Digg it UP - Real Estate

Ways to Improve and Make Money from Your Newsletter
Our last three newsletters have covered the hot topic of email newsletters and their importance: Keeping Your Customers Informed, How to Build Your Subscriber List, and How To Write Your Newsletter. If you’re new to our newsletter or have missed out on any of these editions, to view the complete series see the link at the end of this article.So having accepted the importance of producing an email newsletter, you’ve begun to establish your subscriber list and have started writing, or gathering content for it, how are you going to improve and make money from your publication? This month we are going to tackle Ways to Improve and Make Money from your Newsletter.Getting Your Newsletter DeliveredThe first issue is to make sure that your subscribers are opening your newsletters. It may sound obvious, they’ve subscribed to receive this free but valuable information of course they’ll open and read it, right? Wrong! There’s a whole host of delivery issues that can stop them.This can be a particular problem if you are using an html template style email as opposed to a plain text version. You may need to educate your readers about the need to add trusted senders to their address books as it is a fact that many email programmes and email address providers wont display the html content of emails sent by sources not in the recipients address book. Some won’t even include the html by default even if you are in their address book! Unless your subscribers have added you to their address book, there’s a good chance they won't see your HTML graphics a

rsonal marketing campaign from the beginning to get your own name out as the Real Estate Agent to go to.

6) Not Focusing Their Marketing Efforts in the Most Effective Areas

One reason why many new Real Estate Agents who do begin spending money on personal marketing stop is because they spend it in the wrong place. The easiest place, and where conventional Real Estate tells you to spend your money, is in conventional print marketing – the newspaper, real estate magazines, etc… This is the most visible place to see real estate advertising, it’s where large offices spend a good part of their money, and so many new agents mistakenly spend their money here. This becomes very frustrating to new agents because of its low return. Large brokerages can afford to spend their money here because they’re filling two needs – they’re marketing their own properties for sale while creating new buyer traffic for their buyer’s agents. New Real Estate Agents should look to their own sphere of influence and referral marketing to see the most effective return on their investment. An agent can spend as little as $100/month marketing to their family, friends, and colleagues and see an incredible return. There are many great referral systems around that all focus on the same premise – that if you consistently market yourself to your sphere of influence as the Real Estate Agent to go to – then you will get more business. The key is to pick a system and to follow that system. You will see results.

7) Choosing the Wrong Brokerage for the Wrong Reasons

New Real Estate Agents choose their new broker for a variety of reasons – they have a good reputation, they offer the most competitive split, the office is close to their house, etc… While these alone aren’t bad reasons to choose a broker, they aren’t going to do a lot to help you in your success. The #1 reason to choose a broker, and the question to ask is, “What do you offer your new agents.” If the answer is, “The most competitive split in town” you should definitely keep looking. Remember, 100% of $0 is still $0. If you’re leaning towards the largest broker in town, who has a great reputation, remember this: You’re starting a BUSINESS not a JOB. While it might be fantastic to brag to your friends abou

The Need For Life Insurance
A person needs to reexamine their life insurance needs every few years because as our life events change so do our needs.When starting a family, a person needs to consider starting a life insurance policy. In the event that death occurs to one of the parents, there needs to be some insurance that money will be there to help raise and support the rest of the family.When buying a home, life insurance needs to be considered or reexamined, as well. If a spouse should die, it is important to know that the other spouse could pay the mortgage and bills.Getting a new job is another life event that requires some thought about life insurance. Most companies that provide health insurance, offer a life insurance policy to their employees as well. It is a great place to start the life insurance policy.Lets talk about retirement. So many people rely on their 401(K), mutual funds and IRA's to survive after retirement. In the event that the spouse dies before they retire, the other spouse would lose the salary plus the retirement benefits, as well. Life Insurance would not only be beneficial in this life event, but crucial.Another benefit from life insurance is that a permanent life insurance policy offers cash value. That means that you could borrow against it for college loans, a down payment for a home, or any personal loan. The lender uses the life insurance policy for a down payment.So throughout all these stages in a person's life, life insurance should be considered and reexamined to fit the different life changing even

Every time I talk to someone about my business and career, it always comes up that “they’ve thought about getting into real estate” or know someone who has. With so many people thinking about getting into real estate, and getting into real estate – why aren’t there more successful Realtors in the world? Well, there’s only so much business to go around, so there can only be so many Real Estate Agents in the world. I feel, however, that the inherent nature of the business, and how different it is from traditional careers, makes it difficult for the average person to successfully make the transition into the Real Estate Business. As a Broker, I see many new agents make their way into my office – for an interview, and sometimes to begin their careers. New Real Estate Agents bring a lot of great qualities to the table – lots of energy and ambition – but they also make a lot of common mistakes. Here are the 7 top mistakes rookie Real Estate Agents Make.

