What sells a house… helps sell YOU!
The most important selling point of any property is location. And it is equally important when you are trying to sell yourself. Most real estate agents and brokers fail to see that the equivalent of beachfront property for selling themselves is right in front of them every day. I’m talking about the prime location that not only puts you front and center when people are looking to buy or sell a home, but also has you stand out from the competition. That prime location is the media – TV, radio, print, and online.
Get people to talk about you
I know that many real estate professionals invest in paid advertising. Advertising is good, but it is really just you talking about yourself. What can make a bigger difference is getting people talking about you. When you become a go-to resource for the media, it not only puts you in front of potential customers – it also has them want to work with you. This was true for me when we were looking for property abroad. The fact that our realtor had been quoted in the New York Times for his knowledge of the market gave me peace of mind. I knew that he knew his stuff.
The media is always looking for expertise.
I know this from a professional and a personal point of view. I love real estate and I am addicted to HGTV’s House Hunters International. We have bought and sold homes in the US and overseas, and were featured last year in House Hunters International buying a flat in Budapest and will be featured again next year renovating an old farmhouse in Serbia. But you don’t have to buy, sell or broker homes in faraway locations to attract the media’s attention. You can do it right in your own community.
Figure out what you want to say to the media and their audience
Here’s the cool part: it is probably easier than you think to be interviewed as a real estate expert. You just need to figure out what you want to say to the media and their viewers, listeners and readers. What is your expertise? Do you know the best neighborhoods for pet owners, such as the ones with great dog parks? Or the three best ways people can help their agent find their dream home?
“You get to be front and center with your ideal customer”
The media is looking information that will make a difference for their audience – insights that make the buying and selling experience better. By providing those insights, you get to be front and center with your ideal customer. Let’s say you really enjoy working with buyers and sellers who are animal lovers. What better way to have them come knocking on your door than having the local newspaper interview you as the local expert on finding the perfect home for a pet, be it a pooch or a horse? If you love working with families, you can share your knowledge of the neighborhoods with the best schools, parks, or playgrounds. If you love working with the young and upwardly mobile, you can share which parts of town are the coolest – the places where you can walk to bars and restaurants.
It really is that simple.
And you know more than you think you do. Stop and think about what you tell your clients when you are working with them. That’s exactly what the media will want to know. The cool thing is, instead of telling it to one customer at a time, you are telling it to thousands. The bonus is you build your credibility in your community while potential customers get to know you.
“Being featured in the media gives people a chance to get to know you and experience what it will be like to work with you.”
In the real estate game, you always need to find ways to stand out from the crowd. Being featured in the media gives people a chance to get to know you and experience what it will be like to work with you. When you sell a house, you put together a presentation of its best features. Be prepared with a presentation to sell you, too. Why do your customers choose you? What sets you apart? Be clear on your expertise, your passion, and your ideal customer. That way, when the media come knocking, you can communicate what makes you stand out in the crowd, and why homebuyers and sellers should choose you. Remember, there’s no better location to share your passion for real estate than being featured in the media.
Interested in being a top real estate expert in your community? Find out how by following PR4Realtors on Twitter!
