Flea Market and New Merchandise Update

What’s your real estate marketing plan for 2011? If the first thing you thought of is “Well, hopefully the market conditions allow for a good year,” it’s time to reevaluate how you approach your career. When you operate from a proven game plan, success comes much easier. And that’s what this month’s article is all about. It’s about taking what you know, using your resources to the fullest and making things happen instead of waiting for market conditions to dictate your success.

If you’re serious about success, this article is all about helping you create a winning marketing plan for 2011. But remember – a plan isn’t a plan unless it’s written down, so start by creating your game plan. Then, follow the comprehensive year-round marketing plan you’ve mapped out. Your own plan may vary based on your budget, what’s available in your area and other factors, but try to follow it as closely as possible.

Once you’ve mapped out your own game plan, it needs to become your guide to the coming year. You should review it every quarter and chart your progress.

The problem I see far too often is that agents don’t plan their marketing in advance and then their marketing suffers by operating under a shotgun approach that lacks focus and consistency. Too many times agents operate in the deal-to-deal mentality – “It’s been a bad month, I better do some marketing.” That approach is ineffective and a total waste of money. You need to stop operating from deal-to-deal and develop a long-term plan for growing your business. That’s exactly what this game plan is all about – setting a plan and sticking to it over an entire year to get all your marketing money working together to present a consistent image.

Develop Your Mix

The first step toward a successful 2011 is determining how you’re going to disseminate your marketing message. There are virtually limitless combinations of various channels at your disposal. Analyze which marketing methods will be most effective for you. If you’re not quite sure yet, this article will walk you through many of your choices.

Your year-round marketing plan should be built from a combination of the following aspects of personal marketing: online marketing, social networking and email farming, direct mail, strategic networking, advertising and public relations.

Start with the Basics

No matter what combination you choose, make sure your plan calls for continual communication with your PSAs – Past clients, Sphere of influence and All leads generated – via both direct mail and email farming. This critical group provides the core of your business and must be tended to before you target anyone else.

Now let’s examine some of the methods you’ll choose to include in your marketing mix.

Web Sites and E-mail Farming

It never ceases to amaze me how many agents still do not have an adequate web presence in today’s Internet age. Agents are shooting themselves in the foot by choosing the cheapest option just so they can say they have a web site. Many others don’t have one at all or simply rely on a tiny section on their company’s site.

You should be driving traffic to your site through both search engines and your marketing. But it’s not enough to simply get people to your site, however. The key to success on the web is providing valuable content to your visitors. Don’t only give them a reason to visit, but you also need to inspire them to return frequently. You want their experience on your site to make a positive impression and convey a sense of quality and trustworthiness.

That’s why your annual marketing game plan needs to have scheduled time to work on adding new content to your web site. These activities need to be scheduled and executed with purpose. The beauty is that continually adding new content to your site will not only lure visitors back repeatedly, but it will also increase your search engine ranking. The more timely and relevant information your site can communicate, the more business your web site will generate.

Your site should also demonstrate the value you bring to your clients by offering free special reports and other “opt-in” opportunities. For purposes of your 2011 game plan, your focus should be on increasing your “opt-ins” and growing your email database. The larger you grow your email database, the more you can take advantage of this powerful and virtually free of charge method of generating more leads and increasing your bottom line.

Social Media Integration

Social media has grown up and transformed from “that thing the kids are doing” into an essential element in business. From a marketing perspective, there’s great strength in generating a strong following on Twitter, building relationships on Facebook and LinkedIn and becoming a trusted resource for valuable information through your personal blog. Your 2011 game plan should include time reserved specifically for working on improving and capitalizing on these – and any emerging – social networking opportunities.

This doesn’t mean just “having” accounts on the various social media sites and posting without purpose, but truly using them to your advantage. Establish yourself as the authority on your local real estate market by providing timely, market-related updates via the various social media outlets. To maximize your effectiveness, you need to map out how many posts you’re going to make a week. You should aim for a balance of personal and professional content in your posts.

If you’re not sure where to start with social media and feel you’re falling behind, get educated in this topic to avoid making costly mistakes.

Direct Mail

Right now is an outstanding opportunity for you to make a big impression in your farm area using direct mail. By following a consistent mail plan and continually providing new content to homeowners in your mailings, you can build credibility and generate more leads.

