How can you be a better marketer if everyone is sitting around and telling others how you market. If averyone is doing the same thing you don’t avoid competition by being a better marketer, you avoid it by being a better negotiator.
If everyone is sending the same mail piece to the same people, and that is exactly what is happening just check how many postcards the out of state owner got that all look the same except the return address or phone number to call, what can set you apart?
The fact is many new folks are doing exactly as the courses are telling them because that’s all they know, how do I know? I did it too. That’s why they continue to scream about not getting any deals. How do I know that? I screamed too.
Richard, I’m sorry if my previous post seemed inconsiderate, I guess I’m as passionate about the stupidity of “running with the herd and expecting different results” as you are about the possibility that it just might happen because of the sheer number of houses available for us all to buy.
What do you think about a dedicated new Forum (there are now 6 other specialized forums) dedicated to discussions about marketing to buy houses and sell houses?
Would you rather see post about ads, flyers, postcards, signs, websites, letters, voice mail systems and avoiding competition on the Main News board or separated out?
The idea would be to have a direct response marketing expert host the forum… someone who is an active creative real estate investor.
Posted by Bill Taylor on March 17, 2003 at 22:00:53:
I would be all to this forum due to the fact this is the weakest part of my game. We can buy homes but we are in a tough market so takes a little longer to sell them and you have to do it in some non-typical ways like l/o.
Only some investors want to discuss mobile homes, so they have a forum. Only some investors want to discuss legal matters, so they have a forum. Only some investors want to discuss commercial, so they have a forum. Etc…
But I think all investors want to discuss marketing ideas and that, in my opinion, should be left in the main group.
Sounds to me like another 25,000 investors doing the same thing as the 25,000 already trying that thing and wondering why they are not getting any deals.
I’ll give everyone a tip one of my mentors gave me a while back. Find something that works over and over and keep it a secret. After all, this is a business and there is competition and my plan is to crush the competition.
Posted by Parag Shah on March 16, 2003 at 09:04:07:
I think it is a perfect idea. They say the hardest part is finding a deal. I am finding that to be true. I think if I could find the deal than having the expertise or getting the expertise would be no problem. I am thinking a big challenge newbies face is minimizing costs in marketing. I have been to other sites where newbies have contemplated getting 2nd jobs so they could have more money to market.
I personally think it would be a great idea. But I am thinking once we learn marketing or know marketing do we ever need further lessons like in learning new real estate strategies?
Might be a good idea. Also, add a dropdown to the “Post a New Message” form that covers the different Forums and reminds folks that they have a choice (Are you posting in the correct forum? Here they are: Cash Flow, Legal, Ad and Marketing Ideas, Mobile Homes, etc.). Perhaps make the poster choose the forum before continuing (My post is about…); could be more compelling.
I’d say your mentor comes from a ‘lack’ mentality. That there is not enough business to go around. That’s OK. But my experience is different. There are way more houses then I can ever buy myself.
If you don’t want to share successful ideas, don’t. Keep it to yourself, that is OK.
When you get good at marketing, you have such a strategic advantage, few will model, and few will do what takes. They never try or take action.
One of the best “free” seminars you can get is to call all the local investors in your area, who are doing lots of business. Ask them what they are looking for. Tell them your ideal criteria. You’ll likely find different approaches… and send each other deals.
Or you may decide you are competing. At that point you agreed to go your separate ways.
There are a number of ways to outperform others by finding a niche and exploiting it.
Re: New marketing forum on CRE Online - Posted by Houserookie
Posted by Houserookie on March 16, 2003 at 13:53:29:
You’re correct for the most part but I do see value in sharing markeing ideas and techniques.
It’s one thing to know something. It’s anther to do it. Can you imagine if all the colleges and universities start to give away free degrees?
Richard Roop offers a marketing course so we know there is more than meets the eye. You can discuss 99% of the product or service, just leave out the 1% that makes all the difference.
A marketing forum is an excellent idea for newbies. I
It’ll shed some light to the unknown.
Yes, I like “what is working best” since there are so many ways to make this business work. If something is not producing… just try something else… something that is already working for others.