The Last 4 Tips

The Last 4 Tips
(as featured in the Board Talk publication)

7.      Nametag – this is the best $8.00 I have spent. I make sure I wear it to all networking events and “accidentally” leave it on when I run errands sometimes. It tends to spark conversations. Feeling bold? Wear it upside down to make people really look at it!

8.     Write and Article – Write an article for a local magazine, newspaper or any publication really. People are always looking for guest authors and unique articles. The best part, it is FREE!

9.    Have a Tagline – Find a tagline that you actually SAY after you introduce yourself and your company. It’s no use if it is just on your marketing materials – think about the taglines you remember, most of them are from commercials, not just print advertising.

10. Split the Cost – Any time you can co-sponsor an event or split the cost of an ad it means more money in your pocket. I ALWAYS ask if I can have a co-sponsor upfront – the worst they can say is no.  

The Monkey Points West

Tom Gillespie Vice President/Branch Manager
Points West Community Bank

The Monkey Points West
A Visit to Points West Community Bank


The Monkey took a trip to Wellington to visit Tom Gillespie Vice President/Branch Manager of Points West Community Bank. Tom is a good friend of Home Team Lending's and refers business to us and we, in turn, refer business to him.

Home Team Lending's  relationship with Points West is great for a number of reasons.

1. They do construction loans, we do not.
2. They do commercial loans, we do not.
3. They don't do permanent financing, we do!

This brings me to a great marketing tactic - don't try to do everything, do what you do well and find someone else to fill in the gaps!

For Realtors, this may look like determining physical boundaries for your business. Sure you could office out of Northern Colorado and sell or list a home in Denver or even Boulder, but is it worth it? Spending all that time researching a new market or driving 100+ miles round trip can take valuable time away from prospecting. It would be MUCH more worth your time to spend an hour interviewing agents in the area or having agents already set to go that you can refer business to. A lot of the time you can even receive a referral fee for doing so.

So - go out and find those businesses to partner with and make more money as a result!

The Monkey jumped up on the sign!

The Monkey also finished up a few files while he was there.

The Kitten Factor

The Kitten Factor
Works Every Time


I recently received an email from the Colorado Association of REALTORS inviting me to bring a friend to convention.

When I opened the email up, my heart was immediately softened by the kitten and puppy featured on the invite.

HOW CUTE! I immediately read the entire email. (secretly searching to see if there were going to be kittens and puppies at the Real Estate Convention)

The bottom line is this image warmed me up to their message. Graphics and photos convey a powerful message. Let's face it, baby animals are easy on the eyes and warm on the heart.

Think about using "The Kitten Factor" on a marketing piece in the near future and measure the response.

p.s. can I have a kitten at work?

Lights Out!

Lights Out
Tell Me When My Lights Are Out

I recently got a note in the mail:

To Whom It May Concern, 


We recently discovered a signage or lighting problem at your location. The enclosed photo was taken on Monday, August 15, 2011. YESCO can repair and maintain all of your outside lighting. We would love the opportunity to repair your outages. If you would like us to put you on the schedule, please call us at your convenience. Thank you for your consideration.


Included was a photo of our street sign that is only half way illuminated.

A few things are great about this letter.

1. I don't come to the office at night. In fact, I avoid it. I would have not know this fact for a long time.
2. They included a photo of my sign so I could see how it looks at night.
3. They provided me with their contact info and made it easy for me to contact them.

When was the last time you sent something to a FSBO (For Sale By Owner) or a potential client with a USEFUL tidbit of info and then a plug for your services?

Sample letter to potential FSBO client:

"To Whom It May Concern,


I have noticed that your brochure box has been empty for 5 days from Aug 13th - 18th. Research shows that 1 out of every 3 buyers find brochures helpful in their decision making process. 


My Real Estate Team is dedicated to getting maximum exposure for your home on the market. Here are 5 ways we make sure every potential buyer is seeing your home.


*Then go on to list the ways you set yourself apart including how you make sure brochures are always full in their box. 




What other things could you be sending out?

Give Me Your Address!

Give Me Your Address!
Must Have Info To Share With Clients


Those of you who know me know how much I love to send cards and other things via the good old fashioned United States Postal Service. It is such a great way to connect with people and is the most inexpensive way to make a huge impression.

This leads me to one of the easiest marketing tips - have all of your contact info EASILY accessible!

