With the spring market raging in many areas across the country, busy agents may not be looking to make a move to a new company right this moment.  They they will eventually, however,  and this means you need to prepare.

The final quarter of the year has traditionally been a time that sees many licensed agents making career choices and changing companies as they get ready for the next year. There is a lot of work to be done between now and then if you want to capitalize on this movement and add some producing agents to your company.

Step 1:

Be sure you know your value proposition and have a way to present and talk about it. What are your unique differentiators? Why should an agent join your company?

Step 2:

Develop your prospect list, who are the licensed agents in your market you want to get to know? How will you grow this list over time? Remember the old adage:  you need 100 contacts for every hire you want to make.

Step 3:

Develop a stay-in-touch plan and a marketing campaign to help your company stay top of mind with the agents you are looking to attract and to help build value in the relationship you are cultivating.

Sometimes it can take up to 14 valuable contacts with a potential prospect before they are ready to make a move. Here is a sample stay in touch step-by-step 14-point plan to try!

Touch 1

Make a phone call, introduce yourself, and ask if now is a good time to meet to discuss how your company can help them grow their business. If yes, book a meeting immediately. If no, ask if they are ok hearing from you every now and then and let them know that you are there to support them in their careers when the time is right for them.

Touch 2

Mail them a package of printed materials –just a few things to peak their curiosity.

Touch 3

Send an email with information about your company and services; highlight one of your compelling reasons.

Touch 4

Send an email with a success story or news from your company, bring it back to one of your compelling reasons.

Touch 5

Send a handwritten note just to say hello and keep in touch.

Touch 6

Send an email with an article on a relevant real estate story, one on goal setting or marketing tips for example. Highlight how your company can help them set goals.

Touch 7

Go visit their Open Houses, follow-up with a phone call the next day.

Touch 8

Send an email with a link to a helpful video or create your own using a tool such as Animoto.

Touch 9

Make a phone call, invite them to a training or agent appreciation event – send a follow-up email talking about training as one of your 12 compelling reasons.

Touch 10

Offer to work with them on their business plan. Book a meeting to develop their plan and uncover how you can help.

Touch 11

Send a printed postcard including details about the market, a home in their area that’s recently sold or one that is simply designed to stay-in-touch.

Touch 12

Send an email with company news and highlight a compelling reason why they would want to join your company.

Touch 13

Invite them to connect on LinkedIn and begin to engage and interact on this professional social site.

Touch 14

Make a phone call and invite the agent for coffee to talk about joining your company.

Alongside this plan, always connecting and engaging on social media should be ongoing. I would love to hear how you are staying in touch and top-of-mind with potential recruits!

The post Stay in Touch: A Step-by-Step 14 Point Plan appeared first on Clean Slate.

As speculation turned to anticipation, we began to discuss the luxury upgrades we would each make in our home. We debated everything from a personal in-home spa to a zip-line in the backyard. I mean really, who wouldn’t want a zip-line running through their backyard? Well, maybe that is just the kid in me.

So what upgrades would you make if you won the lottery? Here are a few ideas to get you started!

5 Dream Home Upgrades

  1. Swimming Pool

What better way to stay cool in the summer than by adding a pool to your backyard? It goes without saying that this cannot be your standard pool. After all, if you are going to dream big, you might as well go for the gusto!

Luxury pools range from infinity vanishing edge designs, to sweeping tropical oases and even pools suspended over the ocean. Make a splash in your backyard with custom-designed (and completely over-the-top) amenities opulent enough to keep even the most posh friends singing your praises.

  2. Media Room

The three fundamentals of a luxury media room that suits the whole family are an HD surround sound system, custom built furniture and a dizzying array of snacks.

However, if your standard indoor theater room won’t fit the bill; why not try an open-air design!

  3. Outdoor Entertainment

Creating an outdoor haven in place of your standard backyard takes your average day spent with the family to a whole new level! The elegance and charm of an outdoor fire pit and the functionality of a state-of-the-art kitchen make this a luxury upgrade we love!

In fact, this one upgrade could become your families go-to spot for fun and relaxation, bringing all of the creature comforts of the indoors to your outdoor space.

  4. Master Bath Retreat

A luxury master bath retreat sounds dreamy! With everything from Jacuzzi spa tubs, to luxury showers, and a walk-in closet that would make Imelda Marcos green with envy, this luxury upgrade tops my personal list!

High-tech tip: Add heated bathroom floors that begin to warm up just before your alarm clock rings.