1) No Business Plan or Business Strategy

So many new agents put all their emphasis on which Real Estate Brokerage they will join when their shiny new license comes in the mail. Why? Because most new Real Estate Agents have never been in business for themselves – they’ve only worked as employees. They, mistakenly, believe that getting into the Real Estate business is “getting a new job.” What they’re missing is that they’re about to go into business for themselves. If you’ve ever opened the doors to ANY business, you know that one of the key ingredients is your business plan. Your business plan helps you define where you’re going, how you’re getting there, and what it’s going to take for you to make your real estate business a success. Here are the essentials of any good business plan:

A) Goals - What do you want? Make them clear, concise, measurable, and achievable.

B) Services You Provide - you don't want to be the "jack of all trades & master of none" - choose residential or commercial, buyers/sellers/renters, and what area(s) you want to specialize in. New residential real estate agents tend to have the most success with buyers/renters and then move on to listing homes after they've completed a few transactions.

C) Market - who are you marketing yourself to?

D) Budget - consider yourself "new real estate agent, inc." and write down EVERY expense that you have - gas, groceries, cell phone, etc... Then write down the new expenses you're taking on - board dues, increased gas, increased cell usage, marketing (very important), etc...

E) Funding - how are you going to pay for your budget w/ no income for the first (at least) 60 days? With the goals you've set for yourself, when will you break even?

F) Marketing Plan - how are you going to get the word out about your services? The MOST effective way to market yourself is to your own sphere of influence (people you know). Make sure you do so effectively and systematically.

2) Not Using the Best Possible Closing Team

They say the greatest businesspeople surround themselves with people that are smarter than themselves. It takes a pretty big team to close a transaction – Buyer’s Agent, Listing Agent, Lender, Insurance Agent, Title Officer, Inspector, Appraiser, and sometimes more! As a Real Estate Agent, you are in the position to refer your client to whoever you choose, and you should make sure that anyone you refer in will be an asset to the transaction, not someone who will bring you more headache. And the closing team you refer in, or “put your name to,” are there to make you shine! When they perform well, you get to take part of the credit because you referred them into the transaction.

The deadliest duo out there is the New Real Estate Agent & New Mortgage Broker. They get together and decide that, through their combined marketing efforts, they can take over the world! They’re both focusing on the right part of their business – marketing – but they’re doing each other no favors by choosing to give each other business. If you refer in a bad insurance agent, it might cause a minor hiccup in the transaction – you make a simple phone call and a new agent can bind the property in less than an hour. However, because it typically takes at least two weeks to close a loan, if you use an inexperienced lender, the result can be disastrous! You may find yourself in a position of “begging for a contract extension,” or worse, being denied a contract extension.

A good closing team will typically know more than their role in the transaction. Due to this, you can turn to them with questions, and they will step in (quietly) when they see a potential mistake – because they want to help you, and in return receive more of your business. Using good, experienced players for your closing team will help you infinitely in conducting business worthy of MORE business…and best of all, it’s free!

3) Not Arming Themselves with the Necessary Tools

Getting started as a Real Estate Agent is expensive. In Texas, the license alone is an investment that will cost between $700 and $900 (not taking into account the amount of time you’ll invest.) However, you’ll run into even more expenses when you go to arm yourself with the necessary tools of the trade. And don’t fool yourself – they are necessary – because your competitors are definitely using every tool to help THEM.

A) MLS Access is probably the most expensive necessity you’re going to run into. Joining your local (and state & national, by default) Board of Realtors will allow you to pay for MLS access, and in Austin, Texas, will run around $1000. However, don’t skimp in this area. Getting MLS access is one of the most important things you can do. It’s what differentiates us from your average salesman – we don’t sell homes, we present any of the homes that we have available. With MLS Access, you will have 99% of the homes for sale in your area available to present to your clients.

B) Mobile Phone w/ a Beefy Plan – These days, everyone has a cell phone. But not everyone has a plan that will facilitate the level of use that Real Estate Agents need. Plan on getting at least 2000 minutes per month. You want, and need, to be available to your clients 24/7 – not just nights and weekends.

C) Computer (Preferably a Laptop) – There’s no way around it, you have to have a computer & be savvy enough to use email. You would be wise to invest in some business management software, as well. If you’d like to save some money (and who wouldn’t) then you can get the client & email management software Thunderbird from www.mozilla.com and you can get a free office suite from www.openoffice.org The only downside to these programs is that they do not sync with your PDA or Smart Phone. A Laptop is a BIG plus because you’ll be able to work from home or on the go. New Real Estate Agents are often surprised by just how much time they spend AWAY from the office, and a laptop helps you stay on top of your work while on the go.

