The Home Biz Network

Let's face it. The last couple of years have seen a market that none of us would have even imagined. The highs were incredible, but unfortunately the lows have forced many of us to re-think how we do business. Some have even left the business altogether.

The old tried and true ways to market yourself and your businesses isn't nearly as effective as they were even five years ago. Farming, door-knocking, post cards and magazine ads worked when things were "normal". These days, there is no normal.

How do you survive and even thrive in a crazy housing market where foreclosures and short sales are the rule and not the exception?

You go where the people are. You take your business online and market yourself on the internet.

Today, social media sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are connecting people from all over the world. In the click of a mouse, you can start chatting with someone on the other side of the country that you probably never would have met in your day to day prospecting.

The important thing to remember though is to know who it is you're looking for. Knowing your target market is everything.

Are you primarily a Buyer's Agent or a Listing Agent? Do you love working with first time buyers (my personal favorite) or do you prefer to work in the high end market? Do you like working with investors in the rental or commercial market? Once you've decided where you want to focus your energies, then it's time to find out where those folks are.

The internet is full of forums, blogs and websites for every type of client you could ever want. Now you need to find them.

First, do a Google search for your buyer profile then add the word blog, forum or group to the end of it. For example, typing in rental home investor forum turns up 2,660,000 results in Google. Think you might be able to find some clients in there?

Second and the most important thing to remember is not, and I repeat, not go in and immediately start pitching yourself and your services. Why?

Now you're ready for the third most important thing to remember.

People on the internet (just like marketing in the offline world) do not like to be pitched. Especially when they have no clue who you are or what you're about. The secret to successful marketing on the internet is to provide value to the other person first.

When you do that, when you can help someone solve a problem and do it in a helpful and non-threatening way, folks are naturally attracted to you and what you offer. Start by doing that and you'll have more business than you can handle.

If you're not quite sure where to start or have questions, just fill out the form to the right and I'll be happy to give to you, for free, a 20 minute phone consultation to get your online marketing heading in the right direction. Hope to talk to you soon.