  5. Gourmet Kitchen

Luxury kitchens offer a unique and sometimes surprising mix of styles. From exquisite flourishes on kitchen counter tops, to bold and unexpected fabrics and textiles and beautiful furniture-style islands, a show-stopping luxury kitchen is a dramatic addition to any home.

BONUS!

What home would be complete without a luxury doghouse? If you’re going to splurge, you might as well include Fido!

Luxury doghouse amenities include handmade linens, chef made dog treats available on demand, running water, lighting, air conditioning and heat.

Celebrity Hacienda Dog House from Beyond the Crate

The post 5 Dream Home Upgrades to Make When You Win Powerball appeared first on Clean Slate.

The Pareto Principle, also known as the ’80:20 Rule’ states that an unfocused and poorly managed day will require 80% effort, but only generate 20% of the desired results. Many real estate professionals juggling multiple tasks without a formal way to manage those duties know how true this outcome can be.

The good news is that this percentage flips when you take control of your day. By simply managing your endeavors as opposed to your day managing you, 80% of the desired results can be generated using only 20% effort. Imagine earning back that time throughout your work week!

If your days feel harried and frantic and you are eager to create balance within your life, check out these 3 must-have time management tools for real estate pro’s that will allow you to maximize your workday efforts!

Save your Receipts

Consider a Smartphone app that helps keep track of your receipts. Using the camera on your Smartphone, these apps take a picture of your receipt, allow you to categorize them and then send the receipt to a spreadsheet online. Your expenses are categorized and can be downloaded in one easy-to-read form. Two of my favorites are:

• Expensify
• Mobile Receipt

Manage Your Schedule

MyHours is a unique app that allows you to quickly and easily manage your schedule while on-the-go. MyHours lets you set your schedule, track your hours, record notes throughout the day and sync all of your information directly to your Google Calendar.

Use Online Meetings

Join.me is a free tool that allows you to share your screen, a presentation or any training tools with clients or team members. This simple online application will save you time and boost productivity by limiting confusing emails and opening up lines of communication.

 What time management tools are you using? Share them in the comments below!

The post 3 Must-Have Time Management Tools appeared first on Clean Slate.

While neighborhood, community and other amenities play into the overall value of the home; there are numerous additional cosmetic changes that buyers can make to boost value and maximize their potential return.

Below are three top home improvement ideas that boost value and help homeowners maximize their potential resale return..

Top Home Improvement Ideas

1. Remodel an Older or Outdated Kitchen

Kitchens are said to be the heart of the home. They have the ability to boost home value and appeal by creating a whole new look and feel. Some ways to update without remodeling the entire kitchen include:

• Reface kitchen cabinets
• New appliances
• Resurface counters
• New hardware
• Updated faucets
• Tile backsplash

  2. Curb Appeal

Your home’s front entry is the first thing potential buyers will see. Pump up curb appeal by giving the front door a pop of color. Choose a bright hue to attract the attention of buyers. Also make sure that everything is neat and tidy, including doorknobs, metal fixtures, lawn and shrubs.

If a home has curb appeal, making a great first impression won’t be difficult. Encourage potential homebuyers to take the next step by touring the inside.

  3. Update the Bathroom

Updating a bathroom can be one of the fastest ways to boost a home’s resale value and make it more useful and conducive to everyday living. A few ideas to give a ho-hum bathroom a fresh new look:

• Refinish an old and outdated bathtub
• Turn a flea market furniture find or existing piece of furniture into a vanity
• Wake up the walls and cabinets with a fresh coat of paint
• Install beaded board for a custom cottage look
• Update shelving and cabinets or add shelves to keep important items out of view
• Add new hardware to create an instant visual impact with minimal out-of-pocket expense
• Change out lighting fixtures – the right ones can make all the difference
• Replace tired window treatments

Whether your clients look to sell next year or in the next ten years, you can guarantee that they will be looking for the maximum return on their investment at that time. Help them sell their home faster and at top dollar by making timely renovations that will offer their home in the best possible light.

The post Top Home Improvement Ideas that Boost Value appeared first on Clean Slate.

Between local news and the overwhelming availability of online information, determining what is fact and what is fiction can be very difficult.

I sat down with Karlton Utter, the Director of Learning Technologies and Solutions for Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate to put three of the top homebuyer misconceptions about the real estate market to rest.

Homebuyer Myths vs Reality

  1. Lending Restrictions

Rebekah: Many consumers worry that banks are not lending the way they used to and that tighter rules are keeping many buyers out of the market. Is this a myth or reality?

