If you decided to change companies, how would you get the word out?
EmailsPostcards (handwritten or typed)LettersNewspaperP2 (you would have to change logo's and such)
Any other methods?
I did it handwritten not cards and I got a lot of calls!
I said "I'm moving and if your thinking about moving yourself, I would love to help you make the move also" And then sent 1 fridge magnet and 2 regular business cards with the note.
It worked wonders. I made the mistake of not advertising for 2 months prior though, knowing I was moving and I lost 2 sales because they said. "Oh, when we didn't get anything from you, we thought you left real estate"
That hurt! Won't make that mistake again.
Todd
Gloria,
Are you thinking of changing companies?
Rather than asking questions, it would help if we all wrote blog posts giving some deeper content regarding the questions.
I've noticed lately more and more simple questions without much content.
I am not being mean, nor am I picking on Gloria; I am merely making an observation and making a suggestion.
Mike Farmer: Blog Cop - Profundity Enforcement Division :)
What are you trying to say Mike? :)
Changing companies is a good reason to own your domain name and have an e-mail address at that domain such as:
Web: YourName.com
E-mail: You@YourName.com
rather than YourName@CompanyName.com
Owning your domain name makes all that marketing effort you have done portable, take it with you to the next company.
Since people sell every 5-8 years on average, it is nice if they still know how to contact you. Owning your domian name is a major part of that. Example:
Bill@RealtorThompson.com http://RealtorThompson.com
I would start by calling them and telling them the great news. I have my own phone number which went with me over the years as I moved around. Now I'm an independent broker - I'm sorry I didn't become independent years ago.
Do a press release. Send it to local papers, post it on your site and blog.
No I am not moving and have no intention to do so. I have been notified of a few friends moving to another company and wondered how many ways you could send info. I like email, however, when I moved I wrote notes on beautiful stationary and had a wonderful response. Handwritten notes are so rare that it is advertising in a grand way.
Mike:
I like to write questions and get feedback. We have several writers in our midst that I enjoy reading. Some people just like to get to the meat of the issue and get a response. If you don't like this method, sorry.
Nevermind, then.
Knowing me, I would put it sky-writing, then alert the press.
put it IN sky-writing
Another reason to have a premanent business email address and a phone number that is portable as Bill says.
If you use your ISP (i.e. comcast.net, aol.com, bellsouth.net, etc.) as your business email, if you ever change internet providers you have to change everything!
Get a web based email account at yahoo.com, gmail.com, etc. (hotmail blocks LOTS of emails that really aren't spam) that you can have forever... and check from any PC.
If you get your own domain name (at godaddy.com) you can have the domain name forwarded to any web site you want. If you ever leave one company to join another, simply change the forwarding address of your domain name. Your business cards never change as far as email, web site and phone number (if you use a cell phone as your business phone.)
You can also get a local phone number that forwards to any other number. Change your office number... change the forwarding number on your local phone.
Steven:
That is great advice. I never thought about the yahoo or gmail for my email but it makes a great deal of sense. Bellsouth was bought out by AT&T and I will be changing so many things. This could really help.
Umm, why use Gmail, yahoo, etc. when you can use your own domain name? That way you brand you AND your domain. You don't have to get your domain though GoDaddy for this, it's available directly thourhg Point2 Agent. Every Point2 member has this benefit included in their membership...
email using your own domain is fine... Best really, but....
P2 webmail interface not as robust as gmail or yahoo. Am not fault finding... Don't think anybody really expects P2 email to be equal to the best in class email companies in the world.
I use both... My own domain for primary correspondence... lonn@dugansells.com
But use gMail for web based email when at other computers (often)
On another post Lonn mentioned gmail. I am now using it. It is great! So many nice features. It is easy to give out on the phone, most folks know it or gmail is understood easily instead of spelling out sunsetcanyonreatly. You can also have mail forwarded from any of your other accounts, so no need to have to change everything right away. One of the best features I like is you can type in a keyword to search for an old e-mail. Like your clients name, or the property. It will pull up all of the e-mails where that subject was mentioned. Thanks Lonn!
I agree, with owning your own domain, website, direct phone number and e-mail.
When you run your business "like your OWN" it makes moving a lot easier. Brand yourself - not your company. The company will have their own branding methods.
Don't depend on your company to do it for you.
Your network, sphere of influence and friends will follow you, not to worry.