Week 13 Optimizing Yourself and the Compan

Week 13 Optimizing Yourself and the Company

Note: For this class, I created a “fake” real estate business to complete the assignments. With that in mind, the features chosen will initially be basic.

When I first viewed the Google Analytics features page. I realized how overwhelming it would be trying to figure out what features would work best for my business. In the beginning, it will be a trial and error experience until I fine-tune my business strategy utilizing the information. I also know it will be a time consuming effort and sheer dedication to regularly monitor my site and Google analytics to stay ahead of my goals.

I found it fascinating that I could create dashboards on my own or import pre-made dashboards from the “gallery” with specific information. I imported the Content Analysis, Basic Google Analytics reports, and the Social Media dashboards from the “gallery”. Dashboards give me a snapshot of relevant information to analyze visitor traffic. It will help me understand what works and what I can do to fix areas that need improvement. I will learn what type of content I must write that is intriguing for a viewer to stay longer and view other pages on my site.

Another feature that is highly beneficial is the “Audience”. This feature shows me who my users are by demographics (age, gender) and indicates their interests. It will give ma a sense of their behavior and the frequency of how often they are coming, how long they stay and how many pages they view. It also informs me of which browsers the traffic is coming from. Information from this feature will show me if I am reaching my target audience and insight of what I must do in changing my content to be more valuable to my potential customers. It will show me what’s trending and help me decide what adjustments to make to my business strategy.

Overall the data points will give me a better understanding of what is working and what is not. Studying the analytics encourages me to re-evaluate the design of my site, content, images, placement of information, etc. It compels me to question what must I do to optimize my site and build my social media platforms for viewers to stay longer and potentially gain new customers and referrals.

Week 12 Coupon Deal

Week 12 Coupon Deal

I will create a Groupon coupon for buyers and sellers. The coupon will cost the potential client $25 up front and require them to use Land Prime Property to buy or sell, then at closing the Groupon customer will receive a $1,000 gift certificate at Home Depot or Lowe’s (agents have also offered cash credit/rebate at closing, flat fee listings, or a reduced commission).

My coupon has a set of criteria in which the potential client’s purchase or sale must be greater than $400,000.00 and close within a year. This offer would be available on Groupon for a limited time of seven days.

Other real estate agents have met with success using this coupon confirming that the people who are serious enough to buy or sell their house in the short term are willing to pay the $25 up front for a coupon.

Week 12 Using Other Social Media Tools

  Week 12 Using Other Social Media Tools

What four additional online marketing tools do you believe could be important to the growth of your business?

I already have Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest so the four additional marketing tools I believe could be important to the growth of my business are: 

LinkedIn

• What better platform to network with professionals who may be searching for a reputable, knowledgeable real estate agent/agency to help them buy their dream home.
• An excellent platform to make connections with other real estate agents to partner with, interact with groups in my field, and to promote my skills. 

 Yelp

• This is a highly popular referral service that I use whenever I am searching for a service provider, restaurant, events, etc.
• A site that will give my agency more exposure. Anyone looking for a good real estate agent/agency by location or # of stars would see my company, contact information, directions, and map.
• I can communicate with the reviewer whether it’s a positive or negative review to thank them or to remedy the issue.
• It’s also a good place to gauge how customers perceive my services/agency. 

Groupon

• I am an “addict” to this site to find discounts for a variety of goods, things to do, beauty, spa, health/fitness, automotive, electronics, home & garden, and getaways.
• I would offer discount coupons to entice potential customers to my agency with specific criteria that need to be met. 

YouTube

• A popular site that offers a forum for people to connect, inform, and inspire others.
• It’s my go to place for instructional videos, entertainment that I may have missed,  ideas, etc.
• If done well and creatively, I would produce a variety of videos from tips of buying a home, staging your home, decorating your home, how to select the best mortgage, and anything related to real estate. 

How could you integrate them into your current strategy? 

All social media platforms would be included in my business plan and part of my strategic objectives and goals as contributors to my agency’s profitability.  It’s a priority and time consuming so I would hire someone to manage and ensure that he/she maintains and monitors all my social media platforms as well as responds appropriately to the posts/reviews in a timely manner.

Week 11 Free Marketing on Social Media

Week 11 Free Marketing on Social Media

The norm has usually been spending enormous amounts of money for marketing and advertising your product or services. However, today with social media, if you’re creative, have innovative ideas, and do research for inexpensive ways to market your product/services you won’t need to spend a lot of money. Changing your strategy to use social media will require serious thought, lots of time, and diligent efforts. Paying close attention and listening to what your followers want as well as responding in a timely manner will garner success for your business.

On your social media platforms you can begin to build relationships and connect with your followers. Start and maintain conversations with them. Keep it going asking questions, giving answers, responding to comments. Social media platforms are places people want to socialize and connect with someone, not be bombarded with sales pitches, spam or ads.

You can join groups on your social platforms that have similar interests, hobbies, or activities. Post on their social platforms and begin an exchange with them sharing adventures, stories, referrals, and valuable information. Be authentic and enjoy the conversations with one another. Build a trust and open communication.