We recommend mailing an average of three times per month to each person in your direct mail farm. This way, you’ll establish name recognition quickly and maintain it consistently. Some of the tools to consider in your direct mail toolbox include:

• Powerkards

• AdKards

• Personal Letters

• Past Client Contact

The keys to success in direct mail are to follow a plan and resist the urge to make rash decisions. Tailor your content to your audience and market conditions, but do not let those factors encourage you to deviate from your plan. The more you can hit your specific market segments with timely messages and important content, the more your phone will ring, and the greater return you’ll see on your investment.

Strategic Networking & Referrals

With all the talk about agents wanting to “get back to basics” and some even resorting to doorknocking, we feel it’s important to stress the effectiveness of strategic networking. Note that word “strategic” in that last sentence, because having a strategy is the true difference maker when it comes to making the most of networking.

Networking is an essential part of any holistic marketing campaign. What that means is that it’s not a haphazard activity, but rather one that has a written plan, written objectives and a desired outcome. In simpler terms, you need to strategically schedule your networking activities to ensure maximum effectiveness. Otherwise, it’s all too easy to tell yourself that you’ll get around to networking someday, yet it never happens.

• Strategic networking involves setting a goal to hand out a certain number of personal brochures every month (100 is a good number) and then holding yourself accountable to this goal. To get started, answer the following questions:

• What do you currently leave behind when you meet someone in a networking scenario?

• How many personal brochures do you hand out on a weekly or monthly basis?

• How many opportunities are you missing by not making a concerted effort to engage in strategic networking on a regular basis?

• What will you do to ensure you hand out more brochures on a consistent basis in 2010?

When it comes to referrals, most agents view them as bonus clients that fall from the sky. It doesn’t have to be this way, though, if you schedule a concerted effort to generate more referral business. Don’t be afraid to ask your past clients and sphere of influence for referrals on a regular, planned basis. Schedule letters on a quarterly basis to keep these important relationships prosperous.

Far too often, agents do not consider these activities as part of their overall marketing mix. The irony is that strategic networking and referrals are powerful, inexpensive methods to generate more business. Don’t overlook this essential activity in the coming year.

Print Advertising

Unfortunately, for many real estate professionals, only one thing comes to mind when they think of advertising. That’s definitely not what we’re talking about here. We’re talking about personal, emotionally based, image-building advertising that promotes you and helps you establish a relationship with your target audience.

Your advertising dollars should be split into segments such as: ads in “home” publications, ads in newspapers and magazines, billboards and cable TV. Each of these advertising outlets should have their own line on your game plan.

You need to determine which of these categories will be most effective for you in reaching your target market and focus most of your advertising dollars there. For this example, I’ve divided everything into a fairly even mix to give you an idea of what a full-scale media campaign looks like.

On the sample game plan I’ve provided, I’ve divided print advertising into two categories: “homes” publications ads and newspaper ads. We chose “homes” publications simply because that is where many agents place a majority of their advertising, and because those publications are typically widely available in most areas.

However, don’t limit your options to just to these publications. Take a look at all of the publications available in your area. Focus especially on those that appeal to your target market. Pay close attention to any publications designed specifically for a niche market or geographic area you may be farming. Don’t worry if other agents aren’t advertising in particular publications. As long as you know the publication is well read by your target market, it may be just what you need to stand out.

Television Advertising

Cable TV offers a new advertising frontier for many agents. We’re not talking about house ads on TV or dull, “I’m the best agent” infomercials, but actual 30-second spots that promote you as an individual, capture your audience’s imagination and tie in with your personal marketing campaign.

Because of the cost effectiveness of this medium, advertising on television is no longer just for the big national advertisers. Like outdoor advertising, rates will generally be higher in large metropolitan areas, but if you check with your cable company, we’ll guarantee you’ll be surprised at how inexpensively you can purchase airtime.

Scheduling your TV commercial time is similar to billboards and outdoor advertising, with bursts of frequent air times followed by off times. Your cable representative should be able to provide you with market analyses and demographic information to help you determine the best time of day and the best programming for your ads.

The Public Relations Plan

An oft-forgotten but important part of your marketing mix is public relations. Having an article written about you or being quoted by the newspaper or local TV news show is powerful advertising that you can’t put a price tag on – and it’s free!

