| Marketing Your Staging Business |
| 2008 Marketing Tips |
Managing a Home Staging business is challenging in any market. The present
market offers a significant number of challenges and opportunities.
Below is the start of a series of marketing ideas for you. Others will be coming
soon. Also, sign up for our monthly news letter where other ideas will be
discussed.
market offers a significant number of challenges and opportunities.
Below is the start of a series of marketing ideas for you. Others will be coming
soon. Also, sign up for our monthly news letter where other ideas will be
discussed.
Have a marketing plan. A “Road map”
They say that if you don’t know where you’re going, any old road will get you there.” Don’t just wander about with your
marketing dollars and time. For you will waste both time and money. Take a little time and draw up a 2008 marketing plan
utilizing some of the ideas listed below. This will maximize your time and money.
They say that if you don’t know where you’re going, any old road will get you there.” Don’t just wander about with your
marketing dollars and time. For you will waste both time and money. Take a little time and draw up a 2008 marketing plan
utilizing some of the ideas listed below. This will maximize your time and money.
Sell yourself – the most powerful marketing tool of all.
You say how. It’s very simple. Use your record as proof of your performance.
Get statistics on similar house in the areas where your staged homes sold.
Compare how the homes you staged did against the competition and why.
Perhaps get pictures from the other homes (at open houses, or have a agent
friend take you through) so you can show how well yours showed in relation to
the competition. Remember, that sellers want to know what you can do much
more than what some other stager did.
You say how. It’s very simple. Use your record as proof of your performance.
Get statistics on similar house in the areas where your staged homes sold.
Compare how the homes you staged did against the competition and why.
Perhaps get pictures from the other homes (at open houses, or have a agent
friend take you through) so you can show how well yours showed in relation to
the competition. Remember, that sellers want to know what you can do much
more than what some other stager did.
Don’t forget to get leads from homes that you presently have staged
Agents usually leave a business card when they show a home to a client or preview a home for possibly showing to future
clients. On homes that you have staged, the agents will leave business cards when they show it. Ask the listing agent or
seller if you can get a copy of these cards. Then call each agent, introduce yourself as the person who staged the home
and ask for feed back or comments.
This is a great way to start a conversation and set the stage for a future client – for what agent doesn’t like to give their
opinion. Naturally they may have questions about one or more of their own listings. This gives you the opportunity to
volunteer to go look at that agents' listings or maybe do a presentation to that agents' sellers. More new business.
Agents usually leave a business card when they show a home to a client or preview a home for possibly showing to future
clients. On homes that you have staged, the agents will leave business cards when they show it. Ask the listing agent or
seller if you can get a copy of these cards. Then call each agent, introduce yourself as the person who staged the home
and ask for feed back or comments.
This is a great way to start a conversation and set the stage for a future client – for what agent doesn’t like to give their
opinion. Naturally they may have questions about one or more of their own listings. This gives you the opportunity to
volunteer to go look at that agents' listings or maybe do a presentation to that agents' sellers. More new business.
52 Cups of Coffee
Once a week, call and set up an appointment to take a Realtor out for coffee. Staging is a
very personal type of business and people prefer to do business with people that they know.
Have extra business cards and pictures of your work. Take your portfolio with you.
Once a week, call and set up an appointment to take a Realtor out for coffee. Staging is a
very personal type of business and people prefer to do business with people that they know.
Have extra business cards and pictures of your work. Take your portfolio with you.
e-flyers
Real estate agents often use an e-flyer service to expose their listing to other real estate agents in the area. You may
want to do the same. Send out e-flyers about your staging business. With some flyer services you may have to use their
existing templates (often designed for a listing), if so, you would change the top header of the flyer to include the word
staging; in the body of the flyer add comments about staging and your services; also put your photo and contact
information (or business card information) on the flyer.
Do this when you first stage a house. Do it again when the house sells so agents can see that staging pays. Consider
asking the listing agent if they will pay ½ the cost because it exposes their listing another time to thousands of agents in
the area.
