This month’s second small business marketing newsletter was about having multiple streams of income, which got me thinking about how we should choose those streams for ourselves. I have a confession to make…I am a huge proponent of multiple streams of income and I have an entrepreneurial spirit so I spend lots of time considering new things I COULD do to increase my business opportunities. This post is about what I (and you) SHOULD do to maximize my time and effort and minimize pain!

John Jonas gave the best description I ever heard about how to pick what to do. He said you should never get more than one step away from what you do now or more than one step away from the kind of customer you serve now when deciding new things to try.

Here is my one step approach for Marketing Artfully. The three main things I do for my business are blogs, information products and speaking. Because information products often have affiliate programs, starting my own or joining someone else’s is a good fit for me and makes sense to add to my resource page. Also, doing internet masterminds involves speaking (which is one of my things) so it is okay also.

Some other things for me that would be a good fit are things that provide services to entrepreneurs and small business owners, social networking items and other business related items.

Now here comes the brilliant part – when I get a great idea of something to do that is NOT one step away, I can drop it quickly. Instead of spending time and energy on researching something (or more likely diving into something) that will not help my business, I can easily determine if it is a good fit and, if not, move on!

This system works for ANY business! My buddy Deb Ward of Deborah Ward and Associates is a realtor in the Tampa Bay area. You can see from her blocks that there are some things that match well with her business model and some that don’t. She does coaching, sells real estate and owns a team of realtors. Getting referrals and owning shares in a title company are great for her, she could also add speaking to realtors easily because of her coaching focus. BUT, adding non-real estate related items would dilute her message and efforts.

So, to all you entrepreneurs out there considering new ventures…make sure that you are checking your blocks and keeping on track for success!!

Related posts:

1. One-offs – How they cost small business owners time and opportunity!
2. Small Business Marketing – Success Is HARD!
3. What makes you a expert? Small Business Success!

There are SO many free tools on the internet to get your marketing message out – Eyejot is a winner! One of my absolute favorite marketers – Brian P. Forrester of Mortgage Communication Spot sends out an eyejot most Mondays to tell his sphere important information about the mortgage industry. It takes him less than a minute to record and he reaches many realtors and home buyers with his message!

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If you want to get great updates from Brian, email him to get on his eyejot list…:)

Related posts:

1. How To Send Free Video Email – Eyejot
2. Small Business Marketing – Free Tools
3. Small Business Marketing – Common Email Marketing Mistakes

BE PART OF THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO
GROW YOUR REAL ESTATE BUSINESS!

This one-day Marketing Planning Seminar for Realtors, Title Companies and Mortgage Professionals will help you focus on the activities that will help you establish your brand, grow your business, get new clients and generate leads for your business.

You WILL leave the class with a detailed plan for how to grow your business!

SEATING IS LIMITED TO 25 ATTENDEES – Don’t miss your chance to change your business!

PLUS – As a bonus, everyone who attends will get a FREE copy of “How To Service Your Listings” AND the special report “100 Things To Do To Sell Your Listings” (A $30 Value)!

When: February 6th from 9-1
Where: Integrity First Funding Group
1237 Lady Marion Lane
Dundedin FL 34698
Cost: $25

Related posts:

1. How To Increase Your Real Estate Website Hits – What Does A Girl Have To Do To Get Noticed?
2. Real Estate Marketing To A Farm Area
3. Realtor Marketing – Real Estate Newsletters

The Swag Winner Is……………..

Swag is the “stuff” that companies give away at their trade show booths. It can be as bland as a pen or as exciting as a brand new car, but in general is something that will help draw people to your tradeshow booth or help them remember your company after the show.

At the NAR (National Association of Realtors) 2008 show held in Orlando, Florida I picked up some great swag! Using a totally non-scientific method I have declared Chelsea Title Company the 2008 Best Swag Winner! They had MULTIPLE great items at their booth – a truly amazing selection!

Best of Show – My favorite item was a glasses cleaner stuck into an itty bitty holder that I can hook on my keyring or anywhere else handy. Ticor Title Company had a similar item at the show.

First Runner Up – A tire gauge! In this time of soaring gas prices, having your tires inflated the proper amount can save you big bucks!