But the only way to get this exposure is to make yourself known to the local media, and that’s why it’s so important that you plan your public relations schedule ahead of time. Schedule sending between one and three press releases a month to editors and reporters in your area. Your schedule should include specific topics for each press release you plan to send. Otherwise, when the time comes to send out a release, suddenly you need to think of a topic and write the release, and chances are you won’t do it because you’re simply too busy for that kind of undertaking.

Knowledge is Power

Finally, you cannot overlook continuing education in your marketing mix. If you’re serious about personal marketing, you need to attend an absolute minimum of two personal marketing seminars each year. Not only will this expose you to new ideas to keep you on the cutting edge of marketing, but each visit will recharge your batteries and keep you excited about your career. Just like your marketing, you must plan these activities now.

Make Your Plan Work for You

A major part of having an annual game plan is analyzing what generating the best results. Once your plan is finalized, you need to stick to it like glue. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you follow it blindly. Once per quarter, you need to sit down and analyze what has been most effective and make adjustments as you see fit. Be careful, though, not to do this more frequently. You don’t want to end up in the “plan of the week” mode. Review your plan quarterly, and then stick to it.

Putting Your Plan to Work

It’s been said that a plan isn’t a plan if it’s not written down. Well, I couldn’t agree more. You cannot underestimate the power of your game plan worksheet. It should be one of the most frequently used sheets of paper you will use in the next 12 months. Post it on the wall as a visual reminder of your progress!

Bowhunting Mule Deer is something many hunters dream about, but is rarely turned into reality. Mule Deer inhabit a vast area of the western half of North America that is characterized by arid deserts, rugged mountains, forests, and prairies. To harvest a mature mule deer with a bow is one of the most difficult things a hunter can do.

What is Bowhunting Mule Deer?

Bowhunting mule deer can mean different things to different people. Anybody that has spent much time in mule deer country can tell you how dumb a young mule deer can be. It would not be much of a challenge to drive around on the road until you see a herd of immature mule deer, slip out of the vehicle and off the road, and arrow a 1 or 2 year old mule deer dink. These deer do not know any better and for someone who is really passionate about bow hunting mule deer, this would not be considered an achievement.

For the serious mule deer bow hunter, a mature mule deer is what dreams are made of. A mature mule deer is on a different playing field than young mule deer. Although a mule deer can successfully breed at 3 years of age, serious mule deer bowhunters typically refer to a mature mule deer as 4 years old or more. This is the age when you start to see their antler growth potential and their ability to evade hunters. While antler size will continue to increase through at least their 6th year depending on nutrition, most hunters (regardless of weapon) will agree that a four year old buck is a shooter and has developed the skills to keep himself alive even with rifle hunters all over the place.

Unfortunately, not many mule deer live to be over three years of age due to the fact that they are shot when they are young and dumb. In general hunting areas where there is no limit on the amount of hunters, especially rifle hunters, for a mule deer buck to reach maturity is to overcome unreal odds. If one is able to make it through a few years of hunting seasons, then it has a sixth sense to overcome hunters and to take one with a bow is one of the hardest challenges a hunter can experience. In the rest of this article, we will discuss the tactics that can make a hunter consistent at bowhunting mule deer.

Methods for Bowhunting Mule Deer

There are several methods that can be employed to harvest a mature mule deer. The most common are Spot and Stalk and tree stand or ground blinds.

Tree Stand and Ground Blinds

One of the (dare I say) easiest methods to take a big mule deer buck with archery equipment is using a tree stand or a ground blind. While sitting there waiting for a buck may not require a lot of energy, it does take a lot of patience. Patience is the easy part. The real work is finding a good spot that a mature mule deer will walk by in daylight hours. This takes a lot of work with preseason scouting, trail cameras, and patterning bucks so you will have a good idea of where they will be when the season arrives. It is much harder than it sounds and takes a lot of time to be consistent year to year.

Of course, you can just put your tree stand or ground blind at any waterhole, food source, or other high deer traffic area and be successful on a mature mule deer, but this will require a lot of luck and possibly patience. Once you do find a good area that produces large bucks, it is reasonable to assume there will be more there in the years to come, so this type of hunting does get easier once you have established a good area.

