Bobby Wallace

Here in Charleston, SC, boating is a big recreational activity for a lot of Charleston area families; we are blessed with a lot of water; the Ashley River, the Wando River, Intercoastal Waterway, as well nearby Santee Cooper offer plenty of fishing, skiing,or just plain cruising opportunities.

Boating can be fun, but there is a "Dark" side to boating that most people are not aware of; it's called "Boat Fever"

People suffering from "Boat Fever" are constantly reading the newspapers, surfing the net, thumbing thru the "Boat Trader" magazine or cruising boat lots looking for their new "Dream" boat.

The "fever" increases when they sit in the boat and experience the new boat smell; they visualize themselves cruising across the lake, wind blowing thru their hair but it reaches it's highest and most dangerous point when they actually turn the key and "test drive" their dream boat.

I have an old friend, "Henry", who suffers from, what he descibes as " Uncontrollable Boat Fever". It normally strikes him every year about the time income tax refunds are sent out.

The only known treatment for "Boat Fever" is to actually buy one! (my friend owns 5)

I use to hang out with "Henry" a lot, but I realized that "Boat Fever" was contagious and that he was a "carrier".

(My wife was kind enough to point this out to me as we were moving our 3 boats to mow the grass)

Just this week, my friend, "Henry", telephoned me and he was almost in a manic-like-phase as he was describing a new 22 foot Whaler that he had looked at when I asked him where or how he was first exposed to "Boat Fever".

"Henry" thought about it for a couple of seconds and almost reverently said, "The Charleston Area Convention Center...that's why I was calling to see if you wanted to go"

A chill ran down my spine as I glanced at the calendar and realized that the most dangerous day of the year for "Boat Fever Sufferers" is on January 23, 2009, when the Charleston Boat Show is being held at the Charleston Area Convention Center and Coliseum.

They will have latest models and newest trends in the industry! Boats will be packed inside and around the Charleston Area Convention Center and Coliseum.

There will be a variety of Special Events and Seminars during the Show for every age group, the "newbie" boater and the "old captains'! (Check out the glass bass tank)

Hours for the show are: Friday, noon-7pm, Saturday, 10am-7pm and Sunday, 11am-6pm. Parking is free. Tickets prices: Adults $9 and Children 10 and under FREE.

It will be almost impossible for a normal person to resist, much less someone who is susceptible to "Boat Fever", so I will not be able to attend...but I am sure that my friend "Henry" will be right in the middle of it...looking for boat #6!

Many years ago, when I entered the financial services business, Salespeople were taught by management to "give every person we met" a calendar with your name and telephone number on it, so that at any time of the year, if they had a need for financial services, this person would think of you, call you, and you would make some money.

In an attempt to be like the "big boys", I ordered them by the cases!

Gave them away to anybody who moved - and a couple to people who didn't move quick enough!

The printer who printed the calendars made money; the shipping company made money; everybody made money except me. (Believe me, I tracked my leads and I never got one telephone call from person who claimed that they were calling me because I had given them a calendar)

As one of my favorite authors, Maya Angelou, is fond of saying:

"I did the best I could with what I knew, and when I knew better, I did better"

For almost 3 years I gave away thousands of calendars and then it happened; I was promoted into management and I began training my "new" salespeople to do the very same thing. (this was way before Maya Angelou:).

Like a blind man in search of light, I began searching everywhere for a "secret formula" that would help me transform mediocre sales people, many of which should have never been in sales in the first place, into high paid, incredibly successful "Superstars" who would owe their success to me. (I know, I know, youth is a terrible thing to have to live through)

I never found my fortune giving away calendars (Sorry, it just did not work for me)

But, what I did find was a "different way" to use a calendar.

While, searching through book stores, libraries, thrift stores, flea markets, etc. I found a copy of a book called "The Ultimate Marketing Plan" by a guy named Dan Kennedy, who used his calendar a lot differently than the way I was taught.

Kennedy's calendar was broken down into simple months; in January, for example, Kennedy focused his marketing efforts on reaching out to his "prospects" on J.R.R. Tolkkien's Birthday (January 3rd) or Milk Day (January 11th) even Winnie the Pooh Day (January 18th) and especially Dr. Martin Luther King's Birthday (January 21st) and National School Nurse Day (January 23rd) and linking his product or services to these dates with "emotional marketing messages" that tied into trends and current events.

(I found 19 different "excuses" to celebrate in January and reach out to my "farm" or 'herd" with email, faxes, texting, print ads, you name it - you can probably find even more!)

I thought, "Man, this sure beats the heck out of ordering all those calendars" but, I did like most people and put the book away, and forgot about it - until my printer called, wanting my usual calendar order. ( I think he had one more child, that we were trying to get through college).

Stalling him, I tried to remember where I had put Kennedy's book; I really, really, did not want to spend money in August to have calendars printed and be unable to recoup any of my marketing investment for months.

Hallelujah!

I found the "Ultimate Marketing Plan" in a un-packed box in my garage and began making me a real-life, honest-to-goodness "marketing calendar".

Then the real ephipany hit me; since it was August, why wait until January to start using it?

Why not see if Dan's Marketing Calendar worked NOW?

(I could always pay a little more & get them to make a special print run, just to hedge my bet)

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

By the time January had rolled around, I had actually done more business in those 4 months as I had previously in 8 months!

