Life is a Song68856

Most Realtors, and many other sales people, will waste most of December. They'll either sit around the office feeling glum because there aren't enough customers and clients - or they'll take off most of the month to play.

This year, do something different. Use this extra time as if it was a precious gift. Start your marketing plan for 2007 right now, so that when the new year rolls around you'll be ready.

For starters, get your personal brochure updated. Do you need a new photo? Did you earn some new designations or take part in an important community event? Get that information added, and get a new supply printed and ready for your January mailings.

Then plan those mailings. Will you contact your sphere of influence, your past and present customers, and your leads every month, or will you mail quarterly? Will you use postcards, or write a real letter?

If you plan to use postcards, get out the catalog and get them ordered. You save money by ordering in bulk, so why not get them all at once and have them ready. You'll not only save money, but you'll eliminate the risk of forgetting to order them on time when the busy season hits.

If actual letters appeal to you, consider what you want to say in each mailing. You'll need a different letter for past clients and customers than the one you'll send to potential buyers. And you'll need a completely different letter to appeal to possible listing clients. Take the time to think about these letters, because a well-crafted letter will get far better results than one you dash off in 5 minutes because you can't put it off any longer.

Do you like to mail to owners of expired listings on a regular basis? Take the time now to perfect the letter you'll send, so it will be handy to pull up and fill in details every morning when you check the expired lists.

The best plan may be a mixture of postcards and letters. If so, plan when you'll mail each and put those dates on your calendar now. Then go back a week or so and put in a reminder to get your labels or envelopes printed and your letters ready to go.

If writing really isn't your thing, or if you are bashful about promoting yourself well, consider enlisting the services of a professional copywriter. After all, for many, your letters are the first impression they have of you and your abilities. Make it a good impression.