100 1 percents
I have a feeling that lots of folks are chasing a non-existent silver bullet. They are performing at a level 'x' and they're looking for the special tool or technique or potion that will get them performing at 2x or 3x.
Well, I'm going to tell you something that you may not want to hear. What you're looking for just doesn't exist. If you want to improve your performance, you're going to have to do a lot of little things.
In the end, all of these little improvement, these optimizations, will add up. I like to assume that every improvement I make will increase my effectiveness by 1%. Every time I improve my technique or add a feature or crate a special offer or improve a campaign, I can expect a 1% improvement. So, if I want to double my effectiveness, I need to make 100 improvements. In general, I find this to be a pretty good rule of thumb.
A very successful salesman once said that the secret to his success was that he called people back. Well, you might be thinking, "I call people back." Well, do you really? How quickly do you call them back. How many times do you call them back. Let me give you a few guidelines that I think will each give you a 1% (or probably much greater) chance of improving your sales performance:
- Try to call every lead back within 1 hour. If you don't see the lead for a while, that's ok. maybe you were on a showing or driving or taking a swim. It's ok. Just try to get back to everyone in an hour. if you get back to that home buyer in 2 hours, don't hate yourself.
- if you don't get them on the first call, call again the following day.
- If you don't get in touch with the lead after 2 calls, call again.
- Call back 5 times, once per day, over 5 or 7 business days. Watch how many more of your leads you'll actually have a conversation with!
- Us a real lead management package - of course we recommend LogicLeads, but I'm not selling here - enter each lead into the system. Enter each planned follow-up into the system and catalog your showings, emails and call, even if all you did was leave a voicemail.
OK, if you're reading this and thinking," I already have a system like this and I execute it every time." Good for you! I bet you're also a pretty good producer. There's always room for improvement, but I think you can focus your 1%'s on other things, like blogging or newsletter writing.
But, if you're reading this and saying, "I know. I really should be better at follpwing up with my leads and contacts." Well, it's time to make some small changes. Those 1% improvements really add up.
OH - I almost forgot. i was reading Matt Cutt's post about Google factoring in load speed into their search algorithm. I should mention that I was reading High Rankings Advisor and found the link to the post by Matt. At any rate, Matt mentioned that fewer than 1% of sites would see a change in their ranking in the search engine results are a result of google including load time in their 200 or so factors which determine search engine placement. Now you know where I came up with the title of this blog post!
Filed Under Real Esate Marketing, Real Estate SEO, Real Estate Search Engine Optimization, Real Estate lead generation, leads, real estate | Leave a Comment
Easily persuaded?
Sometimes, someone comes along and tells you that they’ve solved all of your problems. It sounds like a great solution, it sounds like a good deal. STOP! Don't jump.
Every once in a while, someone pitches one of our clients and tells them that their solution is the best thing since sliced bread. Our clients are bombarded by advertisers, software companies, real estate website providers, online marketing companies, you name it. They're calling and emailing and calling again.
Most of the clients who buy from Boston Logic take a highly measured approach. They figure out what they need, figure out what it costs, compare solutions, and ours comes out on top. We're fine with this process. We're happy to go feature for feature with any platform.
Here's what stings, it's when the client gets a call from someone and doesn't do their homework. They make an impulse buy because the pitch over the phone was just that good. We're constantly amazed that business decisions are actually made this way.
Do you really have 2 completely different buying processes? For some expenses, you take weeks to figure out the right solution, document features, develop a budget, and then make an informed decision. For other purchases, you decide to spend thousands of dollars in literally minutes?
Here's a recommendation. Consider any purchase carefully. Make decisions based on numbers, whenever possible. Real numbers. I'm talking about data. For example, If you're considering a new online marketing media, try to understand a cost/user or cost/lead. If you can't do better than where you are currently investing, don't buy it.
Also, don't get sold on one feature or even one idea. Look at a solution holistically. It's easy for a salesman to tell you about a nice feature in their website product and ask, "Does your website do that?" Indeed, it may not, but there may be 20 features that your site does have that the product he's selling does not. I can't tell you how many clients have chosen other vendors only to come back to Boston Logic telling us that they made a poor decision.
If you need help developing specifications or comparing solutions, we're happy to help. Just drop us an email. Thanks.
Filed Under Real Esate Marketing, Real Estate Web Design, Real Estate Website, Real Estate Website Design, Strategy, real estate internet marketing | Leave a Comment
LogicClassroom Announcement: Understanding the “Long Tail” Keywords
We hope you can join us Tues. September 14th at 5:00 pm for our next LogicClassroom (and free webinar) on "Long Tail" Niche Marketing.
You may have heard the Long Tail term in the past as it applies to optimizing your real estate website, but what does it really mean? How has it changed or improved in the years since the concept's introduction in 2008? And is it still a viable theory today?
In September's LogicClassroom, we'll answer these questions and more, as well as give you a quick refresher (or introduction!) course on the basics of optimization and real estate SEO. The internet has changed the way that businesses think about real estate internet marketing, and you should be up to speed. You need to understand The Long Tail, while also being able to achieve a balance with it in your online marketing campaign - and we can help!