Google in real estate flyer services or e-flyers to find local companies. The easiest way is to ask a couple of local Realtors
who they use.
Real estate agents often use an e-flyer service to expose their listing to other real estate agents in the area. You may
want to do the same. Send out e-flyers about your staging business. With some flyer services you may have to use their
existing templates (often designed for a listing), if so, you would change the top header of the flyer to include the word
staging; in the body of the flyer add comments about staging and your services; also put your photo and contact
information (or business card information) on the flyer.
Do this when you first stage a house. Do it again when the house sells so agents can see that staging pays. Consider
asking the listing agent if they will pay ½ the cost because it exposes their listing another time to thousands of agents in
the area.
Google in real estate flyer services or e-flyers to find local companies. The easiest way is to ask a couple of local Realtors
who they use.
Testimonials.
Mom used to say “the proof of the pie is in the eating.” Past clients are the proof. Ask for
references and testimonials from them. The minute a home gets an offer or goes into escrow
get the testimonial. If it doesn’t close escrow because a buyer can’t get financing, it’s not
your fault, you did your job.
Mom used to say “the proof of the pie is in the eating.” Past clients are the proof. Ask for
references and testimonials from them. The minute a home gets an offer or goes into escrow
get the testimonial. If it doesn’t close escrow because a buyer can’t get financing, it’s not
your fault, you did your job.
Increase your Exposure
Get your name and services listed in directories that sellers and agents visit to find a local stager. Many of the
training schools have directories of their graduates. Be sure you’re listed in yours and that the your information is
correct.
Have your name listed in StagersYellowPages.com. It cost nothing, plus you can have your photo, write an article
or bio about yourself, and show up to 10 photos of your work. If you are listed and haven’t added photos and
additional information, then do so now.
Get your name and services listed in directories that sellers and agents visit to find a local stager. Many of the
training schools have directories of their graduates. Be sure you’re listed in yours and that the your information is
correct.
Have your name listed in StagersYellowPages.com. It cost nothing, plus you can have your photo, write an article
or bio about yourself, and show up to 10 photos of your work. If you are listed and haven’t added photos and
additional information, then do so now.
Open House Visits
Each month stop by 5, 10 or 20 open houses being held by agents or
sellers. Agents sitting these open houses are often bored stiff and
happy to have someone to talk with. You will probably have their
undivided attention. Introduce yourself, give a brief description of your
services and give them a few of your brochures and business cards.
Don’t leave until you have asked if they would like for you to stop back
by and speak with the seller or if they have any other clients that
would like for you to meet with.
Each month stop by 5, 10 or 20 open houses being held by agents or
sellers. Agents sitting these open houses are often bored stiff and
happy to have someone to talk with. You will probably have their
undivided attention. Introduce yourself, give a brief description of your
services and give them a few of your brochures and business cards.
Don’t leave until you have asked if they would like for you to stop back
by and speak with the seller or if they have any other clients that
would like for you to meet with.
Open House Visits
Each month stop by 5, 10 or 20 open houses being held by agents or
sellers. Agents sitting these open houses are often bored stiff and happy to
have someone to talk with. You will probably have their undivided attention.
Introduce yourself, give a brief description of your services and give them a
few of your brochures and business cards.
Don’t leave until you have asked if they would like for you to stop back by
and speak with the seller or if they have any other clients that would like for
you to meet with.
Each month stop by 5, 10 or 20 open houses being held by agents or
sellers. Agents sitting these open houses are often bored stiff and happy to
have someone to talk with. You will probably have their undivided attention.
Introduce yourself, give a brief description of your services and give them a
few of your brochures and business cards.
Don’t leave until you have asked if they would like for you to stop back by
and speak with the seller or if they have any other clients that would like for
you to meet with.
| Sellers want to know how you will make their home standout. |
| More 2008 marketing ideas will be coming soon. So come back in 30 days |