Business Cards: 
It is frustrating to get someone's business card, head back to the office to send them a thank you note only to find their address isn't on there! Your business card's purpose is to share your info - don't leave it incomplete.

Websites: 
Another thing to consider is your "contact me" page on your website. People can be turned off by the fact that they have to fill out a form just to get your contact info. It's like saying "I don't want to give me your info unless you give me yours first." They are a potential client! Let them have ALL of your info up front and EASY to find.

Email Signatures: 
Try to have as much info as possible without over doing it. I do have a "reply" signature with less info, but I only use that if I know my full signature is somewhere in the body already. Even people who I KNOW have my contact info, I leave it in there.

Here is what my full signature looks like:

--

Michelle Marison

Director of Development

Home Team Lending

A Division of Universal Lending Corp

(970) 310-5220 cell

(970) 225-2800 office

(970) 225-4707 direct

(970) 225-2880 fax

300 East Horsetooth Road

Suite 200

Fort Collins, CO 80525

michelle@hometeam-lending.com

www.hometeam-lending.com

http://michellesmonkeymarketing.blogspot.com/

"Individually we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean."

Here is what my partial signature looks like:

--

Michelle Marison

Home Team Lending

(970) 310-5220 cell

(970) 225-2800 office

(970) 225-4707 direct

Yes, it may be a little long, but if someone wants to just pick up the phone, send me something USPS or visit my website they have all the contact info at their fingertips. 

QR Code: 

Lastly, a QR code is an easy way in this day in age to share your contact info with people. If you have a smart phone, you can scan this code and it will add my contact info directly to your phone! What an easy thing! Start to put this on your email signatures, business cards and marketing materials.

Make New Friends

Make New Friends
And Keep The Old




How do I grow my business? How do I meet new people? How do I turn the people I meet into clients?

The answer might be simpler than you know...just make new friends!

I had a conversation with one of my close friends who is a Realtor the other day "I love my job - I get to play tennis and I am working at the same time!" he said. He then went on to talk about how he stays in the flow with people by doing what he loves to do and sells homes as a result!

So simple and fun actually. Trying to find the "right" place and the "right" people to be networking with can be a waste of time. Heck - even your favorite place to "Happy Hour" has an owner - be pals with them! Just participate in more things you love and make more friends - MAKE MORE FRIENDS! Your friends want to work with you.

It's History

It's History

Michelle and the Marketing Monkey construction zone ready!

A Peak At the New Discovery Science Museum


We got a "sneak peak" of the NEW Discovery Science Museum that is scheduled to open up Spring of 2012 on the corner of Cherry and College in Old Town Fort Collins.


The museum is 43,000 square feet (approximately the same size as the Fort Collins Lincoln Center) and has a budget of $24 million dollars. The building itself is designed as a model of best practices in minimizing energy use and environmental impact. Their technology, innovation and design are attracting global attention and they are on the leading edge of museum design and technology. 


The digital dome theater planned for the new museum is an immersive, large format 360 degree theater. Using digital video and audio technology, the theater will feature interactive educational shows, planetarium-style experiences, and movies that explore a wide range of science, history, and cultural subjects.


The museum also meets the specifications to house popular traveling exhibits such as Lewis and Clark, on a smaller scale locally.


The museum is still looking for sponsors, running a campaign of $1,000 from 1,000  - which is collecting $1,000 from 1,000 Ft. Collins residents. Additionally, they have a slot open for a $100,000 donor to sponsor their outdoor event and recreation area (a steal of a deal!).


For more info and the master plan, visit their website at: http://www.fcmdsc.org/about/new_museum.html or contact Annette Pontillo, Executive Director, Discovery Science Center via email ageiselman@fcmdsc.org of phone (970) 416-2767.

Hard worker?

Marketing Monkey on the observation deck.

Watch for Cats!

Watch for Cats

How to Stand Out From the Competition

Every Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. Kevco Real Estate and Property Management Company does a tour of properties in Old Town Fort Collins. (plug) On tour you will see anywhere from 4-8 properties and evaluate everything from their price to their condition. 

About the third house, we came upon some unique sidewalk art...

This home contained a litter of cats that the owner didn't want to sneak out. I laughed so hard I had to take a picture. They also left other welcoming notes along the cement, some informative, some just down right funny.

The point is, we remembered the house - it stood out. Finding unique ways to display your message will make it memorable. So don't be afraid to break out the chalk next time you have something to say!

Oh and the Marketing Monkey came too!