You are welcome to attend at the Boston Logic office (view map), or participate through an online webinar. The class begins at 5pm.
To attend, please contact Katrina at 617.266.9166 or by email at ksierant@bostonlogic.com. Please specify whether you will attend the class at our office or online. We look forward to seeing you there!
Filed Under LogicClassroom, Real Esate Marketing, Real Estate SEO, Real Estate Search Engine Optimization, Real Estate Website, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Strategy, real estate, real estate internet marketing | Leave a Comment
LogicClassroom: Bounce Rate Slide Presentation
Filed Under LogicClassroom, Real Estate SEO, Real Estate Website, Uncategorized, Webinar, real estate | Leave a Comment
Whale Watching with Boston Logic
The hardworking real estate web design team here at Boston Logic went out into the city last weekend for some excellent company bonding via whale watching and lunch. We took advantage of the great New England sun (while still here!) and had a fantastic day on the water. Here are some images of our Boston adventure for your personal enjoyment!
We started at Max's Restaurant for some breakfast, then headed over to the docks by the Boston Aquarium to board for our whale watching tour through Boston Harbor Cruises. It was a bit longer than a three hour tour, as we left at 10:00 am and returned around 3:30, but it was worth it. The high-speed boat took us off the coast of Provincetown, Massachusetts to see some whales.
The tour didn't disappoint. As soon as we arrived at our destination, we saw gorgeous humpback whales all around the boat, and we were able to get really close. We saw flukes, flipper-slapping, and were able to appreciate the sheer size of these animals as they swam about 10 feet parallel to our boat!
We ended the day at Boston's Durgin Kitchen in Fanueil Hall. After filling up on a variety of deliciously fried seafood (after being on the ocean all day, it felt appropriate) we went our separate ways to each take our perspective post-adventure naps. We had an amazing time!
Read more about the Boston Logic Team.
Filed Under Real Estate Website Design, Uncategorized, What's New, real estate | Leave a Comment
Next LogicClassroom Announcement: Befuddled By Your Bounce Rate?
We hope you can join us Tues. August 10th at 5:00 pm for our LogicClassroom on Understanding your Website's Bounce Rate.
You've been receiving your Monthly SEO Reports from Boston Logic (if you're signed up with us for one of our SEO / Social Media campaigns), or have been dutifully checking your Google Analytics for your real estate website each month. You may have noticed your website's "Bounce Rate", but do you know what a bounce rate is, or what it can mean to your marketing efforts?
In this LogicClassroom, we'll discuss what a Bounce Rate is, and what it can tell you about your
website. We'll discuss what you can do to decrease your website's bounce rate, and how to encourage users to become more interactive with your real estate website. We'll also help you to understand what an ideal bounce rate should be for your website's market. We will cover real estate SEO techniques you can use to tweak your website to attract more relevant search results so that users can browse your site for exactly what they are looking for more easily. The longer you can retain a user, the more likely they are to contact you for your services!
You are welcome to attend at the Boston Logic office (view map), or participate through an online webinar. The class begins at 5pm on August 10th, 2010.
To attend, please contact Katrina at 617.266.9166 or by email at ksierant@bostonlogic.com. Please specify whether you will attend the class at our office or online. We look forward to seeing you there!
Filed Under Help, LogicClassroom, Real Estate SEO, Real Estate Website, Strategy, Webinar, leads | Leave a Comment
What Makes Real Estate Companies Grow
When you get to the bottom of it all, real estate companies can grow one of two ways.
First, they can raise their head count. If we assume an average number of deals/agents - then the more real estate agents on your roster, the more real estate sales your real estate company will be a part of and the more commissions the company will receive. You can raise your head count by hiring more real estate agents or by buying other real estate companies. Sounds simple enough. Revenue is pegged to headcount.
Alternatively, a company can work to make ALL of their agents more effective. Remember that average number of deals per agent. Well, let's assume that the company doesn't want to hire more agents, just have their agents do more deals. The goal would be to raise that average. If your agents are doing 10 deals/year, on average, and you raise the average to 12, all else being equal, the office will make more money. By the way, so will the agents!
This somewhat assumes that the office is working on a classic split model - or does it?
Let me propose something radical. The best way to hire more agents is to have successful agents
at your office. If your company has a reputation of making agents successful, then agents will want to work for you! Then it doesn't matter if you're on a desk fee model or a split.
Broker/owners, just imagine - instead of having 25 agents who do $50MM in transactions/year. You only have 10 - and they do the same sales volume! Sounds easier to manage, doesn't it. Or even better. Imaging you had 25 agents, 10 of them did $50MM and get a better split, the other 15 do another $50MM. You win either way.
So, how do you get your agents to produce more. Well, this isn't rocket science. First, they need leads. They need buyers and sellers reaching out to them. The office needs to be noticed. You have to stand out from the other guys in town. Next, you need to give your agents the tools they need to close deals with those leads. I'm talking about lead management, I'm talking about online marketing, I'm talking about social media and a great real estate website to serve as the foundation for it all.