Karlton: This is a myth.  Almost 5 million homes sold across the United States in 2012 and while not everyone needed a mortgage, the majority did.  If buyers have an acceptable credit score, three lines of credit or more and a two year job history, chances are they will be able get a loan. You need to help them overcome the fear of rejection which holds many back.

  2. Credit Issues

Rebekah: The concern that tops the list for many buyers is credit. There is the thought that bad credit will keep them from qualifying for a new home. If your credit score isn’t perfect, is there a way to buy a home?

Karlton: The reality is that this is a potential problem, but the good news is there are solutions. A few ways to monitor and prepare credit for a home purchase:

• Check your credit score once per quarter and develop a plan to rebuild after any issues e.g . short sale, foreclosure, late payments
• Keep a small, manageable balance on all lines of credit and make payments on time
• If you have no credit, try to get a credit card that you use and pay off every month
• Do not charge more than half of your limit because that will lower your credit score
• Do not close any credit.  Keep all available lines open.
• Do not make any large purchase or open new lines of credit prior to pre-qualifying for a new home

  3. Buy Now or Wait

Rebekah: When it comes to timing, many buyers are torn over whether or not now is the right time to buy. What would you say to the buyer sitting on the fence right now?

Karlton: The reality is that now is an excellent time to buy a home. Year-over-year increases in home sales and home prices across the country along with low interest rates makes now a perfect opportunity for homebuyers.

Remember, this is a significant purchase for your clients and this home is a place that they will raise their family. It is a serious investment and somewhere that they plan to stay in for many years, not fix and flip.

Help them consider the realities of the high cost of waiting for the bottom of the market:

• If rates increase even slightly, the cost of a home over the life of the loan jumps dramatically. So even if prices remain stable but interest rates rise, a buyer looking to purchase a home could pay substantially more for the same home.

What are the myths you are overcoming with your buyers in today’s market? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

The post 3 Homebuyer Myths Exposed appeared first on Clean Slate.

You may recognize Cheryl Casone as an anchor on FOX Business Network. Often seen interviewing industry leaders, including Sherry Chris, president and CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, we decided to turn the table and ask Cheryl to provide her insights into the real estate market. Here are Cheryl Casone’s top five reasons why it’s beneficial to invest in buying versus renting:

Interest Rates at Historic Lows: We have never seen interest rate at these levels, and this time will likely not repeat itself in our lifetime. Rates on 30-year fixed mortgages are sitting at a national average of 3.3% thanks to the Federal Reserve’s target on inflation and monetary policy.

When you see the term QE (quantitative easing) remind yourself that is why it is the better to buy something now than rent. Yes, you will likely need to put 20% down but that is a result of the housing crisis we faced in 2008. It is a good thing that borrowers put 20% down because they are buying something they can afford, versus what happened five years ago.

The Tax Break: The mortgage interest deduction has been one of the most popular and useful tax breaks in modern times. When you rent, you cannot deduct that monthly payment.

When you own a primary residence, you are allowed to deduct the interest you pay on your monthly mortgage installment. This can mean the difference between owing the IRS on April 15th, and receiving a refund from the IRS. It is one of the main drivers why many aspire to own and not rent.

Value Return Upon Resale: Now that the housing crisis is behind us, we have seen home prices across the country (via the Case Shiller Home Price Index) rise for the last 9 months straight.

When you own a home, that value will be returned to you, unlike when you purchase a car and the value declines. Many markets across the country are forecasting double digit price returns for the rest of 2013. That is a crucial reason if you can afford to buy, you should do it this year.

Building Credit: Many first-time homebuyers will see their FICO score rise once they purchase a home.

As with any type of debt you currently hold, it’s crucial you make your monthly payments on time. But, if you DO buy a home, and you make those monthly payments on time, your overall credit score will see a nice boost.

Home Improvement: When you rent, the landlord will penalize you if you make structural or sometimes even simple cosmetic changes to your apartment or home. When you own, you are the boss, and you have the freedom to paint the walls bright orange if you wish. There is a freedom that comes with home ownership that can be fun and liberating!

Be sure to check out Sherry Chris on FOX Business, Friday, May 10, 2013, as she sits down with Cheryl Casone and other industry professionals to talk about hot topics in the real estate industry!

The post Top Five Reasons to Buy Not Rent appeared first on Clean Slate.

Putting a strong team in place will require you to answer a few tough questions first. You must be able to share details about your company in “what’s in it for them” terms.

