company we often hired mystery shoppers for clients to truly evaluate a customer's perspective of their business. More often than not, they were quite surprised by the results, thinking all along that they had a true handle on customer service and the overall customer experience they were offering their customers.

Today, I spent some of my day catching up on reading blog posts from identifying broken links to getting feedback from your clients and it got me thinking about the question "do you see what I see?"

Have you ever stopped, stepped back and truly looked at some of your work - the blog you posted, content on your website, your listing presentation, etc and looked at it as if you were a customer receiving that information? Are you able to do that? Should you?

Many of you advise your clients of their "to do"list that is necessary as they prepare to place their home on the market - perhaps painting a more neutral color, or fix ups that will truly make a great impression to home buyers. Are you doing that with your website and blog? Are they inviting with great and relevant content and photos that help them relate to what you're saying?

Some examples of what can you do in this test?

• Phone Impressions: Call your office and see what results you get. Did it take awhile for someone to answer? Was the person on the other end of the phone pleasant, helpful or was it a bother for you to call? Do you use the "smile" method when you answer the phone? Do you stop doing things at your desk when a prospect or client calls and truly focus on what they're saying and needing?

• Test your website. Was it easy to complete the contact you form? Do they receive some kind of confirmation that your information was received? Were the links working? Was the site visually appealing and easy to navigate? Could you locate the information you were searching for easily?

• Blog - Could you easily subscribe to your blog or was that not working? Were the links on the side of the profile working? Was the contact information easy to find or non existent? Does the content on the blog relate to the services being offered on your profile and website? Are there photos that break up the words and help relay the message?

I often find it helps to have a trusted colleague to be another set of eyes for me in reviewing my work - letting me know if something is missing, needs more detail or just doesn't flow. Do you have someone that you consider your extra set of eyes?

Think about the message you are sending to your prospects and clients in every areas of your business and make it easy and a pleasant experience to do business with you.

Weigh in with your thoughts:

Have some ideas or suggestions for other areas of your business that could be tested?

Can you honestly answer the question "Are you prospects and clients having a great customer experience when they choose you?"