If all you do is work on hiring agents and you don't give them the tools to succeed, they will come and go. They will under perform. Agents thirst for support, they want leads, and they want a company that gives them both. Real Estate agents will stand by a company that helps them succeed. If the agent was making $50,000/year at their last company and is making $60,000/year at your company, they're likely to stick around.
Also, the agents in town will take notice. They'll see your brand and your agents involved in lots of sales, on dozens and hundreds of yard signs. The agents will want to work for your company because you have the best website and your site has the best search engine placement.
Our clients see it all the time. Agents today want to work with a company that gives them what they need. They want a brokerage that provides leads and promotes their services.
The result is simple. The broker wins, the agents win, everybody wins.
Filed Under Real Esate Marketing, Real Estate SEO, Real Estate Software, Real Estate Web Design, Real Estate Website, Real Estate Website Design, Real Estate lead generation, Strategy, Wordpress, agent recruiting, lead generation, leads, real estate, real estate internet marketing | Leave a Comment
Real Estate Web Design
Boston Logic's offering of real estate web design pairs high quality websites for realtors with ease of use. Our leading real estate software, the ONE System, is now a more affordable, available for rapid deployment, and reflect the cutting edge work of the top designers we have working here at Boston Logic.
So...why Upgrade Your Website? 
Efficiency. Not only will you improve the image of your website with custom real estate website design features and templates, but you will also save time with our easy and efficient lead management system. And more efficiency for you means closing more deals!
Quick Turnaround. Our ONE System real estate software behind each real estate website allows you to simply chose a theme or template, and your website can be live in just 24 hours!
Customizable. Because Boston Logic specializes in real estate website design, each website theme is designed to offer a unique aesthetic. Whether your real estate office desires a website with a classic layout or a sleek, modern style, we have just the theme for you. Additionally, we offer all-encompassing themes of the real estate market: so whether you specialize in rentals or sales, small towns or cities, traditional or contemporary, we can match your business style with a theme that reflects you.
Access to Countless Features. Purchase of a high quality, functional, and aesthetically pleasing website also includes access to countless real estate website features innovated by our development team. Among the standard and optional feature upgrades available, Boston Logic websites are SEO Ready, Google Analytics installed, Mapped IDX Search, Blog, Live Chat, Neighborhood Profiles and much more! A few more additional standard features that are included with your real estate web site are mortgage calculators, saved searches, virtual tours, ConstantContact integration, and college search. Still not enough? We also have optional upgrades like Yelp! neighborhood info, Development profiles, Zillow property valuation, and Dynamic Forms. (Find a complete list of features and read more about optional upgrades at our Sequoia brand's website here).
So what are you waiting for? Take a step in the right direction towards a new and improved real estate internet marketing campaign today!
Contact us to get started!
617.266.9166
Filed Under Real Esate Marketing, Real Estate SEO, Real Estate Software, Real Estate Web Design, Real Estate Website, Real Estate Website Design, Real Estate lead generation, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Strategy, real estate, real estate internet marketing | Leave a Comment
July LogicClassroom: SEM and Personal Branding
Filed Under Facebook, LogicClassroom, Personal Branding, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Strategy, Webinar, real estate, real estate internet marketing, social media | 1 Comment
Next LogicClassroom Announcement: Personal Branding and SEM
Please join us Tuesday, July 13th at 5PM for our Logic Classroom on Personal Branding and Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
You may have attended a previous LogicClassroom on Search
Engine Marketing where we explored the basics. Now we are going to take SEM to the next level by incorporating the principles of personal branding. We'll demonstrate how these online techniques work seamlessly to help you market yourself and your business.
Your personal brand shapes how others actually see and find you, and this is especially important to potential customers. With the right understanding of how personal branding works, you can position yourself as a trusted adviser, subject matter expert, or successful entrepreneur: it's entirely up to you! So make sure to stop by or log on and learn how personal branding and search engine marketing work together. The results are closer than you may think.
You are welcome to attend at the Boston Logic office (view map), or participate through an online webinar. Take this excellent opportunity to learn how to utilize search engine marketing and personal branding to grow your business.
Contact Katrina at 617-266-9166 or ksierant@bostonlogic.com to attend. Please specify if you will be attending in the office or online via webinar. We look forward to seeing you all there.
Filed Under LogicClassroom, Personal Branding, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Strategy, Webinar, real estate, real estate internet marketing | Leave a Comment
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- 100 1 percents
- Easily persuaded?
- LogicClassroom Announcement: Understanding the “Long Tail” Keywords
- LogicClassroom: Bounce Rate Slide Presentation
- Whale Watching with Boston Logic
- Next LogicClassroom Announcement: Befuddled By Your Bounce Rate?
- What Makes Real Estate Companies Grow
- Real Estate Web Design
- July LogicClassroom: SEM and Personal Branding
- Next LogicClassroom Announcement: Personal Branding and SEM
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