Another method of gaining customers would be to give freebies or discounts. They may in turn share the free and discount offers to friends and relatives growing your potential customer base.

People love a challenge; so another enticement to engage followers is running contests with prizes that relate to your product or service.

Remember, don’t be concerned about increasing the number of followers but welcome the followers who become engaged and involved by buying your products and/or services.

As you gain a better understanding of how social media has increased your reach to potential customers and what worked, you may reconsider and redevelop your strategy, target niche, and goals.

Week 11 - Comments on Classmates' Blogs

Week 11 – Comments on Classmates’ Blogs

http://jillchang47.blogspot.com

http://jvspurzem.blogspot.com

http://tltarkington.blogspot.com

Week 11 Online Advertising

Week 11 Online Advertising

Since I am new to the real estate business, I need to build my customer base. Considering that I have the most activity on Facebook, I would start there with creative, engaging, and interesting ads. My main focus is to decide who my target audience is by age, demographics, location, occupation, relationship status, their likes and interests. Next consideration, regrettably, with a salary that’s based on commissions only, I have a very limited budget for advertising. Until I make the big bucks, I would choose a Pay Per Click (PPC) plan. Now, I want to be likeable, authentic, and not annoy my potential customers, so I believe monthly ads would be appropriate so I don’t get the reaction – Who is this “stalker”?

To set the tone of being friendly and caring, I would start with an ad to wish my friends and their friends (Friends of Connections ad) a “Happy Birthday” and ask them to connect/like my Facebook page. I would offer them a free cupcake or gift card at their nearest “Sprinkles Cupcake” store.

As I build my customer base -- “listen” and get to know them better to establish a good connection with them. I would send a variety of ads from open houses, event reminders, thank you/congratulations (pay attention to what’s going on in their lives), introductions to real estate or mortgage products/services, home improvement ideas, intriguing questions to unsponsored stories of interest.

Who doesn’t love freebies? In the ads, occasionally, I would offer a discount on my commission rate, a discounted appraisal fee, raffle contests for free airfare to a city in California, a local weekend hotel stay, or a nice restaurant.

I would post creative ads that are engaging and interesting to generate a “like” or a new follower. Adding keywords and photos would help make the ad more appealing.

As I become profitable, successful, and savvy about social media, I may consider a LinkedIn ad to target professionals. Under each LinkedIn ad there is a link to my profile, which is a direct way of getting to know who I am. Also creating a Twitter ad using keywords will lead followers to me who share similar interests. All this starts the “conversation” then from there it’s up to me to follow up to make them aware of my services, educate them on buying or selling their home, engage them on how I can help them find their dream home, make a sale at the best price for them, and hope they will refer me to others and be a repeat customer.

Week 10 Blog Comments

Week 10 Blog Comments

I commented on the following blogs:

http://briangilb.blogspot.com/

http://socalcomputerpro.blogspot.com/

http://zuleymarodriguez.blogspot.com/

Week 10 Email Marketing

Week 10 Email Marketing

After reading the lecture and text book assignment, write a blog post in response to this assignment:  Newsletters can be sent weekly, monthly, quarterly, or even twice a year for certain businesses. With that in mind, what information could your business use for a newsletter, and how often would you send one? Write a list of content ideas you think your customers would enjoy seeing and why.

I would send my newsletter monthly with interesting content and photos/videos. Instead of boring listings of homes for sale, I would offer advice, tips, links, and valuable information in real estate matters, financial planning, investments, home improvements/renovation, and neighborhood news. I would have attention-grabbing articles, engaging stories, and visuals that would bring them back to my site and convert them into a customer. I would also add personal information and entertaining stories about the agents and myself. We will be more relatable and connected to our customers.

Below is a list of content ideas:

1.    Trends in the real estate market, mortgage interest rates, latest home design, newest home products, interior colors, appliances, flooring,

2.    Tips on home improvement, gardening, home fix-it-yourself, DIY home projects, curb appeal, staging your home

3.    Advice on selecting the right real estate agent, mortgage broker/financial institution, how to sell your home, selecting the best mortgage

4.    Articles regarding financials, e.g. refinancing, IRA and Roth IRA, stock investments

5.    Articles on interior design, feng shui, landscaping, gardening

6.    Links to sites that will help customers in their search for a home, e.g. realtor.com, zillow.com, communities’ website

7.    You Tube links about real estate knowledge, home improvements, interior design, landscaping

8.    Information about the agency, list of open houses, and personal tidbits / interesting adventures / stories about agents and myself

9.    Real estate events, seminars

10. Community news, calendar of events, concerts, street fairs, schools, community pool

11. New community construction of homes, commercial buildings, retail mall/stores, restaurants, grocery stores

12. Customer testimonials

13. Recommendations on reputable, experienced service provides such as interior designers, handyman, plumbers, electricians, etc. Also request referrals on who they had success with.

14. Calls to action to sign up for newsletter, receive free lists of homes/market analysis, send referrals of service providers they were satisfied with, submit their real estate experience

15. Offer coupons, free advice on select topics, and discounts

16. Contact information, logo, tagline, mission statement, and social media platforms