Explain how a move would benefit them both personally and professionally. Because let’s face it, switching companies is a very scary decision for most people.

Diffuse fears by accurately and effectively sharing the “WHY” that sets you apart from your competition. What does this look like?

You must define:

• What you do better than your competitors
• What you are doing that your competitors are not
• How you can help potential recruits earn more money through your systems and tools
• How you enhance the working environment of your agents
• What real results other members of your team have seen since making a move

Once you answer those questions, the next step is spelling out the reasons any agent would want to join your company. In my training, I ask each broker to come up with their 12 most compelling reasons.

Unfortunately, twelve reasons can be difficult for a lot of brokers. For that reason, I have created a recruiting blueprint that you can follow to begin crafting your own list.

# 1: Strong Leadership:

Vision, support with problem solving, and leaders who are acting like leaders. Take it one step further and determine what specific value you and your expertise bring to your team.

#2: Lead Generation:

Agents need to prospect, but they want companies that are working to generate leads for them as well. There are lead generation companies out there that are charging agents up to $1000 a month for leads and believe it or not, agents are paying. Why? Because agents want those internet leads, or any leads that the company can provide. What are you willing to provide?

#3: Name Brand Awareness:

Companies with a strong presence in the market, locally and nationally, are doing well with their recruiting efforts. Name awareness is tied to market share. The best agents understand that the stronger the name/market share, the easier it is to compete for business.

#4: Education/ training:

Agents are looking to fine-tune their skills. Many agents know they need to get back to the basics and most realize the value of staying current in an ever changing real estate industry. The best agents also understand the value of securing specialized training or securing certain designations for areas of specialization. Such areas might include: Luxury market training, working with seniors, working the condo market, working with various ethnic groups which are moving into the country, and working the short sale and foreclosure market.

#5: Positive office attitude and healthy environment in the office:

Agents want a positive work environment with competent and positive peers. It is easy for me to see that the offices with the best production and best attitude have brokers with a great attitude. Those same brokers spent the last 5 years getting rid of their dead weight and many are more profitable today than they have been in years!

#6: Mastermind Groups and networking opportunities with other top producers:

Many of the best agents enjoy connecting with the other successful agents. Their needs and approach to the real estate business is different from those just getting started, so why not give them the opportunity to grow and play together? Agents who work hard, play hard and spend time together are more likely to stay together.

#7: Marketing support/tools:

Marketing is the #1 thing that agents need to stay in touch with their sphere and past customers. What can you do to assist or support their marketing efforts?

#8: Client/ data management tools:

Many agents struggle when it comes to managing their data and client info. Do you have an easy-to-use customer relationship management tool that allows them to input their data, send out marketing, and locate client data quickly?

#9: Coaching and accountability:

We see many companies implementing very successful coaching programs, with some great results. If the company does not provide coaching, the agents might hire outside the organization. The cost can range from $500 -$1000. What that tells me is this: if they want it and it has value to them, they will pay for it! Your agents need accountability and sometimes a third party is the best way to keep them on track and accountable. Your best option is to coach them yourself or have someone else in house that can effectively coach them. If this isn’t possible, seek out a good coach and work out an agreement with them to coach those agents who want it.

#10: Administrative support:

Agents are working harder, but most are not working smarter. What can you do to support them behind the scenes? What can you take off their plate to give them more balance in their life and work?

#11: Proven results with proven systems:

It’s not enough to have systems and tools. Your need to know what the results are from each of the systems and tools you offer. Use exact results, NAR survey results, national brand results, testimonials from your agents as well as success stories. Bring those results into your interviews. Everyone says they can help potential recruits, but those who can prove it are winning in today’s market.

#12: Security:

The bottom line for any agent making a move is whether or not they will feel secure at their new location. The more answers you can provide on the above list, the better they will feel, and when they feel good…they join!

The post 12 Compelling Reasons Recruits Say YES to Your Company appeared first on Clean Slate.

Whether they are buying their first home or moving across country, navigating everything from jargon to home buying basics can be scary and overwhelming.

Before your client begins the purchase process, make sure they have answers to these top homebuyer questions. Each is a critical component to making an educated and informed decision.

Top Homebuyer Questions

  1. Where do we want to live?

The first step is to help your buyer narrow down a location and style of home. They have probably already researched online to get a sense of pricing and area.

Help them determine what factors are most important when it comes to choosing a neighborhood such as schools, commute to work, shopping, entertainment and how quiet or peaceful the neighborhood is versus a hustling and bustling urban area.