Spot and Stalk:

Though requiring a little bit more energy than hunting out of a tree stand or blind, spot and stalk bow hunting is usually a faster paced way of bowhunting mule deer. The object is to spot a big mature mule deer buck and then stalk to within bow range undetected.

The number one thing to remember when spot and stalk bowhunting mule deer is to be patient. If conditions are not right, then wait for them to improve. This might mean waiting for the buck to bed down in a better place where you will be able to get closer, or waiting for the wind to pick up or change direction to not only carry your scent away from the buck, but also to cover up your noise once you get close.

Preseason:

Most of the mule deer bow hunters that consistently harvest large mule deer begin their season well before the bucks are even done growing their antlers. It is important to have a good idea of what the area holds for big bucks so you can develop a minimum size and an order to which bucks you will focus on first.

Of course size is not the only factor in determining if a buck is a shooter or not. An experienced hunter can often judge a deer’s age by body signs and antler configuration. In my eyes A 6 year old buck with low scoring horns is more of a trophy than a 4 year old buck with great future potential.

For spot and stalk hunting, it is important to have several shooter bucks picked out and in known general locations before the season starts. This is because it usually takes several stalks before one is successful. After several years of spot and stalk bowhunting, I have found that the average success ratio for stalks is 1/6 or so. Of course, it might happen in the first try, or it might take 15 times. An inexperienced hunter may go several seasons without having a successful stock on a mature mule deer.

For Stand hunting (tree or blind) it is not as important to have several shooter bucks spotted, as it only takes one mature mule deer in the area and you can hunt him the whole season. Of course your odds will be greatly increased if you can identify multiple shooters in an area. One thing you do not want to do preseason is disturb an area too much. You will run the risk of spooking off the bucks before you have a chance to start bowhunting them.

Archery Practice: One thing that cannot be overlooked is shooting your bow. No matter how good of stand location you have or if you are the stealthiest person on the planet, if you can’t seal the deal when it counts, then you might as well stay home. Of course, everybody that has hunted enough has missed or made a bad shot, but shooting throughout the year can increase your odds of being able to perform when you have to. A good thing to do is to enter into 3D competitions where you will have an opportunity to shoot at life size deer targets in different positions, angles and ranges.

During Season:

Once the season has started you will obviously be targeting the mule deer buck that you like the best. One thing to keep in mind is that with bowhunting mule deer you will not always be able to get the number one buck on your list. Sometimes all you get is one chance, and if it does not happen the first go around, you may never see that buck the rest of the season. That is why it is important that you need to know where other shooter bucks hang out.

Stand BowHunting Mule Deer:

If you are sitting in a stand, you must be patient. Just because the opening day did not produce much does not mean the big buck won’t show up the next day right where you want him to. I have an impatient friend that moved his tree stand after opening day because the buck took a different route. He then got trail cam pictures of the buck the following day from the tree his stand was in the just 12 hours earlier while he was sitting in a tree a few hundred yards away. Should have stuck it out!

Spot and Stalk BowHunting Mule Deer

You should have a good idea of where there is going to be a good buck on opening morning if you did much preseason scouting. It is best to be in position to spot him from a far when that first ray of light begins to show. Once you have found the intended target, you will want to assess the situation and determine if the conditions are right to put on a stalk right away or to watch and wait until the conditions have improved. This is where only experience and common sense can help you out, as every spot and stalk situation is different. Knowing when to go on it and when to not, as well as how to go about it will vary a lot depending on how things fall into place.

The same factors that are responsible for most mule deer bucks not being able to achieve maturity are the same factors that make them so hard to get with a bow. Many of the areas they inhabit lack cover for them to escape rifle bullets that can shoot in excess of 500 yards. This same fact is why it is hard to get within bow range of a mature mule deer that has managed to sneak past rifle hunters. There simply is not a lot of cover for a bowhunter to hide behind in order to get a good shot. In this case, you have to use the lay of the land in order to get close enough for a bow shot.

Bowhunting Mule Deer Equipment:

Bow hunting mule deer can be made easier with the right equipment. In fact, some equipment is necessary to give bow hunters the upper hand. Below is a list of the archery equipment you will want to consider buying before you begin mule deer bowhunting. Just remember you get what you pay for, so go with the best you can afford, and then upgrade as you can.

