by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Google yourself.
Does a long list of relevant Web sites come up relating to your real estate business?
If not, you might have some work to do to brand yourself more effectively, said Karen Post during her recent seminar at the Florida Association of Realtors’ convention in Orlando.
Post is a branding consultant, motivational speaker and author of “Brain Tattoos, Creating Unique Brands That Stick in Your Customers’ Minds.”
She taught multiple “Brain Tattoo for Bigger Results” courses that aim to help Realtors effectively brand themselves more efficiently and effectively to generate more business.
“It’s all about making a lasting impression,” she said. “You’ve got to be distinct.”
Post preaches brand equity and showed Realtors numerous multimedia presentations of companies over the years that created that distinct and recognizable name that she said Realtors can achieve.
“You might not think real estate is creative enough but you can do it in any profession,” said Post.
Ideas like integrity, expertise and having an emotional relevance to potential clients are all ways to start standing out from others. To achieve becoming a brand, Post said that Realtors must have a written plan with key points such as goals, strategies, tactics and a budget in place. After the plan is in place, she said, work it.
By creating a distinct brand, Post said Realtors and any business can reap rewards.
Effective marketing encompasses several different avenues such as online and television that Realtors should take advantage of, she said.
In the short term, though, how can Realtors make that Google hit list appear fuller?
“Write articles, have Web sites, get on panels,” she said, on things Realtors can do to make that Google hit list appear fuller. “A sea of sameness is deadly.”