Knowing the answers to these questions before they get in the car will save everyone time and frustration by eliminating developments and neighborhoods that are of little to no interest. If you are out viewing homes in a specific area, let your clients stop and talk to homeowners. They need to understand why others enjoy living in that area.

  2. How much money do we need to have saved?

The mortgage product that your client selects will assist in determining down payment requirements. This is why it is so important that they speak with a licensed mortgage representative to discuss their down payment and mortgage options prior to viewing homes.

However, there are additional costs associated with a purchase that they must be aware of:

• Make sure they have enough money set aside for closing costs and other related expenses
• They will need to prepare for the cost of a property assessment, lender appraisal and home inspection
• Moving costs including the transfer of all utilities and services such as heat, water, TV

  3. How much would we like to spend monthly?

Unfortunately, many people bite off more than they can chew when purchasing a home because they look at the total purchase price instead of the monthly payments.

Keep in mind that what they qualify for isn’t always the same as what they can afford. A pre-approval letter is something you should get at the front-end to ensure you are looking within the right price range and your client is comfortable with their mortgage options.

A licensed mortgage loan officer can provide a total monthly payment including principal and interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance and monthly mortgage insurance if applicable.

You may also want to advise them that there may be additional expenses when purchasing a home, townhouse or condo:

• Heating/Gas/Oil
• Electric
• Water
• Homeowners Association Fee
• Landscaping
• Cable/TV
• Sewer

  4. Why should I work with a buyer’s agent?

Choosing a real estate professional is one of the first decisions a buyer will make. It is also a very personal decision depending on the qualities most important to the buyer.

While traits such as honesty, integrity, knowledge and experience are all very important, it is also vital that your clients feel comfortable with the real estate professional they choose. Encourage potential clients to research before making a decision by looking at LinkedIn and other online profiles.

A buyer’s agent works as an advocate, providing guidance as well as open lines of communication. Explaining the purchase process and keeping the buyer informed along the way is a way to work together through the buying process.

What questions do you find most important to a homebuyer during the transaction? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Top 4 Questions Homebuyers Need Answered Before They Buy appeared first on Clean Slate.

If you find yourself fighting the urge to ‘dig for riches in real estate niches’ you might want to reconsider.  Not only can it be extremely rewarding to meet the unique needs of the consumer, it can also be very profitable.

So why would you want to set your sites on a particular niche as opposed to building your business on the premise that you are “everything to everybody?”

To begin with, the “jack of all trades” persona can backfire and actually leave the consumer with the distinct feeling that you are the master of none.  Defining who your target audience is and then crafting your marketing to meet the needs of that niche can and will increase your results if you do your homework.

How? It’s simple. A niche that you are passionate about is something you will eat, sleep and breathe. Your target niche is not just a group of people that you are pushing marketing propaganda and advice out to. They are a group you care deeply about, are prepared to go the extra mile for and excited and willing to serve.

Define Your Niche Market

Step 1 – What are you passionate about?

• Working with first time homebuyers
• Helping single moms achieve homeownership
• Assisting families in buying a second or vacation home
• Working with seniors
• Using your website or blog to target a specific neighborhood
• Creating a social media site for a specific group within your market
• Helping out of state buyers relocate to your area

Step 2 – Find and Understand Your Target Market

• Where does this group spend time and what are their interests?
• Are they male or female, old or young?
• Are they tech savvy or will your marketing be traditional?
• Are they married, divorced, single or separated and do they have kids?
• What matters most to them?
• Are they career minded, entrepreneurs or retired?

Step 3 – Do Your Research

Your final step is to determine whether or not this niche is large enough to generate an income.  While you want to keep your focus narrow, do your homework up front so you that you know whether or not it is a niche that can support you and your family. 

Research your local market as well as keywords. Once you define your niche, your next step is creating your new marketing campaign.

The real estate industry is packed with competition and the theory has always been that we must learn more, be more, and do more in order to succeed. Do not buy into it. Be selective in choosing your niche and identifying your target market. Then offer an enormous amount of value on a consistent basis and watch your business grow!

The post Defining Your Marketing Niche in Three Simple Steps appeared first on Clean Slate.

With this in mind, I sat down with Scott Lehman, Owner of Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate Sonoran Desert Lifestyles to discuss the success they have seen as a franchise turning online fans, followers and visitors into life-long clients.

Explain your online lead generation capture strategy and follow-up system.  Can you give us a peek inside how you handle lead conversion and what a homebuyer interacting with Sonoran Desert Lifestyles online could expect?

