I love a slice of fresh fruit pie as much as the next person. If it’s rhubarb and there is a little whipped cream or vanilla ice cream on it, so much the better. It gives you that warm, homely feeling, like something you know well. By the way, did you know Fortinos the grocers do baked half pies? Which would be different of course from half-baked pies! How cool… Read More »Pat a Cake, Pat a Cake, Personal Brand
Sunsets on Lake Huron are pretty hard to beat, but I have to admit a tinge of sadness as I watched one set for one of the final times this summer. In the words of fellow Englishman, William Shakespeare, “Summer’s lease hath all too short a date.” Perhaps you felt the same way, especially this summer after what has gone on the last 18 months, like me, you may have… Read More »Summer is a State of Mind
Have you ever used a mucus recovery system? Chances are there is one on your desk or at least in your office. The term came from an actor in a US-based show I was watching. They were deciphering a hospital bill trying to figure out what a $25 charge was for a “mucus recovery system” It made me think about how clearly you need to communicate or market real estate… Read More »If You Are Confusing, You Are Losing
3 times storytelling will enhance and 3 times it will damage your brand. You want prospects and clients to make an emotional connection to your real estate investing business and your brand. Often we are told that storytelling is the way to do that. For that to happen it NEEDS to be;1. Engaging – attention spans are diminishing by the day.2. Easy to follow – sometimes visual or storyboards can… Read More »How Are You Telling Your Real Estate Investing Story?
Being slipshod with your marketing campaigns can make or break a relationship. But usually, if I see a mistake I am inclined not to judge unless it’s a blatant disregard for doing good work. If the marketing still works……… What about you – is it a Forgive, Forget or Fail?
“How did you hear about us?” That question is probably still the primary source of marketing measurement for many real estate investing business owners. Which might be okay if your marketing is minimal or haphazard. But if you are starting to strategically plan more regular and perhaps in-depth or sophisticated campaigns you will want some solid metrics to fathom their effectiveness. Sticking your face on a giant billboard, side of… Read More »Are You Measuring Marketing Effectiveness?
Because your desire (or perhaps desperation) is to not exclude anyone with a pulse who could be a client or joint venture partner. Or you play it safe so you do not run the risk of offending anyone. You end up with vanilla real estate investing marketing. Perhaps you are following the ‘way it’s always been done’ or you are following some new guru or copycatting a 10x influencer or… Read More »Are Your Running Vanilla Marketing Campaigns?
A number of years ago I had a colleague with a wealth of business experience – they had knowledge of Law, HR, Operations and smatterings of more. They were a trusted advisor to business leaders as a consultant. The challenge was ‘everyone’s a consultant’ so how could they stand out and differentiate themselves in a crowded space? Over a beer we were ‘namestorming’ and I suggested “The CEO’s Consigliere” By… Read More »When Your Real Estate Investing Expertise Cannot be Branded
We have all seen them. The toady, slimy, sleazy characters on TV or movies, sucking up to the boss. Think Dwight in The Office. But let’s be honest with ourselves, in real estate investing we could be labelled toady too. I know sometimes my propensity to people please could be construed differently. – When we fawn over a local celebrity, keynote speaker or someone with a few thousand Instagram followers,… Read More »Does Being Toady Damage Your Brand?
Indissoluble In a world of exaggerations, fake news and bare-faced lying can the phrase “My word is my bond” carry weight or worth anymore? For something to be indissoluble means it is incapable of being annulled, broken or undone – what we used to mean by ‘my word is my bond’ but now requires us to have contracts drawn up, witnesses present and perhaps even recordings made. Just look at… Read More »Is Your Word Your Bond?