D) Real Estate Friendly Car – You don’t have to have a Lexus, but your Miata won’t do the trick. Make sure that you have a 4 door car or SUV that is comfortable and presentable. Keep it clean, and for God’s sake, don’t smoke in it! You’re going to spend a LOT of time in your car, and put a lot of miles on it, so if it’s fuel efficient, it’s a BIG plus. If you’re driving a sporty convertible, or still have your KILLER Jeep from college, it’s time to trade it in.

4) Lack of Proper Funding

If you’ve taken the time to create your business plan, than you should definitely have your budget, but I can’t stress enough the importance of having and following your budget. However, the budget alone doesn’t address the important aspect of funding. 90% of all small businesses fail due to lack of funding. Typically, new agents will want to have 3 months of reserves in savings before taking the leap into full time agency. However, money in the bank isn’t the only way to answer the question of funding. Maybe your partner can support you for a certain period of time. You can keep a part-time job that won’t interfere with your business as a Real Estate Agent. Many successful waiters make the transition to successful real estate agents with no money in the bank. When you start your new business, don’t expect to earn any income for, at the least, 60 days.

5) Refusing to Spend Money on Marketing

Most new Real Estate Agents don’t realize that the hardest part of the business is finding the business. Furthermore, they’ve just shelled out around $2000 for their license and board dues, so the LAST thing they want to do is to spend more money! Again, the problem lies in the lack of understanding that you’ve just jumped into the Real Estate Business, you haven’t taken a new job. And any good businessperson will tell you that how much business you GET is directly correlative to how much you SPEND on marketing. If you choose the right brokerage, then you will get some good inbound leads. However, don’t neglect a good, personal marketing campaign from the beginning to get your own name out as the Real Estate Agent to go to.

6) Not Focusing Their Marketing Efforts in the Most Effective Areas

7) Choosing the Wrong Brokerage for the Wrong Reasons

When Is the Best Time to Make a Sale?
Do you know when the best time is to help your prospects make their first purchase?Timing is everything in marketing. Get it wrong and you can't get your prospects' attention. Get it right and you'll see your revenue grow each month of the year.My daughter was twelve when we got a dog. She couldn't get enough of that cute, cuddly puppy and made good on her promises to take care of it – at first, anyway. The first week she fed, walked and brushed our new dog. The second week, she fed and walked her. After three months, she was keeping up with the feeding and that was it.When a puppy first comes into the house, its owner is enthusiastic and will do anything and everything for it. If you've ever owned a dog, you know what I'm talking about. It’s called the "new puppy syndrome".Prospects experience the new puppy syndrome with your small business marketing. The first time they sign up for your free offer, stop by for a test drive or visit your store, they're enthusiastic and this is the time they're the most likely to make a purchase.Your prospects' interest wanes with each day that passes. They go from highly interested to mildly interested or not interested at all.You've got two opportunities to help your prospects buy with your small business marketing. The first is during the 7 to 10 days after they became a qualified lead. This is the time you want to follow up with additional information and make an offer they can’t refuse.One of my clients periodically gives talks to coaches, health professionals and other tr

f to?

E) Funding - how are you going to pay for your budget w/ no income for the first (at least) 60 days? With the goals you've set for yourself, when will you break even?

2) Not Using the Best Possible Closing Team

3) Not Arming Themselves with the Necessary Tools

4) Lack of Proper Funding

5) Refusing to Spend Money on Marketing

6) Not Focusing Their Marketing Efforts in the Most Effective Areas

7) Choosing the Wrong Brokerage for the Wrong Reasons

Web Site Design - Create a Website for Business Success With This Step by Step Help
Many of us today find it hard to think of life before computers and the internet. Yet, there is still a lot of confusion about the infrastructure of a website and what it takes to design, create and maintain one. This article outlines the basic steps to help you learn how to make a website.Domain Name The best place to start the process is with a name for your site; a domain name. The most popular domains are dot-com names (.com). Also high on popularity are dot-net (.net), dot-org (.org), plus many others including dot-info (.info), dot-biz (.biz) and dot-us (.us).Unless you are looking for a very unique name, most combinations of one or two common English words with the famed dot-com tag at the end are already claimed. This is where creativity may be required to find ways to make your domain name unique. To start searching for your domain name you’ll need to go to a domain registrar such as Network Solutions. Registering a domain name works essentially like a lease, granting you permission to use the name as long as you maintain the nominal annual fees to keep it registered.A good domain name should be short, but still reflect your website; you want your visitors to remember their way back. Avoid using initials (unless they are as well known as CBS or NBC). Avoid hyphenation if possible or overly long names. A good domain name is memorable and easy on the tongue. The best test is to find several good candidates and test them by speaking the names out loud. How easy are they to communicate, and to spell? How we

r role in the transaction. Due to this, you can turn to them with questions, and they will step in (quietly) when they see a potential mistake – because they want to help you, and in return receive more of your business. Using good, experienced players for your closing team will help you infinitely in conducting business worthy of MORE business…and best of all, it’s free!