Through our affiliation with Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate, we have an awesome online lead generation and capture system with LeadRouter.  LeadRouter is a system that allows us to organize and consistently engage a possible buyer or seller.   However, LeadRouter is just one third of the equation.  Along with LeadRouter, we have one of the most detailed listing syndication programs available. This system populates our agent listings into hundreds of online real estate websites, giving international exposure to each property. It’s all about exposure and Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate offers the best exposure program in the industry.

The third and final piece of our lead capture system is our very own website.  Our website is designed to engage people who are searching for property in the Valley of the Sun.

All three parts of the equation work together to drive leads into our LeadRouter system which is monitored in real-time to ensure any lead that is generated is contacted within one hour.  From there, each lead is added (with their permission) to a drip email campaign that also includes various phone call touchpoints.

Good online conversion rates start with quality content and a great value proposition.  How did you find your online “voice” that includes the right content which speaks to and resonates with your target market?

I just love this question. I believe we have found topics that resonate with our friends around the world, but a consistent voice seems to be a moving target.  As we grow our presence, it seems that our “voice” is developing and growing right along with our friends and fans.

As we define what the tone and voice of our company is, it’s been important that we not just use the voice that makes us most comfortable.

That means we had to stop being a real estate professional 24/7 and start being human beings that connect in a real way with consumers.

We believe an “online conversation” should be just that, a conversation.  Conversations take on different tones, topics and subjects; our willingness to meet people on a more human level is what helps us to convert buyers and sellers.  We have had the privilege of supporting both buyers and sellers who have found us from our social media outlets and believe that they connected with us because they found us to be trustworthy and human.  Our Social Media content is meant to express that.

That is a perfect segue into my next question. How does your website, blog and social media channels allow you to increase trust and build online relationships?

Our goal is to engage people, even if it isn’t real estate related. As real estate professionals we tend to post things that engage us, rather than content that engages consumers. We on the other hand tend to share stories, events and general information about living in Arizona and the Sonoran Desert. Often times we will post things that are loosely related to the industry, whether it is something cute, funny or serious.  The goal is to open up communication, entertain and keep people coming back for more.

There is so much information out there that can be used to post to social media, but you only have a limited amount of time to create a first impression and grab someone’s attention.

While we want to position ourselves as thought leaders and industry experts, we have learned through analytics that posting about mortgage rates, foreclosure rates, and local inventory levels is a huge snoozefest.  So we use this information sparingly and instead intertwine that with fun posts, photographs, videos, agent interviews, recipes, holiday decorating tips and so on.

We believe that this well-rounded, lifestyle approach creates a bond between us and our fans and followers that leads to trust and respect. Our online properties are a conduit between company and consumer that humanizes who we are and the business of buying and selling real estate.

Let’s transition into the granular details. Tell us about your daily strategy.  How much content are you producing and how often are you posting to your blog and social media sites?

Our daily strategy is simple, but does include several moving pieces designed to meet the needs of our unique audience.

• Early on we posted materials every hour to our Facebook page, but realized that was simply too much.  We heard from people that we may be going overboard and have since cut that back. Social Media sites, whether it be Google+, Pinterest or Facebook are deeply personal to people. There is a fine line between engaging and annoying.  Finding the balance is important.
• We like to begin our day with a photo of our beautiful Arizona, and as it turns out those are the most consistently engaged posts to our social media sites.  I think so often businesses are too focused on pushing their product, forgetting that you’re dealing with human beings.  We don’t want to be sold to, so we try not to sell.  What we sell is the Arizona lifestyle.
• We use material from our Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate family, whether it’s from the Clean Slate Blog or BHG.com.  We try to keep a balanced approach to our daily material, a post or two that is designed to engage real estate professionals, buyers/sellers and those who dream of living in the Sonoran Desert.
• We have created a series called “Have We Met.”  This is essentially creating a one page biography of agents as an electronic calling card.  We post these to our social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest as well as our own website.  This series has been very well received!

We always keep in mind that Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate is a lifestyle brand. This requires that we continually adapt our message and our method to embrace the brand’s position.  Although Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate may be fairly new in Arizona, Better Homes and Gardens as a brand is not.  Our goal is to connect the dots between lifestyle and real estate, giving buyers and sellers the better option when it comes time to make the largest financial decision they will ever make.

Have more questions for Scott? Place them in the comments below!

The post Leveraging Social Media for Online Lead Generation appeared first on Clean Slate.