Lead volume went up; cost per lead went down; I made money.

My salespeople were "pea-green with envy;" almost everyone switched from giving away calendars and hoping-someone-would-remember-them to maximizing their marketing with the "new & improved calendars."

Since then I have used the "Ultimate Marketing Calendar" in 5 different businesses and trust me, I have not bought a single calendar to give away as a "marketing lead generator".

(I actually bought numerous copies of the book to give away because people kept borrowing mine and never returning it)

So, let me reiterate my original question: "Can something as simple as a calendar make a difference in your income in 2009?"

You're darn skippy it can!

As the old saying goes, "It's not what you have - it's how you use it!"

I will use this "Ultimate Marketing Calendar" for the rest of my natural life; thank you Dan Kennedy for showing me the "light."

P.S. I have no relationship with the author, publisher, etc. and do not stand to benefit in anyway should you purchase this book, borrow it from a friend, or check it out at the library.

Have a great year!

Charleston County Zoning and Land Development Experts Brandon White and Sally Brooks, were the guest speakers at the Charleston Real Estate investor's Association meeting last night and 71 local Charleston Investors were speechless at what we learned.

Brandon and Sally shared tons of valuable information...information such as:

* Do you know how many college students can live in the house next to you? (6)

* What size trees can be cut down without a permit.(Sally is a certified Arborist)

* What the fine is for "Bandit Signs" ($500)

* How you could be fined as much as $1,035 a day for a vehicle in your yard!

Our investors took advantage of the opportunity to "pick their brains" and came away with the realization that "due diligence" was real important and that the Code Enforcement Department could be a great resource.

"For the new investor the info was a great introduction to all aspects of zoning and code enforcement and what to expect. Now there is no excise to get caught off guard and cost you expensive fines and waste valuable time re-doing something in order to comply. Use this information wisely. The guest speakers really did a fantastic job of presenting the information in a manner that was informative and kept my attention the entire time. "

Bill P.

"I learned, that like anything else in real estate, you have to do your due diligence. If you don't it can cost you a lot of money in the long run."

Michael B.

"I would like to thank Brandon and Sally for taking the time out of their busy schedule to come and speak to our group. They shared a lot of valuable information about zoning and tree issues in Charleston County."

Rodney R.

"Since this is the beginning of a new year and we are all optimistic that the future will be bright and prosperous, it was an excellent beginning. Knowing the rules of code enforcement in this area is a great way to make sure that once we purchase properties this year, we will avoid the fines. Thanks for an informative meeting. "

Celeste M.

The Charleston Real Estate Association will host over 26+ local experts in 2009 to help educate real estate investors, Realtors, Appraisers, etc. , how to learn more, earn more, and have more fun doing it.

Why aren't you a member?

Who are Anna Lee & Robert Kemp?

Anna Lee & Robert Kemp are local Charleston Realtors who are very loyal, supportive

members of our local Charleston Real Estate Investor's Association, and are also

"students of learning"..so, we invited them to join our ActiveRain family who have already learned, that

there is no better place to gain knowledge than from our 127,346 brothers & sisters!

I feel confident that they can contribute to ActiveRain just as they have to our offline group because they

are "Good people" who are "Givers".

If you have a real estate question or need, I urge you to contact Anna Lee & Robert..

we appreciate them..you will too!

Have you (or maybe a client) ever had a "code violation" and was totally clueless that you (or your tenants) had violated any ordinances?

Not sure whether or not the visiting realtives can park their "new" motor home in front of your home?

What one question about "code enforcement rules & regulations" would you like to have answered?

Brandon White and Sally Brooks, Charleston County Planners will be the guest speakers at the Charleston Real Estate investor's Association January 6^th2009 meeting. The location for the meeting will be at The North Charleston Inn, 2934 Montaque Ave. N. Charleston, SC. .

"Brandon will talk about property owner responsibilities and liabilities for local Charleston property owners. He will also be covering tips and solutions that property owners can use to prevent code enforcement intervention and why it is an essential that all investors and property owners need to add to be pro-active. " said Bobby Wallace, host. "Many of our members are always asking for advice from local experts. So we have found the "best of the best" to be our featured guest speaker and answer their questions"

Some of the key bullet points that Brandon will cover are:

* Does your property violate the State Building Code occupancy rules?

* Where do 95% of Code Enforcement complaints come from?

* What happens when you refuse to allow a Code Enforcement Inspector in?

* Why is it becoming more difficult for older homes to meet state building codes?

* How much is the average fine that can be levied? How much is the maximum?

* How many cars can be parked at a house/street? * How many cats/dogs can I have?

* What are the state requirements for Code Enforcement Inspectors?

* How many inspectors are there in Charleston County? Do they have to take a state test?

This meeting is designed for local real estate investors,, appraisers, Realtors, and small business owners who would like to know more about investing in real estate.

Send your questions in early so we can add them the list and get them answered.

Register at http://www.charlestonrei.com

Event Date: January 6, 2009

Event Start Time: 6:00 pm Event End Time: 8:00 pm

Location: The North Charleston Inn, 2934 Montaque Ave. N. Charleston, SC 29418

Primary Phone: 843-200-5617 Primary Email: charlestonreia@gmail.com

This event is FREE for 1^st time visitors