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Freelance
5 Truths to Forward your Real Estate Career
How truthful are you when it comes to evaluating your own work ethic and time management in terms of what you do to forward your real estate career?
1. I’ll do what I’ve always done.
Does that include cold calling, door knocking and snail mail campaigns? That may have worked in the past though is no longer the efficient choice for real estate marketing. Time to update how and where you spend your marketing budget and shift to the digital world.
2. There aren’t enough hours in the day.
This may be true. Check your own time on social media, could you be using that time to promote yourself? If you are promoting yourself, is your messaging clearly defined? Do prospects understand who you are and what you offer? If not, then you need to hire a virtual assistant or social media manager to do it for you.
3. My funds are tight.
It’s true, it’s expensive to be a real estate agent. Dues, desk fees, taxes, wardrobe and ever-present bills. Don’t spend money on fads or seminars, instead, make marketing funds part of your annual budget. Hire experts to create a personal brand, write content messaging and develop a winning social media strategy. Those funds will be well spent as you watch your business grow. Try to avoid automated content feeds….it’s noticeable and doesn’t have the affect of authentic content messaging.
4. I’m not sure of my market.
Do you work in a certain neighborhood but long to sell luxury real estate in another area? Do you work with buyers, have an occasional listing and wish you were a listing agent instead? Is this making your business model inconsistent? Go for profitability in your current expertise and capitalize on that, building on your success in an area of real estate where you demonstrate strength. Buyers eventually turn into sellers.
5. Yes, you’re great! Now what?
Today’s marketing focus is less on touting your success and more on what you offer clients. People trust you more when you show them WHO you are and what you do for them. Share success stories, testimonials. Take photos of clients during a key exchange. Talk about the business of real estate, trends in homes, remodeling, interiors, diy, garden tips, local news and events. Give consumers the real nuts and bolts of what it takes to own a home and live in your area. Bring value.
Take a look at where you are and want to be to fine tune your business and marketing plans. You will achieve the most growth in areas of strength when your budget is applied thoughtfully.
Erika Burke is the Founder of Scribe415 in San Francisco - A Digital Branding Agency for branding, website development, content creation, ghost blogging and social media marketing for real estate and business professionals. She was a Top Producing Realtor in SF for 13 years, and is no longer active, but remains licensed DRE#01386234.
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Freelancers Etiquette for Clients and Freelancers
Make the freelancing process work for you and your freelancer so that everyone is on the same page.
1. BE CLEAR. Before reaching out know what you want to have done, make a realistic timeline, know your budget or range and the freelancers fees so that you are connecting with a freelancer in your price point.
2. STAY ON POINT. For your consult, keep grievances to a minimum. Focus on your company, product or service, challenges, budget, timeline, remaining details and next steps. This will help you know if you are a right match. Follow-up with a re-cap email.
3. NO GHOSTING. If you, as the client or the freelancer aren't feeling it, reveal it ASAP. Don't be afraid to say "No". Ghosting anyone is disrespectful and can affect your reputation.
4. NEGOTIATE. Rates are negotiable. Projects can be scaled to meet a clients budget or grow as your budget grows, however don't try to reduce a fair price for your project at the onset.
Valuable Freelancer Freebies:
-Free consults. Unpaid time
-Overtime. You don't get charged for it
-Taxes. 30%-40% of their fee is going to pay taxes.
-Health insurance. They cover their own insurance and health expenses
-Time Off. No paid time off
-Expenses. Ubers, internet tools and apps, lunch meetings come out of pocket
For Freelancers:
-Rate Sheet. Provide your rates and general estimates before a consult to set expectations.
-FAQ. Provide the info the client needs: rates, clients you work with, payment, lead time, timeline, specialties.
Rates are determined by level of experience, expertise, efficiency and demand. They are business owners with families who support themselves. Their time is valuable including phone, email, estimates, proposals and contracts.
Response time is critical during all phases of your project. No ghosting allowed. A freelancer is deeply immersed in your business success and in delivering as promised, so treat them with the respect that they deserve for a rewarding and ongoing successful business relationship.
Erika Burke is the Founder of Scribe415 - A Creative Agency, and a freelancer.
#scribe415 #branding #websitedesigner #content #socialmediamarketing #igotit #yougotit #2018marketinggoals #itseasierthanyouthink #imeasy