• Rangefinder: Knowing the exact distance to your target is a huge benefit especially when shooting long distances or bow hunting. There are certain specs that you will want in a rangefinder, so make sure you check the link below to be sure you get the right one.
• Binoculars: Spot and stalk deer hunting requires you to find the deer. It is amazing how many more deer you can find with the use of binoculars that you would not see otherwise. They also are essential in the stalk as you need to find the deer before they find you, which means using your binoculars to pick out the tip of a horn or the flick of a tail.
• Spotting Scope: Both used for spotting deer and then being able to judge them to make sure they are worthy of a stalk. Spotting scopes are also important to find other deer and anything else that can compromise your stalk that is in your intended path. It is very easy to get busted by an animal you did not know existed. Spotting scope are a must have for Spot and Stalk Hunting.
• Boots: When stalking deer, it is important to be as quiet as possible. I have taken my boots off and stalked in my sock successfully before, but with cacti and thistle prevalent where I hunt, this is just not doable. Therefore I wear lightweight boots made for stalking to close the final distance to within bow range. They have saved my feet and helped me to be much stealthier.
• Camouflage: With deer vision it is not as important to be the same color as the back ground, but more so to break up your silhouette. Plus, in typical spot and stalk habitat the foliage can be dry and yellow in grasses, or green in trees and shrubs. Therefore it is important to have a camo pattern that is very versatile.
• There is other gear that will give you an edge that you may want to take advantage of that we will talk about later.

Experience: Now Go Learn For Yourself

The Passport SR7:

Price: the price tag is $799.00, making this a relatively expensive radar detector in our point of view.

Bands: this product detect all radar and laser signals (X, K, Superwide Ka).

Voice Alerts: voice alerts are sounded when a radar or a laser source is nearby.

False Alerts: The AutoSensitivity Mode reduces false alerts.

Features: Includes EZ-Programming, a feature that allows easy customization of the radar detector device, 3 High-Resolution Meter Modes, several low-noise laser sensors that provide maximum range against targeting laser guns.

Custom installed: the passport SR7 is custom installed, enabling it to remain hidden in the vehicle, not to mention the fact that it is more aesthetic (no need to attach it to a window!). However, this means it cannot be taken to a different vehicle.

GPS Technology: this product does not include GPS capabilities.

Detectable: the passport SR7 has no stealth capabilities.

Database subscription: Not relevant.

In summary: The SR7 is the predecessor of the Passport SRX, and as such, shares most of the same features the SRX has. When we compare both, it appears that other than the price (and some minor aspects), the main difference is the stealth capabilities which the SR7 lacks. However, considering it costs about 2/3 of the SRX, we consider it to give roughly of the same value for its cost. It is our opinion that it may be worthwhile getting one of the cheaper models that have equivalent capabilities (i.e. the passport 9500ix) – the only disadvantage would be that these would not be custom installed and would have to be manually attached to the windshield. Is the convenience of having a custom installed radar detector worth it? This is a matter of personal preference. If this matters to you, then the SR7 is definitely a good radar detector to have (in fact, got 5 out of 5 stars in the Escort Radar website). Our total score for this product is 4.0/5.0 stars.

Hey, it’s me, Billy Blackjack. I see all this stuff about people selling creams and lotions and all kinds of stuff that is supposed to help a gentleman increase the size of his fishing pole and allow him to use that pole and fish for as long as he wants. Should guys really be smearing this gunk on their fishing rods? I don’t think so.

Whatever you smear on your penis is going to get sucked right into your penis through the skin. Now, tell me, do you really want all kinds of weird chemicals swirling around in your tackle? You have no idea what kind of side effects this stuff might have. The last place you want to be using as a chemical waste dump is what’s in your boxers! Don’t make a hazmat site out of your private parts! Seriously, guys, this where You Make Your Sperm. It’s the last place you ever want to be putting anything that wasn’t meant to be there in the first place.

Okay, then, let’s see what we have here…

Erectile Dysfunction:

Okay. If you have erectile dysfunction, and the doctor says it isn’t because of some plumbing problem, if you want to get erect, here’s what you do: Get some jalapeno peppers, cut them open, and rub them on your penis. This will get you erect. I guarantee it. But after you’ve finished healing and have finally left the hospital, you’ll also come looking for me with your shotgun for giving you this dumb advice. So, don’t do this with the peppers! I’m only making a point. What is this point?