Second Runner Up – A carabiner with a compass attached. Great for a keyring and not getting lost – my husband was super excited about it!

Totally Fun And Useless – These pens from Pitney Bowes are super fun! They are cute and have little bobbly heads!

Most Useful Tool – Realtors are predominantly women or they are men with wives. A great giveaway that everyone likes! American Home Warranty had the prettiest ones at the show!

Listingbook - (who I contract to teach for) had dashboard sticky holders.  Listingbook website link

Wise Agent – Our new database company Wise Agent was there! They have a super great product and offer affordable prices!! If you use them make sure to tell them that Mudly68 sent you!!! A Wise Agent website link

First Home Tour – I have used First Home Tour for years. They offer unlimited tours for $29/month and have GREAT customer service!!! I got to meet Kate who I have talked to a couple of times, these things are great for putting names to faces! First Home Tour website link

No related posts.

While I was an active realtor I was VERY good at keeping in touch with my clients and prospects. It was my favorite part of the job (which is why I am now helping agents and small business owners with their marketing instead of actively working with clients)!

Lead generating is like a really neat game of hide and seek with the prize being someone calling or emailing you with an opportunity! There is nothing more fulfilling than preparing a well thought out marketing piece, generating the content, doing the sticky-sticky of the labels and stamps, then sending it out into the world and having someone notice it and contact you! (I KNOW – I really need help with this, like a marketing 12-step program)

What I have found is that not everyone loves this part of owning a business. It can sometimes seem overwhelming and can fall by the wayside while you are busy doing your “real” job. It can seem really pointless to get MORE business when you are feeling swamped by the business you already have BUT… if you wait until you are less busy then you have lulls in your work (and income).

Some tips to make your marketing less intimidating:

• Do what you like to do (Part 1)! If you like to talk to people then do it more – join a small business networking group, go out for dinner at the same place and get to know the clients and staff (tell them what you do and they WILL refer you!), visit businesses and tell them about your service and how it can help them.
• Do what you like to do (Part 2)! If you like to talk on the phone do it more – call your friends and remind them that you give great service, call your prospects, call your past clients. Make it a part of your daily routine and it will get easier – I promise!
• Do what you like to do (Part 3)! If you are an online guru do that more – send emails with a signature line from your business, have a great website to capture leads, comment on blogs with a link to your site. Internet marketing is a VERY affordable way to go!
• Mail stuff out – Don’t wait until you have the “best” direct mail piece or the most extensive marketing plan finalized, send something. Send just listed or just sold postcards, send your brochure, send a market snapshot or a great article you found, send out helpful tips for your industry, just do it!
• Start an email list – Find out how to set up an email list subscription on your site (I use www.feedburner.com) OR call everyone you know and tell them you are setting up a GREAT mailing and need their email address. DO NOT SPAM them! Make sure you send relevant content and not too often.

Marketing is fun and anyone can do it (remember that at the end of it you will have new clients to work with!) I have one realtor friend who gets a new client EVERY time she sends out her newsletter! It takes her a little money and a while to send them, BUT knowing that it gets her results makes it all worthwhile. While you may never be a marketing nut like me, think of it like a game of hide and seek or an Easter egg hunt and it may seem easier!

PS – If you are a realtor and would like to hand off some of the work to us visit our 33 Touch page for more info!

Related posts:

1. Eyejot – a free email marketing tool!

We like to share our tips and tricks with everyone! With that in mind we are offering a series of Ebooks to help small businesses and realtors with SPECIFIC information on how to best accomplish your niche marketing goals!

SEO Marketing for Realtors will guide you through the process of setting up your real estate website in the best possible way for placing high on the search engines. It will give specific examples on proper keyword selection, writing compelling content that will attract visitors and, and how to submit your website to the search engines.

Whether you have an established site, or are just setting up a brand new site, you can start using the techniques to get more traffic TODAY!

This book includes:

• A Quick Word About Keywords
• Search Engines 101
• Naming Your Website
• The Content
• Tricky SEO Company Gimmicks
• Make The Search Engines Notice Your Site
• Paid Submissions

1. Realtor Marketing Most Real Estate Websites Let Realtors Down
2. Website and Blog Design – The Wrong Things
3. Relevancy and Niches