Comments on: Is Canned Fodder Good? Dear Ginny WTH

By: Mark Jacobs

Mark Jacobs — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:52:17 +0000

I use Top Producer to print my letters and postcards, but I do not use any of the canned materials. I have created all my own materials with the same look and feel so that it builds my brand.

Augusta Real Estate

By: Ginny Cain

Ginny Cain — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:36:46 +0000

Joe, the power of consistent and relevant information. People call or email you if they don’t get your report. Home run!

By: Joe Loomer

Joe Loomer — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:02:49 +0000

Ginny,

“…would be in a longer format such as a letter and subsequent 8 ½ x 11 pages with the market data…”

Could have written that myself. That’s EXACTLY what I do – and I use TP to print my envelopes so I can modify the outside to include something in the bottom left in a different font and color to say something like “April Housing Report for Augusta” or something similar. My clients know it’s relevant data.

I get great feedback, calls and emails if I’m even slightly late or there’s a Federal Holiday holding up the mail.

It is the best possible way for you to establish yourself as the economist and market expert of choice for your clients and prospects. Lead with revenue – do what works and throw away the canned spam.

Navy Chief, Navy Pride

By: Rebound Management

Rebound Management — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:57:13 +0000

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By: Wesner Michel

Wesner Michel — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 04:09:11 +0000

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By: Daniel Bates

Daniel Bates — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:51:26 +0000

In addition to being a real estate agent/blogger I also work for the Real Estate Tomato. At the beginning of the year we partnered with BringTheBlog.com to deliver “canned” content to our clients that wanted to sign up for the services. At first I was appalled at the idea. The Tomato teaches content is king and to write unique original material and now we’re promoting it?? But after I saw the quality of the post and what BringTheBlog’s Dan Green’s take on his own services, I actually supported the idea. See you still write local content like only you know how to provide and do it in your own voice that gives readers a taste of your personality and what makes you a great agent, BUT you supplement those articles with the canned material. Dan sees it as changing your position from writer to editor and the Tomato’s Jim Cronin says, “If it is used as a crutch, then it certainly goes against the core philosophy that we have beat into our clients. However, if it is used as a way to support one’s content, then I can certainly see some who will jump at the chance.”

By: tomferry

tomferry — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:22:08 +0000

Ginny- 100% with you on this.

Be real, relevant and deliver whatever message your farm/niche wants to hear, in the format they want to hear it in.

Ask the question in your next email campaign or talk to some folks … LISTEN to the answer. You may be surprised. It’s about making your marketing and business By Design.

By: RealEstate Babble

RealEstate Babble — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:18:21 +0000

AgentGenius: Is Canned Fodder Good? Dear Ginny WTH http://tinyurl.com/lkeyjn Full http://tinyurl.com/mv6ycd

By: Elaine Reese

Elaine Reese — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:53:58 +0000

Ginny, I agree with your position. Original is better. I just sent out my quarterly newsletter which I designed and write completely myself. All the data and charts that I include were done very specific to my area. I also include tidbits or pieces of info that I think might be newsworthy to my readers.

A few days after I sent mine out, I received one of the canned newsletters from a favorite lender. The info was so sterilized that it was hardly worth reading. Yes, the canned versions are quick & easy, but there’s an unmeasurable cost to that.

My broker provides excellent materials for us to use. However, I’ve always done “my own thing”. My reason for designing all my own materials is that I want to stand out from the other 500 agents in my brokerage. How could I convince a seller that “I’m different” if my materials are just like everyone elses.

In my corporate marketing life, we used to call it a “compelling competitive difference” to get the consumer to pick our products off the shelf and put them into the shopping cart. I want to be the one the client puts in their cart and not be a commodity. (I once wrote a blog post on that subject)