How to Keep That-Other-Woman from Seducing Your People / Chapter 23 from the book Less Blah Blah More Ah Ha – How social savvy real estate agents become trusted preferred, referred and rewarded.
“In marketing you must choose between boredom, shouting and seduction. Which do you want?” ~ Roy H. Williams, Author
It’s Not Personal. It’s Business
Listen. That-Other-Woman. All the people you know, she knows. Everyone knows more than one good real estate agent, right?
She knows you’re a respected, savvy, and well-connected pro, but that’s not going to stop her. She sees herself as equally attractive and more than capable. To succeed, she knows she has to out-delight, surprise, and engage you. She has plans to seduce your people, steal your opportunity, and your future.
Next week, while waiting for your ho-hum direct mail postcard to land on their kitchen table, along with all the other irritating junk mail, she’ll be inviting everyone you know to two hours of movie star bedazzle and Technicolor surround sound.
She’s 1 in 500, and she’s inviting your friends, clients, suspects, and prospects to a Hollywood Blockbuster.
Don’t tell her, but I was able to put my hands on her plan. Here’s what she’s doing — check it out.
Movie Day Action Plan
Monday Morning
1. Log on to the local multi-screen mega theatre website.
2. Check the movie schedule, pick a movie and a showtime. (Wednesday or Thursday, noonish matinee if possible.)
3. Write a fun e-mail invitation. Include a picture of the movie poster. Send to everyone. Remember to use Bcc box. (Top Secret copy of her e-mail at the end of this chapter. You can do way better, I’m sure.)
Tuesday Afternoon/Evening
1. Call all. Say hello. Confirm receipt. Personally invite. Chitchat. Let conversational magic bloom. Share excitement for a “yes,” express regrets for a “no” (either way, the “Halo Effect” shines its soft blessing on her relationship).
2. Follow up all my conversations with a short, handwritten note card. Mail with two biz cards.
Wednesday – 11:15am
1. Meet everyone at the movies. Yea! Wear real estate name badge. Greet everyone with a big smile and a warm “welcome” hug. Hand out movie tickets. Can’t wait to hear, “Thank you so much, how thoughtful. I needed a break. You’re the greatest friend and REALTOR of all time.”
2. Bring digital camera (smart phone camera). Take pictures. Go inside and enjoy the movie.
3. Say goodbye. Give more hugs, say goodbye, and wish everyone well. Don’t forget to thank everyone for coming.
Wednesday Evening.
Post and share “We’re having fun!” pictures to Facebook and Flickr accounts and Blog.
Write fun post-movie follow-up e-mail. Include pictures of grinning attendees and a link to your Facebook photo album. Tweet about it too. Send an e-mail to all invited, thank those who came, tell those who couldn’t make it we missed them, and wish everyone well.
Those Are Her Written Notes, and Here Are Her Mental Notes
I’ll never mention real estate unless asked, but my e-mail invitations are wrapped in my real estate branded e-mail stationery. This movie event won’t cost much, postage is free, there are zero printing costs. Even if fifty people show up—and there’ll probably be fewer than that; twenty-five would be great—the whole thing will cost less than $300.
This movie event is way funner than wasting $300 on some dumb print ad in a real estate magazine, trying to chase strangers and attract KuKu birds.
Whether people can attend or not, everyone appreciates a generous gesture, and who doesn’t love-love an invitation to have fun? The Halo Effect is going to shine a perfect light. Yeah!
While other agents are doing next to nothing, cutting back, or sending routinely ho-hum post cards, you’ll be giving the gift of entertainment and enjoyment. People will talk about your invitation and the movie. Yay for you and your friends.
This movie event gives us the chance to touch people five times in one week: by e-mail invitation, phone call follow-up, handwritten note card follow-up, in person at the movies, and a post movie follow-up e-mail. Plus, we’ll have some fun pictures to share on Facebook, and Flickr.
So, She’s Taking Your Good People on a Date. What Will You Do About It?
Like I said, only one in 500 people will do this. The question is, will that one in 500 be doing it with your soon-to-be-seduced friends, clients, prospects, and suspects? Or are you that unique one in 500 who won’t let that happen?
For you one in 500s, let me know how it goes. Drop me an e-mail at Ken@KenBrand.com For the other 499, I’m sorry.
P.S. Don’t overthink or overplan this. You could pull this off next week.
P.S. Here’s that e-mail invitation I was telling you about.
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Thanks for reading. If I can be helpful, ping me – Ken Brand 832-797-1779
