Google ranks top snack for Realtors

Click here to see Google rank the top snack for Realtors

-coming in at #1 out of 1,830,000!

...but what would office meetings be without donuts, anyway?

(Less sweet, I think...)

...but if Realtors like donuts this much,

...BUYERS LOVE PHOTOS!

1,000 pictures are worth 1,000 leads-sink your teeth into this over at RIS Media.

The fact: as long as they are good photos, make sure:

as many photos of your listing on line as possible.

(This is where Obeo comes in, obviously.)

and in other sweet news, uberblogger Teresa Boardman is at the top of a list of 25 most influential bloggers in 2007 at Inman News.

And deservedly so - she is a "real" blogger who is not afraid to share what she knows about her community and real estate. She is open and receptive to other bloggers and their ideas. And she has a great sense of humor, too.

The list reads like a Whos' Who of Blogging with too many names to drop

- here, anyway.

Laugh and sell !

Obeoman

steven.stearns@obeo.com

Donut on a Stick - Defined- from Inman Wiki

(Donut on a Stick-Comfort Food for Realtors.)

(Due to a very large amount of interest lacking in the previous post, I offer the following for clarification-Obeoman)

Donut on a stick:

Device used to lure Realtors into buy marketing, technology and on line services they desperately need (more than the donut on a stick.)

Averaging approximately 300- 1,300 calories per serving, depending on if is just a plain cake donut or if it is chocolate-covered,creme filled or has sprinkles on it the donut on a stick classifies as comfort food for Realtors.

The stick itself is approximately 6-7 inches in length, round, made of wood of undetermined nature, between an eighth and a quarter of an inch in diameter and pointed on one end.

(Health note: the stick is not edible, and will not support a "For Sale" sign. As it is not edible for health reasons it should not be re-used at other sales meetings to skewer another pastry or used to arrange paperwork in a tidy stack for closings.)

Supplied and distributed by vendors, who may or may not be preferred, (depending on the brokerage being visited,) consumption of the donut on a stick usually occurs during, but is not limited to sales meetings.
Office decorum demands that there be at least one (1) donut on a stick per person attending the sales meeting. The donut on a stick may be shared, but solely at the discretion of the real estate agent holding the stick.

(Safety Note: The donut on a stick should never be consumed while driving, as it may interfere with essential activities like answering a cell phone, plugging in your laptop or making a showing on time.)

While the donut on a stick may not be favored just by Realtors, it should be noted they most understand the content of the donut and its central element.

Obeoman

steven.stearns@obeo.com

Markets are like donuts - who do you face?

As ideas are like compost, so Donuts will bring you a customer or two, despite all the gluten-intolerant and calorically-conscious people out there.

The hard sell does not work; the real evidence of this: the fact that most Realtors still do not have a website. (You do have to have donuts for this group -reaching them on the phone is possible but may take all year.)

The other group of Realtors still do not understand the basic premise that marketing is achievement, not activity. They point themselves at marketing programs reluctantly, often not considering the cost and are often sold a bill of goods on DIY, SEO and SMS ending up with alphabet soup and nothing S-O-L-D. (For this group, you sometimes need therapy.)

The rest of the Realtors and brokers often stare at each other before the stare at a vendor. The broker will usually tell a vendor all his Realtors work independently, so a meeting with them will be tough. And these Realtors know what they are doing, often don't want to work in teams, but can't figure out what globalization is doing to the real estate market, don't honestly believe that they are a conduit for information and service specialists and get beat down with the commission stick by sellers. (Their stare is a hungry look. They need to eat, obviously - but they don't necessarily want to pick up the tab.)

So who do face?

Do we use the consumer to drive the Realtor to the vendor?

Or should we put the donuts on a stick?

Obeoman

steven.stearns@obeo.com

You can't cut a donut with a laser pointer...

...and nothing is harder to sell to a Realtor than technology. They are a tough crowd. Example:

You have to soften them up with donuts, cupcakes - a LOT of coffee -and they appreciate it:

Anyway, the ReMax Wisconsin technology tour kicked off pretty darn early , too darn early in Neenah - over 60 Realtors wrestled for donuts, other assorted yum-yums, and a chair to sit on as a way-to-sunny-smile and hearty "WAKE UP!!!" from Elizabeth Kuhn of ReMax-North Central opened the day-one, half-day seminar:

"In this free half day session you will come away with a clear understanding of how the RE/MAX Brand is helping you get to the next level. Your Regional Promotions staff and special guest speakers will educate you on a variety of tools available right now, that will assist you in growing your business. Whether it be the new Agent Training on Demand in RE/MAX Mainstreet, Learning about the 2007 Advertising Buy, LeadStreet Education, Cause Marketing and PR Strategies, RSN Training, Free Regional Services, or seeing the fantastic new enhancements to the RE/MAX Design Center...we will cover it all...and then some!"

(...whew...see what a sugar buzz does to ya? )

It didn't stop there...Michele Brenegan talked about something sweeter than donuts- Cause Marketing - you know, not marketing 'cause you have bills to pay, but the really great kind where everyone pulls together for something like the Children's Miracle Network and the Susan G. Komen foundation - technology with a heart:

Michele pointed out cheezehedz, especially ReMax cheezehed Realtors, ain't no slouches in giving it up to make living easier for those who need help - of course, we beat ReMax in MN. But hey, the North Central ReMax Team is 5th in the nation - and of course, there are bigger states with more Realtors in them.

Jill Kelsey backed her up by saying how ReMax has an extremely positive image with the public because of relationships like this and advised the regional Realtors to call her and ask for advice on how to smile nice so newspaper editors will write nice stuff about you:

Here we see Jill with a great smile and several name tags she authored. Actually, Jill nailed it with the advice that if it isn't timely or does not involve a 40-foot red-white-and -blue balloon, you should call her for some tips.

Mary LaPanta covered LeadStreet, and uttered the wisest words of the day:

"It's technology and it's going to_________."

(Discerning readers may fill in the blank and email it to Mary.)

..and Remax sales leader from Minnesota Mark Bartikoski covered a 10-point marketing program-mostly in the dark so we could see his cool animations on his Powerpoint. He talks with Kevin Dieck, below, during a break. Note the GRANDE cafe':

Mark had 10 great points, covering everything from using direct mail, stealth websites, how to show up at open houses even when you are deathly ill and using technologies like RedX to capture expired listings and Obeo for an online marketing program to be able to just say NO to lowering commissions and working harder but crazier.

Well, what do Realtors like more than donuts and comfy chairs-besides commission checks?

MARKETING MATERIALS!!!

Here we see the Remax throng pushing past the registration table one last time to fill their bling bags and hit the bricks running.

...the ReMax crew hit the road, too, heading south on Wisconsin HWY 41 and now we are holed up in Waukesha, waiting for a blizzard that we hope won't hold us up as we head for the Wisconsin Dells tomorrow afternoon.

For now, we got a few leftover cupcakes, raspberry Dasani water - and some great ideas to chew on during windshield time:

...I think I have to call my wife, if she remembers me....

I gotta go.

Steve

steven.stearns@obeo.com