3) Not Arming Themselves with the Necessary Tools

4) Lack of Proper Funding

5) Refusing to Spend Money on Marketing

6) Not Focusing Their Marketing Efforts in the Most Effective Areas

7) Choosing the Wrong Brokerage for the Wrong Reasons

Benefits Of Tax Debt Elimination With A Consolidation Loan
The interests charged are significantly higher because they are not the regulated ones but punishment ones (fines) instead because the law seems to understand that tax debt affects all the society. Also, the processes to recover the money owed are shorter and more expeditious and thus, tax debt needs to be resolved in a speedy manner with great risks of losing assets if not.The problem is that money isn’t always there and though the smarter thing to do is to pay taxes when they are due and avoid debt accumulation, once it has already happened some sort of alternative needs to be used. A not so uncommon practice is to resort to debt consolidation loans. These loans are useful because they charge low interests, because other creditors can be included too and thus all debt is unified but there is also another reason that is especially important when it comes to tax debt elimination. Interests On Debt Consolidation Loans Based On Equity Are Tax Deductible The interests on a home equity loan (most debt consolidation loans are based on equity), are tax deductible. That means that all the interests on the loan you take to pay off your tax debt and other debts can be taken away from your tax payments on the following period. This implies either great savings or it can be viewed as a further reduction on the interest rate paid for the new loan. Thus, you would be exchanging expensive debt for an even cheaper consolidation loan.Other debt that is not tax deductible and usually charges higher interest rates are: car loans, motorcycle lo

us because you’ll be able to work from home or on the go. New Real Estate Agents are often surprised by just how much time they spend AWAY from the office, and a laptop helps you stay on top of your work while on the go.

4) Lack of Proper Funding

5) Refusing to Spend Money on Marketing

6) Not Focusing Their Marketing Efforts in the Most Effective Areas

7) Choosing the Wrong Brokerage for the Wrong Reasons

Small Business Marketing Is More Like Romance Than You Might Think: Make Them Fall in Love
People like to do business with people they trust. And more than that, they like to work with people that they like.The "courtship" phase of your relationship with your prospects is critical to your small business success. So are you giving your clients the reasons they need to fall in love with what you offer?First of all, do you know why you're the best choice or -- even better -- the only choice worth considering?If not, it's high time you found out. Take a look at 4 or 5 competitors' websites and see how they communicate their services.What works? What doesn't?Do they focus on the results they achieve for their clients? Do you? Results you have achieved for other businesses can be powerful stuff.Do they specialize in exactly the same market? Do you currently have a specialization? If not, would this help you?If you're not a better option on paper, find ways to set yourself apart, such as choosing a market niche that is slightly different or deciding to add your own personal twist to your marketing. You might see success just by adding helpful articles and a more client-focused approach to your marketing mix.Are your marketing materials full of powerful statements that show your prowess in your field, without being pushy? Or are you mainly sending prospects the marketing equivalent of cheesy pickup lines?Anyone can come out with a promotion that says they offer the best-quality services in your line of work, but unless you can back it up with real proof, it can easily sound s

rsonal marketing campaign from the beginning to get your own name out as the Real Estate Agent to go to.

6) Not Focusing Their Marketing Efforts in the Most Effective Areas

7) Choosing the Wrong Brokerage for the Wrong Reasons

Your #1 concern when interviewing new Brokers is what they offer you as a new agent. Do they have incoming leads? What does their training program consist of? What’s their retention level? What’s their average sales price? Do they encourage their agents to promote themselves? A Broker’s purpose is to help new agents start successful careers and to help established Agents progress their careers to the next level. As a new agent, concern yourself less with commission split or agency name and more with specific programs and agency standards.

A new career in Real Estate is very exciting. Starting a Real Estate business provides the new Agent with opportunities for limitless potential and freedom. New Agents have a notoriously high failure rate, however, so a new Real Estate career can also be a very scary prospect. However, if you avoid the 7 Top Mistakes Rookie Real Estate Agents Make, then you’ll be far ahead of the competition!

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For anyone managing any project, the object of the task is to see it through to its completion. Further, the completion of a project must be done in such a fashion that as little money is spent on it as possible.

A good sales manager needs to train their sales Force to recognize when someone is interested in what the company is offering. A good salesperson should notice this instinctively.

Every so often, a tremendous growth stock can be accumulated at prices attractive to a value investor. These companies make for some of the best investments. Bronco Drilling is one of those companies.

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