The point is that people will be telling you to smear this type of goop and that type of goop on your penis because it’s “natural” and will help you. Okay, just so you know, jalapeno peppers are also Natural. Listen. Just because something is “natural” doesn’t mean it’s safe or good for you. Radon gas is “natural,” too. That doesn’t mean you should go sniffing this stuff in your basement.

If there are no plumbing problems with your erectile problems they could be psychological origin. Hey, that’s no sweat, nobody is perfect; so if this is the case, don’t be too hard on yourself. Get some help from a head doctor. There are also exercises men can do that will help with this little problem. The point is, again (I like to make points), don’t be too hard on yourself! Stop beating yourself up. If you get emotional about this stuff and let it get to you then it will just make things worse. Don’t sweat it. This is small stuff, really. Life has a lot bigger obstacles to throw in your path.

Premature Ejaculation:

Okay. What about premature ejaculation? Should you be smearing chemicals on your hot dog and spraying stuff all over it? Probably not. Why not? Because most premature ejaculation goes away once the hormones level out a bit and you get used to being with the ladies. Here’s the truth:

All men have had premature ejaculation at one time or another. So, I welcome you as our newest member to the largest all-male club in the world. It’s no big deal unless it totally gets out of control. You should be happy that women excite you so much. I’m serious. That’s not a bad trait for a man to have. Now you ask, “What can I do about it”?

You can “double bag” it for one thing. This means you put on two condoms instead of one. This here will decrease the amount of sensation your penis gets during intercourse. This should help you last longer.

As for spraying stuff to deaden your penis, just so you don’t feel anything… C’mon guys, is this stuff for real? I tell you that if you’re so excited by your lady friend that you can’t hold yourself back, it will have a Big effect on her. Number One, she’s going to feel very complemented that she had such an incredible sexual affect on you! That’s the truth! Number Two, be glad that you are like this now! Men in their later years would kill to be like this once again. And Number Three, it’s a great way to tell if your sweetheart really cares about you. That’s right. If she stands by your side and sticks with you during these sexually confusing times then that means she’s a real, 24-carat Sweetheart! Women like this are hard to find. If she dumps you because of this problem then you are better off without her. Trust me on that one.

If this sort of thing keeps going on, then things might get frustrating and the novelty of it will start to wear off for her (see Number One, above). So, what are you going to do if the condoms don’t work? Educate yourself and find a way to fix this problem. One way to do it is to practice what are called “hold back” techniques. You can do this while masturbating. Simply get yourself excited and sexually aroused and then what do you do? You “hold back” from ejaculating. Does that make sense…?

Here, let me try to explain it better:

What you want to do is get just up to the point where you are going to orgasm and stop ALL stimulation to your penis! Try to focus your mind on algebra class or something that is just as unsexy and as boring as can possibly be. Remember, most of us couldn’t ride a bicycle for the first few times or drive a “standard” transmission on our first go. But, with a little practice we’re ready for the Tour de France and ready to win the Indy 500!

Okay. So, “On Your Marks, Get Set, and GO!” A little practice should help you out a lot. You can also practice with your lady friend. Explain what you are trying to accomplish to her and together you can get things as right as rain. This will bring the two of you closer together. Comprende mi amigo? Make the most out of everything that God deals you in life. Turn that water into wine.

Penis Enlargement:

Do I even have to go into this? Smearing sludge on your penis isn’t going to make it bigger. Maybe I’m mistaken and there is some magical cream out there that’s changed the way men can really enlarge their penises. I tell you, I must have been asleep at the wheel the last ten years and driven into a ditch to have missed these new miracle enlargement creams.

If you want to enlarge your penis you have to exercise! Just like if you want muscle-man biceps and pecs so that you can tear phone books in half, you have to do what? You have to work at it. This is just basic common sense. Get exercising!

In Summary:

There you go. I hope this helps you good guys out there. Again, don’t sweat this stuff. You can use anything that seems to be a detriment in your life and turn it into a wonderful opportunity and experience. Start looking at stuff from a different perspective and begin to realize how set-backs like this can really be of enormous benefit to you — How they can and will improve your life, if you let them.

Real men overcome their obstacles and grow, learn, and improve themselves from such experiences.

You do the same.

— Billy Blackjack Carson